Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58253 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
The man was as handsome as they came, with his jet-black hair and light blue gaze hidden from her view by his sunglasses.
Still, when he looked at her, she felt like she was his sole focus. No one else mattered. God, she wished they’d had their chance years ago because now was the epitome of the wrong time to be thinking about any man.
The boat slowed, taking her focus back to the upcoming landing. They were lowered and put into a gentle free fall until her feet and butt dipped in the water. She rose once more, and then the captain finally landed them back in the boat.
“That was amazing,” she said, once they’d unbuckled their harnesses and life vests, returned to shore, and were walking back to the chairs they’d paid for at a nearby hotel.
“Exhilarating,” he agreed.
They reached their loungers and he picked up a towel, drying himself off.
Unable to stop herself, her gaze strayed to his bare chest, and the six-pack and muscles he maintained even after leaving football.
“Asher has a gym in the house,” she blurted out.
“What was that?”
She shook her head and lowered herself to the seat. No way would she repeat the words and embarrass herself.
A smirk lifted the corners of his mouth, letting her know he’d caught her words, but maybe he just wasn’t sure she’d actually said them.
He settled into the lounge chair beside her and stretched out. “So did you get what you needed up there?” He gestured to the sky.
“I did,” she murmured. “The peace and quiet gave me time to think.”
“And what did you come up with? Any sort of resolution?”
She shook her head and fixed her bun which had strands of hair falling around her face from the wind. “Just that things always work out for the best, but it will take time to learn why things happened the way they did.”
“So you’re a philosopher type, hmm?”
She shrugged. “Hard lessons learned, that’s all.”
“I can understand that.”
She twisted toward him. “How?” He’d questioned her enough about herself in the last eighteen or so hours. It was time she learned something about him.
His eyes seemed to glaze over and she suspected he was thinking about what he wanted to tell her. And probably what he didn’t.
“My biological parents died in a car accident when I was seven.” He continued to stare out over the water and she let him, understanding sometimes it was easier to tell a hard story without making eye-to-eye contact.
“I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” She couldn’t imagine how hard it was to lose both his mother and father at the same time.
Her father had traveled so often, she’d always relied more on her mother than her dad, but he’d existed in her life. Once they discovered he hadn’t been away on business but with his second family, it was harder to look at him the same way.
“Thanks,” he said at last.
A cloud passed overhead, one large enough to know they wouldn’t have direct sun for a few minutes, and they both lifted their sunglasses and placed them on top of their heads. She held back the laugh at their synchronized move.
“How’d you end up with the Sterlings?” she asked.
“We lived next door and our families were close. Gloria and Alex took me in and later on, adopted me. They’ve been my parents longer than my biological ones were.” He bent one knee and straightened in the chair so he was now in an upright position. “My point is that if my parents hadn’t passed away, I wouldn’t be part of the large family I have now and I actually consider myself lucky to be surrounded by them. So I can understand how bad things work out in the end.”
She wondered if he missed his real parents. Was seven old enough to still feel and miss that bond, she wondered but couldn’t bring herself to ask? If she and Dex ever got closer, she might learn more about him. But she didn’t see that happening. She’d hijacked his life and had no doubt when they left here, he’d distance himself from her all over again. The thought made her sad.
A server walked over, tray in hand. “Can I get you something to drink? Or something to eat?” She held out a plastic menu and Dex took it.
“I’ll have a pina colada,” she said.
“Corona, please.” Dex glanced at the menu and passed it to Samantha. “Want to get lunch?”
She nodded and they ordered burgers and fries.
The rest of the afternoon passed with lighter conversation until Dex’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen and groaned.
“Ian?” she asked.
He nodded.
She held out a hand. It was time.
He slid open his phone. “Ian?”
“I thought you said you’d have her call me.” Samantha heard Ian’s side of the conversation because her brother was speaking loudly.