Freshwater Kisses (The Kisses 3)

"Enjoying your moment in the spotlight?" he asked, straightening from the window.

"Yes, but I'd like to have you with me. You won this race just as much as I did."

Robbie turned to face me, wrapping his good arm around my waist and pulling me in to him. His lips grazed my hairline, his voice soft and low.

"It's bittersweet for me in there," he said gently. I looked up questioningly, and he released me and turned back to the window. "The doctor says my arm will never be what it was. The tendon ripped, and he's not sure it's going to heal properly. He says I will probably never sail again like I used to."

I pushed gently at his shoulder to make him face me. "So get another doctor's opinion. This is a small town; there has to be another doctor who can do something."

A smile ghosted across his face as he shook his head. "Jack had this doctor flown in specifically for me. He's the leading specialist in elbow injuries, usually with football quarterbacks, but he knows what he's talking about. It was a bad break, Sam."

"Oh, Robbie..." I whispered. He turned back to the window to stare at the water.

I knew what sailing meant to him. I knew how much he loved to be out on the water by himself, reliant on only his skill and strength. The idea that he might never sail that way again, or even the time it would take to regain that independence, broke my heart. He was a bird with a broken wing, staring at the open sky and wishing he could once again fly.

"It's okay. We won, right? And I can still sail. I just won't be able to use my arm like I used to. I'll adapt." Robbie turned and put his hand on my shoulder, his face serious in the dim light. "I wanted to ask you something, though. Would you still be with me if I could never sail again?"

I put my hands on either side of his face, looking deep into his eyes so he would see the truth in my words. "Yes. I love you, Robbie. Not your sailing ability. If it were a choice between you and sailing, you would win every time." I smiled at him. "The reason I fell in love with sailing in the first place is because I got to do it with you. I would love anything as long as I'm with you.

Robbie's eyes sparkled with heartfelt tears like the ocean in the sun. He leaned forward and kissed my lips softly.

"I love you, Samantha Conners. More than you will ever know. I am a lucky man to have you," he whispered, reaching up to caress my cheek.

I leaned into his hand, feeling the hard sailing calluses against my skin. "You're damn right, you are." I took his hand in mine and kissed it, smiling up at him. "I think I'm pretty lucky, though, too."

Robbie's mouth opened in a wide smile, and he gently curled his hand around the back of my neck and pressed his smile against mine. My heart ached with happiness. I was made of moonlight and joy when I was with Robbie.

"Let's get back to the party," Robbie whispered as we broke apart. "I'd like to dance with you, and since you never let me lead anyway, I think I'll be fine with just one hand."

I laughed and took his hand in mine, the two of us walking away from the dark window and back toward the bright hallway. "You're the one who taught me how to dance in the first place. I only learned the leading part because you taught it to me. You were just too good of a teacher."

The ballroom spilled out light, soft music, and a gentle murmur of laughter. Robbie raised his hand, and I spun in a neat twirl as we stepped through the open doors. Together we waltzed into the ballroom, whirling and dancing as one.

***

The water splashes against the hull of my boat, a soft, comforting sound. The sky is bright blue without a cloud in sight. I am at peace. This part of the dream is always pleasant. I like this part of the dream. Evan is alive and happy with Grace. Mom and Dad are safe at home, and we are going to have meatloaf for dinner.

I frown. Mom and Dad are not at home. They are in Heaven. So is Evan. I have never had this happen in the dream before. I always lose them.

The wind plays with the sails, the soft, flapping sounds of the canvas merging into a gentle lullaby with the waves. This isn't right either; the wind is usually a hurricane gale that I can't control.

"Come sail with me, Sam." Robbie's voice echoes through my dream, deep and masculine.

I turn to see him sitting in my boat. The breeze ruffles his sandy hair, and his green eyes are as deep as the ocean. He's perfect. He smiles at me, and the world grows brighter. The blue sky is somehow more vivid, and the water is somehow richer.

"Come sail with me," he repeats, his smile brighter than the sun. There are no storms when I'm with Robbie.

I smile back at him, and take the helm. Together we sail into the horizon on calm waters.

Chapter 22

The October sun was warm on my skin, complimented by a cool breeze coming in off the lake. It felt good to be on Avery's Hope, even if I was still docked. The gulls cried overhead and the boat bumped occasionally against the dock, creating a strange harmony that I loved. I checked my watch again, wondering when Robbie was going to get here. He was already ten minutes late, but I figured he had just gotten stuck talking business with Jack.

I frowned, going over the sails once again just for something to do. Robbie had hired a local to clean up the boat after the storm since neither one of us had been in any condition to do it. The entire cabin had been strewn with food, clothing, charts, and gear; the local had cleaned the inside and put the sails and sheets back in order on deck. The cabin still smelled slightly damp, but it had mostly dried out after the storm. Robbie and I had wanted to take the Hope out one last time before shipping it back to Winchester, just to make sure that everything was in order.

My watch said he was now fifteen minutes late, and I didn't have a phone message, so I decided to just take the boat out and check it myself. There was no reason I couldn't do it alone, and it would be a nice surprise for Robbie not to have to worry about it.

I untied the boat and turned on the motor, taking the helm and heading into the breeze. Soft white clouds floated on the clear blue sky as Avery's Hope cut through the green water scattered with golden leaves. It was a perfect fall day, and my heart was light when I heard a shout.