Island Affair (Keys to Love #1) - Priscilla Oliveras Page 0,35

of trust, and reassure her that everything would be okay.

He was used to being the voice of calm and reason with many victims on the job. Only, this pulse-racing urge to hold and comfort Sara wasn’t something he ever felt for the random strangers, even the locals he knew, who relied on him for aid. Not by a long shot.

“This is an unexpected move, Dad. But a good one,” Jonathan said.

Father and son shook hands; then Jonathan one-arm hugged his mom, cautiously tucking her slender body against his side with care.

Luis wished he’d known Ruth before her body had been weakened by cancer. Then again, it seemed the weakness of body may have precipitated a strength in spirit in a whole new way. One her family was only getting used to. Her children anyway. She and her husband appeared to be on the same new page.

“And you,” Jonathan told his older sister, nudging his chin at her over Ruth’s head. “I’d tell you to make sure you do the Vance name proud. But you’re so damn hard on yourself, I figure you’re already mentally giving yourself a tougher speech than I would.”

Hands clasped at her waist, excitement contained and her reserved demeanor reestablished, Robin gave her brother a brisk nod. “You are correct.”

“Let’s be clear, though,” Jonathan said. “Two Vances will continue practicing at Phoenix General. So, it could very well be my Dr. Vance page you hear.”

“I’ll keep that in mind the next time you call from the ER, needing my expertise.” Robin’s haughty reply was tempered by a smug smirk that had her brother barking out a laugh.

Throughout the exchange Sara remained apart from the others. Brows knitted with a frown, silently watching her family in their tight circle. One she had admitted she didn’t quite fit into.

Still, Luis had trouble reconciling the information Sara had given him back at Higgs Beach with what he’d learned after spending time in the company of her parents and siblings.

It was a little strange studying the Vances all together. They spanned nearly three separate generations between parents, oldest siblings, then Sara. It was understandable that she might feel like the odd man out with the others paired off in age groups. And clearly Robin’s bluntness may not always be easy to deal with.

But it was more than generational differences. Luis sensed a stronger undercurrent of disconnect going on here. At the same time, Sara’s parents were pretty clear they wanted to steer their family boat in a new direction. One with warmer waters between them.

Unfortunately, when it came to family dynamics and making up for past mistakes Luis knew firsthand it was easier said than done.

For Sara’s sake, he hoped she could find her way across whatever impasses lay between her and the individual members of her family. So she no longer felt stranded on one side, alone.

Once again, Luis made a mental promise to do whatever he could this week to make that happen.

“Okay, everyone, the clock is ticking,” Ruth announced. “Twenty-minute warning. You’ll get another with ten to go.”

Like well-trained firefighters following their captain’s orders, the rest of Sara’s family marched inside. She pushed slowly up from her rattan deck chair, releasing her grip on Luis’s hand to fall quietly in line behind the others.

“Oh, Luis, there’s a basket with toothbrushes and basic toiletry items in your and Sara’s bathroom,” Ruth told him. “Feel free to use anything, since you haven’t brought your suitcase over yet.”

The implication being that he was eventually bringing his suitcase to stay overnight with them. Problem was, at home he slept in his own king-sized bed, mostly to make up for the nights spent cramped in a single at the station. However, that little queen mattress upstairs meant he and Sara would be getting a hell of a lot cozier than either one of them had anticipated.

His mind instantly flashed back to the brush of their lips in his truck. The almost kiss that teased him with the sweet sample of her mouth against his. The warmth of her smooth skin along the back of his hand when he playfully tugged her hair. The anticipation and awareness of wanting more. Much more.

As he followed Sara to the stairs at the front of the house, he reminded himself that this was only pretend. They were helping each other get through this week and the personal challenges it presented for them both. Though Sara had no idea about his, and Luis intended to keep it that