Isaac moped around on the way to the airport. While she waited in line with him at security, he bumped her with his shoulder. “I wish we could hang out all the time.”
“I know. I’m sorry I had to go away to college.” She frowned. First time he’d mentioned anything about it. “I couldn’t finish my doctorate at the University of Florida. Believe me, I wanted to.”
But if she had stayed in Miami, the world wouldn’t have opened to her the way it had. She loved the Caribbean, loved the people, the beach. Miami was too full of politics and glitz.
“I wish you were still there.” Misery pulled at his mouth, and he didn’t have to articulate how lonely he was. She knew the feeling well.
Should she have sacrificed her career for Isaac? Oh, God. She should have. That’s what you did for people you loved. “Do you want me to quit school and come home? Because I will.”
Isaac scowled. “As if. Your dolphins need you. Just… I don’t know. Sometimes I wish I could come live with you.”
Yes. Of course you can. The offer was instinctual. Instant. She’d take him in a heartbeat. But what kind of sense did it make for the two of them to live in the tiny cubicle of a flat she rented on campus at the University of Freeport? None.
“Isaac, listen to me.” She smoothed a hand over his arm to soften the blow. Though no one was softening it for her. “I’m almost done with school. Until then, I’m on campus and you can’t live there. After that, maybe it will be different. I can get a job in Freeport, and maybe you transfer for your junior year. It’s not that far away. Six months. Can you hold on until then?”
“Really?”
Hope shined from his clear blue eyes and broke her heart. Poor kid. He just wanted an anchor. Someone who would stick around and prove they could be trusted. Unfortunately, she recognized it in him because she had a lot of practice ignoring that same yearning.
“Sure. We’re a pod. Don’t ever forget that.”
She hugged him at the checkpoint and waved as he stepped through the body scanner.
Her mood fell off a cliff, and as she took the boat back to Duchess Island, all she could think about was losing herself in something that would take her mind off Isaac’s sad face. Something decadent and pleasurable—Charlie.
They had a date to snorkel with manta rays, an excursion-type activity that required them to be in a group of people, which she’d been looking forward to until Isaac had transferred his moroseness onto her. Why had she promised to do Charlie’s checklist again?
When she got back to the resort, she texted him and he met her in the lobby, his spiky blond hair so orderly, she immediately wanted to run her fingers through it. Preferably while his head was between her legs.
Before she could say a word about her crappy mood, he swept her into his arms and laid a scorching kiss on her right there in front of God and everyone. Nipping at her lips as if he couldn’t get enough of the taste of her, he set her on fire in a snap. She fell into it, dropping her purse to the ground in favor of clinging to his gorgeous shoulders. Otherwise, she’d dissolve into the floor like butter left in the sun.
“Hi,” he murmured against her mouth.
She nearly wept as he drew back, clearly done with that and ready to drag her along to the next activity.
“Manta rays?” she asked brightly. Maybe too brightly, and she winced at her tone.
“What’s wrong?” His brows came together as he zeroed in on her expression.
Uncomfortable under the laser sharpness of his scrutiny, she glanced away. “Nothing. I’m sad I had to drop off Isaac.”
Which wasn’t even the half of it. She hated that life sucked for her brother, hated crappy fathers that left, hated that she’d disappointed Isaac in her quest to become a glorified dolphin expert.
Gently, Charlie hooked her chin with his forefinger and brought her face around. Then he laid his lips on hers in a kiss that had none of the heat of the one five seconds ago. But it buckled her knees in a whole different way. Tenderness bled through her, transferred via their connection, and she tried not to accept it. Tried to pretend she didn’t want the comfort he’d somehow guessed she needed.
It was a lost cause. Helplessly, she relaxed in his embrace, eyes closed as she let him soothe her.
“No manta rays today,” he said decisively and curved an arm around her waist to guide her to the elevator. “We’re going to stay in so I can take care of you.”
“What are you talking about?” She punched him on the arm and tried to put on the brakes, but he was strong and beautiful and he was taking her upstairs… why was she protesting again?