She sighs. “You’d think so, but why did I spend ten years with Thom? I’ve asked myself this over and over. My parents disliked him. My brother hated him. He put a wedge between me and my mom I still haven’t fixed. It’s getting better, but we’re day by day. And why didn’t I listen to my own heart? Every time I had the thought that maybe we weren’t meant to be together anymore and I should break things off, I felt horrible and disloyal and talked myself out of it. I gave myself all kinds of reasons for my vague dissatisfaction and swore it would pass.”
“So promise us both you won’t bury your feelings. If something is bothering you, bring it to me. We’ll talk about it. I’ll do the same.”
“You’ve never been in a relationship, and you know more about keeping one together than me.” She shakes her head.
“Or maybe everything I know is academic and doing what makes sense will be harder in the thick of a problem.”
“Maybe.”
I cup her face. “Or maybe you’re older and wiser now, and you know the pitfalls of stuffing down how you feel, so you won’t do that again.”
“I hope not.”
Her lips right below mine are something I can’t resist, so I plant a kiss on her pouty mouth, linger, savor, then pull back with a moan. “Any chance you like me more than a lot?”
“I think it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion.”
I can’t stop the smile from spreading across my face as the giant gorilla of doubt finally climbs off my chest. “Is it now?”
“But I want to be sure.”
“I want you to be sure, too.”
“So…what now?” She bites her lip playfully, then glances across the room to the sumptuous bed. “It’s awfully romantic here. And Keeley did ask us to let her know how conducive to romance the room was…”
She did, but… “I think she knows it’s romantic. You and I know that, too. Just like you and I both know that sex doesn’t equal romance and isn’t always an expression of love. You know what is? At least for me?”
“What?”
I wrap my arms around her and stand. Her feet find the floor, her shoes landing with a dainty thud. I hold out my hand. “Dance with me.”
Masey smiles and lays her fingers softly over my upturned palm. “You’re trying awfully hard to make me fall in love with you, Mr. Weston.”
We start swaying side to side to the strains of “Let Me Love You.” I crack the French door open so we can better hear the song, then smile down at her. “Yes, I am, Ms. Garrett. You let me know when you get there, okay?”
“Okay.”
We fall quiet, enjoying the music and each other. I close my eyes. I don’t remember a moment I’ve ever felt more content. I’ve been more excited, more pumped, and more aroused—lots of times. But I’ve never felt a satisfaction that stemmed from peace rather than orgasm.
This feeling is far more sublime—and lasting.
“Trace?”
“Yeah, honey?”
“Don’t worry. I don’t think I’ll keep you waiting too long.”
Monday, April 16
“Where are we going?” Masey maintains a death grip on the catamaran’s side railing.
If anyone should be terrified, it’s me. Today is it. Make or break. I’ve got to convince her to stay with me. If I don’t she’ll be gone in forty-eight hours. Then she’ll slip through my fingers for good. That will be it for us.
And I don’t think my heart will recover from this blow.
You’ve got a plan, buddy. Stick to it.
“Not far,” I assure her. “We’re just going to hang out between Maui and Lanai, off to the west. You look adorable.” I kiss her jaw, but it’s hard to reach her around the orange life jacket.
“Adorable? I’m sure I’m green.”
“Not even a little. Do you feel seasick?”
She shakes her head. “But I told you that water intimidates me.”
That’s just one reason we’re here. “We’re going to fix that. Once we reach the right spot, we’re going to set down anchor and swim.”
“Swim? You expect me to get off this boat—”
“Catamaran.”
“Whatever. And jump in?” She shakes her head. “Uh-uh. No, no, no.”
Despite my nerves, an indulgent smile makes its way across my lips. “Yes, yes, yes. I’ll be right here with you. Every single second. Between me and the life jacket, you can’t drown.”
Masey glances longingly back at the harbor, then faces the water again with a grimace. “But there’s so much ocean out there.”