a cannon, another significant find, but there was only one thing he was chomping at the bit to get his hands on—and he was looking at her, two thousand miles away.
“This was such a good idea,” she said, drawing him from his thoughts. “The perfect way to welcome the morning together.”
As glad as he was for video-chat software, it was a poor substitute for the real thing. “I wish I were sitting beside you so you could feel my lips on your skin.”
“Don’t be silly. You’re doing important things. And today you have your first television interview. I’m so proud of you. Besides, you’d be bored if you were here. It’s just a festival. It doesn’t compare to what’s going on out there.”
He’d been dodging reporters all week. Roddy had increased marina security, and Zev had tried to stay in the background, which had been easier when Luis was running the expedition. Now it was all on his shoulders. He’d finally given in and agreed to do one interview with the World Exploration Network, an LWW Enterprises channel, for their Discovery Hour show, and it was taking place in half an hour and airing later in the afternoon. He’d only agreed to the interview because his cousin Flynn worked for the network and the reporter was a friend of Randi’s who had grown up on Silver Island. He should be thrilled, but it didn’t mean much when he was missing out on all the little things with Carly. He wanted to be the one helping her hand out samples and dancing under the stars. As much as he loved that her friends were taking her out to dinner and keeping her busy, he hated that they needed to.
“I don’t know what you’ve done to me, Carls, but I don’t think it’s possible for me to be bored when I’m with you,” he said honestly, the love in her eyes tugging at him. “I hate not being able to hold your hand or surprise you at work. When you were at the Roadhouse last night with your friends and I was on the boat planning for today, all I could think about was being there with you.”
Sadness rose in her eyes, but she sat up a little straighter, putting on that beautiful brave face she’d mastered this week, and said, “We knew it was going to be hard.”
“Yeah, well…” He shrugged. “This is harder than I ever imagined it would be. Babe, I was jealous of Dare dancing with you, not because he’s a threat but because he got to hold you in his arms and be there to see the starlight reflecting in your eyes. What the hell…? How can this be our lives if some other guy gets all the good parts?”
Her warm smile reached all the way up to her eyes. “You think seeing a reflection in my eyes is a good part?”
“I see everything in your eyes. When you’re sad, when you’re happy, when you want me. I couldn’t go a day without seeing them.”
“That’s because you love me.”
“I’ve always loved you.”
“But you love me more now,” she said braggingly.
Damn right he did.
“I’m doing the same thing,” she said softly. “When I’m supposed to be paying attention to customers, I’m daydreaming about being there with you. Birdie says I’m suffering from boyfriend withdrawal.”
“I’m dying to come see you. I went over the schedule last night after our call, but then I realized I can’t make any commitments until we get this cannon out and see if there’s more under there. But trust me, I’m trying to make it happen.”
“I looked at my schedule, too, and I don’t know when I’ll get a break.”
He turned at the sound of voices and saw Ford and Randi heading down the dock. He and Carly had so little time to talk, he didn’t want to share her with anyone. But Carly had mentioned several times that she and Randi had been texting, and he knew she’d want to see her. “Ford and Randi are here. Want to say hello?”
“Yes,” she said, nodding eagerly, but her smile appeared strained again.
“If you’d rather not, it’s—”
“I want to. I miss them, and Randi has been so nice sending me all those pictures.”
Zev pushed to his feet and waved them over as Randi stepped onto the boat.
“Hey, boss.” Randi handed him a bag from the bakery. “I brought you a muffin.”
“Thanks. And I brought you Carly.”
He turned the phone, and Carly said, “Good morning!”