Taylor leaned over the railing and grinned with obvious pleasure at seeing her. He immediately hustled down the stairs and jogged toward her.
She saw in his expression all that she needed to know. Harper took off at a run toward him, arms out. She ran into his arms and he lifted her in the air and twirled her around. When he set her down, his face drew near to hers and their heated breaths mingled, his lips against hers.
“You’re here.” He buried his hands in her hair and bent to kiss her. He kissed her cheeks, her hair, her eyes, her ears, nibbling softly, then finally her lips.
Harper broke from the kiss and looked up at him, eyes shining. “I’m home.”
Once again Harper was on board the Miss Jenny. She and Taylor had spent the last hour belowdecks in the stateroom, taking their time making love. While the boat gently rocked, Harper felt treasured in his strong arms, safe. He whispered her name over and over like a litany of prayer, and she responded with sighs. She wanted it to go on forever.
Afterward he held her close. She felt the stubble of his chin against her tender cheek and his breath at her ear.
“So, what did you want to talk about?” Taylor asked.
Harper felt her chest constrict, not wanting the seductive, peaceful mood that always fell over her and Taylor on board the Miss Jenny to be destroyed.
Taylor, sensing her swift change of mood, moved over her body to face her on the narrow bed. His gaze was searching. “Are you all right?”
“No. Not really.”
“What’s happened?” He was suddenly alert.
“I’ve so much to tell you, I don’t know where to begin.”
“My daddy always said begin at the beginning.”
She laughed lightly. “Then I guess it all began the moment I decided to buy Sea Breeze.”
She told it all. She released the entire story in a gush of words, like a floodgate opened, sparing him no details from the moment Devlin arrived at Sea Breeze with the offer on the house, to joining her sisters on the dock, to her decision to buy the house, to Mamaw’s delighted reaction and Georgiana’s vitriolic one, ending with her threat to cut off Harper’s inheritance if she didn’t comply with Georgiana’s demands.
Taylor turned to lie on his back and laced his hands behind his head. “So, I guess you’re not an heiress any longer.”
“Sadly, no. I’m broke.”
“Well, kiddo”—he slapped her bottom teasingly—“nice knowing you.”
She threw a pillow at his face. His hand whipped up to catch it first. He spun around and tackled her back on the bed, pinning her under his arms.
Harper and Taylor burst out laughing. He kissed her lips soundly, then pulled Harper up to his chest so she could snuggle against him. Once settled, Taylor took her hand in his and played with her fingers.
“I’m glad you came to me. I want you to always feel you can.”
“I do. I will.”
A smile played at his lips. “You really told your mother you were going to stay here? Look for a job in Charleston?”
“Yes.”
She felt his chest rise and fall. “Good.”
“But I have to be realistic. I’m not kidding when I said I’m broke. I’ve been spending recklessly all summer and my checking account is low.”
“Hey, if what you paid me is causing you trouble, you can have it back.”
“You don’t take money from damsels in distress?”
“No, ma’am.”
She reached up to pat his cheek. “My hero,” she said teasingly.
“I’m not joking. I don’t need your money. I never will.”
“I’ll be okay.” She patted his chest. “It’s just that I’d always depended on the check from my trust fund. The money was always there. I never questioned it. But now that my mother is cutting me off, I’ve woken up to the fact that I have no safety cushion.”
“You have me.”
She heard the words. Was comforted by them. “Yes, but I don’t want to fall back on depending on someone to take care of me. Not that I don’t appreciate it,” she hurriedly added. “It’s more that I want a measure of independence. At long last. I don’t even have a job.”
“Yet.”
“Let’s be serious. How long will it take me to get one? Carson’s been searching all summer for something in her field and hasn’t found anything. I’m an editor. There aren’t that many positions open in my field. Add to that, I’ll have to move from Sea Breeze soon.”
“Those are just excuses. Not reasons for leaving.”
“They’re not excuses. They’re fact.” She played with the hairs on his chest. “I’ve been thinking . . . I may have to go back to New York.” She felt his breathing stop. “Just long enough to save some money,” she rushed to add. “And apply for a job here. I need to buy some time.”
“No,” he said firmly. “If you go back, even for a day, your mother will get her claws into you and keep you there. She’ll never let you come back.”
“She won’t do anything of the sort.”
“You won’t come back. You’ll get involved in your job. Maybe you’ll meet someone new.”
“It won’t be like that.”
“Are you willing to take the chance?”
A labored sigh was her answer.
“Don’t leave, Harper.” Taylor held her tight, his eyes pleading, his voice husky. “Stay.”
“Taylor . . .”
Taylor shifted to sit in front her. He pulled her upright as well. She quickly brought the sheet up to cover her nakedness. Across from her, Taylor’s bare shoulders and chest were as broad and imposing as a mountain.
“Please. Look at me.”
When she dragged her gaze to his, they connected.
His sea-green eyes were turbulent with emotion. “I know fear. All too well. I faced life and death over and over. People claim that’s courage. But that was the easy part compared to what I had to face when I came home. I learned that real courage is facing your fears. It takes guts to face and defeat your fear—or be defeated by it.” He put his hands along her cheeks, holding her head so she couldn’t look away. “Harper, I know what you’re afraid of. What you’re afraid to admit. You want to be a writer, don’t you?”