the order to report to King Marcus.”
“That’s a shame. This is a wonderful place if you’re here on vacation. Tourism is one of Montebello’s biggest industries.”
“Yeah. There are plenty of sights I never got around to seeing, but duty called.”
“It has a way of doing that.”
“If I’d known you were here, I would have looked you up. How have you been?”
They were picking up speed. Sam drove with the same straightforward competence with which he did everything else. Kate turned her face to the breeze so she wouldn’t keep inhaling his scent. “I’ve been fine, Sam. And you?”
“Busy.”
“Judging from the service ribbons on this jacket, I’d have to agree.”
“Like they say, I joined the Navy and saw the world.”
“That’s great. It’s—” She almost said that it was what he’d wanted, but she remembered how he’d responded to that comment before. She had to keep things light, keep things friendly. The base was only a few more minutes away. Then this interminable evening would be over. “You said you always wanted to travel. And how’s your mother?”
“She’s doing well. She and Marvin moved to Arizona two years ago, and the climate’s done wonders for her rheumatism.”
“Is your stepfather still in the car business?”
“Uh-huh. He opened up a dealership in Flagstaff. Wanted to call it Marvelous Marvin’s, but my mom couldn’t stop laughing every time he said it so he settled for Oasis Autos.”
She smiled. Sam had supported his widowed mother throughout his teenage years. He’d delayed joining the Navy until she was securely remarried. Noble, loyal Sam. He was a throwback to the days when men took care of their women no matter what.
Which was another reason she’d let him go.
“And your little brother?” she asked.
“Chuck’s doing his master’s degree at Stanford.”
“Does he still want to be a paleontologist?”
“Uh-huh. At least now he’s got an excuse to go on backyard treasure hunts.”
She heard the note of pride in Sam’s voice, and her smile grew wistful. Sam had helped raise his younger brother, and he’d done a marvelous job. He would have made a wonderful father.
But he’d also deserved his shot at following his dreams.
She’d made the right decision.
Yes, she had.
“How are your parents doing, Kate?” he asked.
“They divorced four years ago.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. They’re much happier now.” And that was true. Some people simply weren’t meant to be together.
Like her and Sam.
He remained silent as they approached an intersection. Instead of taking the road that would be the quickest route to the base, he turned toward the road that ran along the coast.
“It’s shorter if you go the other way,” Kate said, twisting to look over her shoulder.
“I know.”
“But—”
“I wanted a chance to talk to you. Is the wind too cold?”
“No. With this jacket I’m fine, but—”
“It’s a beautiful evening, isn’t it, Kate?” he asked softly.
“Montebello averages three hundred days of sunshine a year, so the skies here are usually clear.”
“Do you still like watching the pattern of waves in the moonlight?”
“I take the inland roads when I go jogging.”
He slowed the jeep as he rounded a bend, his hand somehow brushing her thigh as he worked the gear shift. “Remember how we used to like listening to the whispers the waves made when they broke on the beach?”
Yes, she remembered all too well. She angled her knees toward the door, the skin on her thigh tingling. “The coastline along this stretch is mostly rock, but there are several popular beaches.”
“Maybe you could show me sometime.”
“Sam…”
“It still gets to me, you know.”
“What does?”
“The sound of the water. It gets me right here,” he said, taking one hand off the wheel to touch his chest. “Anywhere you go in the world, it’s got a million different tunes that it plays. Sometimes it’s restless, sometimes it’s angry. A lot of times it’s just plain lonely.”
“I remember you always liked the sea.”
“Good thing, considering my choice of profession, wouldn’t you say?”
“Yes, it’s fortunate.”
“And only one of the things we have in common, Kate.” He slowed further, finally pulling the jeep to a stop at the side of the road. He turned off the ignition and inhaled deeply. “I read somewhere that every drop of water on the planet has been through a cycle of life that takes it through practically every type of living thing before it returns to the ocean. But it still smells great, doesn’t it?”
It wasn’t only the sea that smelled great, she thought. Now that they were no longer moving, the hint of Sam’s scent that rose from his jacket was stronger than ever.
The memories were battering at her mind, pushing to be released, but she held them back. She couldn’t go through this again. Once was enough.
He turned toward her, draping his elbow over the back of his seat. “It’s hard to believe it’s been five years.”
No, she thought. Don’t do this. Please. Let’s keep talking about the climate or your family or our work.
“I like your hair like that.” He lifted his hand toward her ear.
She knew what was coming. He was going to smooth her hair behind her ear, just as he used to do when it had been long. She tipped her head to avoid his touch. “It’s more practical to keep it short.”
“Is that why you cut it?”
She gritted her teeth against an image from the past, yet still she saw Sam smiling at her, his fists caught in her hair as he rubbed her curls in slow, sensual circles over her breasts. “Yes, it got in my way,” she answered.
“Kate?”
