Brazen

'Why?'

She looked out the window. Mountains provided a backdrop for a wide variety of cacti and plant life. Looking at the sun overhead, a bright ball of fire in an otherwise clear blue sky, she shook her head. 'I have no idea. I was born and raised there, so I stayed, I guess. Plus financial planners do best in New York. What about you?'

'An Arizona native.'

'So you have family here?'

He nodded. 'Mother and sister, a brother-in-law and a six-month-old nephew.'

She didn't like thinking about him as a man with family, people who loved and cared about him. Somehow that made him too real, too unforgettable.

'What about you?' he asked. 'Any family?'

'Just my dad.'

His understanding groan filled the small car. 'What happened?'

'My mother passed away a couple of years ago… and…'

'And?' he prodded when she remained silent.

'Dad didn't cope well. He's a stockbroker and works for one of the big brokerage firms in the city.' And of course, Sam, in her quest for parental approval, had gone into financial planning, a similar field, to emulate her father and make him proud. She was never quite sure she'd accomplished her goal, so it was a good thing she loved her choice of careers.

She sighed. 'First he neglected his clients, then he tried to compensate. I didn't know until recently, but in the last year, Dad's been dipping into high-risk stocks and losing a lot of money. His boss wasn't pleased when several of his clients took their business elsewhere. Both his professional and personal portfolios are a mess. The worse things got, the more time he spent doing anything but watching the market…' She cut herself off with a laugh.

Tipping her head to the side, she met his gaze. 'You're easy to talk to, you know that?'

'Then keep going.' He lay a hand on her arm, and she let the warmth seep through her.

'If you're sure you want to hear.'

Dark eyes reassured her. 'I do.'

'He's nearly broke. I should have seen it coming, but I didn't.' And considering the solution, oh, how she wished she had. Sam shook her head. 'I was so busy with my own life and job that I didn't realize what was going on. By the time I did, he'd not only fallen into serious debt, he'd lost most of his long-standing clients.'

His hand moved from her arm to her fingers as he cupped her hand in a gentle grip.

'You can't control his life for him.'

'No, but I'm not so sure he can, either. At first I thought it was a grief-induced lapse and he'd snap out of it. But now I think he's just getting older and less meticulous, more forgetful, maybe. If I'd paid more attention…'

'You aren't responsible for your father's actions.'

She raised an eyebrow. If only he knew. 'I promised my mother I'd take care of him,' she explained. Problem was, her dying mother had envisioned Sam teaching him to use the washing machine, not giving up her own freedom to ensure her father didn't lose the house or his status in the community.

'Besides, I've always done the right thing,' she murmured. Always sought her parents' approval… their elusive affection. She'd found both at the time her mother had passed away. She loved her father and wanted to help. But everything she wanted would now cost her dearly. She tipped her head for a glance at Mac.

'I can understand that kind of vow,' he said. 'I promised my father the same thing.'

Too real, too unforgettable. She drew a shuddering breath. This morning would have been the perfect time to escape, before she got to know him, before she got to like him.

But since it was too late for that, Sam decided she wanted his understanding as well. 'So you can see how a promise can change your whole life…' She stopped herself before she revealed too much, realizing how honest she'd been and how dangerous the level of emotional intimacy had become.

This week wasn't reality, she reminded herself. It was a sliver of time that belonged to her and Mac alone. She had no business bringing her real life into the picture, as if he were someone she could confide in. Someone who would be around when all was said and done. Because no matter how much she grew to like him, no matter how much she might care, Samantha had to walk away. Regardless of how painful it might be.

She'd be hurting him, too, and that thought bothered her most of all. She wrapped her free arm around herself to ward off the unwanted chill, a chill that came from deep inside her.

As if sensing the conversation had ended and respecting her silence, he shifted to drive and pulled back onto the road. Her other hand remained safe in his, his touch warm and comforting on her skin. 'I'm sorry about your mother,' he told her, his gaze fixed ahead. 'And I know that any solution to your father's problems will be tough on you. Be there for him, advise him, and help him if you can. But remember, you can't give up the rest of your life because he's having trouble with his.'

If he only knew. She slid her gaze to the window, unable to look at him. Although he knew she was leaving for the conference next week, he had no idea how final their goodbyes would truly be.

4

Mac drove into town and parallel-parked on a small side street in front of a store painted in bright colors with warm, welcoming signs in each window. He'd no sooner turned off the ignition than Sam jumped out of the car and onto the sidewalk. Mac joined her as she stared into a window filled with T-shirts in a variety of sizes and colors. He slipped his hand into hers and they made their way through the town, stopping to browse in various shops. Just being by his side gave her a renewed sense of warmth and happiness she'd never known before.

Being an only child, she'd never had brothers or sisters to run and play with while her parents walked hand in hand. She'd always felt the loss. Always been an outsider in her own life. Until now. She shivered despite the warm sun overhead. Now was not the time to be finding things in life that satisfied her unless they were memories to be stored and cherished. Her time with Mac was certainly that.

Benches lined the street, along with old lamps and chipped painted signs. He'd been smart to suggest this outing. She'd needed to get away from the bar for a while, not to mention escaping the sizzling sexual tension that seemed never to be far from the surface. Cave Cove sported every kind of tourist shop imaginable. And here, in the outdoors, she was able to relax, to enjoy the day and Mac without pressure.

The town was empty because of the early hour, so they had the streets and shops to themselves. At the end of the sidewalk, she came to a small jewelry store with a hand-carved wooden sign out front. Turquoise-and-silver jewelry was beautifully displayed in a window setting. She paused outside.

He tugged lightly on her hand. 'Let's keep walking. There are tons of stores with the same things in all these little alleyways.'

A large red sign inside caught her eye. 'But this one is offering thirty percent off.'

He laughed. 'Every jewelry store here offers thirty percent off. Competition. They couldn't stay in business otherwise. It's a gimmick designed to get people like you inside.'

She placed her palms on the cool glass. Something about the dangling glass reflectors and wind chimes hanging from the ceiling called to her. 'This is the place,' she insisted.

'If you say so. Just remember there's plenty of landmarks you'll miss if you spend all your time here.'

She frowned. 'You mean you're getting bored already.'

'Did I say that?' He had the audacity to look insulted.

'It's a well-known fact that men hate shopping.'

'A statistic I'm proud to say I'm a part of. But not today. Come on.' Keeping her hand tucked in his, he led her inside.

Bells tinkled as they entered a shop smelling of lavender potpourri. Goose bumps prickled along her skin and she shivered, causing Mac to draw her closer and wrap his strong arm around her waist. A strange sensation she couldn't name enveloped her. If she believed in auras and premonitions, she would think she'd reached a turning point in her life. That any decision she made now would chart the course of her future. Silly, considering she didn't believe in any of those things.