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Maddening Marine

Page 184

by Nicole Ann Nielsen

“You’re here,” Rae whispered.

“I am.”

Felicity hugged Maggie a little tighter. The pug was having nothing of it and squirmed until Felicity reluctantly set her down.

Raegan looked good. Happy. Relaxed. Content. Felicity was glad for that. “You’re looking good,” she said.

“And you look” — Rae tilted her head — “different.”

Felicity shrugged. “Four months on the road will do that to a person.”

“I didn’t think you were coming,” Rae said, moving closer.

“I said I’d be here,” Felicity retorted, a little sharper than she intended. “Sorry.” She rubbed her jaw. “It’s been…” She trailed off, at a loss for words. Awkward. Uncomfortable. Ready to jump out of her skin. “Roadworks, detours,” she mumbled.

Raegan stepped forward, took hold of Felicity’s shoulders, and pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Well, it’s good to have you back. Come on. We’re about to sit down.”

Fighting the urge to turn and run, she followed her sister.

The dining room was crowded, and of course everyone turned to look at her.

She only had eyes for one person.

Their gazes locked across the room.

His expression…

Oh, God, that hooded expression.

Like that morning in Hartford — wary, resigned, and utterly unapologetic.

And it catapulted her straight back to the moment she’d realized Ronan had drugged her.

Fresh anger hit her with such force that she swayed.

“Liss? You okay?” Raegan asked, guiding her to the closest chair.

“Fine,” Felicity gritted out.

“When last did you eat?”

She didn’t reply. Hunger wasn’t her problem.

“Sit. You’re scaring me.”

Felicity sank into the chair.

Directly opposite Ronan.

She looked down. For four months she’d walked beaches, watched sunsets, and poured all her hurt and fury into thousands of empty miles. She’d convinced herself she’d made peace with what he’d done.

Convinced herself she’d forgiven him.

One look at him and all that hard-won peace had shattered.

Had it all been for nothing?

Or had she simply never forgiven him at all?