Page 10 of Somewhere Without You
As I slipped out onto the stone patio, the sound of the party dulled behind me. The ocean stretched beyond the cliffs, dark and endless. The breeze tugged at the hem of my dress, teasing the pins holding it in place.
For a moment, I let myself pretend I was someone else. A woman with choices—with a future.
I stood there, staring out at the horizon as it faded into dusk, the sky swallowing the last traces of light.
“It’s breathtaking, isn’t it?”A man with a beer in his hand crept up behind me, his voice smooth.“Beautiful, and dangerous.”
“Dangerous?”Iasked, tilting my head.
He took a small step closer.“Absolutely. There’s an entire world beneath those waves, and we’ve barely explored half of it.”
I turned back to the ocean, watching as the water folded over itself in soft, rhythmic whispers.
“I’m Max, by the way. Max Meyers,”hesaid, extending a hand.
The name didn’t ring a bell, but I accepted the handshake carefully.“Emily. Emily Bishop.”
“Ah,”hegrinned,“the big man’s wife.”
“You know my husband.” Of course he did. Everyone knew Jackson, and more importantly, what he was worth.
“Considering he’s looking to merge with my company, I’d say I’ve had the pleasure.”Max took a sip from his bottle, his dark hair stirring slightly in the breeze.
“You must be from New York then,”Imused, piecing things together.
“I’m from everywhere,”he smirked.“But yeah, our main offices are in Manhattan. That’s where I spend most of my time.”
I nodded, turning my gaze back to the waves.“Must be a nice change of pace, then. . . San Diego this time of year.”
“It has its charms,”hemused.
When I didn’t respond, headded,“Your husband and I were supposed to meet earlier this evening, but he canceled last minute. Something about entertaining potential investors.”
“Sounds about right,”Isaid, lifting the champagne to my lips. It was flat now, but I didn’t mind.
Max studied me for a moment, his eyes searching. Not in the way Jackson looked at people, as if deciding whether they were valuable, but like he was trying to see past the surface.
“He doesn’t strike me as the type to let things slip.Which makes me wonder what could be more important than a deal that size.”
I gave a dry laugh.“Probably someone younger. Or louder.”
He raised an eyebrow, but didn’t push.“You don’t seem particularly surprised.”
“I’m not,”Isaidsimply, watching a wave crash hard against the rocks, then retreating into itself.“You get used to disappointment when you know where to look for it.”
Max was quiet for a moment. Then, gentlyasked,“And what are you looking for, Emily?”
I hesitated. No one had asked me that in a long time. Not without expecting something in return.
“Air,”Isaidfinally.“Just a little space to breathe.”
He nodded like he understood, then took another pull from his beer.“Well, you picked the right spot for it.”
He was attractive in a quiet, understated way—with eyes like a shadowed moon and a boyish face.
Behind us, the party continued through the French doors in a swirl of laughter and music, the energy clashing against the calm of the ocean breeze.
“What about you? Are you married?”I baited, softly.
