"No you don't," he whispered. Then he put his mouth over hers and she was lost.
His kiss was hungry, seeking, demanding. She tried to resist. She tried to keep her lips closed, but his tongue teased her mouth and she couldn't help but open, letting him slip inside, letting him taste her the way she wanted to taste him. She threw her arms around his back, forgetting that her gloves were soaking wet, forgetting that they were standing literally in a pile of snapping fish. Forgetting that he'd just come off a boat trip with her sister. No—#p#分页标题#e#
She yanked her mouth away from his, her breath coming out in ragged, jerky gasps. "Did you kiss Tessa like that? Did you kiss her like she was the only woman in the world and you couldn't live without her. Oh, God! Why do I let you do this to me? Stay away from me, Sam. Just stay away from me."
She peeled off her gloves and tossed them onto the deck. "I don't want you anymore. I don't want to be second choice, second best, second whatever. I don't want to be the one who trails after you like some stupid lost puppy dog. I don't want to be the one you got stuck with after the one you loved got away. She's here, Sam. Tessa is right here in Tucker's Landing. You want to make love to someone. Make love to her."
* * *
Chapter 16
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Sam walked into Phoebe's hospital room later that afternoon and said hello to William, who sat in a chair by the bed, watching the news on television. The older man looked tired, but there was still a determination in his expression that refused to weaken.
"Hello, Sam."
"How's Phoebe?"
"Sleeping. They put her through some physical therapy earlier. She's talking better, moving better. I think she's on her way back to us."
"That's good news. Do you want to take a break? I'll stay with her for a while."
"I wouldn't mind stretching my legs, maybe getting a bite to eat. Not that there is much in that cafeteria that's appealing. Still, it's convenient." He got up, then hesitated as he saw Phoebe's eyes flutter open. "Phoebe?"
She smiled sleepily at William, her expression growing sweeter as it came to rest on Sam. He smiled back at her, thinking she looked almost normal. There was color in her cheeks and sparkle in her eyes. "Hi, Phoebe? Are you behaving yourself?"
"As if I could do anything else," she said, more quickly and clearly than she'd spoken the day before.
"I'm taking a walk," William said, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I'll be back soon. Do you need anything?"
"No, thank you." Phoebe patted the mattress next to her as Sam hovered at the end of the bed. "Come here and sit beside me."
Sam did as he was told, sitting down on the edge of the bed instead of the chair. There was plenty of room. Phoebe was so small, she barely took any space.
"Did Alli and Tessa find the pearl?" she asked. He wanted to tell her yes, but the truth was that they hadn't.
"I'm sorry," he said, realizing Phoebe was waiting. "We haven't found one yet. But we haven't given up either. So don't worry."
"Tomorrow is what day?"
"Friday."
"We don't have much time left before the Fourth."
"We'll find a pearl. We're going tomorrow at low tide to check the oyster farm by Vista Point. Alli said you used to have good luck there. We'll take Megan, too. She'll get to spend some time with her aunt."
Phoebe smiled. "All of you together. That's nice."
"It might be."
She lifted her hand to him and he took it. "You have to make it all right, Sam."
"I'm the problem, not the solution." He shook his head in frustration. "Alli keeps throwing me at Tessa, and Tessa seems to think maybe we could have something now that Alli is backing off. They both keep looking at me like I know the answer to some question, only I don't know the answer. In fact, I'm not even sure what the question is."#p#分页标题#e#
"What do you want? That's the question."
"I don't know anymore. I loved Tessa once. You know I did. But Alli and I married for better or worse. I made those vows in good faith. I always meant to keep them, until Alli decided to change the rules." He sighed. "Still, in my mind, Tessa was always the right one and Alli was always the mistake. Now I look at Tessa and wonder how I could fit into her life. But I look at Alli and wonder the same thing. Alli is moving on without me. Her business is going well. She's more confident than I've ever seen her. She used to need me for that. But she doesn't anymore."
"She still needs you," Phoebe said, patting his hand. "But do you need her?"
"I know I miss her more than I ever thought I would."