Next to Me (Triplets book 3)

Chapter 17

Elyse walked around the small island for the rest of the day.  She found a little museum that taught her about its history and development, and Elyse couldn't help but think that Sullivan had picked the perfect location for his film. It had been like she had stepped back in time for an hour.  There was little doubt that it would translate well on the screen, and when she took her personal feelings out of watching the kiss, she could see that Sawyer and Paloma had perfect chemistry.

Of course, when Elyse let her personal feelings back into the equation, she had doubts that she and Sawyer's chemistry was even that good. He had told her he would think of her while kissing Paloma, but was he really? How could he be with all that beauty in front of him?

Elyse was pretty enough, but she was even close to Paloma Clark's level of beauty.

Elyse found the perfect little church and wandered into it to pray. Maybe some time in reflective prayer would help, and it did, but not the way she wanted it to.

It was early evening when Elyse wandered back into the house where she and Sawyer were staying, and she had concluded that it wouldn't work between them. Even if she could learn to deal with his career choices, which meant him making love to beautiful women for the big screen, their lifestyles were too different. As if it was a sign, when she rounded the house and climbed up on the porch, she heard a helicopter fly over and looked up to see the distinctive orange of the Coast Guard. That was where she belonged, in the air, not on a movie set.

Elyse entered the house and heard Sawyer call out, "Elyse, is that you?"

"Yes, sorry I took off like that," she called as she made her way into the kitchen.

"I get it, and I was worried about you, but Paloma advised me to give you time, that you wouldn't come to any harm on the island, but I was still tempted to search for you." Sawyer was only wearing a pair of low-slung athletic shorts, and he was making a sandwich. It really should be a sin to be so handsome.

"Can I make you a sandwich, or would you prefer to go out?"

Elyse shook her head. "No, thank you, I'm not hungry. She didn't want to eat, and she didn't want to go out. Everyone had talked about Sawyer, Sullivan, and the movie everywhere she had been that day. She knew it would be more of the same if they went out.

"Where did you go?" Sawyer asked before he bit into his sandwich with perfect white teeth.

"I walked around, went to the local museum and a lovely little church." Elyse threw her purse down on the kitchen table.

Sawyer grinned. "Did you beg for forgiveness for all of your sins?" he asked with an arched eyebrow. It immediately brought the previous night to mind, and Elyse couldn't contain the blush. How could he do that to her? He didn't even have to try.

"No, I spent an hour praying for patience and guidance. I figured it was the most needed at this point in my life." Elyse moved to get a drink from the fridge.

"I'm going to have to think about whether I'm offended by that comment," Sawyer said, placing his hand over his heart in mock injury.

"Somehow, I think your ego will survive either way." Elyse rolled her eyes. They were joking, but it felt forced to Elyse and out of place. 

"Do you want to go to a movie this evening?" Sawyer was looking at his phone. "There's one starting in an hour, and maybe you'll be hungry after?"

"You want to go to one of your movies, don't you?" She knew without asking.

"Now I really am hurt that you would think I'm so vain!" Sawyer popped the last bite of the sandwich in his mouth, and Elyse was fascinated as she watched his strong jaw chew. Everything about him was perfect, even the way he chewed. "But yes, as it happens, it is one of mine."