Page 68 of Summer Ride

“I bet that’s Brett’s doing. Keeping the details from the news,” Carter suggested.

“Either way, I’m thankful. Last time I was protected because I was a minor. This time…” She shivered, then looked at him. “I didn’t expect to drag you into any of this.”

“Hey,” he said, pulling her close, “you didn’t drag. None of this is your fault.” He kissed her.

“I’m so lucky,” she said with a sigh against his chest. “So lucky he didn’t kill you. The thing that made me the maddest was when he threatened you.” She looked up at him.

“He threatened me?” he asked with a frown.

She nodded. “I was fending him off. He hadn’t been able to grab me yet, and after I kicked him away, he pulled out his knife and was about to stab you in the chest.” She motioned to the cuts on her arms. “That’s how I got these,” she said softly.

He shifted until they were facing one another. His eyes went to the bandages over the nasty gash. “You saved me. I don’t think I can ever repay you.”

She smiled at him. “You already have.” She leaned over and placed her lips over his. “From the moment we first kissed, you saved me. You showed me what passion feels like. What love, true love, looks like. What a family can be.” Tears slowly slid down her cheeks. “I’m the one who can never repay you for making me a better person. One who wasn’t afraid to fight back, because you gave me something to fight for.” She rested her left hand over her belly, then lifted it to his cheek.

He was surprised when she wiped a tear from his face.

“I didn’t mean to make you cry,” she said with a chuckle.

“You are my soul,” he said, and kissed her.

“And you are mine.”

He took a deep breath. “Okay, that’s enough emotions for one day.” He shook his head and closed his eyes to take a deep breath.

“You never cry.” She leaned against his chest.

“It’s not like I try to avoid it. I just save it for very special occasions.” He wrapped his arm around her as she flipped through the stations to find something else to watch.

They ended up watching a couple of episodes of Friends reruns.

He knew that laughter was a great tool for recovery. That and some of the apple pie and ice cream that their friends had left them.

“I’m going to go home with five extra pounds.” She groaned as she lay on the sofa next to him.

He chuckled. “Five pounds and a fiancé,” he pointed out.

She turned in his arms and kissed him. “Would it be okay if we slept out here?”

“With all the lights on?” he asked with a slight frown.

She glanced around. “You can turn off a couple of the lights.”

He smiled and kissed her. “I sleep with my eyes closed anyway, so they won’t bother me.”

She turned in his arms again and yawned. “Thank you for today. It was perfect.”

He kissed the top of her head and held onto her while she fell asleep.

The following day, they took the paddleboards out, staying close enough to never lose sight of the house. She had to wrap her cast in a trash bag and ended up sitting on the board instead of standing.

“Look!” He pointed to a spot not far from them. “Dolphins.”

There was a pod of them heading directly towards them.

Kara laughed and turned her board so she could watch as four dolphins came within ten feet of them. The animals seemed curious about them, but too cautious to approach any closer.

When the dolphins grew bored with them, they quickly disappeared in the same direction they’d come from.