Eric Collins almost married Stephanie Sparrow. He had believed every word she ever said to him until the truth stared him in the face that she only wanted him for his money. After their almost wedding, he left and joined the US Marines.

Natalie was Eric’s college roommate with a major crush on him. In their senior year he fell for Stephanie and she was heartbroken. She’s moved on and hasn’t seen him since.

A hurricane and a chance meeting while Eric comes to Florida for rest and relaxation brings the old friends and roommate back together. The marines have made Eric hot and this time Natalie refuses to be overlooked again.

Can these make amends and fall in love? Or is the past too broken to ever allow them to live happily-ever-after?

“It doesn’t matter that Stephanie’s out of jail now. She’s out of my life.” Eric Collins bowed his head and hung up the phone as he walked towards his black Limo Towncar at Southwest International. The almost-marriage to Stephanie would have been the worst mistake of his life. As he held the wedding invitation to his cousin, Daniel, and Kate Sparrow’s wedding. His almost wedding disaster to Kate’s sister at least helped Daniel and Kate meet, so he had paid for something nice to happen last year.

At least the Marines gave him hope that he’d never be that stupid, ever again. These two weeks off for rest and relaxation meant he’d not have to think about anything. The active Marine duty steered him straight, but left him exhausted. As his parents were with his sister, he’d spend the time alone, and the winter house near Sanibel would be perfect to unwind his knotted muscles. Then the weekend before he had to go back, he’d fly to Cape Cod to watch a vow renewal ceremony in their family church.

The doors to the terminal swung open and he stepped into the never ending sun-blaring into the heat that made humidity of the daylight so sticky that it pressed down on his skin. He was blinded for a moment from the brightness. He had been on flights for seventeen hours. However, he stepped right on the toes of a brown eyed woman with long, dark but shiny hair. The smell of vanilla and cinnamon wafted in his nose. His stomach clenched. The thought that he knew her hit hard and fast. He stepped back, but she placed her hand on her hip and shook her head.

“Pardon me.”

The inflections in her voice sent vibrations in his soul. Her brown eyes held depths of empathy and understanding, though he didn’t know how he read all that. Instead he nodded at her, bent his head and then bit his lip.

“I’m sorry ma’am.”

“Ma’am?” She dropped her hands to her side and tilted her head. Then she let out a sigh. The sound of angels as they sing might not sound so sweet. She blinked at him. “Eric Collins, I’m offended. Don’t you know me?”

Yes he did. The pain in his chest was all because she stirred something deep inside, and it wasn’t lust. Her forehead had a major wrinkle of someone who had something on her mind. In college, she’d done that when she studied too long. His fingers hadn’t ached to touch her then. His eyes adjusted to the light and then he gazed at her brilliant smile.

“Natalie Lyons. How are you?”

She rolled her shoulders like she had a major pain. As they studied biology in college and she spent too many hours in the lab with him, she’d stretched the same. Now the familiar brought a pleasurable tingle down his spine.

She nodded at him. “I’m fine. My flight was cancelled and now I don’t know what I’m going to do for the night.”

If she was stuck, then she could stay with him. In college, they’d shared an apartment briefly. Then he lost his best friend the moment he met Stephanie. He blinked. The lightheadedness near Natalie nearly knocked his socks off. He reached for her bag to help her.

“I’m off to my parent’s timeshare in Sanibel for some R&R. Would you like to stay? I’ll get you back here tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” In the distance, the limos waited. With Natalie for a few days, he’d have everything in his life back. She crossed her arms. “What about the hurricane, Eric?”

His lips parted as he stared at her. “What do you mean, hurricane?”

“You don’t know.” She gazed up into the sunlight and her skin had an ethereal glow to it. He stood still as she finished, “There is a storm coming in. It’s why the airport is packed, and why I’m here. Everyone is trying to get out of town, right now.”

No. One moment in the airport wasn’t enough. He had to touch her and find out if she was real or his dream. “Where were you staying?”

She brushed her long hair behind her ears. “At my grandma’s house. She’s on a flight to my parents already. I gave up my seat. No one has another seat available for me to go anywhere. I don’t know what to do now. I don’t want to spend the storm by myself. I figured at the airport, they’d have a shelter.”

“Spent it with me.” One more moment in time with Natalie gave him the sensation that he was back where he belonged. He swallowed. “The timeshare has security and the place is well stocked. We can ride out the storm together.”

Her stare was blank. She swayed on her feet and took off her backpack like it was a heavy burden. Then she took a deep breath and said, “I haven’t seen you in years, Eric. Last time we saw each other, you walked away and we never talked again.”

“I was an idiot for not believing you. I didn’t marry her though. Instead I joined the Marines.” Natalie had warned him Stephanie was using him for his money. She didn’t look at him. He tightened his grip on his bag while he waited for her.

She slowly looked at him and her brown eyes somehow made him calm. Then she said, “I can see that. The uniform looks good on you. And I’m glad you didn’t marry her.”

“Me too.” Natalie had said she had proof, but he walked away. His spine strengthened. He’d never doubt Natalie again. Every word she had said turned out to be true. “You can trust me. I would never hurt you and I owe you. Besides, I’ll be handy to have around in case anything happens.”