CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
KATY
Katy wondered what Marcus thought of Conchilla. She knew she felt impatient on behalf of her friends to start bringing Conchilla back.
“What will it take to rebuild this village?” Marcus asked.
Katy took a deep breath and exhaled it. “Their biggest challenge is getting all the supplies here. Transporting cement and concrete blocks can get expensive fast.”
“They’re going to rebuild, great, but in another few years, an earthquake would take their village down again?”
“They can’t exactly build earthquake-proof homes.” Her voice came out sharply, and she was ashamed. “Sorry. I know what you’re asking. You mean, what’s the point?”
“Kind of, but more importantly, I just think they’d need something more lasting. It’s a lot of work to start over every time.” He gazed at what used to be Conchilla. “Have they thought about moving away?”
She nodded. “There’s been some talk. There’s no place for them to go. Other places will sell them houses or rent them a space to rest their head. They don’t have that kind of money, and there’s no gasoline to get around. They would need bus fare.”
Marcus nodded. “So if they get a million, who would divvy it up?”
“The mayor would be the best person,” she said. “I am happy to help in whatever way I can.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You would stay here?”
“My job back home is flexible. I could ask for a temporary leave.”
“You said they need schools?”
“Yes.” Her eyes gleamed. “That would be one of the best gifts to Conchilla. Maybe the school could be earthquake-proof. So if something like this were to happen again,” she gestured at the rubble, “they could get out of the elements and have shelter. A central spot for emergencies.”
“How’s their water and sewer?”
“They pump a well from a spring. They have a good strong source here, thank goodness. There’s a rudimentary sewer. It could be better, but at least they aren’t pumping it into the lake.”
Marcus didn’t speak for a long moment. Katy could have gone on and on about Conchilla, but she didn’t want to overwhelm him. She said a silent prayer in her heart that whatever she lacked in eloquence, he could see and feel for himself as he stood there on the banks of the lake.
As the sun dipped lower in the horizon, the temperatures dropped. Katy shivered.
“Cold?” Marcus asked.
“A little.”
“I have a jacket in my bag,” he offered.
“I do too,” she said quickly. “I’m just too lazy to get it.”
“Want me to?”
“No, it’s okay. We can get our stuff together.”
In their little makeshift luggage “hotel” out in the open, they opened their suitcases and took out their gear.
“There aren’t trees to string hammocks on this time,” Marcus observed, shrugging on his jacket.
She shook her head. “Sorry. That was poor planning on my part.”
“It’s okay. It’s not like we’ll get frostbite or anything.”
As the night wore on, it was obvious there wasn’t anything else for them to do but get ready for sleep.
Sammy invited them to sleep near their shelter, an invitation they gratefully accepted.
Katy lay on a piece of cardboard, layering some of her clothes for comfort and warmth. Marcus slept an arm’s length away on his own piece of cardboard. His eyes sought hers in the darkness.
“What about electricity?” he asked.
“They had spotty electricity before. They would all hook up on a few shared sources. Sometimes they would overload the circuit and make it explode.”
“Not good,” he said, chuckling.
“No.” She looked up at the stars. “It’s hard. The very thing that keeps them still fairly traditional discourages progress.”
He fell silent for a while.
“Marcus?” she said.
“Mmm?”
“Thanks for coming to see Conchilla.”
“You’re welcome. Thanks for letting me in on your world.”
Tightening her arms around her, her teeth chattered.
“You’re cold,” he said. It wasn’t a question.
“It’s a bit chilly.”
He got up and moved his cardboard so they were side by side. Katy’s eyes widened as he lowered himself next to her.
“What are you doing?” she asked, breathless.
“I was going to hold you and keep you warm.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“I promise I won’t kiss you…or anything else.”
She cast her eyes down but didn’t answer. Having him so close scared her. Not only physically. She’d be opening her heart to him once again.
“I’ll move,” he said, rising to do so. “Good night.”
“No,” she said. “It’s okay.” She immediately regretted her words, and yet…they felt right.
His gaze roamed her face. “Are you sure?”
“J-just for wa-warmth,” she stuttered.
“Of course.”
He scooted closer and pulled her gently until her head rested on his arm.
Her shivering subsided. It felt wonderful to be cocooned in his warmth. She burrowed her face against his solid chest and tried to ignore the heat spreading through her body.
She’d missed the growing closeness they had. Maybe it wasn’t too late for them to make things right.
All sorts of feelings warred within her. No one was watching them. She needn’t worry about a scandal, even as scandalous thoughts brewed in her head from his nearness. He felt warm, oh so warm, and massively male. His hand cradled the small of her back. Protectively.
Being held by him felt awkward. It felt wonderful.
It was just one night, she told herself. Just one night to permit herself to be close to Marcus.
Solely for the warmth.
***
MARCUS
Marcus wanted more. Holding her strained his gallantry to the limits. He knew, however, he would be stupid to do anything more. Not when he had gotten this far to earn her trust again.
At the same time, his heart raced with fear.
He was holding another woman once again. Her closeness triggered feelings he’d long buried.
He imagined coming home to Katy from a day of meetings to her waiting arms, and later, in bed, holding her close.
What was happening to him?
His heart was the same, but he was not the same.
He was in love with Katy. He could no longer deny it. He loved her with a tenderness that encompassed everything about her.
“Katy?” he whispered.
“Mmm?”
“Are you awake?”
“Uh-huh,” she said, but she settled into the posture of sleep. Which was probably just as well.
He was thinking too much about this.
He reached up and pushed hair from her face. His fingers itched to linger on her skin, but he just let his hand fall back around her.
He would be good.