Abandoned Memories by MaryLu Tyndall

Author:MaryLu Tyndall [TYNDALL, MARYLU]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-63058-528-0
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2014-12-26T16:00:00+00:00

C

HAPTER 22

I’m sorry, James.” Angeline stared at the sand. Embarrassment had kept her in the tent all day, along with a desire to avoid the man standing before her. But desperate for some fresh air, she’d finally emerged onto the beach after everyone had dispersed from supper.

And ran straight into the handsome doctor.

“No need to apologize.” He shoved hands in his pockets, reminding her of an awkward schoolboy. Which only endeared him to her even more. “You are definitely keeping my swimming skills honed.”

Though a slight upturn of his lips indicated he toyed with her, she couldn’t help but feel ashamed. “You mock me.”

“No.” He withdrew his hands and touched her arms. “Forgive me. I shouldn’t have made light of it. I’m just happy you’re safe.”

“Thanks to you.” She moved from his touch. A gust of wind struck and she hugged herself. A few colonists wandered by, staring at her as if she were possessed with an evil spirit.

James took her elbow and led her aside. “What did you see, Angeline? Or perhaps I should ask who? Whoever it was and whatever they said, nothing could be so hopeless. Not when you have friends who care deeply about you.”

Like you? Are you one of those friends? She searched his eyes. Flecks of gold sparkled against deep bronze in the setting sun. But she knew he was. And that made everything so much worse. She glanced at the jungle—a seemingly impenetrable fortress of green that moved and swayed and squawked and howled like a living, breathing entity. Perhaps if she dove into it, it would swallow her whole. Save her from Dodd and her past and from making more of a fool of herself than she already had.

James reached out for her but then pulled back. “I fear I’m not very good at comforting people.”

Angeline looked at him again, at the way the wind tossed his hair in every direction, at the dark stubble on his jaw. She smiled. “Yes, you are.”

He shrugged. “What I meant to say before was, I’m a good listener if you’d like to tell me what’s bothering you.”

What was bothering her? Men from her past kept appearing out of nowhere, taunting her with words and crude gestures. Dodd was blackmailing her into sharing his bed. And she loved this man who stood before her with all her heart but could never tell him. She could never be his. “Nothing is bothering me. I thought I saw something in the water. I was tired, delirious…I wasn’t thinking.”

He blew out a sigh that spoke of disbelief.

She must lighten the mood before he delved deeper into her secrets, before that look of affection and love in his eyes made her want to tell him everything. She gave him a scolding look. “Now, what did I tell you about rescuing me, Doctor?”

He smiled, studying her. “Guilty, as charged. Do say you’ll forgive me once again.”

She would forgive him. She did forgive him. And though she was happy to be alive, she wanted no more rescues—from him or anyone else.

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