Page 118 of Shattered Vows

A surfer always wiped out and I knew this would be the biggest wipeout of my life.

Still, I was ready to hit every high point before then.

I glanced at a man who had been at the board meeting. “Quinton.” I smiled at him and pulled the black string at my neck. “Can you help me?”

I turned slowly and he didn’t hesitate. He untangled that knot like a man on a mission to defuse a bomb.

The thin triangles over my breasts fell. Instantly the sun warmed my skin and my nipples puckered.

He didn’t even look down at them because he was smiling so wide as I faced him again. “You’re going to cause havoc with Bastian today, aren’t you?”

Quinton had introduced himself to me at the gala not too long ago and it seemed he knew just what we were getting ourselves into. From his smile, I knew he’d play along. I swung a leg over the lounge chair and sat down. I took my time unfolding onto it, closed my eyes, and waited.

Let the chaos happen around me.I was on top of my wave. I was above them all now.

If Bastian found his way here, fine. If not, I had others who would talk to me.

Most importantly, I was back to myself. This was me and would always be me. I wouldn’t be an Untouchable forever, not in the way Bastian thought.

The sun reminded me of who I was. I had the ocean talking to me, the seagulls cawing at me, and the sand between my toes.

“You’re really pretty like this, Morina.” Quinton’s voice sounded above me. I cracked an eye to stare at him.

His eyes were a deep blue, almost like the midnight sky, and his hair was that dark blonde I imagined a Ken doll would have in real life. “I’m not sure what you mean, Quinton.”

He tsked. “Your husband is watching. His mouth slammed shut and his hands fisted the moment he figured out what you were doing.”

I didn’t show any emotion but my stomach knotted up and my heart pounded. I closed my eyes again so as not to give anything away.

My husband was obviously flirting with the woman on his arm, and had probably already been with her. I’d been the naive one sitting in our penthouse as if we were creating some bond.

Instead of trying to pursue any more conversation, I just said, “Interesting.”

My mind was all tangled up with new feelings and I wasn’t sure how to act now that I knew Bastian was watching.

“What’s really interesting is how he hasn’t made his way over here yet.”

“It’s mostly about pride and appearance,” I told him and myself. Bastian didn’t care what I was doing but he did care if I was making a fool out of him.

“Is that what it’s about for you?” Quinton asked me quietly.

I stared out at the water and waited for the waves to rock and soothe me with their rhythm, the rhythm of the world. It didn’t work this time, my heart was beating too fast and my frustration roared to life in my veins. “It has to be just that for me.”

He nodded. “Well, then, I’m here to entertain and, honestly, I’m here to stare as long as you’ll let me.”

I laughed at his honesty. Most men would have tried to keep their eyes above my shoulders or been creepy about it. Somehow him admitting that it was fun to look had me relaxing a bit. In another world, I would have liked him, I would have wanted more with him.

In a world without Bastian.

“When did you get the tattoo on your shoulder?” Quinton asked as he took a seat in the lounge chair beside mine. He offered me a bottle of oil and I rubbed it over my chest and stomach before answering.

“I got it when I was sixteen after I came to terms with my parents being gone.” I closed my eyes and tried to enjoy his company, even if it wasn’t the company I really wanted.

“Where did they go?”

Something about today had shifted my heart, and something about this man being so honest with me, had me wanting to be honest with him. “They were always runners. They would leave me for weeks at time. When my mom was home, she was vibrant and full of life and my dad just adored her. Then, they’d say they were going to the grocery store and not show up again for weeks. I didn’t really understand it until I was a teenager…” I stopped because I was babbling.

“So, what happened? Don't stop now. I need to know the whole story.”

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