Page 29 of Tropical Inferno

“I have a lot I’d like to say to you, but it’s not going to change anything, so what’s the point?”

“The point? The point is that you’ve been sleeping with my sister and you left her in the middle of a media circus that she’s spectacularly unprepared to handle. After my attack, the press hounded her daily to get information about me. She and my mom had to sneak in and out of the hospital to see me because the press was there day and night. Then this summer it started all over again during the trial of my attackers. She’s been having nightmares, she doesn’t go out much anymore, she’s lost weight—all because of me. And now, not only did you bring that whole nightmare back to light with your incredibly thoughtless comment on the ice, you dragged her right smack into the middle of it.”

“I didn’t know she was your sister,” Hawk growled on a ragged breath. “You and I are friends. I would never have done that to you or to her!”

“I thought we were friends,” Jamie corrected mildly. “But we obviously have different definitions of that word.”

“What did she say?” Hawk asked quietly, ignoring Jamie’s dig.

“What?”

“I’m sure you told her what I did—I need to know what she said. How angry she was. I need to hear it.”

Jamie huffed out something that sounded like a cross between a laugh and a grunt. “She said she didn’t believe it.”

“What?” Hawk’s stomach clenched so painfully he nearly gasped.

“I said, she didn’t believe it. I think her exact words were something like, ‘I can’t imagine those words coming out of his mouth.’ So my sister, whom you threw to the wolves, is still holding out hope that you’re not the homophobic prick the whole world says you are.”

Hawk couldn’t answer because he was too choked up to breathe, much less talk. “I’m sorry,” he rasped. “Tell her I’m sorry—tell her…I’m still hers.” He disconnected and pulled off the road, onto the shoulder. He put the rented SUV in park and rested his forehead on the steering wheel. She didn’t believe it. His beautiful, sweet sea nymph knew him better than he even knew himself; she’d seen and heard all the evidence and still didn’t believe it. God, he loved her. Three freakin’ days together and he was head over heels gone for a woman who was probably very hurt and confused right now. She didn’t hate him, though. That was the first ray of hope he’d had since the incident and he clung to it. He didn’t have a plan, but he was going to make one.

* * *

The nightmare woke Maddie out of a restless sleep and she sat straight up in bed, her heart hammering in her chest, breaking out in a cold sweat. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to drown out the images of her brother’s broken, bloody body, but they were so vivid, the sound of him calling to her for help so real, she knew she’d never go back to sleep.

She slid out of bed and padded over to the window. It was early but the sun would be coming up soon. She made a cup of coffee and took it back to the window, sinking into the chair beneath it. The small, private suite the resort had moved her to was actually another guest house. It was cozy, pleasant and quiet, close to the security offices, and not available to regular guests. She’d been promised no one would bother her, and they hadn’t. She’d spent the rest of yesterday sitting in front of the TV, mindlessly watching shows she’d already seen and didn’t care about. Someone had been thoughtful enough to bring her dinner, but she hadn’t been able to eat, merely picking at a roll until her stomach churned.

She was hungry now, though, and despite everything happening, she’d come too far to spiral again. She had to eat, had to take care of herself, had to keep moving forward. She’d be okay once she got home, but right now she felt like a prisoner. She couldn’t fathom the idea of going back to work in three days, but what choice did she have? She had bills to pay and a life to continue. It wasn’t the most exciting life, but it was hers and it could be a lot worse. She’d only miss Garrett for a little while; she’d be okay without him. After all, it had only been three days. Three wonderful, romantic, passionate days where she’d gotten more from him emotionally than she’d gotten from every other guy she’d ever dated put together.

She walked out the front door, coffee in hand, and stared out at the narrow, private street. One of the guys was just getting to work at the security office a few doors down and he waved. Maddie waved back, melancholy washing over her like a wet blanket. She didn’t have it in her to run today, but one of the security guys had offered to go with her if she wanted to swim one last time. She was grateful for Jim; he’d done so much to help her get through yesterday. He’d thoughtfully refrained from mentioning Garrett and had kept her surrounded by resort employees who seemed to go out of their way to make her feel better. The people here were nice. If she ever had the money, she would definitely come back to Oahu and this wonderful resort.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she pulled it out warily. A text from Jamie:

I’m awake if you want to talk. I’ll be going out in about an hour. Xoxo

She smiled and texted back:

I’m okay, thanks. I’ll call you from the airport tomorrow. Xoxo

Walking back inside, she rinsed her cup in the sink and pulled a carton of yogurt out of the refrigerator. This place was much smaller than the guest house Garrett had rented, but equally well-appointed. They’d moved everything for her, including the yogurt and fruit in the refrigerator, but she had almost no appetite. She was holding it together for now, but she was definitely going to break down soon.

When her phone started to ring, she let out a sigh of annoyance. She glanced down expecting to see Jamie’s name but it was an unknown number. She frowned, worried it was the press, but also thinking it might be the local number to the airlines or the travel agent Jamie had used to get her on a different flight. If it turned out to be the press, she could hang up. She reluctantly hit the button to answer it.

16

Hawk debated calling her a hundred times. He needed to, needed to explain what had really happened. Even if they couldn’t be together, the idea that she’d believed in him, and was questioning everything she’d heard about him, made him love her that much more. He had to make it right with her, even if it didn’t change anything for them. Her faith in him moved him in ways he didn’t understand, driving him to make the call.

Her cautious greeting on the other end nearly made him cry with relief. “Hello?”

“Hi, baby.” His voice was gruff, unsure whether or not she would hang up.

“You probably shouldn’t call me that anymore,” she whispered sadly.

“I know, but I wanted to talk to you, to say I’m sorry. I really am. I just… I needed you to know that if I’d known who you were when we first met, I never would have…”

“Never would have what? Saved my life? You’d have let me get shot by those gang guys?”

“Never.” His voice cracked a little. “I’d never let anything happen to you.”

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