He must have noticed that I was lost in thought. “I’ve brought down the mood. I’m sorry. Talking about Andrea riles me up. I don’ttrulybelieve every marriage is doomed or a failure. But a happy marriage is like winning the lottery—a fantasy. Something not likely, but notimpossible.”
He was looking deep into my eyes. I could see it then. He was craving it so badly.Hewanted to be loved for himself.Hewanted the happy marriage, but needed it to be a sure thing.
“We can’t predict what the future looks like for us, Colin,” I said, “but I would never agree to marry anyone who I wasn’t positive I’d spend the rest of my life loving and being loved by.”
His eyes widened just enough for me to notice. His cheekbones lifted slightly as he clenched his jaw. He swallowed and cleared his throat before speaking again.
“You make anything seem possible, Katelynn Donovan.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged him. My fear of telling him what was on my mind was all too real. Knowing his outlook on marriage, it was an even bigger risk to share my feelings, but it was more than that. Having lost my father at an age when I’d started dating, and with all those I’d dated turning out to be like one-hit wonders, never caring for more than a third date, it seemed like a real connection with a man wasn’t going to happen for me.
But now… this was more than I’d ever felt for anyone. Would I call it love? That was what was weighing on me. What words would express what was stirring within me without scaring him away, like all the other guys I’d dated? They must have sensed my desperation (for lack of a better word) for connection. But with Colin, I sensed his own craving for love, companionship, of being understood and accepted.
“I want to kiss you,” he said. His hand on my back moved down and clutched my waist.
I nodded in agreement. I, too, wanted to kiss him.
And so much more.
I closed my eyes for a moment, remembering this morning and last night. When I opened them, his inviting eyes teased me with a promise that we’d be having many more delicious moments like that.
His father interrupted our present moment by calling him over because he’d caught something. Colin gave a short huff and reluctantly walked away from me.
I hoped to be alone for a few minutes to gather my thoughts on our conversation. Fortunately, everyone else was engaged in conversation. Pam was excitedly cheering on her husband, who was also reeling in a catch.
About two minutes of quiet reflection passed in which I envisioned myself breaking through Colin’s insecurities about relationships, him pushing through my own personal insecurities, and us making a go of this. Reaching this conclusion, my phone started to vibrate in the small crossbody bag I’d forgotten I was wearing.
The screen said it was Grant calling. I considered not answering, but when another sweep around the boat showed that everyone was occupied, and I remembered Grant’s two missed calls from yesterday, curiosity got the better of me.
“Hey,” I answered, staring out into the ocean, marveling at its deep blue coloring.
“I tried reaching you yesterday,” was the first thing Grant said.
“I saw the calls early this morning. I must have forgotten about my phone yesterday.” My phone was the last thing on my mind as we flew in a helicopter, dealt with Andrea, and had the most exquisite sex of my life.
“It sounds like you’re pretty busy out there. What’s it like?”
“Well, I’m out on a yacht right now. It’s pretty much what you’d imagine a mansion by the ocean to be like, but it’s so much more awe-inspiring to walk through the foyer and look up at the tall ceilings. And the grounds! You’d be amazed by how much land they have. And Colin’s room is practically the size of my apartment,” I said.
“That’s great,” he said and hastily jumped into the real purpose of his call. “Listen, I stayed late yesterday to catch up on work, and I was sitting at my desk when I heard Maggie talking. She must have thought I’d gone home already because she wasn’t keeping her voice down. I couldn’t understand the words she was saying, even when I got up close to the door, but she was definitely in an argument with the same guy. His voice on the speaker was getting louder and louder. More than once, though, she yelled his name to get him to listen to her. It wasn’t Brandon.”
He stopped. He was doing it again—wanting to hear how badly I needed him to continue. Except this time, I was truly titillated enough to give him what he wanted.
“What name did she say?” I probed.
“Landon.”
I covered my open mouth with my hand as I tried to bring my widening eyes back to their normal size.
“What?!” My eyes traveled, looking for Landon, spotting him on the other side of the boat, having a beer and chatting with Martin Flame.
“Isn’t that the name of one of Mr. Gordon’s sons? The baseball player?”
“Yes,” I drew out the word. “But what does that mean? If they’re together, why isn’t she here?”
“What if that’s why they were arguing? Maybe she tried to break up with him, and he’s not taking it well? It could be anything. I wonder if he has anything to do with her disappearance that week. This guy seems like a real asshole, the way he’s talking to her, but would Mr. Gordon’s son really kidnap an employee?”
I couldn’t make sense of it either.
