Page 54 of Redemption

I surveyed the area, only a few people out. The boats were very expensive. What was she…

She unlocked the gate and pushed it open. I stood there a moment, gaping at her. I followed, trying to put together the pieces of a puzzle that weren’t fitting.

Sloan stopped before a gorgeous sailboat that had to cost six figures. Easily. If not more.

“Come on.” She smirked. “You can check out the cabin while I get us ready to cast off.”

I grabbed her arm, holding her loosely. “Cast off? Sloan, whose boat is this?”

I didn’t know what answer I was expecting—or even hoping for—but it certainly wasn’t the one she gave. “It belongs to my grandfather.”

She didn’t meet my eyes when she said it. And all I could think was, who are you?

Our GPS signaled, indicating our destination was near. I glanced away from Sloan to scan the horizon, squinting at something in the distance as a strip of land came into view. A sliver of golden sand bisecting blue skies and bluer waters. It was…

“Paradise,” Sloan sighed, taking the word right out of my mouth. “It’s so beautiful.” Her tone was full of awe.

“Pristine,” I said, amazed at the miles of white, sandy beach. The water was crystal clear, and there were no people or boats in sight.

“How are there not more people here? Enjoying this unspoiled beauty?”

I lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know, but I’m certainly not going to complain.” I was in one of the most beautiful places on earth with the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.

Because I was being paid to be here.

I straightened. Right. This was my job. Not a vacation. She was my client. We were friends—or, at least, we were trying to be. And I didn’t want to lose the progress we’d made.

“Let’s head over there to anchor,” Sloan said.

“Aye-aye, Captain.”

She grinned, cutting the engine so we slowly drifted toward the island. “Captain, huh?”

Once we were in a more sheltered area, we worked together to lower the anchor. She’d been more playful today, less serious. Less withdrawn. It was nice.

“I figured you preferred it to Ms. Mackenzie,” I teased. I’d stopped calling her that days ago.

“Oh, definitely. But you know you can call me Sloan.”

“Nope. I like Captain. It suits you.”

She smiled, and the sight went straight to my chest. Fuck.

For so long, I’d been convinced she’d never look at me that way again. As if…

She tilted her head. “What?”

“I should check the anchor,” I said.

Before I could respond, she headed over to the stern. She stripped out of her clothes, and I stood there, gaping at her. She wore a bright coral bikini that left little to the imagination.

Holy…fuck. I’d had principals who were celebrities. Models, even. But no one had ever affected me like Sloan.

“What are you doing?” I asked, watching as she grabbed a snorkel and a pair of fins and dove into the water.

“Sloan!” I rushed to the edge and peered over. She was treading water, smiling up at me.

“The water’s perfect.” She used her goggles to peer beneath the surface, even though I could see clearly to the bottom from the boat. “Jackson!” She surfaced. “You have to see this—it’s amazing. Fish and coral and—” She gasped. “A manta ray.”

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