Page 18 of Summer with a Navy SEAL

As I board the tender, I cast one last glance at the yacht. I hate leaving like this but I also can’t wait for Brogan forever.

Minutes later, the marina comes into view. The moment we dock, I make my way toward the beach. If I follow it toward downtown, I’ll get to the beach house, no problem, and I’ll return to my old life.

CHAPTER EIGHT

BROGAN

“...andthat’s why I believe a merger between Hollister Enterprises and Beaumont Industries could yield a 15% increase in market share within the first fiscal year,” Calvin Beaumont drones on, his voice a monotonous hum in the yacht’s private lounge.

I nod absently, my eyes scanning the room for what feels like the hundredth time before I glance at my watch.

“Don’t you agree, Brogan?” Calvin’s question snaps me back to the conversation.

“Uh, yes. Absolutely,” I mutter, having no idea what I’m agreeing to.

Preston shoots me a warning glance. “What my brother means is that we’d need to see some concrete projections before considering such a move.”

“Brogan is just distracted tonight. Aren’t you, dear?” Mother says. “Perhaps Beatrice could give you a tour of the yacht, clear your head a bit?”

I’m about to protest when movement outside theporthole catches my eye. My heart skips a beat. There, on a tender pulling away from the yacht, is a flash of red. Willy’s dress. She’s leaving.

Without thinking, I stand up abruptly, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. “I have to go.”

“Brogan!” Mother’s voice is indignant. “We’re in the middle of an important discussion.”

But I’m already moving towards the door. “I’m sorry, but this is more important.”

Preston follows me out, catching up as I stride across the deck. “What’s going on?”

“Willy’s leaving,” I say, my eyes scanning the water. I fish the Aston Martin keys out of my pocket and toss them toward him. “Can you take Mother home?”

Preston catches the keys in midair but I don’t wait for him to reply. Hurrying down the hall, I head to the boarding platform.

I shouldn’t have let Mother convince me to join her while leaving Willy behind. Yet I did and I know exactly why: Willy makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. She sees beyond the Hollister name, beyond the SEAL uniform. When she looks at me, I feel like she’s seeing the real me, and that’s both exhilarating… and terrifying.

I spot a crew member preparing a tender and practically leap aboard. “I need to get to the marina. Now.”

The poor guy looks startled but nods, starting the engine. As we pull away from the yacht, I scan the water, hoping to catch a glimpse of Willy’s tender. Behind us, the festivities on the yacht continue but I barely notice. All Ican think about is reaching Willy, explaining myself, making things right.

As the lights of the marina grow closer, I rehearse what I’ll say to her. But every practiced speech feels hollow. How do I explain that in just a few days, she’s become more important to me than anyone else? How do I tell her that she makes me want to be a better man, a man worthy of her?

The tender docks and I’m out before it’s fully secured, ignoring the shouts of the crew. My eyes scan the crowd frantically, searching for that flash of red, for Willy’s familiar silhouette.

Then I see her.

A solitary figure in a flowing red dress, walking slowly along the water’s edge. Her shoes dangle from one hand, the long skirt of her dress draped over her other arm.

“Willy!” I call out, my voice barely carrying over the sound of the surf. “Willy, wait!”

She turns, surprise evident even from this distance. I slow to a stop a few feet away from her, suddenly unsure of what to say. We stand there, the sound of the waves filling the silence between us, the moonlight casting a soft glow on her face.

“What are you doing here?” she asks. “You should be with your family.”

“I came to the party with you and I had every intention of leaving it with you.”

She looks away, her gaze fixed on the dark ocean. “I didn’t want to interfere with business.”

“It was so boring I can’t even tell you what they were talking about,” I say. “I just wanted to get back to you.”

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