Saved By The Greek Doctor (Greek Gods #3) - Holly Rayner Page 0,55

could stretch my arms out in one direction and my legs in the other and literally walk my way along, using the cliffs themselves, if I got too tired. Trish was far too small for that, though. And I hadn’t been kidding about being there to save her if she got into trouble.

But I didn’t feel so much as a brush of her fingertips, and a few times, I actually looked behind me to make sure she was still there. When she saw me glancing her way she actually waved and gestured for me to go on, looking more than somewhat impatient with the delay.

So we ended up reaching the small cove much faster than I had anticipated.

When we came out of the chasm and into the miniature bay, Trish popped up out of the water and gasped.

“What is this place?” she said, her voice filled with awe.

“This,” I told her, moving forward with my head above the water, now that we were in relatively calm water, “is my favorite place for watching the sunset.”

She turned to her left, taking in the small, protected beach up against the foot of the cliff, and then turned to the right, staring at the jumble of rocks tumbled onto the small section of sand that cut this pool off from the larger ocean. In the distance, the horizon loomed, already starting to brighten with the coming sunset.

Then she turned back to the small beach and made her way toward the sand. I followed, my heart somehow expanding at having brought her here. To this beach where I’d never brought anyone before.

Trish climbed out of the water and turned to stare at the horizon, her eyes wide and her mouth opened in wonder. “Where are we?” she asked breathlessly.

“Facing west,” I said, unabashedly stating the obvious.

She gave me the look I deserved for that comment, and I laughed and then shrugged.

“To be honest, I’ve never seen this beach from the water,” I told her. “I’ve gone around the island at least five hundred times, looking for that bit of rock. Looking for a way to get here by boat. And I’ve never been able to spot it. Maybe it’s because it looks just like the rest of the cliffs in this section of the island, or maybe it’s hidden by something that juts out into the ocean. I have no idea.”

“Then how did you find it in the first place?”

“By accident,” I said. “I was out swimming, and I saw the opening. At the time… Well, at the time I hadn’t thought there was much to keep living for, honestly, and when I saw an unexplored opening that seemed to lead right into the cliffs, I took it. Imagine my surprise when I found this slice of paradise rather than the hole into the earth I was expecting.”

It was mostly the truth. Mostly an honest answer. And I watched Trish closely, wondering how she would react to that. Wondering what she’d do with the shadows I generally kept hidden from other people.

I saw her take in what I’d said and measure it for honesty. I saw her trying to figure out what she should say to that—how she should react—and whether she should ask me for details or not.

I saw the precise moment when she decided that she wasn’t going to push me.

And dear Lord, I loved her for it. In that moment right there, I realized that I loved her for that—and a million other reasons. Her sunny personality in the face of the ugliness the world had thrown at her. The way she laughed with absolute abandon. The bravery and strength she drew on when times were tough.

The way she’d let me right into her heart, even though she hadn’t even known me.

“So, you just sit here and watch the sun set?” she asked skeptically.

I put up one finger to signal to her to wait for it, and walked quickly toward the pile of rocks at the end of the beach, where a tiny cave had formed. I reached in, grabbed the waterproof bag there, and turned back toward her, holding it up.

“I watch the sun set, yes,” I told her. “But only with snacks.”

The smile that lit up her face was a joy to behold, and moments later we were on the sand, sharing a bottle of wine—no glasses—and an assortment of crackers.

“How did you even get this stuff out here?” she asked around mouthfuls.

“Swam it,” I replied. “I put it