Page 27 of The Art of Loving Lacy
Chapter Ten
DANE AWOKE TO his alarm at five thirty Sunday morning. He hadn’t spoken to Lacy since the night before. She wouldn’t return his phone calls or texts, and he’d tried to reason with her, but how could he reason with someone who saw right through him?
He packed his bags, sent a text to his employee and friend, Rob, whom he was supposed to meet at the Chatham Marina. Disappointed that he still hadn’t received a text from Lacy, he stuffed his phone in his pocket and headed downstairs. He was surprised to find Josh and Riley at the registration desk.
“You’re heading out early,” Dane said.
“Yeah. We’re meeting with the attorney to finalize the partnership papers.” Josh looked at Riley and smiled. When they’d gotten engaged, Josh had made Riley a full partner at his design company, JBD, which would now become JRB Designs. “After today, we’ll be inseparable.”
“Like we aren’t now?” Riley teased. Her eyes swept over Dane. “You okay? You look really tired.”
“Yeah, fine,” he lied.
“Uh-oh. Trouble with Lacy?” Josh asked.
“You could say that.” Dane set his bags down and dug his hands into his shorts pockets.
“I’m sorry, Dane.” Riley furrowed her brow and tucked a strand of her wavy brown hair behind her ear. She leaned against Josh and wrapped her arm in his. “She seems really sweet.”
“She is,” Dane said.
“What happened?” Riley asked.
“Let’s just say that she sees me for who I am and not who I want to be,” Dane said.
“Ouch,” Josh said. “Sorry, bro.” He embraced Dane. “Listen, if anyone can convince her otherwise, it’d be you. But before you even think about doing it, you might want to be sure that’s what you really want to do.”
Dane let out a breath. “Yeah. Thanks. I see the Braden grapevine wasted no time again.”What do you think I stayed up half the night thinking about?“I think it’s more than that, though. I think the panic attack had something to do with it.”
“Can’t you talk to her?”
He shook his head. “I’ve tried.”
“Hey, Hugh was looking for you last night. You might want to ring him before you leave. He wanted to join you today down in Chatham. He said he needed a little more risk in his life.”
Dane loved Hugh, but the idea of entertaining his self-centered younger brother when he was in such a crappy mood was painful. “I’ll call him,” he said.
After Josh left, Dane checked out of the hotel and texted Lacy again.I’m sorry for everything. I hate how we left things and I miss you. Can we talk? Please?He tossed his luggage in the trunk of the rental car, then texted Hugh.I’m heading to Chatham. You up?A minute later, his phone vibrated and a burst of excitement sent him fumbling with his phone.Lacy?His hopes deflated when Hugh’s name appeared. He read the text.
My day freed up. Mind if I tag along on your trip? I’m taking off later tonight but I have a few hours to kill.
Great.Dane took one last long look at the dunes where he and Lacy had made love, remembering the way his brain hadn’t zoned out like it had in the past with other women. With Lacy, he’d been both mentally and physically present. The feel of her skin remained on his hands, the taste of her on his lips, and the memory of those unfamiliar feelings pierced his heart like a spear.
He knew it wasn’t fair to take his trouble with Lacy out on Hugh, and he didn’t see Hugh often enough to warrant turning him away. Maybe the distraction would help him get through the day. He texted him back.Sure. Meet me in pkg lot in 10mins.
Dane looked back at the hotel, a wave of sadness washing through him. He should stick around and say goodbye to his father and his siblings, who were all due to fly out over the next few hours, but the last thing he wanted was to hear them say they told him so. The last thing he needed was to walk back into that hotel and remember what he’d felt like the night before, knowing that he’d lost any chance he might have had with Lacy.
THE SUN HAD yet to ease the brisk New England morning. With coffee in hand, Dane pulled the hood of his Brave Foundation sweatshirt over his head, stuffed his wallet and cell phone into the pocket of his cargo shorts, and headed down the dock toward his slip with Hugh in tow. On a normal day, heading into New England waters would have his mind reeling with anticipation, his body infused with adrenaline. Today his mind was back in Wellfleet, stuck like a pig in mud in that moment at the park when he felt Lacy tear her heart away from his, when for the first time in his life he’d been unable to talk his way into a woman’s arms.
“Where’s Rob?” Hugh asked.
“Your guess is as good as mine.” Maybe it was a mistake bringing Hugh with him. Dane wasn’t even sure he could muster pleasantries or patience.
Dane eyed the sixty-foot lobster boat.Sturdy. Seaworthy.He checked his phone again.Where the heck is Rob?Rob had worked for Dane for the past ten years. He’d come on almost every assignment, and they were the safest and best team around. Hugh eyed a woman on a sport fishing boat a few slips away.Come on. Really?Dane didn’t have time for this. He climbed aboard.
“Let’s go,” he snapped at Hugh.
“Chill, bro. I’m just taking in the eye candy.Man.You know she’s hot beneath those sweats,” Hugh said.
