Promise

yet, but I think one wants to kill the other or they both want to kill each other…at least at first.'

He gave me a dark look and I shrugged.

'Well, they say to write about what you know .' I bit my lip, waiting for his reaction. Shouldn't have said that, stupid .

He just shook his head, chuckled and wrapped his arms around me. 'You know, only you could bring love into the most unlikely situations.'

'Everybody has at least a little good in them, so it's possible.'

My face pressed against his chest, so I couldn't see his expression, but I felt his muscles tense. His tone was dark and serious. 'Not every body.'

Even with his warm body around me and the sun beating on us, a chill ran up my spine. He would know. I decided to let the subject drop.

'So, what do we do with the rest of the day?' I asked.

Tristan suddenly jumped toward the table and slammed his hand on the folder containing the manuscript, then a big gust of wind blew around us. I looked up and saw the dark steel-gray clouds building up and pushing toward the beach from the other side of the house. The typical afternoon storm came in quickly.

'Thank you!' I gasped. 'How'd you know?'

'Heard it coming.'

We barely had everything inside when the wind picked up again. Tristan pushed a button to close the window-wall, then he took my hand and led me downstairs.

'Are you hungry? I picked up some croissants with the coffee. Chocolate, your favorite.'

I hadn't realized it until then, but I was ravenous. 'Sounds good. I hope you bought ten. I'm starving.'

He chuckled. 'There should be enough to hold you over. Then I'll shower and take you home so you can get cleaned up, too. Maybe by then the storm will have passed and we can go for a short ride before tonight.'

'What's going on tonight?' I asked as I lifted myself to sit on the counter.

'Like I said…plans to make, things to figure out.' He shrugged, downplaying it, but I knew by the look in his eyes it was serious.

'You're holding back on me,' I said pointedly. He grimaced.

'You're right. And I'm not going to do that anymore.' He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. 'Ian's little visit has more far-reaching consequences than you realize. Your safety is more at risk now than it ever has been. We need to decide what to do about that.'

'Oh,' I breathed. An onslaught of thoughts rushed through my head, giving me no time to think about each one as the next pushed it out: Are we moving again? What about school? What about my book? Can we still get married? Is Mom okay? Would they really challenge Tristan? Would he be okay? Those last three terrified me.

Tristan misinterpreted the look of fear I felt spreading across my face. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head. 'Don't worry, you've been well protected. I won't let anything happen to you. Why do you think I was at your house day after day, even though you wouldn't talk to me? I couldn't leave you alone, so vulnerable....'

While I was immersed in my own miserable world, there'd been much else going on I hadn't even realized. And Tristan had put his own heart aside to protect me, even when I behaved so cruelly. I pushed my croissant away, my stomach in knots with heartache and worry. I leaned my forehead against his chest.

'What does this mean?' I finally asked. 'What will happen? Can't you see the best solution anyway?'

His body stiffened and he didn't answer at first. Then he said firmly, 'It's no longer an option.'

'Why not, if it's the best one? What is it?' I looked up into his face. His eyes darkened.

'I won't discuss it. It's just not happening.' He walked away, his back to me. 'We'll figure something else out, all of us, tonight.'

I hopped down from the counter and went over to him. I wrapped my arms around his waist and pressed myself to his back.

'I trust you,' I whispered. 'As long as you'll be okay.'

His muscles relaxed and he pulled my hands apart enough so he could turn around in the circle of my arms. He lifted my chin with his thumb.

'You do not need to worry about me ,' he said. 'As long as you're safe, I'll be fine.'

He bent over and brushed his lips against mine.

'Now, I'm going to take a shower and, as much as I'd rather you not, you need to get dressed.' He headed for the stairs and I followed behind him.

'I could join you,' I offered, my insides warming at the thought.

'I'd love that…but, my love, I need your patience.'

My head fell in dejection, though I knew deep inside that my whole heart wasn't into the idea. I wanted to wait, too, so it would be perfect.

'I promise you, though, it will be rewarded,' he added and I smiled.

Something white lying by the baseboard caught my eye as we crossed the living room. I picked it up and realized it was a piece off one of the house models. I looked around the room and didn't see any boxes large enough to contain the architectural renderings. I wondered what he did with them. As I looked back at the piece, I noticed it hadn't just fallen off—it was broken.

'Tristan…?' I looked up at him as he turned to me. 'Where are your houses?'

A dark look came over his face and then he shrugged. 'Gone,' he said flatly.

'What do you mean…gone?' I searched his face as a pit formed in my stomach with the thought of what might have happened to them. I could tell he didn't want to tell me.

'I…destroyed them,' he admitted quietly.

'Tristan! How could you? Why? '

'I was angry at myself and decided I didn't want them anymore. I wouldn't need a dream home…without you to share it with.'

A long carving knife of shame pierced all the way through my heart and then twisted around inside my chest.

'I'm sorry !' I cried, throwing my arms around him. 'I'm sorry I doubted you. I'm sorry I hurt you. I'm sorry…'

'You had every right….'

'No, I didn't! How could I doubt your love? I knew it all along and I was just mad, acting like a child. And I hurt you….'

'You were hurt first. I hurt you. I should have been more upfront with you. I deserved it.'

'But it wasn't you! I know that now. All you did was what was best for them…and you loved me. I'm just so sorry I was too proud and bullheaded to realize it sooner. I almost lost you,' I whispered miserably.

'But you didn't,' he whispered back. 'And now you know you love me and trust me fully.'

I nodded. He wiped the tears from my cheeks.

'So, we're good.' He smiled warmly and I nodded again. 'Then let's get past this and look forward, okay?'

I nodded a third time. He picked me up in a tight hug. I gave him a long kiss, hoping the depth of my love for him would flow through it. But I didn't know if that was even possible. My love was so much more.

'We'll do the next one together— our dream home,' he promised as we continued up the stairs hand-in- hand.

* * *

As we headed home from dinner that evening, Tristan drove the motorcycle right past the cottage to the dead-end at the beach.

'Come on. We have just enough time to watch the sun set,' he said.

The sun already hovered half-way behind the water and we sat in silence as it finished its descent.

'Listen,' Tristan finally said, 'we'll need to go soon, but before we do, I need to tell you something.'

Somberness and foreboding filled his tone. My stomach tightened automatically.

'Why do I have this feeling I won't like what happens tonight?' I asked.

'I think, in the end, you'll be fine. First, though, there will be some surprises.'

' More surprises? How much more can there be ?' I moaned and threw my head into his lap. I laid there