Page 59 of The Billionaire's Teacher

I listened as bottles clinked. It wasn’t long before Wes came back with a tray holding a can of Coke, a bottle of Perrier, a tall glass filled with ice, and a little bowl of lime wedges.

He paused in front of me with the tray. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted a glass, but you mentioned cold specifically.”

“This is perfect. Thank you.” I looked up and met his gaze. I swallowed and had to look away. He couldn’t see how much I wished things were different. It wasn’t fair to him. Or to me. But I wasn’t worried about myself. He was young. His life was still ahead of him. And fine, it wasn’t as though I was dying tomorrow, but I also wouldn’t be having kids.

Wes could.

And he should.

He’d be good at it.

I took a lime wedge from the bowl and squeezed it over the ice, then accepted the glass and bottle without meeting his gaze again. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” His voice was neutral.

I kept my gaze on my glass as I poured water into it, careful to keep it from fizzing over.

“There’s a cup holder in the arm.”

“Thanks. Again.” I looked up with a brief smile before setting the bottle into the cup holder. I took a long drink of the water and sighed. “This hits the spot.”

“I’m glad.” Wes popped the tab on his Coke. “So. What’s next for you? Another charter? Or do you get some time off?”

“Um. I’ll probably take some time. I don’t work a set schedule, really. Just take the jobs as they come. As I need them.” I flashed a grin. “Pretty sure I’ll get some kind of hazard bonus for surviving a hurricane.”

He chuckled. “If you don’t, let me know and I’ll make it right. I appreciate you saving my hide. And hey, you found me an island.”

“All part of the service.” I took another sip of water. “You’re really buying the island?”

“I’m really going to look into it. If not that one, then I’ll poke around and see what’s available. My mom suggested it initially, but I thought it was ridiculous.” He shrugged and drank. “It might be. But now that I’ve gotten a taste for what it could be, I have to look into it.”

I nodded. That made sense. Once I got past the whole “had the money to purchase a literal island” thing. I’d been thrilled when I had enough money to make a downpayment on my one-bedroom beach cottage.

“I might see about going on the salvage mission. I like that yacht. It’d be a shame if they weren’t careful when they went to fetch it.” I sighed. Of course, it would depend on the insurance, but I hoped they’d fix it up and get it back into service. There should be so many more voyages on the horizon for it.

“She’s a good boat.” He set his Coke in the cupholder. “You call them she, right? Boats are feminine?”

“For the people who truly care, yes. But I seem to recall mentioning that I wasn’t hardnosed about seafaring language.” I sipped my water. “And I don’t like parrots, for the record.”

He laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind. There goes my thank-you gift idea.”

I shuddered. “Don’t you know you never give someone a live animal as a gift?”

“I think I heard that. I don’t even give plants, so you’re safe.” Wes played with the tab on his soda can. When he looked up at me, his face was serious. “Thank you, Sunshine. For everything.”

“You’re welcome.” I blinked my burning eyes and looked away. “If you ever need another charter, I hope you’ll request me.”

“Count on it.”

It was a hollow promise. I knew it. He probably did, too. He was going to buy an island and fly in and out. He didn’t need another charter. And the idea of taking anyone else out made my breath hitch.

Dumb.

This was my livelihood. I couldn’t afford to start thinking it wouldn’t be the same without Wes. It wouldn’t. Of course it wouldn’t. But that didn’t matter. I swallowed.

“The two of you should buckle up. We’re starting our approach to San Juan.” The pilot’s voice was actually understandable through the speakers. Chalk up another good point of private air travel.

I tugged on the loose end of my lap belt and took another drink of water. Maybe taking a break was a bad idea.

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