Page 23 of His Curvy Castaway Obsession - A Man Who Knows What He Wants

The baskets Shawn stocked the speedboat with have the usual stuff I’d expect from a Parker cruise, loads of stuff I don’t eat and champagne, which I detest. But basket number two holds something more promising.

A change of clothes for me, and a freshly pressed waitress’ uniform.

Shawn you dog. Am I that transparent? I owe you, buddy.

The food’s not all bad, and I find some lobster tails, cheeses and a rye loaf. Plenty of something that’s a whole lot better than nothing.

By the time Zoe’s come out, looking better than ever. I’ve set the table as best I can, found some candles and have the place looking a lot like home in no time.

Noticing the fading light and the weather, which is still rotten, Zoe gives me a furtive sidelong glance.

“Shouldn’t we be thinking about trying to head back to the yacht?” she asks, and it’s a good question.

One I wish I had a good answer for.

I make a face instead, taking a seat opposite Zoe, who looks worried.

“Tell me we’re going back to the yacht… that we can get out of here once the storm dies down?”

“There’s rye, and some sort of cheese, crackers too.” I begin, trying to shift her attention, but it’s not working.

“We’re stuck here. At least ‘til tomorrow, or when the storm front passes, whichever comes first.” I level with her, remembering I only recently asked her to trust me and also pledged to be straight up with her.

My calm tone and insistence she try the cheese seems to wash with her.

“I trust you Michael, if you say tomorrow, then I guess we’ll have to rough it out here tonight.” she adds with a grin, eyeing everything I’ve laid out.

“I’m starving you know I might’ve skipped breakfast. Definitely missed lunch… probably explains a lot.” She tells me, and I chide her softly for not eating.

“You gotta eat, Zoe. I don’t want you getting sick or fading away on me from not getting proper nutrition.”

But it only makes her laugh.

“I’ll eat plenty, don’t worry about that. Plus now, I have a new exercise machine.”

“Oh?” I ask, wondering what on earth she means until I get it.

“Oh…” I say in a deeper tone.

“Yep. He’s named Michael, and I could just ride him all day, that’ll be plenty of exercise.”

“Come on now,” I warn her, “You’ll give me a complex. I am an older man, y’know. I have to be careful.”

She studies me for a second, “How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?” she asks, and I do mind. It’s not something I like to talk about, especially with twenty something’s I’ve just spent the afternoon drilling. Not that that ever happens.

“I’m forty.” I tell her, screwing my face up and poking out my tongue, dreading the moment she tells me she’s so much younger.

“I’m twenty-one.” She says casually and that’s the end of that. I don’t think age has anything to do with love, attraction or anything else, and I think, I hope Zoe feels the same way.

The thunder I thought had gone suddenly reappears, making us both jump with a start and the whole house shakes again, the windows flashing white with lightning.

“All this…” I tell her, my mouth full of lobster tail and crusty bread, “I could’ve done something similar, y’know. Got it all from the wild. I could sustain us out here, in the wilderness.”

She looks like she’s trying not to laugh and I do my best deadpan for a few more seconds, before we both end up laughing. It’s probably not completely true. But hey, I think we’re doing alright so far.

“You okay?” I ask her, wanting to make sure, needing her approval of the situation, “It’s been a big day is all, for both of us…”

She gets up, coming over to my side of the table and I shift back so she can sit on my lap. She wraps her arms around my neck, kissing lobster and more from my mouth.

“I’m fine, thank you for asking,” she tells me, and I can see the glow she has about her now. She’s the same Zoe I fell in love with the minute I saw her, but now there’s something definitely different about her.

She’s been claimed, made a woman.

She’s mine and I suddenly feel like the luckiest guy on earth.

“I could try… really should try my cell again. I couldn’t get a signal before.” I offer, trying to sound like a thinking man who can rescue as well as provide for us.

“Already checked,” Zoe chimes mechanically, helping herself to more food which makes me feel like eating her all over again for some strange reason.

“My cell’s got a charge, but you’re right… no signal out here, maybe it’s that weird storm too?”

“Maybe,” I say quietly, tracing my hand over her robe, finding the gap that leads to her skin underneath and making her jump when I touch her.

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