Page 40 of Until Then

“Sure.”

With a hum, she cues up the show, then settles her back against the couch.

Though focusing on the TV helps, I can’t stop myself from stealing glances at her every now and again. If she notices, she doesn’t show it.

I spend the next hour or so trying to focus on the storyline while getting lost in thoughts about Izzy. I can’t help thinking about how she’s only been here a short time and dreading what it’ll be like when I’m alone again.

11

IZZY

The boat rocksfrom side to side lazily, the rhythm soothing in a way I’ve never experienced before. I didn’t quite believe Derrick when he said he’d bring me out on the boat, knowing how infrequently he uses it, so it was a pleasant surprise when he suggested we spend the day on the water again.

I rest my knees on the cushioned seat, arms crossed on the fiberglass edge of the boat, and scan the waters for any sign of whales. How disappointing it must be for people who pay for whale-watching trips while on vacation, only to come across none.

Derrick shuffles items around in the cooler he dragged along. “Water?”

I shift to face him. “Sure.”

He tosses an ice-cold bottle to me, and Inearly drop it.

“You put sunscreen on, right?” I joke as I shake the bottle to remove the excess water on the outside of it.

With a muttered curse, he pinches the bridge of his nose. “Yes, Izzy. I don’t need your… assistance in that department this time.”

Giggling, I twist the cap off my water and peer at him over my shoulder. Perhaps it’s wrong to be this attracted to a man almost twice my age—my assistant’s dad, at that—but I can’t help it. His energy draws me in. He’s magnetic in an accidental way.

He slides his sunglasses on and looks out at the water.

“Think we’ll see any today?” I ask him.

With a shrug, he tugs his shirt away from his skin. “You never know.”

I watch for another few minutes, then decide I’ll settle down with my book.

“I didn’t expect you to be such a reader.”

Slipping my bookmark out, I peek at Derrick over the top of the page. “I feel like I should be insulted.”

He grimaces. “I didn’t mean it in a bad way. I just figured you were too busy for that.” He wiggles the fingers of his right hand at my book when he saysthat.

I can’t help but shoot him a smirk. “I’m full of surprises.”

The breath that gusts out of him is half exhausted, half amused. “That you are.”

“We better head in,”he says about two hours later.

I set my book down and stifle a yawn. “I didn’t realize it was getting so late.”

He lifts his hat off his head and uses an arm to swipe at his forehead. “I’m sorry you didn’t see any whales today.”

Straightening, I tuck my book back into my bag. “It’ll happen.” I feel certain of it. “Good things come to those who wait, right?”

“I don’t know about that.” His shoulders droop a little, and his smile is self-deprecating in a way that makes me want to backtrack. “If that were true… well, suffice it to say I’ve been waiting a long time.”

“What is it you’re waiting for?” I dare to ask, angling forward to study him.

He drops his head, his forearms resting on his knees. “It’s selfish.”

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