The Sanctuary (Playa Luna Beach Romance) Read Online Free Page B

Jimmy,” Taylor added, hoping Jimmy would let it die.
    “I’ve seen Navy divers panic during practice exercises and almost drown themselves. No shame in being hit with a new situation and having it roll right over you,” Alejandro said, his compassionate eyes glancing at Cassie.
    “Well, don’t let it happen again,” Jimmy said over his shoulder as he and Whiskers walked out of the room.
    Taylor laughed after he’d gone. “Man, he’s a tough one, isn’t he?”
    “And that’s no exaggeration,” Cassie added, grateful he’d gone, but equally grateful he’d checked in on her. It was familiar and comforting, and she didn’t take offense.
    “Is he always that gruff?” Alejandro asked.
    “Yes. That was actually on the warm and fuzzy side for him,” Taylor said, laughing again at the memory. “Sorry Whiskers jumped on you. I couldn’t get to him in time.”
    “No problem. He missed my leg,” Cassie said, grateful yet again for small favors.
    “This is quite an interesting campo you ladies have here. And this is quite a lovely house,” Alejandro said, looking about the brick house with its arches and carefully matched Mexican firebrick. “I haven’t seen whale-tail matching of this quality in a long time.”
    He explained to Taylor and Cassie how each set of bricks was fired in such a way they were an exact but opposite match. “It takes a skilled craftsmen to do a job of this quality,” he said, his eyes lingering over the handiwork. “They’re called whale-tails. See how they sometimes look like the tail of a whale as it fans out of the water?” Cassie hadn’t noticed before, but now could see them throughout the beautiful walls and patio.
    “My mother said this house was built by a man who was in construction, a craftsman, who left his wealthy family to build only churches. This was the only house he ever built that wasn’t a church, and he built it for his bride. She died shortly after and we bought it when I was little.”
    Alejandro looked at Taylor quickly, seeming almost startled. “Do you know his name? Or where he came from?”
    Taylor looked at him, her eyebrows raised. “No, I don’t, but I could try to find out. I do know he was despondent after his wife died, and he stayed in the south campos. My mother might know of him, or maybe Jimmy.”
    “Never mind,” he said quickly, turning back to Cassie. “It’s not important. This young lady’s health is what is paramount right now.”
    Cassie noticed he had been a bit flustered by that information. She would have loved to ask why, but Alejandro quickly cleared his throat and began to instruct the women on what to do next. “This is really important, you two, if you want the pain to stop as soon as possible.”
    Turning to Cassie, he said, “Soak your leg in a hot bath for at least twenty minutes. Make it as hot as you can stand. Then take some ibuprofen and get some rest.” Cassie was pleased the directions sounded so simple. She looked forward to a bath in her favorite blue marble bathtub to rinse off the sand and salt.
    He had delivered his instructions clearly and concisely, and he turned toward the door. On his way out, he stopped mid-stride and turned to Cassie. Then he stared at her, his eyes moving from her blond hair down to her red swollen leg. “I just realized I didn’t get your name.”
    A flush came over her, and she again found herself a bit tongue-tied. What was it with this guy? She never got tongue-tied. She was lots of things, but was rarely at a loss for words.
    “My name’s Cassie Lewis,” she stammered. “And this is my friend, Taylor.”
    Alejandro took the hand of each one of them and gave a slight bow, in the Mexican tradition. “Mucho gusto, senoritas.”
    “It’s very nice to meet you, too,” Cassie said, and even Taylor showed a little flush in her cheeks. “Thanks for this, for everything. I really owe you.” He smiled his beautiful smile, his white teeth flashing and his eyes twinkling.