Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
I’d been trying not to think about him as I concentrated on getting myself to shore. But now that I was stalled out and adrift, there was no chance of keeping those thoughts at bay.
I was mad that he’d found out my secret and hadn’t said anything. But more than that, I was deeply humiliated. It was humiliation, far more than anger, that had sent me running from the reception.
What must he think of me?
And if he found out my secret a week ago, why the hell hadn’t he said anything? Also, why had he brought me on this trip, if he knew I was intentionally keeping things from him? I really didn’t get it.
I was pulled from my thoughts when I spotted a boat heading in my direction. It was moving fast, and I stood up carefully and waved my arms. As it got closer, I recognized it as one of the open-topped vintage speed boats the lodge rented at the marina. Then I recognized the person standing at the wheel and crossed my arms over my chest.
Malcolm looked like James Bond as he piloted that slick boat in his tuxedo. Meanwhile, here I was in a tiny, broken down dinghy and a puffy life vest. I hated how perfectly our boats suited us.
Embarrassment washed over me as he pulled up alongside and cut the engine, and I asked, “How’d you find me?”
“After searching the lodge and most of the island, I finally went down to the marina and asked around. One of the employees mentioned a blond guy had taken off with a dinghy, and I figured you’d try to take the ferry route to reach the mainland.”
“Oh.”
“You ran out of gas, didn’t you?” When I didn’t reply, he told me, “Throw me your mooring line, and I’ll help you climb onto my boat. Then we can tow the dinghy back to the marina.”
“No.”
“No to what part of that?”
“All of it. I’m not getting in your boat.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m really fucking pissed off, Malcolm.”
“Be pissed off later. For now, let’s get you someplace safe.” He leaned over the side of his boat, plucked the rope out of mine, and fastened the two together while I stood there and glared at him.
“I said I’m not going with you.” Here was the thing about my stubbornness—it wasn’t rational, and when pushed, I’d absolutely double down.
He put his hands on his hips. “So, what’s your plan, Daniel? To live out here on a broken down dinghy forever?”
“Another boat will be along eventually.”
“It’s going to be dark soon, and your boat doesn’t have any lights.”
“So, call the coast guard and tell them where to find me.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
I knew that. “I don’t care.”
“Why are you mad? If anyone should be angry, it’s me. You came into this with the intention of using me to get back at my son, didn’t you?”
“You already know the answer to that. How’d you find out I was Brad’s ex?”
“Ginny did some digging.”
“Oh, that’s great! I’m so happy Ginny was in on it, too. Did the two of you have a good laugh behind my back?”
Malcolm knit his brows as he exclaimed, “No! Why would we laugh at you?”
“Because I’m ridiculous and pathetic. Poor little Daniel, who thinks he’s so clever with his childish plan to get back at his ex. Well, joke’s on me. For the record though, the plan was never to trash Joy’s reception. Please apologize to her for me.”
“Unless you purposely let that rat loose, which I know you didn’t, you have nothing to apologize for.”
“Of course not. But I left a door ajar, so I could sneak in and see how the reception was going without Brad spotting me. I never in a million years thought a freaking Tom and Jerry cartoon would slip through and end up wreaking havoc.”
Malcolm’s hair had long since escaped from its bun, and the wind was pushing it around. As he tucked it behind his ear, he asked, “Wasn’t the whole point of this to show up with me at the wedding and throw it in Brad’s face? I don’t get why you were hiding.”
“That was the plan before I knew you, Mal—when you were no one to me besides the father of the man who’d hurt me. But then we spent these last two weeks together, and I forgot all about Brad and my ridiculous scheme. I started to really, truly care about you, and I wanted to be with you. I thought our time together would come to a screeching halt once I confessed, and that you’d hate me for deceiving you. But it turns out you knew, almost this entire time! Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because I wanted to hear it from you, Daniel. That was important to me. I kept waiting for you to come to me and let me in on the plan. But you never did.”