Page 24 of Austen

The gas fire table was also lit, the flames contained inside glass walls, surrounded by a deep-cushioned sectional sofa.

“This is amazing, Declan.”She walked to the table, stared into the darkness.Took a breath, turned.“It’s a gorgeous boat.”

He pulled out one of the padded dining chairs for her.“Thanks.I always wanted a boat.We lived by Medicine Lake when I was growing up, and sometimes my mom and I would go down and watch the boats or swim.I always thought it would be fun.”He sat down opposite her.“I guess my vision enlarged a little.”

Jermaine came out carrying a tray and set it down on the table.He set plates in front of them.“Burgers á la Camille.”

The fries glistened, still hot.Austen picked one up.“These smell amazing.”

“Camille is a Michelin-rated chef.Wanted to live in the Caribbean.She has a place in St.Kitts but works for me when I take the boat out.”

Austen reached for the ketchup bottle, doctoring her burger.Now that she’d doused her burger, he didn’t have the heart to tell her that Camille had probably made it perfectly.

“I didn’t realize you grew up in the Minneapolis area.”She recapped the bottle.

“Absolutely.In a neighborhood called New Hope.It’s on the northwest side of the city.”

She frowned.“Really?I thought...I don’t know.I guess I don’t know how to say this?—”

“That I came from family money?No.”He cut his burger in half.“I graduated without cash for college, joined the Marines, then went to school on the GI Bill.Sort of.”He picked up his burger.The juices dripped off it, and suddenly his stomach came to life.“I actually dropped out halfway through and got involved in my tech company.It was called MapGrid Solutions—helped companies enhance their visibility on digital maps with photos and detailed promotional offers and updates.”

“Wow.”

“We sold it a couple years later for millions.”He put the burger down.“First time I realized that I liked negotiating and strategizing as much as inventing things.”

She’d gobbled down her burger.“I didn’t realize I was so hungry.”

“After twenty-four hours at sea?”He stared out into the blackness, back at her.“You must have been terrified.”

She picked up a french fry.“I just...I can’t think about it.”She smiled, but it looked forced.

Right.

“I just kept praying, saying the twenty-third psalm, and believing that God would send someone.”She pointed the fry at him.

Heat poured through him, landed in his soul.Her beautiful gaze found his, and again he heard, “You’re a surprising man, Declan.”

Surprising good, he hoped.So many ways that could go, really...

Teresa came out of the bridge, walked over to the table.“Sir, we’re looking at a clogged fuel filter.Raphael is going to change it, but it’ll take a bit.”

“Tuck theInvictusin for the night, Teresa, and we’ll start off tomorrow.”

After Teresa had walked away, Austen leaned back in her chair, her meal finished.“Off to where?”

Oh.“I would like to say Key West, but the Jamesons need to get to Mariposa for a court date.”

“They told me when we went diving last week.Jamal and Kemar’s adoption.”

“Yes.But as soon as we reach the island, I can arrange a flight for you.I hope you...uh...don’t mind sticking around for a few days.”

He couldn’t read her eyes, the way she considered him.“Where did you get the nameInvictus?”

Oh.He frowned at her sudden change in topic.“Actually, I named her after my mother.She was a single mom.The word means resilience, strength, even an indomitable spirit.Especially in tough times.That was my mom.She never got to see the boat—but I think she would have loved it.”He’d finished his meal, and Jermaine appeared to take his plate.“She passed when I was serving in Afghanistan.”

She cocked her head as if taking in that information.Then, “I’m sorry about your mom.”

“It was sudden.Heart attack.I took leave, sold the house...”He sighed.“Probably returned to duty too quickly, but I...”He picked up his water.“I needed something to distract me.Her passing didn’t really set in until I came home, but...”

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