Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 98226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Theo laughed with the joke, squeezing my side, but I didn’t find anything humorous about what he’d just said.
Because suddenly, after living in a fantasy bubble for weeks, I realized just how completely naïve and stupid I had been to think this would last.
I sat up slowly, tucking my hair behind my ears before I crossed my arms over my chest. “So… I guess I’m Colorado?”
I couldn’t look at him when I asked the question, and my entire body chilled once those words hung in the space between us.
Theo shot up from where he’d been reclined, reaching for me. “What? Of course not. Why would you ask that?”
“Because you just said your lifestyle isn’t conducive to a long-term relationship.”
Theo swallowed. “I did, didn’t I?” He sighed, shaking his head and pulling me into him. He held me tight, but I still kept my arms crossed. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t talking about you. I was referencing the women I’ve been with in the past.”
“But how is this any different?”
At that, Theo scoffed, pulling back to frame my arms with his hands as his eyes searched mine. “Are you kidding?”
When I didn’t answer, Theo motioned for me to crawl into his lap, and he wrapped me up in his arms again, kissing my forehead.
“You, Aspen Dawn, are different in every possible way. You have ignited a spark in me that no one else ever has, or ever could. I desire you for my own more than I desire anything.”
Theo fell quiet, and though I wanted to melt at his words, my stomach churned with anxiety that he could be lying. Or even if he wasn’t lying, even if he did feel that way now — how long could it possibly last?
The new and exciting feelings we were experiencing now would fade.
And then where would we be?
“I want to be with you,” he whispered, kissing my neck. “Now. Tonight. Tomorrow. Next week. For as long as I can see my life, I see you in it.”
Tears pricked my eyes, and I sniffed them back, burying my head in his chest. “How can you be so sure, if you’ve never been serious with anyone else?”
“That’s exactly why I’m sure,” he said. “Don’t you see? Since I laid eyes on you, I have lost all desire for every other woman.” Theo chuckled. “You’ve bewitched me.”
Again, I wanted to believe him, but it was like there had been warning bells going off in the distance and I’d had on noise-canceling headphones. Theo’s admission of his past relationships — or lack thereof — had ripped those headphones off.
And now, I couldn’t ignore the blasting whistles and horns and giant red flags warning of the pain to come.
The longer we were there in that bed, the more the smoke seemed to clear. I saw it all so clearly, so suddenly. I saw the beautiful fantasy I’d lost myself in, the magical possibilities I’d convinced myself were abundant.
In reality, I was just a billionaire’s current fascination.
And just like this summer vacation, I wouldn’t last.
We wouldn’t last.
“Hey,” Theo said after a moment, tilting my chin until our eyes met. “I’m sorry I gave you any reason to doubt me. Or us. Or what we have.” He frowned. “Just… give me a chance, okay? I’ll prove that I mean what I say.”
My heart squeezed hard in my chest, but I nodded, anyway, and Theo dragged me down into the sheets with him until we were curled together. He kissed the back of my neck, rubbing my hip and thigh with his fingers to soothe me until his breaths slowly evened out into soft snores.
But once again, I found myself in a sleepless night.
And the reason for my restlessness was a lot less fun this time.
“You sure you don’t want me to spike this next cup?” Emma asked the next day, her eyes sympathetic as she made me another steaming cup of tea. It was a gray and foggy day, which was wildly uncharacteristic of the island, and everyone from the crew to the locals were in a tizzy over it.
Theo was working — or so he said. It was the first time since Joel left the boat that he’d spent a full day at his computer. He was locked up in one of the staterooms, and other than breakfast, I hadn’t seen him all day. When I had seen him, earlier this morning, he’d seemed distant, like he had something on his mind, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he was thinking over what we’d talked about the night before.
If he was realizing just as I was that what we had could never last.
“I’m sure,” I said on a sigh, thanking Emma with a smile as I wrapped my hands around the mug. “I tried that once, remember? Didn’t work out well for me.”