Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 147415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 737(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 491(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 737(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 491(@300wpm)
Judging by the giant green-red blob on the weather radar screen northwest of us, we haven’t seen anything from this storm yet. The worst is yet to come.
If there’s one thing we don’t have, it’s time.
The venom in her gaze cuts me.
“Promise me you’ll stay safe, Dess.”
“I will. For Molly’s sake.”
The implication is so obvious it guts me.
She thinks I don’t care about her.
“Goddammit,” I spit.
No matter what happens next, I can’t have her stewing and stressing up here, thinking I’m such a heartless cock it doesn’t matter if she lives or dies when the truth is so different.
I care too fucking much.
That’s always been the trouble.
“Make me regret this later,” I growl.
Before she can ask, I sweep her into my arms and crush my mouth down on hers until I’m stealing the breath from her lungs.
I only linger a second after I break away to make sure she’s still standing.
“Stay with Molly. We’ll be back ASAP.”
She doesn’t argue, and I have an odd feeling that’s the last good news I’m going to get.
With her eyes still burning my back, confused and hurt and stunned, I hurry the fuck up after Captain Juan, hoping I’ll buy us enough time to kick myself in the ass for that kiss later.
20
A Little Accident (Destiny)
Holy hell.
Everything moves at the lightning pace of that kiss, quick and powerful.
I’m still dazed, feeling like the whole world was just pulled out under me like a cheap carpet, all the colors of reality smearing with my emotions as it whips by.
It’s the ugliest mess you could imagine.
Too flipping much to process.
I stand motionless on the bridge, trying not to look out the window as I distract Molly with treats. She came along happily after I retrieved her from the other room. She’s definitely going to get her body weight in more salmon nuggets the second we’re back on land for behaving as well as she is.
I expected a barking, nervous mess. The way she leans against me, stress yawning and too scared to move, almost feels worse.
Also, I’m noticing things I never picked up on before as the rain keeps pounding the ship.
The rumble of the engine is quieter—maybe even nonexistent—and our speed is basically zero if I’m reading those navigation screens right. We’re drifting as far as the anchor lets us, rolling on waves that pitch higher every few minutes.
Sweet Jesus.
Dad almost got himself killed in a merciless storm a lot like this years ago, and so did my stepmom, Eliza. He saved her at the last minute.
They were insanely lucky. I’m just worried that the Lancaster gene for good luck in rotten weather skipped right over me.
I’m also really hating my name right now and those crummy jokes about fate.
It’s so surreal I feel numb.
My brain still can’t handle what that kiss means—if it wasn’t just another emotionally-charged mistake intended to shut me up.
And all this after the frigid way he shut me down, the way he tried justifying sending me off into the sunset with more money and a cold goodbye.
That hurt like hell.
What even is my life?
One of the other crewmen comes rushing past, heading for the controls.
My breath is too fast, so I work on slowing it down.
Breathe. Just breathe.
Stay in the moment, they say. But it doesn’t help when this is an especially crappy moment following a direct shot to the heart.
What did it all mean? Will I ever get the chance to figure it out?
All the sex, the secrets, the warmth we shared, this crisis gesture with his lips...
I don’t know.
I hoped I could feel like this was all bigger than an us that can’t possibly last. I wanted to finish out the terms of what I signed up for with Young Influencers, with or without Shepherd Foster.
Now I know I’m fooling myself.
All the charity money in the world raining down on my head can’t erase these memories. But they’re definitely on hold as Molly whines louder and I hug her, pulling her face into my arms.
“Don’t fuss, girl. Get some rest. We’ll be just fine. We’ll be home before you know it.”
I hope.
But Mother Nature doesn’t care. The biggest wave yet lurches past, punching the yacht up and down like a toddler tossing around a rubber ducky.
I’m not one for motion sickness, but my stomach twists.
My free hand scrambles around, searching for something to grip, but there’s nothing on the floor. Molly and I go sliding against the wall, helpless to prevent it.
Thankfully the impact isn’t hard. But what about next time?
God.
My stomach churns like mad.
Sure, let’s add some traditional seasickness to the heartsick fever I’m already suffering.
I can hear the younger crewman yelling into the radio and—is that a voice in the static coming back?
Progress, hopefully.
Needing a distraction while I’m stuck here and Shepherd deals with God knows what, I fumble around in my bag until I find my phone.