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Fuck. I was falling for her. I fucking knew it.
"Lucas?" she asked, breaking my reverie.
"What, baby?" I stroked her back. I couldn't help myself. I had to touch her. I had to have her next to me all the time.
"Do you bring lots of women here?" she asked in a husky voice.
"No." The question bothered me. I'd never brought anyone else here in the two years I'd owned the place. I felt exposed. "I usually just come down alone, to unwind."
"Were you lonely?" she asked, stroking my chest.
"No." I was quiet for a moment. "Yes. I don't know."
"I've been alone my whole life." She rolled away from me and pulled my arm over her shoulder so I was still holding her close. "But I never thought I was lonely." She nestled against me, yawning. "Now I know that I was."
She fell asleep then, but I stayed up for a long time, just thinking about her words.
I didn't want to let go of her, and I didn't want her to be lonely. And those were two things I couldn't afford to want—maybe the only two things in the world I couldn't afford.
"Would you like to go snorkeling?" I asked Blake after breakfast the next morning.
"I don't know. I've never been," she said.
"You can do it," I assured her. "We'll take the boat out, and I can show you."
"Is it your boat—oh never mind," she said. "Of course it's your boat."
"It's totally my boat." I held out my hand for her. "Come."
She looked at me coyly and took my hand. "Yes, sir."
"You're going to pay for that. Later."
She tossed her hair. "Don't mind if I do."
I had a private dock for my boat. I texted the captain I sometimes hired to meet us there. We grabbed the picnic lunch that housekeeping had prepared for us, as well as several bottles of wine and sunscreen, and headed over to the boat.
It was a perfect day. The sun shone brightly, there was a slight breeze, and I was holding Blake's hand.
Jesus. I couldn't believe the turn my thoughts were taking. I was turning into such a girl I should have packed a bra and a box of tampons for this trip.
My crew of two were waiting for us at the boat. "Where do you want to go today, Mr. Ford?" the captain asked.
"I was thinking French Cay. My wife's never been snorkeling before." My gut twisted with pride at the word wife.
"You'll love it," both men said, nodding solemnly at Blake. "French Cay is the most beautiful spot. No construction. We might even see dolphins on the way."
"Really?" Blake clapped her hands, looking as excited as a small child.
The captain grinned at her. "Really. Now you two relax and enjoy your honeymoon. We'll take care of you."
Even though I'd been out on the water many times, seeing Blake's awed expression made the scenery come alive to me again. She stayed pressed against me, her hand clutching mine, as she watched the lush island disappear from view and the translucent, turquoise water surround us. "So beautiful," she said.
"I know." But I was only looking at her.
"There they are," the captain called, pointing behind us. "A whole pod."
There was a group of dolphins behind us, jumping out of the water every so often.
