Sea of Love(14)

“Oh please. That man needs to worry about insurance like you need to worry about your hair being too straight,” Kaylie teased.

Danica shook her head at Kaylie’s lighthearted comment. “Lacy, panic attacks can be managed. I know this probably scared you, but you can learn to deal with your fears.”

Lacy shook her head. She was too confused to deal with any of that right then. When she closed her eyes, she saw Dane. She smelled his cologne; she felt his touch. When she opened them, the overwhelming panic that consumed her on the boat came rushing back. She wished she could walk the fine line in the middle without teetering toward either side, but that was unrealistic, and Lacy saw that as clearly as she saw no way out of attending the family function in less than an hour.

“I don’t know, Danica. I was totally blindsided by this. I realized today that all those trips my mom took me on in the summers, trips to the library, museums—everywhere but to the beach—they were probably guided by a well-defined plan to keep me from freaking out. I can’t go with Dane tonight.” Lacy clenched her teeth and reached for her phone.

Kaylie grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks. “Before you get too wrapped up in all of this, don’t you think you should talk to Dane about it? I mean, the guy probably knows a zillion people who are afraid of sharks. He might not be put off by this at all.”

Lacy stared into her older sister’s eyes, which usually looked so much like her own, but at that moment, Kaylie’s eyes held hope, while Lacy knew hers reflected a brick wall that she was unwilling to force her way through.

She pulled her arm free. “Kaylie, I’ve seen him once in fifteen months. I’m nothing more than a blip on his radar screen—and a short blip at that.” Lacy turned away before her sisters could see the tears in her eyes.





BY THE TIME her sisters left, they’d convinced her to go with Dane to the family function to say goodbye to Treat, Max, and the rest of their friends in person. She’d barely had time to shower and dress. She stood before the mirror in her gold cocktail dress thinking about the day she’d bought it. She’d thought it would be the perfect combination of formfitting sexy and classy coloring to hold Dane’s attention, and now, as she surveyed herself in the mirror, sadness clung to her heart and hung in the dullness in her eyes.

Her cell phone rang, and she started at the sound, then remembered that it had rung twice when she was in the shower. She hurried to the bed and picked it up just as it stopped ringing. Dane. How was she going to handle being around him and remaining steadfast in her need to break away from him?

Already late, she put on her lipstick and finished applying her eyeliner; then she sat on the bed and returned Dane’s call.

“Hi, Lace.”

The happiness in his voice brought a rush of longing through her.

“Hi.”

“Did you get my messages?” Dane asked. “I saw Danica on the way to your room this afternoon and figured you needed time with your sisters.”

She pulled the phone from her ear and noticed that she had two messages. “I haven’t listened to them yet, but Danica said you had asked about me. Thank you. It was a bit crazy around here.” I’m a bit crazy.

“No worries. Are you about ready to go?” he asked.

“You still want to go with me? Even after everything that happened today?”

“Do you even have to ask?”

Lacy closed her eyes and let out a relieved sigh. In the next breath, she remembered her plan to pull away from him. He wasn’t going to make this easy for her. She already felt her heart being torn to shreds.

“Lace?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m right here,” he said. “Open your door.”

Lacy crossed the small room and pulled the door open. Dane peered around an exquisite bouquet of white lilies. His eyes lit up when they met hers.

“Hi,” Dane said.

He’d changed into a white button-down shirt and a pair of linen khaki pants that tied at the waist. Lacy stifled the urge to reach up and touch the exposed skin that peeked out of his open collar.

“Those are gorgeous.” For a second she allowed herself not to think about what happened earlier. It had been only a few hours, but now she felt as if it had been days since she’d seen him. She wanted to fold herself in his arms and snuggle against his warmth. Desperation pulled at her heart—desperation for his comfort, desperation for Dane. Maybe just one more night.

“I thought these might make you feel a little better.” He handed her the flowers.

“How did you know that I love Madonna Lilies?” She brought the blooms to her nose and breathed in their heavy floral, honeylike fragrance. He followed her into the room while she set them on the coffee table.

“You told me you loved lilies a long time ago, but I didn’t know you loved Madonna Lilies in particular. I have a feeling there’s a lot about you that I don’t know yet.”

It’s probably better that way.

He reached for her hand. “But I intend to get to know everything there is to know about you.”

One night. Just one more night; then I’ll let him go, so he can find some woman who doesn’t have shark issues. Lacy felt her resolve fading away with each beat of her racing heart.

“I’m sorry about before.” What am I doing? Stop liking him!

“No need to be sorry. These things happen. I just want you to know that I’m here for you, Lace. If you want to talk about what happened today, or if you want to talk about anything else. I’m a really good listener.”

Lacy’s voice was stuck in her throat. Please don’t be so nice. I can’t be your noose.

Dane pulled her close, resting one hand on the small of her back and his cheek against hers; then he whispered, “You look amazing.”

Lacy closed her eyes, memorizing the feel of his heart beating against hers. How could she let such a great guy get involved with her? How could she walk away from him?

“Thank you,” she managed. She was so confused, and now, wrapped in the warmth of his arms, she had no idea what the right thing to do was. Whatever happened on that boat was bigger than she was, and Lacy had a feeling that even if Dane said he could deal with it, her fear might just be bigger than both of them.





Chapter Nine


THE PLUSH LAWN of the inn was bordered with thick New England gardens, bursting with colorful flowers, grasses that grew at different heights, and ground coverings that wound their way into every crevice in between. Tables covered with white tablecloths were arranged under gauzy white canopies and decorated with floral centerpieces. The afternoon heat faded as the sun began its descent, allowing the cooler air to come in off the sea. Dane had wanted to go back and see Lacy again after she’d said she wanted to lie down when they’d come in from the boat, but he thought time with her sisters would probably help her more than he could. Now he wondered if he’d made the wrong choice. Lacy seemed a little removed, like she was slipping away. Maybe she’s just embarrassed.

Dane noticed Savannah heading toward him and Lacy seconds after they arrived. He held tight to Lacy’s hand, anticipating his sister’s bold nature.

“I’m so glad you guys made it. I was afraid Lacy might not be up to it.” Savannah hugged Dane and then reached for Lacy. “Feeling better?”

“Yes, much. Thank you.”

Dane felt her grip his hand tighter.

“I’m really sorry to have ruined the trip,” Lacy said.

“Pfft.” Savannah swatted the air. “Are you kidding? No need to apologize. I wouldn’t know what to do if things always went as planned.” She pointed at Max and Treat. “Look how happy they are. I wonder if this whole love thing is contagious.” She lifted her eyebrows playfully.

Lacy blushed.

“I don’t know,” Dane said. “But I’m sick of seeing you without someone on your arm.”

“Oh, please. When I do bring a man around, you guys surround him like vultures.” Savannah rolled her eyes.

“It’s a brother thing. You know you love it.” Dane turned to Lacy. “Would you like a drink?”

“Sure. Whatever you’re having is fine with me,” she said.

“God, it’s starting already,” Savannah teased.

“Excuse me?” Lacy said.

“The whole couple thing. You know, you drink the same things; then you start finishing each other’s sentences.”

Dane kissed the back of Lacy’s hand before releasing it. “Ignore her. I’ll be right back.” He squinted at Savannah. “Think you can behave for five minutes?”

“Only if you bring me a Sea Breeze,” Savannah answered.

Dane headed for the bar, worrying about Lacy. He ordered their drinks, then felt the familiar weight of his father’s arm around his shoulder.

“I heard Lacy had a hard time today,” his father said.

“Of course you did.” He and his siblings were so close that when something happened to one of them, the rest were not far behind with open arms and a sympathetic ear.

“She okay?”

Dane nodded, though truthfully, he wasn’t sure. She’d had a pretty major panic attack, and from the brief conversation he’d had with Danica after she’d seen Lacy, Lacy really hadn’t known her fear of sharks was so great. If there was one thing Dane knew, it was that when it came to a fear of sharks, the path to understanding and conquering the fear was not an easy one—but it was doable if the person was amenable to difficult, scary, and sometimes overwhelming steps.