“I’m losing my mind,” she said in a cracked voice. “I want you to stay. That is, if you still want to.”
“What I want is for you not to be afraid. I want you to feel safe.” He took one step toward her but hesitated as if testing her willingness to let him close. Then he touched her jaw—just a fingertip. But she felt it all the way to her soul. “You’re safe with me, Sarah. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”
Coming from anyone else, the statement would be melodramatic and corny. But he didn’t so much as blink when he made the declaration. He was dead serious, and the thing was, she totally believed him. She wanted to believe him.
She stood there, not flinching away from his touch. It was ... nice. Comforting on a deeper level she didn’t quite understand. It had been a long time since she’d taken so much pleasure in a man’s touch. Just the simple gesture, the brush of his fingers. It touched something inside her that had been paralyzed with fear for so long.
“Who are you?” she blurted. “Are you real? Or did I conjure you up?”
He looked startled by her question. He cocked his head to the side and then emitted a soft chuckle. “I don’t know about me, but the food’s real.”
She peered curiously at the bags on the counter. “What did you bring?”
He turned and open up one of the sacks and pulled out a package of steaks. “I thought we’d start with a little meat, progress to more meat and finish with—”
“Let me guess. More meat?”
He grinned. “I’m a growing boy. Need my protein.”
She rolled her eyes and then frowned when her gaze lighted on his shoulder. “How did you hurt yourself?”
He lifted one brow and leaned his hip against the counter.
She flushed. “I watched you from the window. It seems to bother you when you’re exercising.”
He flashed a wry smile. “Yeah, I might have met with the wrong end of a bullet.”
She blinked. “Is either end of a bullet good?”
For a moment he stared at her and then he threw his head back and laughed. “Okay, you totally got me there.”
“So what happened?”
“Let’s just say some bad people were trying to hurt someone I love.”
“And shot you in the process? You look military. Were you in the army?”
He visibly shuddered. “Army? Hell no.”
She studied him through narrow eyes. “Marine? You used to be a Marine?”
“I am a Marine,” he corrected.
“Oh, you’re still enlisted then? Are you on leave?”
“You sure do ask a lot of questions. I feel like I’m playing volleyball.”
She flushed. “Sorry. I get carried away.”
“S’okay. And no, I’m not enlisted anymore. But we don’t exactly call ourselves former Marines.”
“Oh, yeah. Once a Marine ...”
He nodded.
She pursed her lips, ready to ask another question then thought better of it. He smiled. “You can ask. I was only kidding about you asking so many questions. Well, not kidding, but I don’t mind.”
“You’re awfully laid-back,” she said.
He looked at her in astonishment and then laughed again.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oh man, I gotta tell my brothers you said that. They’d kill themselves laughing. They think I’m the most uptight son of a bitch who ever lived.”
Shock widened her eyes. “Really? But you seem so easygoing. So ... calm.”
He rubbed a hand through his mussed hair and grinned ruefully. “Maybe it’s the downtime. I haven’t exactly taken any in ... well, forever. Kind of hard to be uptight when all you can see for miles is beach, water and blue skies.”
She rubbed her hands up her arms, drawn to the image he painted. Peace. That was the word that seemed to personify him. Longing welled like a giant wave, falling over her until it was all she could process. What would she do for peace? True peace. The kind that settled into your bones and invaded your veins until contentment ached bittersweet.
She’d sell her soul to own even a little part of the peace that seemed to surround him.
“What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking I envy you,” she said honestly.
Their gazes connected and his blue eyes flickered, just a hint of reaction in their depths. He didn’t respond. Didn’t offer some hokey sentiment. He just watched and studied her as if no words were needed because he understood. She shook her head to rid herself of the ridiculous thoughts dancing around in her head. How could he understand anything when he was a complete stranger?
She turned away, no longer able to look into his eyes, into so much warmth. He made her stupid. Completely and utterly stupid. He’d get no free passes just because he saved her. Her gratitude? Yes. She was extremely grateful, and not just for rescuing her, but for going beyond that to make her feel safe.
Mentally, she put about six feet of distance between them. When she turned back around, her lips were set into a firm line. “Do you want me to make a salad?”
“Nah. Would ruin the whole effect. You can season the meat though, while I go out and fire up the grill.”
Relieved to have something to do and that he was leaving the room for a bit, she nodded and went to retrieve spices from the small pantry. By the time she returned to the table, Garrett had disappeared out the front door. She heaved a sigh of relief and sagged against the counter.
Never before had she had such a confusing reaction to a man. Garrett terrified her and yet he made her feel as though nothing could hurt her as long as he was near. She feared allowing him too close, and yet she didn’t want him to leave.
She smiled when she saw that in addition to the steaks, he’d brought over chicken breasts and pork chops. He hadn’t been kidding when he’d suggested a three-course meat dinner. As much as he worked out and as muscled as he was, he probably had to consume a gazillion calories in a day. And lots and lots of protein.
She liberally seasoned the meat and then washed her hands in the sink. As she gazed out the window overlooking the porch, she saw the fire blazing in the small grill. Garrett stood watching the flames and when they finally died down, he closed the lid and started back toward the front door.
“Want to sit out on the porch while the meat cooks?” he asked when he returned to the kitchen.
The idea was instantly appealing. She’d spent most of her time watching the ocean from the safety of her cottage. But sitting outside, smelling the air, feeling the ocean breeze on her face sounded wonderful. She wouldn’t be vulnerable and alone. She had Garrett.
“That sounds wonderful.” She even managed to smile as she said it.
Suddenly eager to be outside and enjoy an afternoon of freedom, she rummaged in the sack for the still-cold beer. She held up three bottles, all different, and raised a questioning eyebrow in his direction.
He grinned. “Pick one. I’m not particular.”
She shrugged and put one down on the counter. The rest she shoved into her fridge for later. Garrett picked up the beer and returned her questioning look.
“Not having one?”
She wrinkled her nose. “I’m not much of a beer person, I’m afraid.”
“Ah.”
There was a lot in that one little word and her gaze sharpened. “What?”
“Just ah. You look more like a wine person.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He cocked his head to the side and studied her. “You have this refined, elegant look about you. I bet you enjoy classical music, going to the opera, fine wine and fancy food.”
She flushed. “You think I’m a snob?”