With This Pledge (Windswept Bay Book 8)

by Debra Clopton

  He lived more inland, not on the beach but he had a view from his hilltop and was happy where he was. Said he could go to the beach whenever he wanted but liked living in the area he lived in. He liked living in the trees.

  The cool thing about where Trent lived was that it was downstream from the waterfall. So instead of the sound of the surf, he had the peaceful, quiet sound of a bubbling stream in his backyard.

  Max found him there, working on his motorcycle. “Hey,” he said as he walked up.

  “You hurt yourself worse?”

  “Worse?” Max studied him. “You knew?”

  Trent tightened a bolt on the engine and shot him a squint. “Yeah, I knew. But I figured if you had wanted to say something, you would. I knew you were hurting and I saw the swelling around your knee—your jeans were tight there. I figured whenever you were ready you would say something. But you never did. It was your business.”

  “Yeah, my business. I was discharged yesterday.”

  Trent stopped working. “Sorry, man. I know that’s hard on you.”

  He shrugged. “Yeah, I’m dealing. I’m making my rounds, telling everyone.”

  “Mom will be sad for you, but overjoyed. She won’t be able to hide it. Neither will the sisters.”

  “I figured that.”

  “They can stop worrying now. Never knowing. It’s hard for women. But they didn’t hold you back because they love you.”

  “You sound like you have experience with that.”

  “A little, but it’s also understandable. While I was in, I got to be the one who worried. Got to experience it from the other perspective. My girlfriend was going out on a different mission than I was. I…got to experience the worry, the fear.”

  Max didn’t know what to say about that. Trent had never talked this much about his time in the service.

  “I also experienced what it was like to lose somebody.”

  Max stared at him. “Aw, man, I’m sorry.” So now he knew why his brother didn’t talk about it. He hadn’t wanted to talk about it.

  “Yeah, so give your mom and the girls a break if they show their true emotions. They try to hide it but you feel it.”

  “Are you okay?”

  Trent nodded. “I’ve learned to live with it.”

  “I’m sorry you’ve had to go through this alone.”

  “Jake has always known. When I first got back, I was in a bad way and he found me one night. I had had a little more to drink than I should have and spilled my guts to him. So he’s known but kept it to himself.”

  “Well, I’m glad you had somebody. It helps to have someone to talk to.”

  He’d learned that. Kelsey had helped him. “So I’m going to be adjusting. I’ve got to figure out what I’m going to do.”

  Trent grinned at him. “Well, you know Jake is always looking for a dive master. Divers seemed to move around faster than surfers. If you want to do that.”

  “I might take a few to help him out. I won’t be taking it on full-time. I don’t love it like Jake. I might also go into business. I was thinking about a security business. I’ve been throwing a lot of things around. I could also build furniture.”

  “Give yourself time—you’ll figure it out.”

  “You ever going to get that thing rebuilt?”

  He laughed. “A man’s got to have a hobby, you know. She’s almost rebuilt. She’s a beauty, isn’t she?”

  “Vintage.” It was a 1937 Knucklehead, one of the record-setting machines back in the day when it was created and very coveted. Trent had bought it from a lady a couple of years ago who’d found it in her barn. He’d been working on it ever since.

  “So I would ask if you want to go surfing but that would be cruel.”

  Max shook his head. “Hit me where it hurts, man. Have some pity on me.”

  Trent laughed. “Man, you’re a Marine. Once a Marine, always a Marine. We don’t give up. We don’t stop. We move on. We take what we’ve got and we deal with it. You’ll do that. And you’ll be happy. It’s not good when a man doesn’t accept it. It’s not good at all. I see strain in your eyes and I have a feeling that you’re in a lot of pain right now. Get the surgery and be done with it. Move on, be happy. Start a family. You thought about that?”

  “Hey, where’s your family?”

  Trent shrugged. “I’m not opposed to it but it takes two. I haven’t found that one yet. From what I see, you haven’t even been looking.”

  “Yeah, honestly, I’ve been thinking about it. Was starting to think about it before this mission. I’ll adjust—it just might take time. Might have to open up a little.” Max thought about that. He had worked with his thoughts and what he talked about on lock down for so long that he’d tended to lock down everything and Trent knew it. He’d locked his gates, his heart… Maybe it was time he did some unlocking.

  Trent gave him an understanding look. “You’ll be okay, man. So when is surgery?”

  “Next week. Then recovery. I’m ready to be able to move around but first I’ll have to get through that.”

  “Well, you know Mom and the sisters will probably kill you with casseroles and checking on you.”

  If there was one thing Max knew, it was that there would not be a shortage of family trying to take care of him. “Yeah, you might have to come share a meal or two with me.”

  “If they bring lasagna, I’m coming to take it.”

  “Ha! If they bring lasagna, I’ll share it but you’re not taking it. I won’t be that down and out.” They both chuckled over that.

  He hoped it would be as easy as Trent made adjusting and moving on sound. Time would tell. And a few minutes later, as he left, his thoughts went to Kelsey.

  Kelsey was startled a couple days later when Max showed up.

  She was coming out of a barn when he drove into the yard. Her heart did its thing and she told it to stop but she remembered that Max was not in the military anymore. Her excuse for not getting involved with him was not there any longer.

  She strode toward him, her boots crunching on the gravel but she almost didn’t hear it for the beating of her heart.

  “Hey there.” She watched him ease out of the truck. He reached inside and pulled out a cane. Then, with his back leaning against the truck, he used the cane to take all the pressure off his knee. She could only imagine how much his knee was hurting. The man was more stubborn than a mule. “Don’t you have surgery tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, I leave early. I’ll be there overnight. Then I’ll be moving slow again for a little while.”

  “But then you’ll start getting well. I know you’re all macho and you’ve trained to be tough, but Max, I can tell you’re in pain. Why are you driving? Why are you here when it’s obvious you’re hurting?”

  “You are the most observant person. It’s not that apparent.”

  “Ha, wrong. Do not deny it.”

  He shot her a rueful look. “Okay, yes, it’s getting worse. I even had to take some painkillers at night. But I don’t have to let it rule me. I came to ask you if you might consider going to dinner tonight.”

  “Dinner? You’re kidding, right?”

  “No. I want to take you to dinner.”

  “You’re in pain—”

  “We have already established that fact. So let’s move forward…will you go to dinner with me?”

  She almost chuckled he was so put out by her worry over him. “I really don’t think that is a good idea.”

  “You are the most stubborn woman—”

  “Me? You’re the one hurting.”

  “And I’d like something to take my mind off that fact. Dinner with you is exactly what I need.”

  She sighed. She should turn him down—she should. But why?

  Because what I’m feeling for him scares me.

  The voice in her head was right. She had fought it and fought it, but she knew that the connection that she had with Max was stronger than anything she had ever felt for anyone. And now that the barrier that had been
between them was lifted, there was no reason for her not to face up to that fear. Was there?

  She could go out with him and enjoy herself if he could go out with her while suffering.

  He squinted at her. “You had to think about it that hard? I’m not in the military anymore.”

  She swallowed the lump of trepidation lodged in her windpipe and then blew out a slow, steady breath. “I…had to think about it because you and I both know that something is going on between us.”

  His lip hitched slowly to one side. “I’ve known that for a while. I’ve been thinking about it ever since we talked the other day. The only thing that I see positive about my military career ending is that there is nothing left standing in the way of us.”

  Her stomach dipped. Oh dear goodness, she was in trouble. “I’ve been thinking about that.”

  “It’s all I’ve been thinking about.”

  Her heart squeezed. “Sooo, I guess if I didn’t have to clean house tonight, I could say yes.”

  His brows crinkled. “Huh? You are not going to choose house cleaning—”

  She laughed. “I’m teasing. I’ll go as long as it’s somewhere you won’t have to work too hard to get to. And then don’t have to move around a lot.”

  “You mean like a drive-in?”

  “Sure, perfect.”

  He frowned. “While I like a good hamburger myself, that’s not exactly what I was thinking. Though dressing up would be a stretch…that’s why I’m wearing shorts today.”

  “Maybe we should forget it and you just come in and put some ice on it.”

  “While nothing sounds more thrilling than you putting an ice pack on my knee, I think I’ll pass. I’d like to at least take you to a restaurant. We could go back to Paradise Grill. It’s a small parking lot and easy access.”

  She was touched by how much he wanted to take her out. He had to be hurting. “That sounds like the perfect plan. And it has a great atmosphere.” And it was the place she’d first laid eyes on him.

  He looked at his watch. “Can you go now?”

  “Now?”

  He nodded. “Am I being too pushy?”

  Her lips twitched. “Extremely. But it’s okay. I can go if you give me a few minutes to wash the horse smell off of me. You’ll thank me and so will the others at the restaurant.”

  “Sounds good to me. I’ll chill on the couch.”

  It didn’t take her long, though she hurried as fast as she could, knowing that speed would help her not back out of going. That may have been his whole reasoning for hurrying her into the date.

  Which was actually a nice feeling. He really wanted to spend time with her.

  They arrived at the Paradise Grill and Bert led them out onto the back deck to a table near the entrance, which made Max not have to walk any farther than necessary.

  Kelsey had tried to get him to stay inside because it was a shorter walk but he’d insisted it was too beautiful a night to stay inside. He didn’t care if his leg fell off; he was having a romantic dinner under the stars with this woman. She was making it almost impossible. She insisted they be as close to the door as possible if she agreed to a longer walk and he finally gave in. Bert, the owner and a friend, didn’t even try to hide his grin as he watched them argue quietly with each other. And he chuckled when Max finally gave in.

  “The table near the door then.” Max laughed at last. “Whatever it takes to get the woman on the deck works for me.”

  “I was wondering when you were going to wise up, dude. She’s tougher than any football lineup you and me used to face down on the team.”

  He chuckled. He and Bert, along with most of his brothers, had played high school football together. Bert had gone on to play college ball and though Max had been given an offer, he’d turned it down and gone into the Marines.

  “You’re right about that.”

  Kelsey hitched a brow and smiled. “I’m just holding you to our agreement we made before I agreed to the date.”

  “It’s true,” he told Bert, who laughed.

  “You two have a lovely evening. Try not to argue as you chill. The waitress will be here soon. If he gives you any trouble, call me.” He winked at Kelsey.

  Max grinned and rubbed his knee. “He’s a good guy.”

  “I like him, and I like his place. It’s perfect.”

  “I think my date is perfect.”

  She met his eyes with almost disbelieving eyes.

  “Why do you look like that?”

  “I wasn’t expecting it.”

  “A compliment? I don’t know why not. I find everything about you special. And I’m not kidding.”

  She let her long fingers play with the edge of the menu that Bert had placed in front of each of them before he left.

  “Does that bother you?”

  “No, well.” Her eyes wavered from his and then came back. “A little. I’m honestly having to adjust to the idea of you not being military. I had all this resistance and boundary walls up and now I can take them down.”

  “I hope so,” he said.

  The singer in the far corner of the deck started to sing the Kenny Chesney song “When the Sun Goes Down.” They were both quiet for a moment, listening.

  “He’s good,” she said after a few moments.

  Kelsey finally looked as though she was relaxing. A feeling of contentment eased over him like the warm glow of sunshine on a cold day as he studied her.

  “You are beautiful, you know.”

  She had been looking out at the dark ocean. “Thank you.”

  “I figured if I say it again you’ll get used to hearing it and be more comfortable.”

  She smiled as if she thought he was slightly crazy. “I think I like hearing that from you.”

  “Well, now we’re talking. Because I like saying it. And I refuse to let some jerk mess up my right to compliment my date.”

  “Oh, now that’s true. He was a jerk.”

  “Do you have a lot of men in your profession acting like jerks to you?”

  She shook her head. “There are always jerks in any profession, but you can usually get around that. Unless you work for them and live on their property. What a mistake. I should have run the moment I realized what a jerk he was. Big mistake on my part. Live and learn.”

  “Yeah, sadly—though you shouldn’t have to learn.”

  “But I can’t let it taint my view of everyone. Look at Cam. I’m living on his property and I have no worry that he’s going to make a pass at me. Some men are still gentlemen and faithful.”

  “Yeah, Cam is so in love with Lana there is no chance of that happening. I’m going to tell you straight up that I’m not going to be a jerk. I’m going to do my best to treat you like the lady you are.”

  The waitress came and took their orders and after she left, Kelsey leaned forward. “Okay, back to the conversation. Well, while I appreciate the sentiment about you treating me like a lady, I’m going to insist that you don’t try to beat me to the truck door when we leave like you did earlier. I am quite capable of opening my own door and you are in no shape to do it right now.”

  “Hey, my knee is going to hurt me no matter what.”

  “You are a hardheaded man.”

  “Yes, I am. And I’m warning you, I’m not likely to change.”

  She held his gaze. “That goes for me too.”

  They studied each other as slow smiles spread across both their faces.

  “I have a feeling our relationship won’t be boring,” he said, and was rewarded with another of her bubbling laughs. He could get addicted to her laugh—the sound made him feel as if everything in the world was right…or could be right. It just made him happy.

  Chapter Nine

  They talked all through dinner, aside from the times that the music was so good they just had to stop and listen. Those times, she caught him looking at her and he would give her a smile and then look back to the band. But those moments sent her heart flying.

  By the time t
he meal was over, though, she sensed his knee was hurting worse. She’d learned to tell by the look in his eyes; they dulled and the crease between his eyebrows deepened.

  “Do you want some of Bert’s famous Hula Pie? Or some Key lime pie?”

  “No. Thank you for the offer, but I believe it’s time to get you home so you can put that knee up.”

  “I’m fine, if you want pie.”

  “I don’t but get some if you want it.”

  “I have a sweet tooth but the truth is I was using pie as an excuse to extend my time with you.”

  “But you’re hurting.”

  “So, what’s new?”

  “Okay.” She raised her hand in surrender. “I have pie and coffee at home. And an ice pack. We will go back to my place and I’ll feed you pie while we ice that knee down.”

  “I never thought I’d say this before I was an eighty-year-old man, but that is a really enticing idea. I like it. I like it a lot.”

  She laughed. “Then let’s get out of here.”

  A few minutes later, they pulled up into Kelsey’s yard. She looked at him skeptically. “Are you sure you want to get out?”

  He opened his door. “Hey, I was promised pie and an ice pack and I’m not eating after midnight, so that is a definite affirmative. I’m getting out and holding you to your offer.”

  “Then, by all means, let’s get you iced down,” she said, her pretty eyes clearly telling him she wasn’t sure how to take him.