Key West Wild (The Florida Keys Series) (21 page)

“I’ll never give up. I want him so bad it hurts.”

“Are you sure you’ll be okay by yourself,” Maggie asked. “I could always do my writing here with you and stay longer. I hate to leave you alone.”

“Writing?” Now she understood Maggie’s remark the night they all went out.

“I’m afraid there’s a handful of people I tell,” she admitted. She dug in her purse. “Here, it’s not all truth, but you’ll recognize some characters, including your love.”

Sara’s eyes lit up at the author’s name on the paperback. “You? I love these books, they’re full of adventure and the heroine is always so strong.” Sudden realization hit her. “Maggie, are any of us safe from you?”

Jake laughed as he walked down the steps. “Don’t count on it.”

Sara settled on the front porch after they left, unsure of what to do next. Her heart was empty inside, even though this place was hers now. The dark hole reached way down in her soul. She sat alone, rocking back and forth on the swing, the hinges creaking every time she pushed back. She pictured in her mind’s eye Josh doing simple repairs to the place, helping to renovate, even if he had no interest in the building. He’d help because he loved the fact she would be happy. He could give up his secret agent life because they had this to fall back on.

She felt connected to Key West, in a way she never thought. When she got on the plane in Philly, she kissed her former life goodbye and decided to make a new start in this tropical paradise. She could stay here forever. It would never be the same without Josh, but if she had to be anywhere right now, here is where she longed to stay.

Life went on around her all day and deep into the night. She could hear revelry and party goers because she still sat on the same spot watching every car that drove down the street in hopes one would stop and Josh would be back. She’d watch each person who walked on the side walk in hopes her love would appear out of the blue. Her phone, stuffed in her pocket, stayed by her side in case he called.

How long could she go on like this?

She must’ve fell asleep. Day six and still no Josh. She stirred and went inside for a cup of coffee and a shower. She checked her phone, nothing and tried to call Morgan. “Please, Morg, I need some answers, did they find him! Call me.”

After her shower, Sara began to pace back and forth, first in the kitchen. the dining room next, desperate to stir up interest in the new renovations she planned for the property. She decided to close down while making a few changes. She hated to lose the money, but it wouldn't hurt her bank account much. To be honest with herself, she didn’t have it in her to smile at people right now. It would be much better if she were alone.

Sara stood in the library, remembering how Josh told her the truth there, about his secret agent job and how all he ever wanted was a normal life. A light bulb went off and it became clear to her at that moment she would make a home for him. She made a firm resolve to stay strong. He did not die in the explosion, she would not accept that. Until she heard different, she would work on this place and instead of trudging through each day, she would live for the day he came home. This would be a haven, his place of refuge.

She was a terrible Inn keeper, but she would give him a home where he’d always be safe.

<><>

“Morgan, get off my case!” Josh growled for last time. “I can’t, not yet!”

“At least let me tell her. I’ll explain to her why you can’t leave here yet.”

He shook his head. “I do want her, it’s all I think about, all I live for. I can’t get her out of my head. But I won’t, do you understand, will not let her see me like this!” He turned the wheelchair around, his back to Morgan and Sophie and faced the window.

“Joshua, you would heal faster, love is like that,” Sophie whispered. She came up behind him, placing her hand on his shoulder. “Please, Josh, don’t throw it away.”

Josh sucked in a deep breath. He stared out the dirty window, knowing she had a valid point but refusing to cave in. “I can’t.”

Morgan spoke up. “Do you know what she’s doing while you sit here like a pitiful fool? She bought the bed and breakfast, Josh.”

“What did she do that for?” he asked, staring at the bricks on the building through the window.

“She’s renovating it, for you. So when you come home, she says, it will be your haven, your place away from the world of spies and treachery.”

Josh closed his eyes.

“Sara said she is a horrible Inn keeper and you weren’t much better.”

“She’s right,” he said softly.

“She said even if you never give up being a secret agent, she wanted you to have a place to come to. It’s what she is living for, Josh. Don’t you understand. She believes you’re alive, she’s caught up in that dream because we keep telling her not to give up, that they’ll find you.”

“You shouldn’t have told her anything. Let her think I’m gone, because I’m useless like this.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Josh. You can’t hide out here in this place any longer. It’s time to get up out of that wheel chair and go home.”

Josh continued to stare out the window. Something dropped on his lap. He opened his eyes to find Morgan blocking the window. “You call her, or text her, Josh. Or I will.”

Sophie hugged him. “Do it, Josh, he means it. You’re messing with someone’s sister.”

Her soft spoken words ripped him to the core. He reached up and touched Sophie’s face, realizing how all of his life he vowed to protect her, to keep her safe. He understood what Morgan felt when it came to a sibling. “Ah Sophie, I hope you know all I ever wanted for you was to be safe, and to have a good life.”

She nodded. “I do have a great life, big brother. Thanks to you. Now do me a favor and get out of that chair and make one for yourself. The doctor said there’s nothing wrong with your legs. The limp will go away in time, after some therapy.”

“Call her, Josh,” Morgan repeated, a little less angry.

Josh picked up the phone and flung it back at him. “I’ll do better than a phone call,” he said and lifted himself from the wheelchair. He hung on to his sister until he could get his balance. Grabbing the cane the hospital provided, Josh slowly made his way across the room.

He turned to the two astonished faces staring at him. “You coming?” He turned and limped out the door.

Chapter 11

Ten days since the explosion. Sara sat on the floor of the library going over lists of things she planned for the bed and breakfast, now her home.

On the left side, a pile of bills and receipts from vendors began to pile up. The gardens were turned into a spectacular Eden to relax in. A Bose system hooked up to the outside, where music played throughout the shrubs and plants no matter where you were in the gardens. The hot tub stayed and she put in a fountain close by. Between the music and the relaxing sound of running water, Josh would be able to unwind after a long day. When he came home.

Ideas to create a homey environment kept her sane. Sara covered her face with her hands and almost gave in to the intensity of it all. She sucked in a deep breath, she didn’t dare to stop planning. If she did, her hopes Joshua would be found and walk through the front door would be wiped away.

People were rescued on deserted islands all the time, even surviving for weeks lost at sea. They were still searching for him, she knew. He was too important to the agency, even her brother said so. When she asked Morg for any news, he became vague, tight-lipped and told her to let the agency do its job. Sophie and him were still looking every day, so he wouldn’t be around much. Some days it seemed as if her own brother abandoned her but remembered it was more important to be out looking for Josh.

She lifted herself off the floor and pulled her itinerary from her pocket. As she unfolded the paper, she read every single item listed and smiled, remembering every moment on the list. At the last item, her heart wrenched before she folded it back up. It would happen, she had to believe in a miracle.

Sara had enough planning for one day. All she wanted to do was drift away with her thoughts of him. She spent the afternoon lingering in the hot tub, but it wasn’t the same. Each cup of coffee she drank had no taste, a mixed drink was bland. Finally, by early evening, she grabbed Maggie’s fiction best seller and sat out on the swing to read and wait, in case.

Maggie wrote amazing stories of love and romance. Full of adventure, she began to read about how two people went undercover to help bust a big drug ring right here in the Keys. The homeless man described in the book reminded her of the time Josh dressed up as a decoy and that’s when she realized Maggie wrote about him in her book. She said he was undercover for ten years as a homeless man. That had to be tough.

A band began to play down the street and Sara, now engrossed in the paperback, fleetingly realized a party went on somewhere every night in Key West. The sound became louder though and she wondered why it marched this way instead of towards Mallory square. She sipped on her glass of wine, deciding to put the book on her lap and watch.

She glanced at her watch. Thirty minutes until sunset. Did she want to follow the band to Mallory Square but then decided against it, her heart breaking at the thought of a sunset without Josh.

She heard the thunder of a few Harleys riding down the street with the band. The all too familiar tune had her tapping her toes. The theme from Dirty Dancing.

She froze. Sara reached in her back pocket and pulled out the itinerary. She unfolded the list and kissed it. Her heart slammed in her chest and she held the paper in her fist against her heart. Eyes wild, she searched the crowd that stood in front of the former Inn With No Name.

The band split apart as a couple danced to the song from her list. They put on a great show and she stood at the gate, knowing her love was somewhere close by. She held her breath and the marching band ended its song. Three bikes roared their engines and made their way through the crowd. It looked as if the whole town of Key West joined in the parade.

He revved the engine with one hand and held out his other to her. She stood frozen as her heart hammered in her chest, pried open the gate and walked to him, one step in front of the other, forcing herself not to run. She took his hand and it felt so warm, so right, so like home. His eyes, dark and stormy burned in to her own. A single tear slid down Sara’s cheek.

“Josh.”

“Get on, we’re not done yet,” was all he said. She climbed on the Harley, behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and holding on, taking in his scent while the three bikes worked their way from Duval street to Mallory Square.

Her dreams, her silly itinerary, was about to all come true. The last item on the list, the one she made up at the last minute when he said he planned to marry her, was about to unfold, because he remembered. Her heart raced.

She hopped off the bike when they got to Mallory square and reached in her back pocket. Sara pulled out the list and re-read it again. I want a marching band, singing Dirty Dancing’s, Time of My Life all the way to Mallory Square where you must get on your knee and and ask me to marry you as the sun sets. A tear of joy slipped down on the ragged paper. She never really thought he would go this far.

The other two bikes cut their engines. That’s when she saw the others, along with Maggie and Abby, and the bouquet they both held. What were they doing with those?

“We only have two minutes and it’ll take me that long to walk,” Josh said, flipping open something in his hand. It unfolded into a cane.

He grabbed her hand, list and all as they made their way to the pier, his limp breaking her heart. She wanted to touch him, hold him, take away the pain that he must have gone through, but she remained speechless, letting him lead her.

One minute and thirty seconds until sunset. She cried out as he got down on his knee.

Sara stood in front of him, looking down at the man she’d waited for all of her life. “You don’t have to do this,” she whispered, seeing how hard it was for him. “I would have married you anyway.”

He shook his head and held her hands in his. “Life has not been kind to either one of us in the past. We’ve been through some rough stuff and I’m sure there will be more. Baby, you are the one for me. The one that makes my heart go wild and slams against my chest when you walk in to a room. You’re the one I can’t stop thinking about long after I close my eyes and you are the one that kept me whole while lying on a bed of burma, not knowing if I’d make it to take my next breath.”

Sara fell to her knees in front of him as the sun began to melt away in the sky. “Oh Josh, you are the one for me too. I’m not complete without you.”

“Sara, will you marry me, today, right now on this pier, in front of God and all of our friends?”

“What?” The flowers made sense now. “Today? Josh, what did you do?”

He grinned. “I one-upped you, baby.”

Sara flung her head back and laughed out loud. Her eyes opened to see the sun finally set on the horizon. She looked into those dark, stormy eyes that were pleading with her to say yes, to be his wife.

She wouldn’t make him suffer any longer. “I will.”

He leaned forward, his mouth touching hers, like their very first sunset kiss not so long ago. As time stood still, the kiss deepened, she wanted to taste every part of him and ran her hands through his hair, down his chest, across his shoulders, so hungry to touch all of him.

“The preacher is here,” someone whispered.

“Josh, Sara?” Jake grumbled. “Let’s get this wedding started.”

“Hey, you two.”

“Let’s get married,” she said, giving him one last fast and hard kiss on the mouth. She looked out at the crowd as they shuffled their feet.

The minister stepped forward to begin the sermon. He wore a floral button down shirt with white shorts, sandals and a bible in his hand. It was quick and simple and he had the crowd nodding their heads when he talked about being there for each other no matter what happens.

“Who will be giving the bride away?”

“I will.”

Sara swung her head to see her brother standing there, his arm out. She slid her arms around his and they stood before Josh.