“And then what?” A deep voice joined hers.
Nicole snapped her head around in surprise. “Davis?” She was so lost in thought that she hadn’t heard him come up. “When did you . . . how . . . what are you doing here?” To say that she was shocked would be an understatement.
Barefoot, Davis dug his toes into the sand. He stood next to her wearing soft linen-cotton pants, rolled up at the ankles, and a white t-shirt. “My plane got in late last night. You were already asleep, and I didn’t want to disturb you.” He gazed out over the water with his hands stuffed deep into his pockets thinking about the first time he had seen Nicole on this very beach. She was soaked. Her hair clung to her face, and her clothes molded to her generous curves. She had never been more beautiful. He slowly looked in her direction. Today, Nicole didn’t look like his water nymph. But she was by no means less beautiful wearing a tank and cut-off shorts. It was simple and relaxed. Her unruly dark curls blew wildly around her face, and while she was clearly surprised to see him, her eyes held a calmness Davis hadn’t ever seen. While his anger had simmered, what bothered him most was that seeing Nicole in person hadn’t erased his warring emotions.
Nicole held her hair out of her face with her hands. “But why are you here? I’ve still got a week left of treatment.”
He looked back out over the sea and spoke quietly. “I know. I tried to stay away, but I couldn’t.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
Davis spoke as if he were talking to himself. He didn’t answer her question. “Everything for us started right on this island.”
It didn’t go unnoticed that he hadn’t responded, but Nicole let it go—for now. “Actually, it started with you being an asshole to me at that airport.”
“I wasn’t an asshole per se.” A slight smile tickled the edge of his lips. “I was preoccupied and having a bad day.”
“Davis, you were horrible to me.”
“Okay, maybe I wasn’t as charming as I am now, but I did make it up to you.” He widened his arms and turned in a half circle. “I saved your life on this very island. I should get credit for that.”
“I don’t exactly remember it that way.”
Davis raised an eyebrow. “How do you remember it?”
“We saved each other.”
Her words drew her to him, and when Davis turned their eyes met. His hands were feather light when he touched her cheek. Their back and forth banter vanished. “So, how did we get here?”
Nicole sighed. “Is there any wonder why two broken people would be drawn to each other?”
“Broken, huh?”
Nicole twisted her lips to the side and laughed a little. “We’re standing on a beach where I’m finishing treatment for a drug addiction. I would definitely say yes.”
“I’m glad you can joke about it.”
She shrugged. “What else can I do? I’m no longer ashamed, and I’m trying hard to get better every day. Not only do I want to be better . . .” She paused. “I want us to be better too. Is that why you’re here?”
Davis tried to choose his words carefully. “I want to do what’s best for all of us.” He threw his head back and closed his eyes. “I don’t know what that is. I came here because I want to find out.”
Nicole felt like she’d been punched in the gut. She looked down. “Oh.”
After a moment, with a gentle touch, Davis placed his hand on her shoulder. His words and his brain weren’t connecting. God, she feels good. He knew that common sense had to prevail. “Nicole, I love you, but sometimes love just isn’t enough. Sometimes, two people just are not good for each other.” Even as he said the words, all he wanted to do was pull her into his arms.
“I agree. Love on its own isn’t enough. But, if you do—still—want me. Then we can make our marriage better than it ever was before. But we have to want our marriage to work, and then we have to fight for it. I think we’re worth it.”
She sounded so confident. Still, regardless of what Nicole said, Davis never wanted to see her in a position like this again. He couldn’t help but feel partly responsible.
“Mrs. Chatham?” Someone called out to her.
Nicole turned back toward the house. Her therapist, Carmen, was standing on the wrap around porch, trying to get Nicole’s attention. Nicole yelled back, “I’ll be right there.” She turned to Davis. “I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go. We like to do early morning sessions. Can we talk later?”
He nodded. “Of course.” Davis watched Nicole walk away. He wasn’t sure if he had the strength to let her go. In the end, he had to do what was best for her—and everyone.
Chapter 24
Other than the morning of Davis’s arrival, he and Nicole hadn’t spent very much time alone. Davis consciously made that decision. He didn’t want to interfere with her routine, and, if he were honest, he wasn’t ready to finish the conversation they started almost a week ago. But he couldn’t stand being away from her.
