Page 135 of Forget Me Not

“You alright, boss?” Manto asks, no doubt concerned because I’m never late.

I grit my teeth, slipping on my coat and hopping into the boat. I suck down my coffee, letting it burn at the self-hatred in my gut while I start the old engine.

“Yeah.” He doesn’t say anything else when I walk past and for that, I’m grateful.

What is there to say?

I’m leaving in a week.

And Nova Fischer will stay here. Right where she fucking belongs.

Usually, I get off the boat earlier than Nova gets out of the schoolhouse. Today, though, Manto and I pulled my last load of lobster and got done early enough for me to meet her just as she’s getting out.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, her eyes flashing with worry when I come up the path toward her. Without thinking, I pick her up and spin her around, pressing a big fucking kiss to her lips that has her stuttering after. “Why are you so happy?” she laughs, breathless.

“The boat’s fixed.” I can’t help but grin like a fucking lunatic as I lower her back to her feet. I keep her close to me, pulling her in for a gentler kiss and tasting her as if I can commit her taste to memory. Fuck, part of me wishes I could, just so I could feel like she’s still with me after I go. “Clear your schedule Sunday. I’m taking you out.”

I can see the moment the nerves sink in. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how she would react, but she’s been as desperate to overcome her past as much as I have, so I figured I’d try.

“It’s okay,” I murmur, brushing the stray, pale curl off her forehead. “We won’t go far from the shore.”

Still, she bites her lip, studying me.

“I have a woman’s life jacket for you and everything.”

Amusement lights in her eyes. “Oh, prepared to have women on your boat, huh?”

Smirking, I let my hand slip lower down her back, over the curve of her ass and because there are no kids around, I grip it in my hands.

“Just one. I bought it twenty minutes ago.”

She pauses, a soft smile that nearly stops me in my tracks lighting her face.

“Really?”

“Really.”

Fuck . . . that smile. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to escape it in the back of my mind.

“Okay,” she whispers finally. “On one condition.”

“Name your price, Ms. Fischer.”

“You have to dance with me at the wedding tomorrow.”

The last time we danced, it ended up with her begging me to fuck her.

“Okay.”

She narrows her eyes. “You’re up to something.”

When I don’t say anything, her gaze flares with heat.

“Reid,” she warns, trying to sound stern, but all it does it make my cock twitch in my jeans.

“Don’t worry, little bird,” I murmur, low in her ear. “It’s just a dance.”

Tara and Manto get married on the beach, just behind the inn. It’s beautiful, warm, but not too sunny. Like the universe picked this special day just for them.

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