Page 45 of Seaside Strangers
And then she’d be alone again.
Her chest ached at the thought.
She gathered a few things from the dresser, turning back toward the bed—and froze.
KC stood in the doorway, one shoulder braced against the frame, arms crossed. He’d showeredafter his run and changed into cargo shorts and a gray T-shirt. The hard edge in his face had eased, but tension still held in his body, like he hadn’t quite let go of whatever had been driving him earlier.
Her fingers curled around the clothes in her hands. She wanted to cross the room, smooth that tension out of him, and feel the heat of his skin beneath her palms.
But she didn’t move.
“Going somewhere?”
Shaking her head, she stepped to the bed and placed the clothes into her bag. “Not yet.”
He stayed in the doorway. When she glanced at him, his brows lifted slightly, the question unspoken but clear.
“Whether you help me or not, eventually I’ll leave.” She focused on refolding a shirt that didn’t need to be. “I’ll either be arrested… or I’ll be running again.”
Silence stretched between them. When she finally looked up, he’d dropped his gaze, his jaw working as if he were choosing his words carefully. He drew in a breath through his nose, then let it out slowly.
“There’s another possible outcome you didn’tmention,” he said. “Maybe we figure this out, and you walk away free.”
“Maybe.” The word felt thin, but she let it stand. She didn’t have it in her to argue hope when she didn’t feel it.
She turned back to her bag.
“You’re still leaving, though?”
She stilled for a moment before answering. “Yes.” Her voice softened, but didn’t waver. “I think it’s for the best.”
His eyes flared, but he remained silent. Unable to look at him, she grabbed a few items from the vanity and tossed them into the knapsack. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth after we made… had sex.” She couldn’t bring herself to call it anything else. He didn’t love her and never would—not after all this. “I was scared you wouldn’t believe me.”
“I understand.”
The words stopped her cold. She turned slowly, searching his face. “You do?”
“Sure. I mean, what? We’ve only known each other for a little over a week, right? I guess I would’ve done the same thing in your shoes.” He shrugged as if it were nothing, looking more at ease than he had since finding the duffel bag. “Listen, I’ll help you in any way I can—as long as you’re upfront with me about everything from now on.”
She twisted her hands together. He might look relaxed, but her nerves were anything but. “I should never have gotten you involved in this, but when you offered to help me learn how to defend myself, it seemed like a good idea.”
“Itwasa good idea. You can’t handle this alone, but somehow we’ll figure a way out of it.” He stepped into the room and quietly shut the door behind him. “Look, I’m sorry I yelled at you before. You were protecting yourself, and I shouldn’t be mad about that.”
With the door closed, the room felt smaller, his presence filling the space. She turned back to the bag, pulling things out only to put them back again without any real purpose. “No, I’m sorry. I never intended to get involved with you, but after we had sex—or even before—I should’ve told you the truth. It’s all my fault.”
“Look at me, Moriah.”
Her breath caught at the soft sound of her real name on his lips. Not Maura. Not the lie.Moriah. The way he said it unraveled something inside her.
She hadn’t even noticed him move, but when she turned, he was right there, only inches away.Her breath hitched as their eyes met, and the desire she saw in his made her knees feel unsteady.
“How about we agree we were both wrong,” he murmured, “and call a truce?”
She licked her lips, and his gaze followed the movement before lifting again. Heat flickered between them, unexpected and undeniable.
After a moment, she nodded, her voice low and unsteady. “Truce.”
She obviously didn’t love him, or it wouldn’t be so easy for her to walk away. KC wasn’t about to ask her to stay, though. That had to be her choice. Right now, she had more pressing things to deal with than what he was feeling—something he kept to himself for the time being.
