Page 55 of Cajuns. Love. Curves.

I swallow past the tears that are suddenly clogging my throat. I’m almost out the door when she stops me.

“You never answered my question.”

I turn back to look at her. “What?”

“I asked why. And you thought I was asking why you didn’t believe him. But what I meant was, why did he leave? If he’s really such a great guy, if he’s really worth crying over and being heartbroken over, why did he leave? Why did he just take no for an answer?”

Shaking my head, I just turn and leave, because I don’t have an answer for that, at least not one I can admit out loud without bursting into tears.

Because the only reason he would leave like that is because he doesn’t really love me.

Nick’s not the kind of guy to just walk away from something he cares about. He wouldn’t be a SEAL if he walked away the second something got hard. The training they go through is designed to break down everyone but the most stubborn, tenacious warriors.

No… if he walked away from me, it’s because he’s done with me.

He’s not a liar. When he said those words, he thought he meant it.

But that was before he realized what a coward I am.

chaptertwenty-six

Nick

After ripping me a new one, Jonah disappears for nearly two hours. I don’t know where the hell he goes, because the island is not that big and he’s the size of a linebacker, but somehow he manages it.

The turtle rescue sanctuary consists of only a few buildings nestled up against the jungle, along with the boathouse. Once I search all the buildings and don’t find him, I take the hint.

Sure, I could try to hunt him down in the jungle, but what would be the point? I might find him, but I might not. And if I do find him, it’ll probably only piss him off. Clearly, he’s as annoyed with me as I am with myself. And with everything else in this situation.

Here’s the thing about being a SEAL. You learn to trust your instincts. Your life depends on them.

Okay, it’s not just your instincts. It’s that, plus your teammates, your plan, and your training. If you come up against a problem that can’t be fixed with those things, you’re fucked.

Trusting those things has gotten me this far. But none of that works when it comes to Cassie.

My plan was to take it slow. To play the long game. My instincts fuck that right the hell up. And I have zero training when it comes to romance.

Women? Sure. But actual love? Romance? Happily ever afters? I don’t have shit there.

But, despite Jonah’s assessment of the situation, I am not a pussy. Therefore, I have no intention of cutting and running. Which means I need to figure out how to win her heart in the next couple of hours.

So yeah, the first thing I do is call Remy.

The cell service on the island is shit, but there’s a Wi-Fi signal in the little bungalow where Jonah lives, so from there I log on with my phone and pull up the video chat app I use when I’m traveling. I want to do this right.

Unfortunately, Remy doesn’t answer.

But ten minutes later, I get a message from him in the messaging app we both use.

Remy: I’m busy. This better be good.

Me: I need to talk with you.

Remy: Okay, talk.

Me: On the phone. Video chat would be better.

Remy: Like I said. I’m busy. I literally have my hands full.

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