Chapter 16 #2
They were far enough from the boathouse now that the sounds of the water and wind had returned to normal, like the world hadn’t just tilted on its axis.
Milo guided her up the porch steps before opening the door to her cabin.
Inside, he gently helped her over to the sofa where she sat down before he crouched in front of her, his hands still wrapped around hers like he wasn’t entirely sure she was real.
“You’re safe,” he said quietly. “I’ve got you.”
That did it.
Her breath hitched hard, the kind that scraped on the way out.
Milo shifted instantly, sitting beside her instead, one arm coming around her shoulders, solid and sure.
He didn’t crowd her or ask questions. He just stayed, letting her tuck herself into his side like her body knew where it wanted to be.
“I thought…” Her voice broke, and she pressed her face into his jacket, breathing him in. “I thought I could handle it. I always do. Always. I have never needed anyone to swoop in and save me.”
“I know,” he said without judgment. “That doesn’t mean you should’ve had to.”
The truth of that settled into her bones.
She pulled back enough to look at him, really look at him, and saw the tension still holding him rigid. His jaw was tight. His hands, she noticed, were trembling now that everything was over.
“You didn’t hesitate,” she said softly. “Not even for a second. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that side of you before.”
He exhaled, slow and shaky. “I didn’t think,” he admitted. “I just…saw you.”
Something in her chest cracked open at that.
Nora rested her forehead against his shoulder, the echo of the moment replaying in her mind—the sound of wood striking flesh, the way Milo’s voice had cut through everything else. Low. Absolute. Now.
“I’ve never had anyone come for me like that,” she said after a moment. The admission surprised her with its honesty. “Not when it mattered.”
Milo’s arm tightened around her, just slightly. “You don’t have to do everything alone,” he said. “Not anymore.”
She nodded, even as her throat burned. Trust wasn’t something she gave easily.
But it was already there. On some level, she knew it had always been there with him.
He was her rock, her constant. Even though he’d let her down recently, he was there when it mattered.
Just thinking about what could have happened…
She shuddered almost uncontrollably, and Milo pulled her in close, comforting her. And for the first time since she got back from the hike, Nora let herself relax. She was safe. She was home. And the man she loved was there with her.
When she finally leaned back, Milo brushed his thumb over her knuckles, slow and soothing and careful. “If anyone wants to come and talk to you, just know that you can tell them to wait,” he said. “Whatever you want to do, I’ll back you.”
She met his gaze and saw it—not fear, not doubt. Resolve.
“Thank you,” she said, surprised by how steady she sounded. “I’m really glad you’re here.”
“Me too. I thought it would be nice to surprise you…”
And for some reason, that made her laugh. “Well, you certainly did that!”
He laughed softly. “Yeah, well…I’ve never done a dramatic entrance before.”
“Trust me, you nailed it.”
“I don’t think it’s something I ever want to repeat.” She felt him let out a shaky breath. “I was prepared to do a lot more damage. I don’t think I’ve ever felt that way before.” He shook his head. “Just thinking of what could have happened…”
“Don’t, okay?” she whispered. “I can’t let my mind go there. That whole time I just kept thinking of how I could get across the boathouse without him catching me. I’m confident in my athletic abilities, but I couldn’t make myself move. Not until you got there.”
“If I had gotten here sooner—or told you I was coming—none of this would have happened. I swear, Nora, I’m so sorry. I’ve been terrible about keeping my promises and I never thought of the consequences.”
Pulling back, she looked up at him. “I hate to break it to you, but what happened today would have happened no matter what. I wasn’t expecting you until later on tonight, so when Dave came in and said he was hurt, I would have taken that hike for him because that’s what a boss is supposed to do.
Please don’t feel responsible. The whole thing is just so damn sucky and awful and I kind of wish I had taken that boat oar from you and hit that guy a few times myself. ”
“I’m sure you do.”
They sat in companionable silence for several long moments before her phone chimed with an incoming text.
“I don’t want to look at it. I know it’s reality calling and I’m not ready to deal with it.”
“Then don’t. I’ll take care of it.” He gently maneuvered her away so he could pick up her phone and see who was texting.
Harlow: Hey. The cops are going to need a statement, but I told them you’d go down to the station tomorrow. They took the bastard away in handcuffs. I kind of wish you could have seen it.
Harlow: And tell Milo he tried playing the sympathy card since he got hit with an oar, but no one was buying it.
Harlow: Not about Milo hitting him, but that he deserved sympathy.
Harlow: They’re charging him with attempted sexual assault, unlawful imprisonment, sexual battery, and harassment. The guys threw the entire family off the property. It’s been wild up here.
Harlow: Basically, I want to make sure you’re okay. Connor’s already making food to bring down so you and Milo don’t have to leave the cabin and if there’s anything you specifically want, just let him know.
Milo read all the texts to her, and Nora had to admit, it was kind of nice having this group of people not only looking out for her but wanting to protect her. She had only ever gotten that from Slater.
Which reminded her…
“Has Slater come back yet?”
Milo shrugged. “No idea. I can ask, though.”
She nodded. “Thanks. I’d appreciate it.”
While he began typing out a text, Nora stood and stretched. It just hit her that she was still in the wetsuit and, more than anything, she wanted it off.
Actually, what she wanted was a hot shower to just try to wash the whole day off of her.
So that’s what she did. She stayed under the hot spray longer than she normally did, but it felt too good and honestly, she needed the time alone to wrap her head around what had happened.
She kept expecting Milo to knock on the door to make sure she was okay, but she had a feeling he knew that she needed this and didn’t want to push.
He never pushed.
He always accepted.
He was seriously the best man she’d ever known in her entire life, and tonight he saved her.
That’s when she shut off the water and quickly stepped out of the shower and dried herself off. She’d told him she was happy he was there, but did she thank him? Like in her daze, did she ever thank him for coming to her rescue the way he did?
Slipping her robe on, she stepped out of the bathroom and saw him pacing back and forth across her tiny living room with his phone to his ear.
“I don’t give a damn about how you think things should be or how this has never happened before,” he was saying sternly.
“The fact is that it happened on your watch. Fix this.” He tapped the phone and slid it back into his pocket before he realized she was standing there.
His demeanor instantly changed, his tone softened. “Hey. How was that shower?”
Slowly, she made her way over to him and cupped his face before kissing him. It was chaste by their standards, but she felt like they both needed it. “Thank you.”
“You don’t need to…”
“Yes, I do. You showed up today like a knight in shining armor. I want you to know how thankful I am. You literally saved me today, Milo. You saved my life.”
Reaching up, he caressed her cheek. “Then I guess we’re even because not that long ago, you saved mine.”
Nora swallowed hard, nodding. “I think that means we’re stuck with each other.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “I don’t have a problem with that. Do you?”
“Nope.”
“Good.” Taking her hand, he led her back over to the sofa where they snuggled close. She clung to him, but he was clinging to her just as hard.
It was so peaceful and comforting. They didn’t need words. They just stayed like that, anchoring each other in the tiny cabin as the last of the tremors faded and the night slowly, mercifully, moved on.