Page 13 of The Other Plan

“But you were looking for me anyway.”

My eyes widened as my rage bubbled up. “I wasn’t looking for you.”

“I was talking to the captain in the wheelhouse. I wanted to ask some questions about this yacht because it’s my first time on a boat this big. Well, except for a cruise ship. You know, in case you were wondering where I was when you were looking for me.”

Heat scorched my cheeks as I narrowed my eyes. “I was not looking for you. And you’re right. It is a big boat, so it will be easy to avoid each other today. If you’ll excuse me.”

I started away, but his hand slipped around my elbow and gently tugged me to a stop. “You can stop contemplating slipping off the side when I turn around and swimming to shore. I mean, I know you’re pretty damn good at sneaking away undetected, but I’m not going to chase you around the ship. And don’t’ worry, I won’t even follow you around waiting for an apology.”

“An apology?” I snapped, pulling my arm from his grasp. “And why in the hell would I give you an apology.”

“Seriously?” He laughed. “I don’t know... maybe because you just up and disappeared without a word?”

I narrowed my eyes and planted my hands on my hips. “Oh, I think you know why I left.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” He furrowed his brow and tipped his head.

I scoffed. “You know exactly why I left.”

“No, Jenna... I don’t.” The playful look in his eyes dissipated as his face softened.

“There you are!” Lydia called, and we both snapped our heads to see her coming toward us. “I was looking for you, Jenna.”

Carter and I exchanged a quick look before both plastering fake smiles on our faces.

“I’m just enjoying the view,” I said after clearing my throat. “What can I help you with, Lydia?”

“Oh, nothing, nothing,” she said as she arrived in front of us. “I just wanted to catch up and thank you again for doing such a magnificent job on everything. Everyone has been raving about the welcome party last night.”

I smiled and gave her a quick nod. “It’s nothing. Your family’s gorgeous home and the beautiful weather did the heavy lifting.”

“Nonsense!” She fluttered a hand at me. “You truly are a marvel at what you do. And I see you’ve met our charming best man, Carter. Isn’t he a gem?”

He smiled wide as she batted him on the shoulder.

“Oh, don’t embarrass me, Lydia. The only gem around here is you.”

“Such a charmer!” she tittered. “It’s no wonder someone snatched you up. If I recall, someone mentioned you were engaged? That fiancée of yours is one lucky lady. Where is she? I’d love to meet the girl special enough to snag such a handsome and charming devil.”

Fiancée?

The word caused my heart to stutter to a stop, and also my muscle memory because I let go of the glass I held in my hand. As it plunged toward the deck, I gasped and reached for it, but not before Carter captured it in mid-air.

“Oh my!” Lydia fanned her face as Carter stood up and handed me my glass. “That was a close one!”

“Here you go,” he said as I took it back in my hands, grateful it was almost empty, so nothing had spilled out.

“Thanks. I just, uh, it slipped.”

“What an amazing catch,” Lydia said as Carter and I stood staring at one another. “And I mean the glass and the man who caught it.”

Her joke fell flat between us, my stunned expression kissed by the breeze. Stunned I’d dropped my glass but more stunned by the news of Carter’s engagement. It shouldn’t be shocking. It’d been ten years since we’d seen each other, and he was still a freakishly attractive and charismatic man. It would be idiotic to think he hadn’t met another woman in all these years. But the thought of him waiting for another woman at the end of the aisle—choosing her to be his forever—twisted my stomach up into a knot so tight it physically pained me.

“It’s too bad Carter is taken, Jenna. You two would have made a smashing couple.”

The brazen statement shook me from my stunned silence, and we both spun to stare at her with mirrored widened eyes.

“Our poor Jenna just can’t seem to find a man,” she went on while she puckered up her face in a sympathetic smile. “And she’s a catch herself! I mean, look at her. Just gorgeous. Smart, funny, talented. Any man would be lucky to have her, and yet... she’s still all alone.”