Page 66 of The Sandbar saga

Chapter 25

The waves receded.Race kept pace in the wet sand along the shoreline, pushing himself to go the last quarter mile on his run. He had the beach to himself. Only him, the water, and the seagulls overhead seeing if he'd drop anything.

His heart rate on par, he breathed through his nose, out through his mouth. Pumping his legs and arms, he dug his toes in the sand, keeping momentum.

And through the monotonous movements he put his body through, Katie filled his headspace.

Spotting the Wreck of the Peter Iredale within fifty feet, he sprinted. Coming to a stop beside the heap of rusted steel left from the old shipwreck, he walked up onto dry sand and headed toward Fort Stevens where he'd parked his car.

The marine clouds covered the area, blocking out the sun. The salt air-dried his sweat, and he slowed his walk over the dunes.

Throughout the last week, Katie had done everything possible to avoid him since he'd turned down going on a date with her. He peaked at the top of the sand and walked down off the mound to the asphalt of the public parking lot.

As if thinking about Katie, he configured her in his mind and spotted her car parked beside his. He leaned over, peering inside. Katie rolled down the passenger window.

"Can I talk to you?" she asked.

"Sure." He studied her solemn face. "I thought your car wasn't going to be done getting fixed until tomorrow."

"They called this morning and let me know I could pick it up early. I had Pete drop me off in town so I could pay and pick it up." She lowered her gaze. "You can get in."

"Let's climb the dune and sit up there." He walked around the car and opened her door, taking in her workout clothes. "Did you bring a sweatshirt?"

She stepped over to her trunk and took a hoodie out, slipping it over her head. He led her back to the sand, offering his hand to give her extra balance to climb the dune, but she refrained from touching him.

"We can sit here." He sank down, needing to get off his shaky legs.

She sat three feet away and crossed her legs, facing the ocean. He waited for her to start. Her solemn mood had him believing something serious was happening with her, and he wanted to hear what was going on.

She looked into his eyes. "Why don't you want me?"

"I do want you."

"Then, why do you always stop and turn me away? And, please don't tell me it's because of my age. We both know that the difference between you and me has never stopped how we feel toward each other."

Was she ready to hear the truth? Could she handle it?

Could he afford not to tell her?

"I'm your psychologist. There's a code of ethics I signed to always uphold. I can't get involved with any present clients or those who I've counseled in the past." He caught the way she swallowed, and he needed her to understand. "I know you better than anyone ever will, Katie. I've spent years shaping the way you think, the way you feel, the way you react. I can predict your behavior before you even know what you're going to do. It wouldn't be fair to you—"

"I don't care about that." She stood, crossing her arms, and stepping away from him so he could only see her back.

He got to his feet. "You might not care now, but someday you will. You'll question yourself, and you'll learn not to trust me. You'll grow angry if I let things between us cross the line."

She whirled around and faced him. "Don't you see? You're hurting me by holding us back, by not loving me."

"I would do anything not to, but when I know you as well as I know myself..." He reached for her, but she jerked away. "Katie, I can't deny your feelings or mine. I've always known there was something between us."

"Then, love me." She flung her arms out to her sides and screamed. "Just love me back."

He did. He'd loved her since she was a little girl.

"Do you think I wouldn't give up everything for you. I don't care about our age difference. I don't care what other people will say. The Ethics Board can take my license away from me if it meant having a chance to love you like you deserve." He couldn't catch his breath. "I'm doing this for you."

Pressing his hand against his chest, he tried to calm down. She had the means to destroy him. He would never stop loving her.

Tears flowed silently down her cheeks. "You'll never be mine because you won't give that part of yourself to me. You'll always see me as a little girl, and never the woman I am. Why?"