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The more Pax dug into the story, the less he liked it. This wasn’t the first boat that had experienced something similar. It was the fourth. Later in the afternoon, the crowds dispersed, but the Coast Guard vessel remained as helicopters searched above for any possible survivors.

Hope was dim.

“I feel like a burger at my favorite spot,” smiled Pax. “The sun is out, it’s warming up. What do you say?”

“Uh, yeah, sure.” He watched as she pulled the cap down over her face again, her hair covering the sides of her face.

“Dee, I know you’re self-conscious but wearing your hat and hair like that makes people think that I hit you. Like Aaron this morning. He’s seen it before.”

“Oh.” She pulled the hat back a bit and tucked her hair behind her ears. “Better?”

He moved closer to her, pulling her against his own body, as one big arm wrapped around her waist. She was warm, smelling like lilacs and vanilla. He tucked the hair further behind her ear and kissed her passionately, deeply, lingering.

“You are so fucking beautiful,” he said, shaking his head. “No one compares to you, Dee. No one.”

“I don’t know how you can say that,” she said, shaking her head.

“Because it’s the truth, and I love you.”

They walked to the small bar with an outdoor patio, taking a seat in the sunlight. They both ordered a beer and a burger, the whole time Pax not letting go of her hand.

“Pax? Do you really believe that this warm water will help me?” she asked.

“I know it will. I can’t explain it here or now, but it will. Are you hurting?” he asked, concerned.

“A little. My jaw especially, but I’m also noticing I’m having trouble breathing through my nose. Kennedy and Gabi said it might happen but that they could fix it.”

“I think we need to get back to Belle Fleur, Deanna. Will you let me call them? They can be here by this evening.”

“Can we come back here? I mean, just for a little while. The peace and quiet has been so good for me, and the house feels amazing.”

“We will come back here. I promise,” he said, kissing her.

“Alright, then let’s get home. I think I need to see Kennedy and Gabi.”

Pax started to worry about Deanna and her pain level. She hadn’t complained once since all of this started, and now, she was struggling and was asking for a doctor. That told him a lot about her. She wasn’t a complainer, she was brave as fuck, and she didn’t always do the right thing for herself.

Quickly texting home, they sent Autumn for them, meeting at the small regional airport.

“Do we need to take our things?” asked Deanna.

“Nope. We’ll be back in a few days. I guarantee it.”

“Well, there’s my runaway patient,” frowned Gabi.

“I’m sorry, Gabi. I just needed to get away for a while,” she said, lowering her gaze. Gabi touched her chin, forcing her to look up.

“Honey, I’m not mad. I was worried about you, terrified that you wouldn’t call if you started having problems, and apparently, I was right. Pax says you’re experiencing pain.”

“My jaw and I’m struggling to breathe through my nose.” Gabi forced her head backwards, shining the light into her nasal passages. Frowning, she looked back at Pax, then began touching her jaw.

“When did the jaw pain start?”

“Almost right away,” said Deanna.

“It wasn’t fully healed, Deanna. I think you must have inadvertently hit it or eaten something that jarred it slightly askew. It’s not completely dislocated, but I’m betting it hurts like a bitch.”

Deanna had tears rolling down her cheeks, and Pax held her, holding her tightly.

“Take her to the pond.”

“That’s it?” she asked. “You’re sending me for a swim?”

“Trust us,” said Gabi. “Learn to trust him. But trust us as well. You’ll understand when this is done. Go!”

Pax didn’t bother to argue with her. He lifted her, taking her out the back to the ATV. As they bounced along the path, he noticed that she was wincing in pain, and it bothered him more than he cared to admit. She’d been hurting for weeks and ignoring it, too afraid to come back and ask for help.

He stopped the vehicle and walked around to the other side, helping her toward the dock. Deanna noticed a large white cabinet with towels inside and benches lining the dock area.

“You have to strip, Dee.”

“Very funny, Pax. I’m not taking my clothes off in front of you.”

“Babe, you either strip and jump in, or I take your clothes off and jump in with you.”

“Naked?” she squealed.

“Yes, naked,” he laughed. “Would that be so bad?”

“N-no. I mean, it’s just that, well, I think you’re probably beautiful naked. I’m maybe less so.”

“Oh, no. We’re not playing that game,” he said, kicking off his shoes. He stripped off the shirt, then his jeans and boxers, standing naked in front of her. Then he started pointing at the injuries on his body.

“Knife, knife, and knife. All somewhere in South America, you’d have to ask Brax the exact location. I don’t remember. Bullet, another bullet, beer bottle,” he said, pointing at the other three. “Broken, broken, broken.”

“Three broken bones?” she asked.

“I’m not perfect. My job was, is, extremely physical and dangerous. I’m fucked up, Dee. Now, take your clothes off, honey. It’s getting cold out here.” He jumped into the water and turned his back, giving her privacy.

He heard moving around, then the sounds of clothing hitting the benches. A few moments later, she sat on the dock and pushed her body into the warm water.

“It’s so warm! It’s wonderful,” she exclaimed. He turned, laughing at her.

“I told you it was. Go beneath the water. Duck your head, honey.” She nodded, diving beneath the water and swimming around the pond. He watched her come up for air, then go beneath one more time. She looked so fucking beautiful with her chestnut hair slicked back by the water cascading around her shoulders. Her huge doe eyes glistened with joy.

Pax paddled toward her slowly so as not to frighten her. When he reached her body, she grabbed his upper arms, holding on. But he put one arm around her waist and pulled her against him.

“How’s the jaw?” he asked in a husky voice. She moved it open and shut, then side to side, and stared at him. Then, without asking, she breathed in through her nose, then out again.

“There’s no pain. I have no pain. How is this possible?” she asked.

“I’ve been trying to tell you, it’s miraculous. It’s saved a lot of people on this property, and now it’s saved you.”

“How?”

“Babe, I don’t know,” he said, holding her tightly. She wrapped one leg around his, forcing their bodies to intertwine. “Dee.”

“You’re so beautifully perfect, Pax. Everything about you. Your body, your mind, your heart, your soul. Did we waste too many years?” she whispered.

“Mama Irene would say we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be when we’re supposed to be here. I agree. You are fucking perfect, Dee. All of you. I love you so much, babe.”

“I love you, too, Pax.”

“Why won’t you talk to me?” yelled a woman walking along the trail. Pax smiled at Deanna and then waited to see if it was who he suspected.

“I have been talking to you,” said Brax. “Stop yelling at me.”

Pax and Deanna giggled quietly as they kept walking, yelling at one another.

“Can I assume that your brother is having woman troubles?” smiled Deanna.

“Yep. But for once in my life, I don’t give a shit about my brother’s woman problems. I’ve found the woman I’m going to spend the rest of my life with.”

“Pax, you can’t mean that. This soon?”

“Soon? Woman, we’ve been in love for years and were too slow to do anything about it. Yes, we’re going to spend our lives together. But first, I’m going to keep my promise to you. We’re going to pack some things and head back to Coronado for a few weeks. What do you say?”

“Really? Oh, Pax, thank you!” she said, hugging him. It took a moment for her to realize they were naked, and her nipples were reacting to his hard chest and hard other areas.

“Unless you want this to keep moving, we should get out,” smirked Pax.

“Well, I kind of do, but maybe not in the pond where everyone can walk by and see us.”

“Agreed,” he laughed.