Page 18 of In the Pursuit of Haven
My heels cracked against the planks of the dock. The breeze picked up and I clutched one-handed to my dress to keep the wind from making a Marilyn Monroe out of me. Loud barking greeted my footsteps.
My chin snapped up just in time for Finn to try to run me over. His paws landed into my stomach. “Oh!” I leaned over to keep him from shoving me backwards. He wouldn’t stop licking me and so I hauled him up into my arms.
It was a strategic mistake since his legs dangled past my knees, and he was so wriggly that I couldn’t quite get a good grip on him. He crushed the deed against his armpit, and who knew what the wind was doing to my dress. Not that I’d ever admit I’d picked up more trouble than I could handle. Jessie’s eyes were now riveted on me. He approached slowly.
My hands tightened over our dog. It had been more than a month since that ill-fated anniversary night. His dark hair was getting a lot longer with that stocking cap he wore fishing. “You ever getting a haircut?” I forced my voice to be calm.
He didn’t answer, just pointed to the deed. “What’s that?”
Yeah, those. I supposed they looked suspicious, since the only time I’d planned on seeing him again was to serve him papers. Instead, I had this to contend with. I worked the deed from out of Finn’s armpit to hand to him.
He stepped back, not touching them.
Oh? Was that the way he was going to be? “I need you to sign these back to me,” I said.
“Sign what?”
Goodness! Why hadn’t he tried this hard to keep our marriage intact when he had me heart and soul? Because he liked what he couldn’t have, that was why! “It’s the title to my aunt’s properties. There’s a mistake on them—they’re signed over to your family. I don’t know why, but I need you to return them to my possession.”
“What?” He pressed closer, but still looked on edge, like I was tricking him. He could forget that—I wasnothinglike him.
Our marriage had been a lie. I could barely look at him now. I was too angry, too hurt, and the worst part about it, was that I still loved him; every part of me was drawn to him. Was I really strong enough to face him right now? Maybe I should’ve waited to come. I felt like I was going to be sick.
As soon as he caught sight of the papers, he snatched them up. “Whoa, honey, I thought those were divorce papers.”
I swallowed and tried to match his casual tone. “Nope, so I need you to get whatever attorney or notary or justice of the peace or whatever it is that we need, so that you or your grandma or your dador whoeversigns this thing over to me.”
“Even if I did… whatever is yours is mine,” he said. His eyes were steady on mine. “We’re still married.”
“Then…” I had to get this over with someday. I steadied myself. “… we’ll divorce and then you get it signed over.”
He laughed in my face. “Yeah, right. You divorce me and I’ll make sure no one in my family signs this over… ever.”
My cheeks heated. I should’ve known that he’d play dirty. “You don’t care about my aunt’s land!”
“Yeah, you’re right. I don’t.”
Well, at least he’s honest about something!
“Look, Roxy, everything I did that night you left was a mistake.”
My stomach felt heavy like a granite rock. He’d gone to Divine’s place to talk about work.Yeah, everyone with half a brain should know what a mistake that was!What had he really done? I couldn’t find the breath to answer. I was so sad and angry all at once. If I talked now, I’d cry… that was the last thing I wanted to do.
“And then I found out about Haven having a stroke two days later.” His heavy brows lowered with concern. They made a strange juxtaposition with his long lashes. Everything about him was beautiful and masculine in one, and I hated it. “I tried to call you; I looked everywhere for you. I even came to the island.” His black-eyed gaze drifted to the dog slipping from my grip. “What are you doing? Let me help you.”
Jessie reached for Finn, his arms going around me too.
“No.” I fought him. “I’m taking the dog.”
“You are, are you? He’s getting away from you. C’mon,” he whispered. “Relax.” His hands found my upper arms and he rubbed comforting circles against my skin.
I stopped myself from melting into him just in time. Letting out a breath, I surrendered the dog to him, my back arching when I felt him brush past me again. I eased away, doing my best not to touch him unnecessarily and send those shocks of attraction blasting through me. This felt like we were in grade school and I was playing cooties.
He set Finn at our feet. The Labrador got ready to “lovingly” spring at me again, but Jessie stopped him mid-pounce by pointing at him. “Sit.”
The dog immediately obeyed, leaving me gritting my teeth with resentment.
Jessie turned back to me, picking up where he left off. “I know how close you and Haven were. You shouldn’t be alone right now.”
