Page 69 of The Hermit

Not sure what I should do now, I stand frozen to the spot until Evinka comes to take my hand. She leads me around the side and to the front of the yacht, where there’s place to sit.

She gestures at a comfortable seat, and I quickly sit down. Then she snaps her fingers, and a server appears with a cart, the kind you see in a hotel.

When the server positions the cart in front of me and takes the silver lid off the plate, I give her a grateful smile.

Once she’s gone, I look at the delicious meal and say, “Thank you, Evinka.”

She signs something, and I ask, “Does that mean ‘you’re welcome’ in sign language?”

When she nods, I ask, “Can you do it slower.”

She shows me what to do, and when I get it right, a wide grin spreads over her face before she points to the plate of food.

Picking up the utensils, I cut a piece off the salmon and pop it into my mouth while glancing over the choppy blue water all around us.

Evinka takes a seat and stares into the distance, and I feel comfortable having her near me while I eat.

I’ve just taken my last bite when I see Dominik walking toward us. He’s dressed in a light blue suit, and loving the color on him, I stare for a moment too long.

He catches me red-handed, but this time, I don’t tear my eyes away from him and say, “You look handsome.”

“I was going for dangerous, but handsome works,” he jokes as he comes to sit beside me.

The server appears again and removes the cart as quickly as possible, and when I glance up at Dominik’s face, he looks ruthless and irritated.

Realizing just how much people bother him, I place my hand on his and give him a comforting squeeze.

Before I can pull back, his hand flips over, and he links his fingers tightly with mine. Bringing his other hand to the side of my head, he nudges me to lean against his shoulder.

“We still have thirty minutes,” he murmurs. “Relax a little.”

I kick off my shoes and pull my legs up beneath me, and when he lifts his arm around me, I snuggle into his side.

Unable to suppress it, I let out a contented sigh as I shut my eyes, just enjoying the smell of salt in the gentle breeze.

Dominik’s fingers begin to brush up and down my arm, and it’s so comforting I drift in and out of sleep.

At some point, I hear him whisper, “They can wait.”

I lift my head, and noticing the yacht isn’t moving anymore, I glance around us and see an island.

“We’re here?”

“Yes, but you were sleeping, and there was no way I was waking you up.”

“Dominik!” I gasp as I look at him. “You’ll be late for your meeting.”

He climbs to his feet and adjusts his jacket while muttering, “Ten minutes in the sun won’t kill them.”

He holds his hand out, and when I take hold of it, he pulls me to my feet.

I quickly shove my feet into my shoes, then follow Dominik to the back where the speed boat is waiting.

“Careful,láska,” he says when he helps me onto the smaller boat.

I give him a questioning look while Evinka boards, and he translates, “Love.”

Two guards join us, and as we take a seat, there’s no ignoring my heart, that’s practically soaring as a happiness I’ve never experienced fills my chest.

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