Page 13 of Saint

“Did she have them when she first came? She was just a kid then.”

“She did,” nodded Ashley. “I would get up and sit with her until she fell asleep again. There’s no specific time that it happens, no specific day. It’s random.”

Saint looked at them both, feeling the helplessness of them both.

“I’ll call you if I need help.”

“You won’t need help, son,” said Trevor. “It’s just going to eat you alive that you can’t help her.”

Saint hugged them both and walked back toward Marilisa’s cottage. Ashley wrapped her arms around Trevor’s waist, laying her head on his chest.

“He really loves her,” he whispered.

“He does, babe,” she smiled. “Just like I really love you. You’re my everything, Trevor. I’m grateful every day that you didn’t let me go.”

“Let you go?” he frowned. “Woman, I couldn’t have let you go any more than I could have stopped breathing.”

“Wanna breathe a little heavier?” she smirked, turning to go into the house. He laughed, shaking his head.

“Now you’re talking my language.”

“Hi,” she smiled as he walked in. “Did you get everything?”

“I did,” he nodded. “Including permission from your father to marry you one day soon.” She stood still, staring at his big smile. Tears came to her eyes, and she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“You really want to marry me?” He chuckled, walking toward her and wrapping his arms around her.

“Yeah, babe. I really want to marry you. When we’re both ready. And you smell delicious,” he groaned. She laughed, kissing him.

“More of that new fragrance from Avery. She created the scent especially for me, just like she does for the others. I suppose it’s designed to drive the man of your dreams crazy.”

“Man of your dreams, huh?” he smirked.

“Yep.”

“Okay, well, the man of your dreams is going to shower. I’ll take the bedroom across from yours. Okay?”

“Yeah. I mean, if that’s what you want. I’d love you to sleep in my bed. We don’t have to do anything other than sleep, Saint. I just want you near me if at all possible.”

“It’s possible, honey. Let me get clean.”

“Saint? I have nightmares, you know that. But they’re bad. Sometimes, I can’t control myself. Dad usually has to hold me down for a few minutes. What if you can’t…”

“Stop right there,” he said, turning to wrap her in his arms. “There is nothing that will make me walk away at this point, Marilisa. I’ve been dancing around my feelings for you for years now, and it’s time for me to be the man you need.”

“You are the man I need, Saint. I’ve been trying to tell you that for a while now,” she smirked.

“Did you tell the Comeaux brothers that?” he frowned. Marilisa laughed, shaking her head.

“You and Brax are so stubborn. We asked them to dance, and they were happy to oblige. They both knew that we had no interest in either of them.” Saint gave a knowing grin, nodding at her as he walked toward the back of the cottage to shower.

Marilisa busied herself with putting dishes away and wiping down counters. She was nervous, yet knew nothing intimate was going to happen between the two of them tonight. As much as she thought she’d want that immediately, there was relief that he wouldn’t push her.

“Marilisa, Stephanie, all of you, just testing to see if you can still hear me,”asked Kane. Marilisa was shocked and then confused as to how she was supposed to respond.

“You’re doing it,”laughed Spook.“You’ll get used to it.”

Marilisa heard a series of ‘goodnights’ and then remembered that they were all on the other island. It seemed so close, yet so far. Whatever connected them together was stronger than it was the day before.

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