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His fingers curl around the railing with white-knuckled intensity that makes me wonder what he’s thinking.
The yacht rumbles on, cutting a path through the waves with surgical precision, sending spray through the air that wets my face.
Is holding hands as good as it gets now?
If I threw myself in his arms, would he take me?
I grip the railing tighter, forcing my attention back to the rippling water until a thicker burst of spray splats my face.
“Ick, that’s cold,” I sputter.
Shepherd chuckles beside me.
How do I live without that laugh?
“Anyone would think you’ve never been on the water before.”
“It got in myeye,dude.”
“Let me see.” He reaches for me, turning my face so gently.
I look up through damp eyes to see him looking down at me. His thumbs smooth over my cheeks, delicately massaging them clean.
I want him to kiss me so bad it’s blinding.
The longer we lock eyes, the more my vision blurs.
Dark like mist on the water, willing him to reach down and close this frozen distance between us.
If I could, I’d kiss him right here with the captain and crew watching.
I don’t care.
If I’m losing this after today, better for us to go out with a bang that sends our hearts soaring.
The sheer force of my desperation takes me by surprise, and I bite my lip.
“You’re doing it again,” he whispers raggedly, his hand caressing my face now.
“Doing what?” I mouth.
“Turning me inside fucking out. Dess, when you look at me like that—” He breaks off, inhaling sharply, and his eyes drop to my mouth.
Kiss me now, you emotionally-challenged idiot,I think.
This doesn’t have to be the end.
I beam the thought to him so strongly I swear hemustfeel it.
Shepherd, please.
But I watch the conflicted thoughts on his face, how his breath fights with the wind.
And it’s the intensifying wind that wins out as he drops his hands and turns away, gripping the railing with both hands.
No, no, no.
“Has anyone bothered you lately in the office? The rumors?” he asks, back to being all business. “Hannah said she had it sorted and shut them down, but I’d rather hear it from you.”
