Waterfront Weddings (42 page)

Five minutes later, water dripped down his neck as he pulled on khakis, a polo, and a fleece pullover. He shoved a couple of protein bars in a pocket and hopped on his bike. He didn’t see Alanna or her bike as he headed out. The fact he checked made him chuckle. For a guy who didn’t believe in true love, he sure wasted effort keeping tabs on Alanna. He could still catch her. He couldn’t imagine her riding hard enough to glisten before she got to work. Coming home was different than getting there.

He steadied his breath, pumping just to the point of raising his heart rate but letting gravity pull him toward Lake Huron. He hadn’t gone far when he saw a hot-pink shadow on an old bike. Hot pink? Still her color after all these years, though he supposed she called it something fancy like fuchsia now.

He pedaled harder to help gravity’s pull until he reached Alanna’s side. A headband pulled her hair back from her face. The wind had pulled a few strands loose, and they framed her face in a way that left his fingers itching to tuck them behind her ears.

She didn’t even glance at him. “Don’t you have better things to do?”

“Going your way, ma’am.” She must have caught his mocking tone, because she turned to him and made a face. “I’ll slide around you then.”

“You betcha.” The way she said it with her mouth tipping up in the corner made him laugh.

“You haven’t been gone that long.”

“Feels years longer.” Then she glanced at him with that same ole mischievous glint.

“Uh-oh.”

“You have no idea.”

Next thing Jonathan knew, he trailed a hot-pink streak flying down the road. No way would he let her win. Not when he’d invited himself, creating the race.

He pumped up-down, up-down. Alanna seemed to have a sixth sense—or maybe she had developed a mother’s second set of eyes—because she knew exactly what he planned and slid into his way each time. He grunted as he braked hard, wheels locking to avoid her latest attempt to cut him off.

“You aren’t playing fair.” He gritted his teeth and tried again.

“Just trying to win.” Her voice wasn’t flirtatious or wry, just intense. They reached the point where Scott’s Road intersected with Leslie Road and turned right, but then she surprised him by turning right on British Landing Road, extending the time before they reached the busier roads. Maybe she had eleven years of frustration to take out in one bike race.

But as the trees raced past them on British Landing Road, he wondered if she’d remembered where they’d intersect Lake Shore Drive.

Alanna’s lungs strained to provide the oxygen her muscles demanded. Who’s crazy idea was it to make an easy ride to work a race across the island?

At this rate she’d need a shower when she reached the studio, despite the May chill in the air. Guess it was a good thing the upstairs apartment stood empty. Who’d have thought forty-five degrees would fail her along with her Secret? Didn’t matter. She was not giving up. If she had any control on the race, she’d win. Plain and simple.

But no matter how many times she swerved or swayed, Jonathan wouldn’t back off. It made her think of the way he kept coming around. She’d only been on the island a few days, but already she’d gotten his message: he didn’t plan to go anywhere.

She bore down and swerved around a fallen limb. The bike didn’t have big enough tires to go over things like that. Not without bumping her off the seat and possibly giving her a flat. More broken branches had her steering in a crazyeight pattern until she feared losing control. That wouldn’t leave the image she wanted in Jonathan’s mind. She flipped down a gear and hoped it helped. Next thing she knew, her back tire jolted, and she swayed to keep her balance.

An
oomph
from Jonathan made her want to look over her shoulder, but he bumped into her tire again.

“What are you doing?” Her voice rose, out of her control as adrenaline spiked her system.

“Trying to stay alive,” he huffed. “What’s with the pellmell dive down the hills?”

“Just trying to get to work.”

“In one piece?”

She snorted. “What other way is there?”

“Slow down, crazy woman.” There was something in his voice that made her want to stop, ask for details. But she couldn’t. She wouldn’t.

“And let you slip past me? I don’t think so.” She leaned forward, pumping harder still.

“Watch out!”

The command in Jonathan’s voice pulled her gaze up in time to see a branch loom in front of her face. It smacked her cheek, knocking her to the side. She fought for balance but couldn’t find it as her bike rocked side to side. She inhaled, trying to tighten her core as her Pilates instructor harped.

Next thing she knew, she lay on the ground, her bike wheels spinning over her head. She made a mental note to tell her instructor that advice didn’t work on bikes. Stinging erupted across her shins and palms where she’d collided with the ground.

Jonathan skidded to a stop and slid off the bike next to her. “Are you okay?”

Alanna touched her cheek, feeling a lump and knowing the pain would kick in soon. “Does it look as bad as it feels?”

“Better.” The concern in his eyes belied his words.

“I’m not sure I believe you.”

“Do you think you can get up and bike home?”

“Nothing doing. I’ve got to work.” She touched her cheek again. “I’ll stop for ice.”

“Let’s get you up.” He reached down and offered her a hand.

She accepted his help and moaned as he tugged her up.

He stopped instantly. “Did I pull too hard?”

“Nope.” She grinned at him. “Just wanted to make you worry.” He looked like he wanted to drop her hand. “Just kidding.”

“No you aren’t, imp.” He searched her gaze. “I don’t want anything to hurt you.”

She stilled, lost in the intensity of his look. If someone asked her for directions, she knew she wouldn’t know the first place to direct them on the small island that had been her home for nine years. And at the moment, she didn’t care. Being lost in his green eyes seemed like the best thing she’d done in a long time. She inhaled a shallow breath. Would he kiss her? What would it be like after all this time?

He looked down, breaking their connection. He pulled his left wrist in front and showed her his watch face. “We’d better get moving. We can get you ice and still open in time.”

She blinked. Had he caught her staring at his lips? She dragged her gaze to his eyes then over his shoulder to the pine trees towering over the trail. She needed to get away from this…thing…growing between them. She did not come here to resurrect ancient history.

She wouldn’t sign up for that. Not willingly.

“You’re right.” She pushed her bike upright. “Can’t have anyone thinking I’m not working today. The last thing Mom needs is a call from some helpful soul keeping tabs on me.”

Alanna wobbled onto the bike. Taking a moment to let her equilibrium stabilize, she started pedaling without waiting for Jonathan. He’d catch up. The bottom of the road loomed. As it did, her heart hiccupped.

How could she have forgotten what lay at the end of this road?

S
he skidded to a stop at the side of the road. Her breath hitched, and she couldn’t get her lungs to expand. She couldn’t breathe, and the realization terrified her.

She had to leave this place. But her legs wouldn’t cooperate. She stood paralyzed, straddling the bike with the view of waves crashing against rocks along a rugged beach confronting her.

A woman slowed down, concern on her face. Not Ginger Hoffmeister. Not now. Yet there was no doubt the short, slightly rounded figure belonged to her high school friend.

In an instant, she transported back to that day in May.

The sun burned hot on her face as she joined the other high school students. Seniors for one more week. The words tasted as sweet as cherry preserves on her tongue
.

In a couple of months, she’d head to University of Michigan
,
but before that a glorious summer of freedom stretched in front of her. She could spend every evening at the dock with Jonathan
Covington. By Memorial Day weekend, he’d be back at his grandparents’ for the first of many stays over the summer. She couldn’t wait to see him
.

But tonight her classmates celebrated. It had never felt so good to dance in the sunlight
.

“Alanna?” Jonathan touched her shoulder. “Are you ready for this?”

“Ready?” She choked on the word. Who could be ready to revisit the place that changed their lives?

“Alanna Stone?” Ginger approached, her auburn hair inches shorter than the long ponytail she’d worn in high school. Her nose still perked up at the end, but her emeraldcolored eyes held concern. “You’re back?”

Alanna sucked in air, trying to force it into her lungs. Black pricked the edges of her vision. She needed oxygen. Now.

“Lean over.” Jonathan pressed against her back until her forehead practically kissed the handlebars. “That better?”

Alanna wanted to scream, “No!” Not while Ginger Hoffmeister stared as she panicked.

“What happened?” Ginger’s soft voice conveyed concern, concern she couldn’t possibly feel or she would have contacted Alanna after her freshman year of college. Three years on the same campus, and Ginger had ended their friendship with her distance.

“Nothing.” She pressed the word past the knot tightening in her throat. Pushing back, she dislodged Jonathan’s hand and straightened.

“You’re sure you’re okay?” Ginger studied her. “I heard you were back. Sorry I haven’t stopped by the studio.”

“I didn’t expect you.” Bitterness laced her words even as she gritted her teeth together.

Ginger seemed to absorb Alanna’s indifference and shrank back. “It’s good to see you.” Ginger pushed off, leaving them behind.

Jonathan studied Alanna. “What was that all about? I thought you were friends.”

“We were.” This was too much. The scene of Grady’s accident and now Ginger. They’d been inseparable growing up. She missed the history they’d shared.

“Ready to get going? We can be at the Grand Hotel in minutes and by the library before you even notice you’ve started riding again.”

He was right. Before the morass of pain and images sucked her under, she jerked from his touch and pushed the pedals. She hadn’t noticed the bicyclers out for a ride in the early morning air, but she’d created a scene. One rider glanced away after making eye contact.

“I have to get away from here.” She stepped forward, thrusting the bike into traffic between two cyclists and hurrying into the fray.

This wasn’t a day to watch the last rays of the sun rising. No, today was a day to bury her head at the Painted Stone and pray for a quick escape. Nothing good happened to her here.

She never looked back on the ride around the perimeter of the island, yet she sensed Jonathan behind her. She didn’t need him shadowing her every move. Discovering every secret she kept hidden. No, she needed to push him away. Keep a safe distance. And get off this island as fast as she could. Tomorrow if possible. The weekend, definitely.

Jonathan slowed down. He should head home and take a shower before slipping into the office. Good thing his first meeting wasn’t until ten. He watched Alanna power around a couple out for an early morning ride.

Why did she run from the past? From him? The real Alanna was far different from the one he’d carried in his memories. Her return highlighted that. Much as he didn’t like it, maybe he needed to see. How else would he move on?

Thirty loomed around the corner. He didn’t want to live alone the rest of his life. He’d always imagined a passel of kids wrestling with him every night after work. Waiting for a mirage wouldn’t make that dream a reality. He loved every moment with Jaclyn’s little boy, Dylan, but he wanted kids of his own, too.

Until she confronted whatever demons chased her, Alanna wouldn’t return to the strong, feisty woman he remembered. She had feisty in spades, but strength eluded her. Instead, she seemed worn down. Weary. Yet drawn to the past like a moth to the bug zapper on his porch.

His legs burned as he pumped home. A quick shower later and he again had dripping hair as he stood in his kitchen. His stomach growled. A protein bar wasn’t going to fill him after that ride, but he didn’t have time to make breakfast. He grabbed a browning banana and peeled it as he exited the small cabin. The cabin hadn’t seemed too small before, but with dreams of Alanna floating in his head, he knew she couldn’t be satisfied with a place like his. No room to make it her own.