He checked his watch. “Twenty minutes till five.”

“We have to go!”

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you.” He got up and extended his hand to her.

She took his hand and let him pull her up, swaying when she got her legs under her.

Shane put his arm around her shoulders to steady her. “Take a second.”

She looked up at him with wet blue eyes. “You won’t tell anyone about this, will you?”

He experienced a profound feeling of protectiveness for a woman he’d only known for a day. But it seemed like it had been much longer, knowing what he did about how she’d grown up. She seemed fragile standing next to him with her hair matted to her head and her eyes translucent from tears.

She was Owen’s sister. Of course he felt protective toward her. He shook off the weird feelings and looked down at her. “I won’t tell anyone, but we should get going.”

Nodding, she began walking slowly toward the steep flight of stairs that led to the hotel. Her legs, he noticed, wobbled beneath her as she moved.

“How about a hand up the stairs?” he said.

“What do you mean?”

He turned his back to her. “Hop on.”

“Oh, I couldn’t. I’m fine. Honestly. I can do it.”

Shane blocked the stairs so she couldn’t proceed unless she let him help her.

“I said I could do it.”

“And I said I wanted to help you.”

“Haven’t you helped enough? You saved my life after all.”

“Yes, I did, so I would think that in your gratitude, you’d allow me to help you up the stairs. Now hop on.”

“Fine, but you have to put me down right away. I don’t want anyone to see me on your back.”

He glanced at her over his shoulder. “Why not? I’m not exactly a convicted felon.”

Her face fell, and he immediately realized what he’d said. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

“It’s fine. He is a convicted felon, and he should be. It’s just still kind of…new.”

“I’m sorry.”

She looked up at him. “Is the offer of a ride still good?”

“You bet.”

“Let’s do it, then.”

Shane hoisted her onto his back, and even though his own legs still felt rubbery from the shock of nearly drowning, he managed to get them both up the stairs without further incident. He deposited her on the deck and waited to make sure she was steady before he let her go.

“Everything all right?” a voice inquired from one of the chairs on the deck.

They spun around to find Katie’s grandmother watching them with keen interest in her wise eyes.