Free Key West Wild (The Florida Keys Series) by Cyndi Raye Page B

raised up two hands. “Enough! I can’t take any more.”
    Josh stood up to leave and led her away much to the bartender’s dismay. Sara giggled when the magician made a remark about the fair lady leaving right before the finale.
    Josh turned. “She’s my fair lady,” he growled. Sara gasped at the intensity in his voice. Did she hear a bit of jealousy? No, it couldn’t be, he didn’t seem like that kind of guy. In fact, he wanted her to have a good time when she didn’t want the night to end.
    She stopped in her tracks. “Josh, you okay?”
    He ran his hand through disheveled hair. “Yeah, I’m fine. I didn’t mean to say what I did.”
    “You didn’t mean it?”
    “Well, I did mean it, but I, ah Sara!” He plunged hands deep in his pockets. Then turned and walked towards the docks.
    Josh was always in control of himself, Sara took a step back when he began to walk away. His shoulders were back, but yet hunched in a way that made him seem uncertain. His casual stride had her walking fast to keep up as he headed to the end of the pier. He rocked back and forth, eyes staring out in to the darkness.
    She stopped right behind him and when he didn’t turn to her, she slipped away and sat with legs dangling off the wooden pier.
    She felt him sit down beside her. He didn’t say a word, just picked up her hand on her lap and entwined his fingers with hers. “I’m afraid in just this short time, my feelings for you are out of control.”
    She smiled. “I know Josh. I feel the same way and I’m not too sure what to do.”
    She heard his inhale. “I’m sorry about my reaction back there. I wanted to nail the magician for flirting with you.”
    Sara laughed. “It’s okay. Makes a girl feel good, you know.”
    He shook his head. “No, it’s not good. I know someone hurt you before. I’m sure you don’t need more chaos in your life and I won’t be the source.”
    She placed her hand on his face. “Josh, you are nothing like my ex. I think it’s time we talked about him.”
    The sea air whipped about her face, the wind gathering strength as the night wore on. Sara pushed her hair back and shivered. Josh pulled her to him.
    “Tell me about your life before Key West.”
    She sighed in his arms and drew in a deep breath. “I fell in love at twenty one, thinking he’s the one. He worked for the company where I was an administrative assistant. Cory seemed romantic and you know, I love to be romanced. We went dancing and drinking and little did I know it would become the worst nightmare ever.” She shivered thinking about their wedding. He got so drunk, he ruined the night for her when he took in a drunken state what he should have cherished.
    “I should have known. Looking back, the signs were all there, except I was too young to realize what a mistake I made. For eight years I tried to make it work because I made a vow for better or worse.”
    She put unsteady hands in front of her face. “He wanted kids, but I knew better than to get pregnant. He drank our money away and lied to people, including me. Then I began to lie too. Every month telling him I didn’t conceive, when in reality I took birth control pills instead. There was no way I would put a child in our horrible world.”
    “Did you ever try to leave?”
    She shuddered. “Many times. Each time he would beg me to stay. I can’t believe I trusted the false promises. At twenty-something you want to believe in fairy tales.”
    Josh tilted her chin and she saw the question in his eyes. She shivered. “He hit me one time. I would run and hide when ever he became angry. He got so drunk some nights, I could get away until he passed out. Of course, in the meantime there were bruises all over from running in to doors and walls during my escapes.”
    “What happened the night he hit you, Sara?”
    “I think you already know.”
    “He found your birth control pills.”
    She nodded. “It’s hard to re-live that night.”
    “You don’t have to