Page 9 of Once Upon a Royal Billionaire

He took the path out of their small bay, the journal pressed against the waistband of his shorts. She may not want to read it—and perhaps he shouldn’t—but he couldn’t bring himself to leave it behind.

They made their way over to where the others were practicing and got in line to take a run at the buoys. Nico waved then cupped his hands to yell, “Tell Emily to take a run!”

Rhett waved back. “She’s going next!”

The Valdez boat cheered, and Emily smiled.

“You have fans.”

“I’ve missed this.”

Rhett smiled. “Move back. Live here again.”

She turned away and started adjusting a ski boot. “You remember how I like to run?”

“Perfectly.” She skied at twenty-two miles per hour, unless dipping around a buoy, sometimes she liked to take it slower.

“Good.” She lifted her ski and zipped up her life vest.

“Hey, you okay? You don’t have to move back…”

“I know. I—I’m fine.” She sat on the back platform, slipped the ski on, and then slid down into the water, rope in hand.

He tossed the rest of the rope out into the water and turned on the boat, idling forward slowly to take up the slack. When the rope was taut and she was ready, she shouted, “Hit it!”

Rhett gunned it at exactly the speed she preferred. She popped up out of the water with her signature shout. “Wooo! Woop, woop, woop!” And then she immediately dug in, cutting through the water with a huge rooster tail spraying out behind her. He could see her smile through his mirror. And it was a beautiful thing.

He’d love to see that smile every day. But she would go back to America in three weeks, and he had no idea when he’d get to see her again. But, at least she would talk to him now. Things were already much better than they had been.

She took the first buoy, digging in, whipping her ski around it, and cutting across the wake so fast even Rhett was amazed. He’d seen her ski a thousand times; he’d trained with her growing up. They had basically learned together. But he’d never seen her ski with such a vengeance.

She took the next buoy before she even arrived there, swinging her ski forward and around, and cutting back before she’d even finished the huge rooster tail. They finished the course with a perfect run. He was astounded. She signaled she wanted to keep going, so he turned to find some smooth water on the other side of the bay, with her digging and cutting all the while.

The more he watched, the more certain he became. Somehow, someway, he’d have to convince her to stay.

4

Rhett kept the boat at a slow, no-wake speed as they cruised back into their bay. Emily dabbed her face and neck with a plush towel. Rhett watched her. So far, he hadn’t said anything, but she read his face so well. A part of her was pleased that she could still guess at what he was thinking.

She adjusted her ponytail. They obviously still shared a good amount of attraction. Did she want to step closer to his solid, packed chest? Heck yes. Did she really want him to push the friendship envelope, though? Last time that hadn’t worked well at all. And now she had Lily to think of. And he lived on an island in the Mediterranean. And she had her career. And—

“Stop.” Rhett held up his hands, laughing.

“What?”

“Just stop that train of thought right now.”

“Oh, you think you know what I’m thinking?”

“Probably, and you’re overthinking things. Look, I’m just happy you’re back in my life and not frowning at me.”

She laughed, chagrined. She’d been steamrolling herself into a panic. “Well, I’m happy about that too.” She sat in the chair next to the driver seat. “I would not want us to continue with this strange silence for another ten years.”

“Exactly.” He turned on the motor again. “How long are you here?”

“Two weeks, remember? Maybe three.” She replaced her sunglasses. “But I have meetings for Mountain Blue, and we have Harrington family stuff to take care of.”

“And a water ski competition to win.”

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