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Despite the thickness of her sarcasm, there’s a curiosity in her expression that makes me think shewouldlike to look around, and that triggers a reaction inside my chest that feels much larger than the situation calls for.
But that’s how it always is with Sadie. I meant what I said when I told her I like a challenge, but it’s more than that, too. I’m notinterested just because she isn’t interested in me. There’s something about her. Something that makes her different—that makes me want to impress her more than I’ve ever wanted to impress anyone.
And I’m afraid I’m not hiding it well at all.
“We’ll start with your stateroom,” I say, giving her hand a tiny squeeze, taking it as a win that she hasn’t jerked away from me yet. “Then we’ll see how far we get. Because you’re right—a proper tour might take a few hours. Days, even.”
I don’t miss the way her lips twitch, like she really wants to smile. I’ll count it as another point for me. I lead her to the largest stateroom, save my own, the one right next door to mine. Not that it will matter since I already promised Sadie I wouldn’t be sleeping aboard.
A knot of dread forms in my stomach as I think about leaving the boat and going home to the cavernous mansion I inherited from my mother when she passed away. The one I generally avoid by sleeping on the boat.
The house originally belonged toherparents, as did the rest of Oakley Island. It’s a gorgeous property—right on the water—but it’s never really felt like a home. It’s more like a museum full of ancient, expensive things that probably should have meaning to me butreallydon’t. I’m reluctant to sell it though, for the same reasons I won’t sellanyof Oakley. I like the island just the way it is. I don’t want millionaires crawling around its shores looking for development opportunities. And only millionaires could afford to buy my house.
Which … I realize that sounds pretentious. But it is what it is.
Sadie drops my hand when I reach the door, and I grin at her to hide my disappointment. Such a casual touch to care about, but with her, all the little things matter.
I wheel her suitcase into the room, leaving it at the foot of the king-sized bed. It sits between two framed oil paintings I bought from Merritt. If Sadie recognizes her sister’s work, she says nothing as she takes in the room. Despite everything being top-of-the-line, the feel of the room is bright and inviting, meant to invoke comfort, not intimidate with opulence the way these kinds of boats often do.
To our left, the balcony doors are open, letting in the cool breeze coming off the harbor. Leandra must have opened them. I texted my chief stewardess on the way, asking her to make sure the room was ready and aired out. It’s been a long time since anyone else has slept here, and I wanted it to be fresh and perfect for Sadie.
In the fading afternoon light, the water is a deep navy blue, melting into the darkening sky. Sadie moves to the open doors as though drawn to the sea.
When she steps onto the private balcony, something in her posture relaxes, and I can see her take a deep inhale. I do the same, smelling the salt air as well as a faint hint of her perfume, or maybe it’s her shampoo, as the breeze stirs her golden waves,exposing the line of her neck and shoulders. I’d like to brush the rest of her hair aside and kiss her right there at the top of her spine.
Bide your time, Ben, I tell myself.
But a big part of me already feels sure my time will never come. Not with Sadie.
I’m debating whether I should join her on the balcony when she comes back in and shuts the door. She locks it, then unlocks it again, frowning.
“The lock works?” she asks, looking up to meet my gaze.
“Of course, it works. But the balcony is private. No one is going to come through that door.”
She nods even as she crosses the room and checks the lock on the door leading into the hall. “And this one works too?”
I lean casually against the wall, shoving my hands into my pockets so I don’t do something dumb like reach for her hand again.
“Is there a reason you’re concerned about the locks? This is Oakley Island, Sadie. You could sleep with your valuables spread out on the street corner in the middle of town and no one would mess with them. If anyonedidmess with them, they’d only be gathering them up so they could carry everything door-to-door, looking for the person who lost their stuff.”
She glances up at me, then blinks in surprise, as though she didn’t realize how close we’re standing. But she doesn’t back away. Instead, she turns, leaning against the door to mirror my position.
“I’m not worried about being robbed, Mr. King.”
Leaning closer than I have any right to, I murmur, “No? Then what? If you’re afraid I might break into your room at night, you shouldn’t be.”
“No?” She seems temporarily spellbound. Normally, she’d have pushed me away by now.
My heart takes this cue and begins to thump faster.
I lean forward a little more, testing her limits. My lips are as close to her ear as they can be without touching her. Still, she doesn’t move.
“No, Sadie. You don’t need to worry about me breaking in.” I pause, drawing in a last breath of her scent, which smells like spicy vanilla. She smells sweet but with a little bite. SoverySadie. “My thumbprint will unlock any door on the boat.”
Sadie scoffs, placing both hands flat on my chest and giving me a shove. Laughing, I trip over her suitcase and land on the bed. I catch a tiny, upturned smile before she darts through the door and into the hallway.
By the time I follow, she’s peeking into my open bedroom door. Leandra straightens things up every morning, but the room definitely looks lived in. There’s a half-full bottle of water on my nightstand and a charging station for my phone. The rest of the surface is covered with books, my reading glasses on top of the largest stack.
