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The sleeveless, floral print sundress I’m wearing is slightly wrinkled, but all in all I look pretty good for someone who’s spent nearly the entire day twisted in a comforter trying to hide from the world.
Sliding on my sandals, Mateo is standing in the open doorway waiting for me when I reenter the room.
“Ready?”
“Ready,” I confirm, sliding past him as I enter the hallway.
He doesn’t speak as we head downstairs and neither do I. There’s something heavy in the silence, like we both have things we want to say but neither of us are sure how to say them.
I wonder if he’s just as twisted up as I am about this unspoken electricity between us, but quickly decide that’s unlikely. I doubt a man like Mateo Rivera gets twisted up over anything, let alone over someone as insignificant as me.
Only I’m not insignificant. In fact, I’d venture to say I’m one of the most significant things in his life right now. Because with me, he holds all the cards.
“Where are we going?” I ask when Mateo pulls open the front door, gesturing for me to go first.
I’m surprised to find that it’s dark outside. I hadn’t realized it was so late. Then again, it’s not like I have a clock or windows in my room.
“You’ll see.” He slides past me when I stop on the top step, making it down to the sand before I’ve even attempted to move. “Well, are you coming?” He glances back at me.
I nod, quickly descending the stairs, before stopping at the bottom to slip off my sandals. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s walking in sand with shoes on.
“You can leave those there,” he tells me when I bend down to pick them up.
“Okay.” I straighten, following him out onto the beach. “What time is it?” I ask, the moon reflecting off the water providing enough light for me to see where I’m going.
“Just after ten.”
“I didn’t realize it was so late,” I say, more to fill the space than anything else. “You know, it wouldn’t hurt you to put a clock in my room.”
“Noted.” He chuckles, once again falling silent beside me.
I feel nervous and anxious as we silently make our way down the beach. I have no idea where he’s taking me or why. And while the unknown does produce the smallest trace of fear, more than anything I feel excited. Which is confusing enough in itself.
When we reach the boat dock, I throw Mateo a questioning glance. Either he doesn’t see my expression, or he ignores it. I’m not sure which.
I jump when the door to the guard building swings open and Dimitri appears.
“Here you go, boss.” He drops a set of keys in Mateo’s hand, his eyes sliding to me for a brief moment before going back to Mateo. “It’s full and ready to go.”
“Thank you.” He nods. “Not a word about this to anyone. Are we clear?”
“Yes, boss.” Dimitri’s head bobs up and down like a servant eager to please his master.
“Come on.” Mateo turns and reaches for my hand, his fingers sliding around mine seconds before he tugs me down the dock.
“Where are we going?” I ask again.
“For a ride.” He stops at the boat at the end of the dock. The boat I jumped into during my frivolous attempt to escape. I can remember every detail of that night like it just happened, yet it feels like so long ago at the same time. So much has changed, but at the same time so many things are still the same, if that makes any sense at all.
“Aren’t you afraid I might push you overboard and leave you for the sharks?” I ask, shaking my hand out of his.
“Should I be?” His face floods with humor as he stares back at me, brow raised, smirk on his lips.
“Maybe.” I cross my arms in front of myself.
“I think I’ll take my chances.” His smirk turns into a full-blown grin and my god if it doesn’t do something funny to my insides.
“Your funeral.” I shrug.
