Just The Way You Are(58)

Tessa rested her hands on his shoulders. "Fate," she said with a small smile. She took the initiative away from him and kissed him firmly on the mouth. He wanted to kiss her back, but there was something unbelievably awkward about their embrace.

"I'm a fool," he muttered. He sat down on the bench seat across from her. "You know where I've been the last nine years in terms of women. What about you and other men? Have you…" What the hell was he trying to say? Of course she'd made love to other men. She was twenty-nine years old and gorgeous.#p#分页标题#e#

"Have I what?" she prodded.

"Forget it."

"I don't want to forget it. We're trying to get to know each other again. How can we do that if you don't talk to me?"

"Not another MacGuire sister telling me I don't talk to her," he said with a groan.

"If you're this quiet with Alli, I can see why she'd have a problem."

"You're on Alli's side now?"

"I'm on your side, you know that. So what were you going to ask me? About other men? Yes, I've been with a few. Some I liked a lot, others—maybe I just thought I should have a relationship. So I had one. But have I been in love? Really, truly in love? Once."

He met her stark gaze and knew what she was saying, but he didn't want her to say it.

"You're not going to ask, are you?" she said. He shook his head.

"Taking the easy way out, Sam? That isn't like you."

"I'm married, Tessa."

"Not for long. Even Alli says she's letting you go. Unless you don't want to go. Is that it, Sam? Have you fallen in love with Alli? My God, is that possible?"

Her voice was filled with disbelief, sarcastic wonder. And it bothered him, more than he would have thought. "Alli isn't the monster you make her out to be. She's changed. She's a good mother, a great friend, a smart businesswoman. She's grown up, Tessa."

"All right, okay, more defense of Alli. I guess she is your wife and you feel you have to do that. But I'm her sister, and I know her."

"You knew her back when. You don't know her now."

"And I don't know you and you don't me. I want to move forward, Sam, but dammit, you keep pulling me back to the past." She turned away from him and looked out over the ocean. "Can you tell me that you still love me and you want another chance with me?"

She said the words so softly he was afraid he hadn't heard them correctly. But they were there, hanging on the wind, awaiting his response.

"Is that what you want me to say?" he asked. "Is that how you feel?"

She turned her head to face him. "I asked you first."

Before he could reply another wave hit the boat hard. He suddenly realized that he'd been so caught up in their conversation that he hadn't paid attention to the changing weather, a stupid mistake for any sailor. Dark thick clouds were blowing in from the west, stirring the waves into white menacing tops.

"We should head back," he said. He glanced down at his watch and saw the time. "Shit! I was supposed to be back forty minutes ago."

She followed him to the wheel, her eyes widening as she looked at the turbulent ocean. "Are we going to be all right?"

"We're fine. I just want to get back to the harbor before the storm blows in."

She wrapped her arms around her waist as he powered up the engine and turned toward home. "I don't like this," she muttered. "Everything feels so out of control out here."

"Man against nature."

"This doesn't bother you?"

He shook his head. "I like the ocean in all its moods, but I do respect it. And I don't take unnecessary chances."

"It scares me. I don't think you ever knew, but I never liked swimming in the ocean. The waves crashing over our heads, the current pulling against our legs. I was always happy when the weather was too cold to go in."

He sent her a quick look. "Why didn't you ever say that before?"

"I didn't want you to laugh at me. You were such a fish, and Alli was always willing to go in with you if I didn't."#p#分页标题#e#

"She liked challenging the ocean," Sam replied, seeing Alli in his mind charging full steam ahead into an oncoming wave. She'd been an avid body surfer, and she still loved to take Megan down to the beach in the summer and go swimming.

"Alli liked challenging everything and everyone," Tessa said. "And I'm not saying that to insult her, before you jump all over me again. Sometimes it was a good thing. I have to admit her forthrightness with the nurses at the hospital is good. She makes them answer her questions. I barely get more than a nod or a mumble. But Alli doesn't let up."