Faithful to a Fault Read Free Page B

reminder of his body…which had felt too good for words lying over her in the snow.
    Sarah had already decided to cut herself a break on the attraction. While her mind screamed that she should consider all men to be scum and avoid them as a whole, her body had other plans. And really, Pete was a temporary fixture anyway. Like quickly moving landscape on a road trip. She would have just enough time to admire the scenery before it was a memory.
    Four years was long enough to beat herself up over a mistake.
    When she turned back around, Pete was in the corner with her globe, slowly rotating it. His fingers trailed over the textured surface, tips tracing the red marks she’d made.
    “I hate to tell you this, but someone has graffitied your globe.”
    Sarah laughed. “That would be me. I bought that thing in a yard sale, but the markings are all mine.”
    His eyes never left the spinning sphere as he asked, “What are they for?”
    Her footsteps sounded heavy to her own ears as she walked over to stand by him and watch the red markings drift by with each rotation. “Places I want to go. Need to go. After my ex-husband left me here—”
    “Wait, you’re divorced?”
    Sarah looked at his widened eyes. “Is that a problem?”
    He shook his head. “No. You’re just so young…”
    “Divorce knows no age limit,” she joked. Because she could joke…now. A few years ago, not so much. “Anyway, I realized that I wanted to keep exploring. But not with him.”
    “A nomad,” he joked.
    “A wanderer,” she corrected, not at all upset. “Some people do well with roots. Mine seem to like planting themselves all over the place.”
    “Ever knocked one of these places off the list?”
    A heaviness settled in her chest. “No. I’m sure my brother probably has. But then I wouldn’t know anything about his life anymore.” When he gave her a look, she added, “He left when I was younger. Where he is now, I wouldn’t know. I haven’t talked to him for a while.”
    She put her hand out to stop the spinning and her fingers brushed his. The shock she received was just static electricity, she lectured herself. But when he covered her hand with his over the globe, even she didn’t buy her own bull.
    “You will. See the world, I mean. If that’s what you want.”
    She looked up, saw the teasing light was gone. Solemn eyes met hers, as if willing her to reach for the goal. As if his own determination could push her to reach farther.
    He was close enough to kiss. She could just stand on her toes and brush her lips against his with hardly any effort at all. And despite her better judgment, she found herself wondering if his kisses would hold the same intensity as his eyes.
    With how fierce he looked, she had no doubt. No wonder he was a Marine. In what other profession could you attack something with such intensity on a daily basis?
    She resisted the urge to sweep a finger over his brow and smooth the lines that deepened while he studied her. Like he was trying to figure her out, piece her together.
    But she wasn’t his puzzle to complete. So she took a step back—physically and emotionally—and used a chipper, impersonal voice. “Thanks for bringing that by. When Mrs. Nelson comes home I’ll be sure to run it over.”
    Pete stared at her a moment longer, then nodded as if he’d made some conclusion about something. “Good.” He walked to the door and opened it, turning only to give a stern warning of, “Lock this behind me,” before closing it firmly in his wake.
    The charged air immediately stilled. Like someone flipped the switch. Sarah breathed deeply, then walked to the door to lock it.
    Scenery, Sarah. He’s good-looking scenery on this road trip. Don’t get attached.
    * * * * *
     
    Pete enjoyed family meals with the Millers. Though there were only four of them, plus Pete and Maria’s boyfriend, the noise was out of control. Everyone was loud, crazy and quick to crack a joke. Food was tossed, drinks were