Page 35 of The Unbound Bookshop
“How about for the rest of the evening, neither one of us looks for the diary.”
“But that would mean we’d only have tomorrow left to look for it.”
He shrugged. “In the last two days, we’ve been over this boat a hundred times. Logically, there are only a handful of places left to look. One more day is plenty of time to find it.”
She frowned. While she didn’t share his optimism, she didn’t want to exaggerate her injury by hobbling around on a bum ankle, either. Maybe a temporary truce was a good idea. “What’s in it for you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you now have an advantage. You could keep looking for the diary without me.”
“That’s true. I could. But between you and me, I could use a break. It’s almost dinnertime, and during my search, I spotted a Daiwa Marine Power Electric Reel, and I’ve been dying to give it a whirl.”
She raised an eyebrow. Flynn was willing to give up precious treasure-hunting time for a fancyfishing pole? She didn’t buy his excuse for a second. Why was he being so nice to her? And why did she want to accept his offer?
“Besides,” he added with an impish grin, “I don’t need an unfair advantage. I’ll find the diary first, fair and square.”
Her stomach spun at the sight of his playful smile, the way his amber eyes lit from within, illuminating his whole face—his frustratingly handsome face. Some people really had no business being that good-looking.
“Fine. Atemporarytruce. One night only. Tomorrow morning at dawn, the search continues.”
“Works for me.”
Before she could say another word, he scooped her into his arms. She wanted to protest, but every objection died in her throat, silenced by the feel of his arms wrapped around her.
She resisted the urge to rest her head on his shoulder. No matter how her body responded to his nearness—to the hard contours of his chest, strong flex of his forearms, or the faint stubble on his jawline tempting her fingertips—she couldn’t succumb to the false sense of security.
The temporary pain of a twisted ankle couldn’t even compare to the agony of a heart broken by Flynn Cahill.
He eased her onto a deck chair, and she immediately missed his touch.
“Don’t move,” he instructed. “I’m going to grab the fishing pole for me and a book for you. Do you want any one in particular?”
“Surprise me.” If she were honest, she’d just forgotten the title of every book ever written. She’d never been more discombobulated in her life.
He glanced at Cap. “Keep an eye on her. Don’t let her move from this spot. Got it?”
Cap dutifully sat by her side.
As she watched Flynn walk toward the companionway, her heart wrenched.
How was it possible to resent someone so deeply while simultaneously regretting every second you spent apart?
Chapter 21
FLYNN
Flynn flippedthe filleted halibut on the small propane grill secured to the safety railing. The lightly seasoned skin sizzled, sending the mouthwatering aroma of seared fish into the air. Dark clouds accumulated over the mountains in the distance, but cocooned in the bay, the cool evening air blew gently, and soothing waves lapped against the boat’s hull.
He stole a glance at Sage, still settled on the deck chair, a book propped open on her lap. She stroked Cap’s fur with one hand and flipped the pages with the other. The setting sun bathed the idyllic scene with soft sepia tones, lending a dreamlike quality.
Is this what his life could’ve been like?
At the thought, regret roiled in his stomach. He’d lost a decade of happiness. Had it all been worth it?
He took a swig of cream soda, barely noticing the sweet notes of vanilla bean or the damp droplets of condensation clinging to the glass bottle. His mind reeled with what-ifs.
What if he’d never abandoned the woman he loved? The woman who amplified each sliver of life by her mere existence. He’d tried to forget her over the years. He’d implemented every distraction, exerted every effort. There were times the agony of missing her waned ever so slightly, making the memories almost bearable.Almost.
