AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I really needto stop seeming so eager. I’m practically a Labrador retriever waiting for someone to throw me a stick.
The stick, in this analogy, is a smile from Sadie. And they are very hard-earned.
My count so far today is two. Once when I tripped over a rope on the dock at Oakley Marina and almost pitched right into the water. The way she laughed—until she saw me watching and immediately stopped—made me wish Ihadfallen in. What’s a little water if it means making Sadie smile?
The second is more of an evil grin right after we step aboardThe Oakley,a name which is, admittedly, confusing when we’re actually dockedinOakley. Call me a sentimental fool, but I like to be reminded of the home I love whenever I’m not here.
“Your yacht is flying a pirate flag,” Sadie says, pointing to the black flag sporting a skull and crossbones.
I grin. “Yes. I like to keep a sense of humor when it comes to my boat.”
“It takes a sense of humor to call this thing a boat, Mr. King,” Sadie says, eyes gleaming. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but this monstrosity is ayacht.”
I push my hands into my pockets. “It floats. It’s a boat.”
She snorts, but her gaze rakes overThe Oakley. Is she impressed? Bothered by the lavishness? I try to shove down the ripple of worry. Because if I admit how much I care what Sadie thinks of me, I’ll have to also deal withwhyI care. Why I want her smiles. Why I want her to see past the stuff in my life and seeme.
Why I’m feeling like a total simp.Ugh.
Sadie shakes her head. “I love how rich people find such quaint ways to describe their expensive toys.”
Okay,sonotimpressed. To some people—Sadie clearly being one—my wealth falls into the negative column. It isn’t going to make it easy for me if I want to get to know her better, but generally, I prefer this reaction over the other.
I learned from a very early age how it feels to be wanted only for what I have or what my last name is. From friends at school, to women, to my own father, who got cut out of my mother’s family wealth when they divorced. His attempts to get at the money through me have failed, but it doesn’t stop him from trying.
More than once, I’ve wondered what it would be like to give it all away. Ormostof it. I do like nice things, though I could absolutely live with far less. The only thing that’s stopping me is this island.
I love Oakley. The place. The people. The history. And so long as I own it, it won’t be overpopulated, overbuilt, and overpriced. It’s not unusual for sleepy coastal towns to morph into luxury tourist meccas, becoming so expensive that families who have spent generations living there have to move away.
Not on my watch.
Even if very few people know exactly what it costs me personally to preserve Oakley. I’d rather they not know. It allows me to maintain my image as the carefree billionaire with a bit of a playboy reputation.
This image is, maybe unfortunately where Sadie is concerned, a littletoobelievable.
“If it’s too much, there’s a Best Western just across the bridge,” I say. “I’m happy to drive you over.”
Sadie’s shoulders drop the slightest bit and something flits across her face, but then her expression turns saucy and she rolls her eyes. I’m left wondering if I imagined the passing moment of vulnerability.
I don’t think I did imagine it, but I’m unprepared to deal with it, so I steer us back into familiar waters. Which, for us, feels a little like paddling a canoe through a sea of snapping crocodiles, but with Sadie, I’ll take whatever I can get. “Maybe they’ll have a free breakfast with one of those waffle makers.”
Sadie levels me with a look. “Like you’ve ever seen the inside of a Best Western. Or any hotel with a free breakfast.”
“You might be surprised. I’ll go anywhere for a free waffle.”
She blinks at this, then shakes her head again. I’m not sure if she realizes how often she does this around me. A subconscious effort to shake me off, Taylor Swift style?
I hate to tell you, Sadie. I’m not a man who is easilyshook.
“I think I can manage youryacht,” she says, “even if it pains me to do it.”
Her response makes me supremely happy. Grinning, I reach for her suitcase and haul it toward the doorway that will take us below deck.
She follows closely behind until I turn and offer her my hand. “I know you’ve been here before, but I’m guessing you only saw the pool deck. How about a full tour?”
She stares like my fingers hold a bomb she’s unsure how to defuse. But then, to my surprise, she slides her palm into mine. An electric energy hums along the surface of my hand and up my arm. I do my best not to visibly react and hope she doesn’t notice, even while another part of me hopes she feels it too.
“I don’t know. I’m supposed to be back at the bed and breakfast in an hour for the party. Do we even have time to tour this massiveboat?”
