Page 55 of Pervade Montego Bay
“Sure.” James led me out and along the back of the house. We entered the workspace and there in the center hung an upside-down boat namedLiberty.
“What happened to it?” I asked.
“Broke loose from the dock during a storm a few years ago. I bought it for Victoria when we got married.”
I ran my hand along the hull, admiring what it had once been. “You were both renovating it?”
He looked astonished. “How can you tell?”
“Victoria had a lighter touch.”
“She insisted on helping.” He gave me an endearing smile.
“How long have you been working on it?”
He looked away as though unsure of the answer. I saw him staring at the boat’s name, doubt and sadness clouding his features.
I suddenly realized the truth of his situation. If he finished renovating this boat it could very well represent saying goodbye to Victoria. He would finally have to face the fact that she wasn’t coming back.
“Want to talk about it?” I said softly.
“About what?”
My chest tightened as I sensed he had no idea. That boat was never getting finished.
“Let’s go back,” he said.
We returned to the house.
James opened the kitchen door for me. “Once you’re feeling better, we’ll fly back to London.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“How old were you when you realized you were gay?”
It made me smile. “I’m bi.”
“I’ve never looked at a man…like that before.”
“Like what?” I teased.
He gave me a dazzling grin. “That’s some good rum.”
I shook my head, amused.
James set about making a fresh pitcher of iced tea. “Sounds like you can do a lot of damage with your AI skills.”
“I sure can.”
“Don’t ever turn it on me.”
“You’re capable of so much more devastation, James.”
His eyes darkened with this truth. “I believe I am.”
“Besides the fact we both worked for MI6 once, we have something else in common.”
“Oh?”
