Page 15 of Come Sail Away

Chapter Four

Sully buttoned the front of his shirt and rolled up the sleeves the way he liked them. Harper had been absolutely amazing today. She’d been so attentive and caring, taking him to the hospital in Fort Myers and hanging out there for three hours while he was treated. She’d watched the doctor’s and nurse’s every move to make sure all was just right. She had picked up his medication and waited on him all afternoon.

It turned out Lacey had pegged it: the injury had been caused by a stingray. He was fortunate that there hadn’t been any barbs lodged in his flesh because that would have meant minor surgery to remove them. The doctor had soaked the injury in hot water, and as soon as his foot had been submerged, the pain had lessened. Evidently, the warm water drew out the poison.

He looked up to find Harper watching him, her brow furrowed. “Are you sure you feel well enough to sing?”

“Yes. I’ll just use a stool tonight. It’ll be fine.” He came to her and wrapped his arms around her. “Thank you for all your help today.” He lightly kissed her lips. “You’re the best nurse I’ve ever had.”

“You’ve had many nurses?” she asked.

“No. But—”

She pressed her lips to his—a pleasant interruption—grabbing his face and threading her fingers into his hair. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

He smiled and winked. “Me too.”

As he walked to the door, he had only the slightest of limps. The hot water and pain medicine had worked wonders. Even the long stroll to theJunoniadining room didn’t bother him, and further to a spacious lanai, featuring the Casablanca theme where he’d be part of the live entertainment for the evening. He slipped his arm around Harper’s waist as he spotted Luke McBain, head of Casa Blanca Resort security, speaking to a duo of young women at the bar.

Harper followed his gaze. “Hey, aren’t those two of the girls from your autographing session earlier today.”

“I think you’re right.” He felt her tense, wondering why that seemed to bother her. “Luke McBain from security is chatting with them.”

“Maybe checking their IDs,” she speculated, chuckling.

“They do look kinda young, huh?”

“I think they’re following you,” she whispered.

The redhead glanced over and waved her fingers. Beside him, Harper emitted a barely perceptible groan. Sully suppressed a knowing smile. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d dated a woman who wasn’t keen about the attention he garnered. He abruptly hesitated in his thoughts. Did this count as a date? Well, with the powerful desire he felt toward her, he realized he’d subconsciously put her into a girlfriend category. He tugged her in closer to his side.

He gave Luke a casual salute and guided Harper to a table near the stage. She ordered a glass of merlot tonight. He would have loved to have some, too, but he stuck with a soda because of the pain meds. He didn’t want to mess up his set.

Disquiet rolled through his chest as he studied Harper sipping her wine. How could he let her go tomorrow when her boat was fixed?

He didn’t want to. Not at all. Yet with their busy schedules, not to mention not living in the same place, there didn’t seem to be any hope for him to get to know her better, to explore these new, intense feelings.

“Is something wrong?” she asked. “Is your foot hurting too much?”

“No, I’m fine,” he lied before changing the subject. “What’s the latest on your boat?”

“Oh, right… It will be ready in the morning. Max is coming down to drive the boat back to his place. I told him he didn’t have to, but he insisted.”

Sully nodded and swallowed. “Maybe he could drive it back and you could stay another day… “

“That’s so tempting, believe me. I have to admit, my stay here has been lovely. Better than I imagined.” She gave him a shy smile. “But I have a plane to catch and work to get back to. And so do you.”

Harper, ever the practical one.

An unfamiliar ache settled in his chest. He wasn’t going to beg her, though.

He stood and made his way to center stage where the mic and stool were prepared. Inhaling a deep breath, he signaled to the accompaniment musician to begin. The opening introduction played, and Sully turned to the one thing that had always sustained him, that had always given meaning to his life: his music.

* * *

Good heavens, it had hurt to turn down his offer. How could she have these feelings, these yearnings, in a mere two days? This was not love at first sight. She’d known Sully since they were teens. This was…impossible.

They were as alike as apples and oranges. The infatuation she felt couldn’t be sustainable.