Page 35 of Sail Away
“Lied? How?”
“It’s not an employee I’m concerned about. It’s Preston.” He drew in closer, his lips only inches from hers. He held her gaze, searching for a reason he shouldn’t kiss her, other than the fact that she was working, her boss was probably watching, and he knew it would be a mistake.
A big mistake.
For her. She’d be risking her job. Her security. Her heart.
But for him, it would mean the world.
She was his everything, and if he had her on his side, he knew he’d survive Preston and whatever he had planned.
He dropped his hand to his lap and pulled away.
No way would he put her in that kind of position.
“Preston? What is going on with him?” she asked.
“I don’t want you to be in the middle of all this. It’s bad enough I just roped your brother into it.”
“Jag doesn’t get involved in shit unless he wants to be in the thick of it or unless it’s his job,” she said. “And as far as I’m concerned. I don’t know what’s going on, so until you fill me in on the details, I don’t get to tell you if I want to be a part of it or not—outside of fucking with the Wi-Fi.”
“Right now, that’s all I want you to do. I’d never be able to live with myself if anything happened to you.”
She took his hand and stood. “We need to get back,” she said. “But you have to promise me that you will fill me in as we go. I can’t be flying blind. Okay?”
“I can do that. I promise.”
“That means if you find anything in the morning when I shut Preston off from the internet, you have to tell me what he’s up to, no matter how bad it is.”
Reid couldn’t take it anymore. He didn’t care who was looking. He leaned in and brushed his lips over hers in a sweet, tender kiss. It didn’t last very long, but it was the taste of a potential future. “I swear, I will tell you everything. No more lies. No more omitting the truth.”
God, he hoped he could keep that promise.
It would be the only way he could have half a chance with Darcie when this was all over.
Of course, they had a shit ton of logistics to work out, but if he had to move to fucking Seattle, he’d do it.
She was worth it.
He should have fought for her to begin with.
* * *
Reid sipped his whiskey, watching the moonlight dance on the dark water. A brisk breeze came across the stern. He understood the lure of the seas. He never questioned Darcie’s desire to be on it, nor did he want her to give it up.
He just never wanted to be second fiddle. He’d played that role to Erin’s depression.
“Why are you looking so glum?” Preston stumbled across the deck and plopped himself down on the lounge chair next to Reid. “We just had one of the best meals of our life, and we’re floating on a fucking gorgeous yacht. What is the problem?”
“There isn’t one.” Reid watched Darcie tie off the tender before she disappeared below deck. He leaned back in his chair and went back to staring at the stars.
“Oh, I know what crawled up your ass now.”
Reid chuckled. He absolutely didn’t want to hear anything Preston had to say when he got like this. “You’ve had too much to drink to get all philosophical,” Reid said.
“Oh. I’m not doing that. I’m just going to call the kettle black.” Preston waggled his finger. “Darcie has you all fucked up again.”
“Not even close,” Reid said.
