Page 258 of Champagne Nights

I stared into his eyes for a moment as I relaxed my body, and he let go.

“Thank you,” he signed. “Come here.” He held out his hand. “I want to show you something.”

I smacked his hand away and folded my arms. “What is it?”

The corners of his mouth slightly curved upward as he turned and headed back to the living room. Following him, he opened the large sliding door, and we stepped onto the patio with a large in-ground pool. Along the perimeter of the house, glass fencingwas placed with a gate that led to the beach. Henry stared at me as I stood and admired the gorgeous ocean view.

“It’s beautiful, right?” he signed.

“Yeah. It is.”

“Go down there and check it out,” he signed.

Taking off my shoes, I walked over to the gate, opened it, and let my feet hit the sand. Closing my eyes, I took in the sun's warmth and the saltwater smell in the air.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Henry

I watched her walk down to the shoreline as the water swept over her feet. I’d done a bad thing in her eyes, and I had one week to make her see why I did what I did. She was still here. That was a good sign. Walking down to where she was, I stood next to her and took in the serenity of the ocean water.

“I can still hear the sound of the waves lapping against the shore,” she spoke.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Before I completely lost my hearing, my parents took me on a trip to Florida. One quiet night, when nobody else was around, my dad woke me up in the middle of the night and took me down to the beach. I remember us sitting on the sand and in between his legs as his arms were wrapped around me. He told me to listen and listen carefully. He said if I listened long enough and concentrated on the sound of the ocean, I would always remember what it sounded like when I couldn’t hear it anymore. He was right.” She glanced at me. “As I stand here, I can hear it in my mind.”

“That’s why you always paint the water?” I signed.

“Pretty much.”

“Your dad sounds like he was a wonderful father.”

“He was. Are you going to explain to me why you kidnapped me from New York?”

“Are you ready to listen? And I didn’t kidnap you. I borrowed you.” I smirked as I signed. “We can talk over some dinner and wine if you’d like. I stocked the refrigerator with all kinds of great food. I can whip something up in a flash.”

“You don’t cook.”

“Okay. Okay.” I held my hand up. “There’s a grill, and I can throw on some burgers.”

Her eyes narrowed as she glared at me.

“I am hungry. But then I’m leaving.”

“Then I shall grill you a burger, and if you wish to leave after, then you’re free to go. But I hope you choose to stay,” I signed.

“Don’t get your hopes up,” she said as she walked back up to the house.

As I stoodat the grill with the burgers, I stared through the window of the kitchen and watched while Ellie made a pasta salad. She was so beautiful and still so angry. I’d never forget the look in her eyes when she saw me standing in the living room. They were full of rage and hatred. She looked over and caught me staring, so I quickly looked down at the burgers. She walked out with the pasta salad and set it on the patio table.

“We can eat out here,” she said.

“I like that idea,” I signed as I gave her a smile.

When the burgers were done, I took them off the grill and set them in the middle of the table. Walking inside, I grabbed therest of the stuff and a bottle of wine. After pouring her a glass, I took the seat across from her.

“Okay, now tell me why you kidnapped me.”

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