Page 91 of Angel

“I was, but well, I kind of got the impression I pushed you back a few paces.”

“You could say that.” He smiles. “You only have to say the word and I can run you know. I can be with you as fast as the words leave your lips.”

His sudden chuckle lightens the tension and I nudge him. “I won’t run away next time.”

The easy atmosphere changes on a sentence and he leans closer, hope flaring in his eyes.

“What’s changed?”

“Me.” I shrug. “It’s complicated, but I learned a valuable lesson today.”

“Which is?”

“Honesty. Without it, you have nothing.”

“So, you’ve been lying to me?”

He arches his brow and I shake my head.

“No. Not lying, but withholding something that I’ve been figuring out.”

“And now you have.”

I nod, my heart racing as I make my decision, hating the loss lying like a heavy slab of concrete in my heart.

“I was chasing a fantasy, Jason. There was a man, well, a man whose identity was hidden to me but captured my attention.”

“You don’t need to explain, Sophie. Your business is yours.”

“But I want to. You see, when we got closer the other night, I was in a situation with another man.”

“A situation?”

I feel like a fool and my face flames as I nod miserably.

“He wore a mask, like the stalker. In fact, the stalker impersonated him to get close to me.”

“A masked man?” His hand tightens in mine.

“You never saw his face.”

“No. He dropped his mask over my eyes and, well–”

I am mortified at having to explain to the guy I’m falling for that I fucked a masked stranger, and still wouldn’t know him if he sat next to me.

Luckily, I am saved from any further confessions as the car stops at the dock and Sam’s yacht beckons.

I gaze in wonder as we step out of the car and crane my neck to take in the whole vista. It is seriously impressive and I gasp in admiration.

“Wow.”

Jason reaches for my hand; our bags are already being whisked onboard by a steward.

“Are you ready for this, Sophie?”

His tone is almost playful and, as I grip his hand hard, I really think I am.

CHAPTER 36