Page 20 of The Marine's Homecoming

She turns, stomping off, but even that reaction is subdued. Hannah probably still feels the same way about me. Not much has changed in twelve years. But she's not lashing out.

I'm not sure whether I should be worried about that, but I follow after her as she starts listing off the things that have been fixed, the things that need to be fixed, and the time frame set for each of those things. I don't know why I have to come along for this other than that I'm the property owner, and maybe it's a liability thing. Mostly, I stand around and grunt at her comments or listen to her complaints. And after twenty minutes of her droning, my leg is stiff and I want to sit down.

"You know," she says, sighing softly as she watches a boat slither in between pier one and the construction zone buoys, "this marina is literally the lifeblood of this town now." The way the sunlight kisses her skin makes her look like she's glowing. Her skin has a warm tone, like she's been tanning, and the nostalgic expression reminds me of a child at Christmas.

"Yeah, Tank was saying something like that a few weeks ago." The sudden change of topic from repair work to life here in this small town I grew up in tugs at my heartstrings. I've never been exceptionally fond of it until now, simply because it felt like the anchor to hold me back, not the home I'd come back to when I had nothing left. I'm only just settling in to the feeling of it being comfortable now.

Hannah turns to me with misty eyes and shrugs a shoulder. "Why did you decide not to sell the land?"

I move forward, leaning on the pylon closest to me as the waves lap at our feet. Tide is coming in, and we'll have to move before too long, but this moment of her softening up and wanting to talk to me about anything other than the festival or dock problems is so rare. I don't want to skip over it.

"Honestly, just what you said…" My fingers itch to reach up and curl that hair behind her ear, but I stop myself. She may havehad some angry sex with me on that boat, but I'm not stupid enough to think that means she wants to again, or that she was okay with it when her conscience kicked in. "If a man like Dorsey buys this land, it won't stay pure for this town. He'll have developers in here turning this place into a tourist trap.

"Sure, Bandon would end up wealthier and with tons more jobs, but it wouldn't be Bandon then. It'd be a coastal spot for vacationers. The entire economy would shift. Small businesses like Tank’s and yours would go under. Your parents' dream of continuing their businesses beyond retirement would die…" I realize I'm talking more about her and her family than anyone else and I pause.

I didn't keep this land because of Hannah or her parents, though God knows Nick would've wanted me to. I did it for Tank and men like him, men like Paul whose family has worked construction in this town for decades. They'd all get driven out by bigger, fancier companies, and I can't let that happen.

So why now am I only thinking about how much it would hurt Hannah if I let this place go to some rich-boy money maker?

"Thank you," she says softly, hugging that clipboard to her chest. "I mean that." Her eyes search mine as I nod, not knowing what to say. The chemistry between us swells so much that I want to say something that would clue her in to the fact that I can't stop thinking about her. But I also don't want to wreck this fragile connection we have budding. She isn't hating me for the moment. I have to be okay with that and not ruin it.

"I think it's the right choice," I mumble, feeling awkward. "Dad taught me to do what's best for others, so…"

Hannah's head drops and I watch her toe push a bit of seaweed through the wet sand. "Nick would be so honored that you are helping out."

I know that for the first time since I came back, Hannah's words about Nick aren't meant to be a dagger, but they slice through my heart all the same. I can't even speak because I get choked up. That accident hurt a lot of people.

"And honestly, this town needs hope now more than ever. I just want to do what's right too…" Her eyes sparkle with emotion again and she says, "I know Frank would be very proud of you, Luke."

God, the way she says my name makes me almost lose control. All I can think about is how incredible this woman is. She isn't just smart and powerful. She's beautiful—like crazy insane, doesn't-need-makeup sort of gorgeous that I'd love to wake up to every morning with messy hair and bad breath just to hold her until noon while we listen to the sound of our children running through the house and?—

"Luke?"

I blink a few times, realizing where my mind was going, and I scrub a hand over my face. "Yeah, sorry… Lost in a thought."

"I said, do you want to go up top now?"

No, Hannah, I don't. I want to kiss you again. I want to tell you how insane my brain is every time I'm around you now. How if this town is my anchor and I'm stuck here like I never wanted to be, I want it to be with someone as bold and loving as you.

"You really like helping people, don't you?" I ask as I nod, gesturing toward the drier sand that will lead us back toward the pier entrance.

"I really do." She falls into step with me, which isn't difficult given I'm limping again. When she looks up at me, she winces. "Your leg is bothering you again?"

And just like that, the intensity is broken between us. Any mention of my injury brings anger over how it happened and why. I will have this limp the rest of my life, like I got broken, and everyone who sees me from now on will know that I'm defective.

"I have a metal rod and eight screws. When I do too much, it hurts. I try not to think about it." I unconsciously rub the outside of my thigh and try to find that magic between us. Honestly, I deserve this injury. I walked away from that accident with Nick like nothing happened, and he died instantly. It wasn’t fair. This is my penance. I just wish no one else had to witness me deal with it daily.

"Well, I can do the inspections by myself if you want. I mean?—"

"No," I say, cutting her off, and I realize how hasty I sound. I just don't like the idea of her doing this alone. I want to be here and I want to do it with her. And I tell myself it's because I want to make sure she stays safe, but in reality if it's the only time I get with her, I don't want it to go away. "I, uh…" I fumble around, trying to figure out how to make this sound like it's necessary, not optional. "I'm the property owner. I should be there."

Besides, I don't want pity. I'm not hurt so badly that I can't function. I just have a limp and some pain. I'll manage.

"You're so stubborn," she says, but there's a half-grin as she pulls away, walking a bit faster than I can manage at the moment. And God, that ass of hers in those jeans is screaming for me to touch it. But she stays three steps ahead the rest of the inspection.

This woman is so sweet and pure, I'm not sure I can let her out of my sight without feeling physical pain in my chest. Hannah Brooks is magical, and anyone who tries to harm her will have to answer to me from now on. Including that Dorsey jerk.

I haven't figured out what he's up to yet, but I know there's something. Getting glimpses of Hannah in ways I've never seen her has made me feel so much more protective. I have to get to the bottom of what he's doing in order to make sure she stays clear of it.