Page 26 of Never Leave Me
Another wave splashed against them, and they laughed and sputtered, the salty water drenching them thoroughly.
She didn’t resist as he held her, cradling her against his chest and taking the brunt of the splashes. In fact, she curled her arms around his neck and relaxed in the comfort and strength of his hold as she’d done over the past months whenever he’d pulled her down into his wheelchair.
Another wave pressed her, and she turned her face into his chest. His bare chest. His slick wet flesh surrounded her, so solid and strong and handsome. She leaned back enough to take him in. As though sensing her perusal, his sights shifted to her face. His dark eyes rounded with questions: Was she all right? Was she tired? Was she in pain?
He was always thinking about how she was doing, always more concerned about her than himself.
She lifted a hand to his wet cheek and smiled her reassurance. She was fine. She was always fine.
As her fingers caressed his jaw and the scruff he hadn’t bothered to shave that morning, something changed in his gaze, a smoldering that loosened warmth inside her belly.
“Ah, you two lovebirds!” a voice called from the beach behind them.
Harrison lowered her to her feet and at the same time turned so that they were facing Dr. and Mrs. Fletcher, who were standing a dozen paces away, hand in hand, grinning at them.
“We missed you at dinner last night.” Mrs. Fletcher gave them a smug, knowing look. “But we completely understand, don’t we, dear?”
“That’s right. We sure do.”
Ellen felt her entire body flush at the older couple’s insinuation. “We climbed Gros Piton yesterday, so after being gone all day, we were ready for an early bedtime.”
“Of course you were.” Mrs. Fletcher exchanged an amused look with her husband.
Embarrassed heat pulsed into Ellen’s cheeks. “We were exhausted.”
“From the hike.” Harrison reached for her hand as if to reassure her he was there to help get them out of this predicament.
They still needed to clarify the status of their relationship and let the older couple know that they weren’t there as honeymooners.
Harrison cleared his throat, apparently thinking the same thing.
Before he could speak, Dr. Fletcher’s expression turned somber. “I was just telling my wife that seeing the two of you so obviously in love reminds me of my son and his wife.”
Obviously in love?Ellen opened her mouth to respond but halted at the sight of the tears in Dr. Fletcher’s eyes.
“He passed away last year after battling prostate cancer.”
Mrs. Fletcher slipped an arm around her husband’s waist and patted his chest with her other hand, her bracelets jangling.
“We’re so sorry to hear about your loss, Dr. Fletcher.” Harrison spoke with the grace and smooth charm that always seemed tocome so easily for him. “It’s bound to be painful for you to think on him.”
The older man nodded. “It is. But as strange as it sounds, watching you two together also reminds me of how lucky he was to have experienced love for the short time he had here on earth.”
Harrison slanted Ellen a sideways glance that said not to worry, that he’d fix the misunderstanding.
With a shake of her head, she leaned into him and squeezed his hand. They couldn’t say anything, not now, not after this revelation from Dr. Fletcher about his son. What harm would come from allowing the couple to go on believing they were together?
Harrison peered down at her in confusion. He’d promised to talk to the Fletchers and clear up the misunderstanding from the other night. Didn’t she want him to do that? The question radiated from his eyes.
“Not yet,” she mouthed.
He nodded briefly and continued the conversation with Dr. Fletcher without the slightest hint that the man was mistaken in his insinuations about them.
“We can pretend for their sake, can’t we?” Ellen asked once the couple had ambled off to the winding path that would take them back to the resort. “We only have tonight and tomorrow left.” They were scheduled to fly out early on Monday. Surely they could keep up the charade until then.
Harrison crossed his arms over his chest and watched the couple’s retreat. His damp dark hair was mussed, with several strands plastered to his forehead. After the hours of swimming and being in the water, he was gaining a healthy tan that only added to his appeal.
“Pretend?” His brow cocked. “What do you mean?”
