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“Sophie.” He grabbed my hand firmly, and I felt another jolt run through me again. I yanked my hands back fiercely with a snarl. “I can’t believe I was so stupid!”
“We can talk about this, it is not what you think it is, dammit!”
He wanted to ‘talk’ but there wasn’t anything left to say. Words couldn’t undo what was done or erase what has been seen already. I was a fool to believe that I could change him. He obviously didn’t understand what it meant to trust someone, love was not something that existed in his dictionary. I’d fallen for the one person who could never return it. The realization broke my heart more than what I’d seen. Memorizing the rest of his face sadly, I said a simple goodbye and walked away feeling my heart crack with each step.
* * *
I triedmy best to dive into my Monday morning seminar and distract myself with possible questions, but Raymond’s confused expression kept intruding into my thoughts. As angry as I was with him, I couldn’t help thinking about how his touch had made me feel that night. It felt like he understood my body perfectly and sought to provide pleasure only for me.
I gritted my teeth in frustration. I’d avoided him for over two weeks, deliberately refusing to respond to my doorbell, because I knew it was him. I’d also begun to visit the beach more often, studying the patterns of the turtles, and examining the state of the water they made their home. More often than not, my work exhausted me, and I always came back late in the night knackered.
Since I’d arrived in Malibu, I’d grown lax on the project that brought me here in the first place. It had been so easy to get swept away by my handsome neighbor and the exciting life he showed me, but these past few weeks had been a wakeup call for me.
As the lead researcher for the Save a Turtle project, I was expected to come up with a seminar presentation to pitch sponsors who were willing to fund the research. The presentation was supposed to be today, and I’d prepared two nights for it, but suddenly, I wasn’t so sure of myself anymore. The meeting had been scheduled for noon at a luxurious resort in the middle of town, and I was expecting three men in attendance. One was a professor of animal science and breeding, Dr Braburn who has written several research papers on the preservation of aquatic life. The other two were Business moguls I had never met but were known for their generous donations toward science projects. They had showed enthusiasm for the project’s idea and were curious to know more.
The tropical heat made my suit stick to my body, andsuddenlyI realized how woefully ill-prepared I was to meet these people. I wasn’t even comfortable in my clothes. Stooping to free the spindly heel of my shoe from the careless bite of the wooden planks beneath my feet, I clutched the briefcase I was carrying closer to my thighs andnowwished I’d gone over the figures one more time before leaving home.
But what difference would that have made? There was nothing in the briefcase that wasn’t already fixed in my mind.
Jerking my shoes from the jaws of the walkway, I regained my balance and straightened, walking into the resort that screamed luxury and opulence. The walls were lined with colorful flowers that felt distinctly familiar. There was a waterfall surrounded by crystals right in the center of the building, and I felt for a brief second how strange that an official meeting could be here. I leaned forward to get a better look at the waterfall.
And saw him.
No, impossible! Raymond couldn’t be here, he had no reason to be here.
I tried to convince myself, but the sinking that had begun in my stomach slowly made its way to the rest of my body making me numb.
He stood directly in front of me, as dark as anything that might have prowled out of the jungle, his body completely still, his eyes watching me intently. Registering my shocked demeanor, he gave a silent wave and disappeared into a room.
What was he doing here?
I didn’t care much about that, I only hoped he would stay out of my way.
The universe did have a twisted sense of humor.
I rechecked the room number I was supposed to enter and rocked myself in dismay as I saw that it was the very one Raymondwalkedinto. I forced my legs to comply as I movedtowards the room, my briefcase on one hand, the other seeking the reassurance of favorite palazzo.
The room opened to a small office, furnished luxuriously, and in it three men seated at the center, waiting. To one side was a table with tea, coffee, and light snacks. There was a head table with a small podium and projector. The screen for it could be lowered using a remote.
His eyes locked onto mine the moment Ienteredwith the lethal accuracy of a deadly weapon and the breath left my body. Every thought was sucked from my mind. For a wild unsettling moment, I couldn’t remember anything about myself. I couldn’t remember what I was doing here. My body felt strangely lethargic and warmth as thick as a treacle spread through my limbs.
I rebelled against my body’s reaction stubbornly. Raymond was a man who was incapable of loving another but himself. The sooner I reminded myself of these words, the better for me.
“Miss Adams.” The hard bite of his deep, masculine voice was sufficient to wake me from the indecision jostling for position in my head.
So much for being cool and businesslike
I struggled to bring myself back to the present. He had no problem keeping this businesslike, and I wouldn’t have either. For a fleeting moment, I wondered how I completely missed the name of his company under the list of potential sponsors. It would have prepared me against this mad flutter that had begun in my heart as soon as I set my eyes on him.
“Gooday gentlemen, I am Sophie, the lead researcher for the Save a Turtle project. I’m honored that you could be present this afternoon for the meeting despite your busy schedules.”
The men gave a grunt in response, and I proceeded.
I cleared my throat and opened my presentation. For the past two months, I’d been watching, listening, and observing the activities of the exotic breed of the sea turtles from different beaches. I had this presentation memorized. I’d been practicing non-stop for two days and nights. I knew exactly what to say.
Except that as soon as I clicked the first slide and looked back at the men, my gaze falling on Raymond’s, I suddenly forgot everything. The image of Raymond leaning over that woman in the car kept playing over and over.
My hands shook, and my knees trembled. I thought I might be sick.
