Redeeming Her SEAL (ASSIGNMENT Caribbean Nights #9) - Kat Cantrell Page 0,28
scene of one of the most daring sexcapades she’d ever had in her life. Her entire body heated as she instantly recalled how amazing that whole day had been, which she and Charlie had jokingly referred to as the Day of Six Times during their sporadic Skype conversations.
Oh, God. A wave of nostalgia and regret and pure confusion rolled over her, nearly knocking her to her knees where the sleepless night hadn’t.
“What’s with you?” Carly threw over her shoulder as she pulled on a tiny purple and white polka-dotted bikini that should have been illegal and was definitely too mature for a seventeen-year-old.
But Audra wasn’t Carly’s mother. They were barely sisters. She wasn’t an idiot—the only reason they’d agreed to come visit her was due to the promise of a free ride courtesy of Jared. Every freaking thing in her life circled back to Jared freaking Anderson.
Even her job. Until she’d solidified her place at FARC, she’d worried that he’d pull the funding that paid for her research if she rocked the boat. Still worried about it every day.
But she’d worried about her sanity more. Her grief over Isaac became less of a living, breathing presence, and her need for Jared faded. Eventually she’d realized that he’d become a crutch and he’d slithered so many tentacles into her life that she’d started to become concerned. She’d had to get out from under his influence or she feared she’d never break loose.
“I’m fine.” Audra waved it off. “You girls go ahead. I’m just going to lie down for a little while.”
Exhaustion pulled at her, but when she fell into the bed intending to sleep for a couple of hours, it smelled like Charlie. Which was insane. It had been two years since she’d slept here with him. Her mind was playing tricks on her, that’s all.
But what a trick it was. Sleep was not going to happen. Too many memories zipped by of a time when she’d thought the world was full of possibilities and wonderful things in her future. Charlie had been such a revelation, and she’d put fragile trust in him, only to be crushed by his casual castoff.
No promises.
She’d suggested that compromise on Charlie’s last night in the Bahamas. He’d been headed into Iraq and worried about leaving her here waiting for him. No promises made perfect sense because, once upon a time, she’d been strong and independent, easily holding herself back from jumping headlong into emotional attachments. That had never been a problem before Charlie. She’d told herself she’d be fine if things didn’t work out.
Guess not.
Her carefully reconstructed insides threatened to crumble, and she couldn’t lie here in this bed wondering where she’d gone wrong any longer. Might as well relax down at the beach. Maybe the sun would lull her tired brain into shutting down once she was away from all of the Charlie in the suite.
She threw on a two-piece swimsuit and tied a sarong around her waist. If nothing else, maybe she could find someone to take her to Ilhota Rosa so she could check on the dolphins. Funny thing about finally achieving her dream of a doctorate in animal behavior psychology—she spent far more time holed up in her office analyzing reports than she did in the water.
This was her three-day weekend too. She deserved to have fun.
Sand squished beneath her feet and worked its way between her toes as she waded into the turquoise water. Yes. She should have done this the moment she hit the island.
The shush of the waves swept through her soul, balming it where nothing else could. Sounds of the other resort guests faded. Shutting her eyes, she let the peace of the ocean drain away everything until she thought she might be able to function as a normal human being for a while.
When she found her sisters farther down the beach, they were having a conversation with a shirtless guy who clearly spent two hours a day at the gym and none in pursuit of an education on how to guess a female’s age.
Shifting her sunglasses to the top of her head, Audra sized up the situation as she approached. Carly had a dreamy smile on her face, and Hannah was doing all the talking, her gaze firmly fixed on the guy’s pecs. Judging by the way he was flexing them for her benefit, he must be used to girls staring at his rather impressive physique.
“Hey,” Hannah finally said when Audra cleared her throat.