Feisty by MacKenzie McKade Page B

where Errol and Byron sat sipping on rum. Both men stood as they approached. When she took a seat, they sat down.
    “Is it true?” Errol asked.
    “Yes. But I thought all of you would be thrilled.”
    “A resort would bring major change to Whispering Cove. We enjoy our simple life. It’s who we are,” Byron explained.
    “Family means more to us than money,” Errol added. “We want our children growing up in this type of atmosphere. Not—”
    “Like I was raised,” she finished his sentence.
    “Lassie, there be nothing wrong in how you were raised, but sometimes tough times help to mold a person’s character. We’re a fishing town. We’ve seen good and bad times. It’s how a lad or lassie handles adversity that proves their worth. How will you be dealing with this?”
    “I don’t know, Harold. Devon hates me.”
    “No, lassie. He cares for you or keeping him in the dark wouldn’t have affected him so. Maybe you should try speaking to him.”
    “Tried. Now if you excuse me, I need to join my family.” Sahara leaned in and gave the man a peck on the cheek before she got to her feet. “I’m sorry.”
    Maybe things would look better in the morning. Or at least that’s what she told herself as the festivities began.

Chapter Seven
    “Sahara?”
    Sky spoke so quietly Sahara almost didn’t hear her name. Engulfed in her pain and dreading to see Devon today, Sahara couldn’t concentrate. After the ceremony, Devon would walk her down the aisle. Touch her. A shiver raced through her. Would he even look at her? Speak to her?
    “Things will work out.”
    The sympathy in her soon-to-be sister-in-law’s voice almost broke Sahara, but she did what she always did in tough social settings. Inhaling a steady breath, she plastered on a big smile and pretended her heart wasn’t breaking. Instead she approached the woman before her.
    “Sky, you’re beautiful.”
    And she was.
    From the pearl-studded heels she wore, her simple satin gown, to her hair swept up in a gentle cascade of light-brown curls. But it was the soft glow on her face that revealed the image of a woman in love.
    “Thank you.” Sky bit the corner of her bottom lip. “Have you heard from Devon?”
    Ignoring her, Sahara grasped Sky’s hands in hers. “This is your wedding day. Can you believe it?”
    Sky’s eyes grew misty. “No. In all honesty, I’d run for so many years, I never dreamed I’d settle down, much less find someone as wonderful as Leo.”
    At the mention of her brother, Sahara felt the sudden need to see him. Besides, she could hear a mob congregating behind the door of the dressing room of the church. Sky’s and Sahara’s mothers and the rest of the bridesmaids would join them soon. Which meant she would have to deal with the disapproving expressions of those she had believed to be her friends before they heard about the resort. As the door opened, she hurried past everyone. Once in the hall she took a moment to gather herself. She slipped her hand into her purse, extracted her cell phone and dialed Leo.
    “Sis? You okay?” Concern rang in his voice.
    She held on to her tears, barely. “I want to see you.”
    “Meet you out back?”
    “Okay.”
    She made her way through the halls of the church and slipped out the backdoor. Her heels clicked against the stone pathway leading to the cliffs. A gentle breeze caught the hem of her strapless chiffon dress and the full skirt fluttered around her knees. The roar of the ocean called as she neared the edge and looked out over the restless sea crashing into rocks below to send jets of water spraying into the air.
    When strong arms slipped around her waist, she prayed they belonged to Devon, but knew immediately when her brother spoke. “Thank you for being here.”
    She turned in his arms and looked into his golden eyes. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
    “But you would rather be somewhere else?”
    Dipping her brows, she pretended not to understand. “Not on your