Page 26 of His Curvy Castaway Obsession - A Man Who Knows What He Wants

“You sit right there and I’ll get your breakfast. I found a whole bunch of stuff tucked away in that basket, plus they have appliances here too, it’s great! We should move in!”

He chirps as he heads back to the kitchen, whistling to himself after pecking me on the lips again.

It’s early, but I feel well rested. Despite the sunshine, I’m sure I can still hear thunder somewhere, but as the sound gets louder, I know it’s something else.

It coincides with a breaking news story on the TV, which works now. I’m guessing the storm’s passed and the satellite’s working again.

Michael’s coming back in with a tray, the smell of hot coffee taking a back seat from what I’m seeing on the TV.

He stops right next to me, his shoulders sagging as he watches what I watch.

The speedboat we got to the island on, bobbing upside-down in the ocean. Distant shots of the island and a huge black helicopter heading towards it.

“Ah Christ…” Michael groans as he hears the broadcast, his head tilting as he hears the thump of the helicopter over the island outside.

“And in breaking news… reclusive Billionaire Michael Parker, head of Parker Global is feared missing after his small pleasure craft was spotted by U.S Navy coast guards this morning… the secretive property and finance magnate was rumored to be onboard a pleasure cruise on his private yacht when bad weather forced it to turn back… there’s no comment from Parker Global at this stage, with a no-fly zone around the island hampering search and rescue efforts… Mr. Parker’s private helicopter was seen approaching the island just moments ago…”

I feel a lump in my throat, and a little stab in my chest as I hear it, but I kind of half-knew already.

“When were you gonna tell me?” I ask, my voice cracking with emotion, suddenly not feeling like breakfast after all.

I love Michael no matter what, but he might have said something sooner.

Chapter Eighteen

Michael

I set the tray down on the coffee table, and shut the TV’s sound off, I take Zoe’s hand in mine. I can see she’s hurt, and I don’t blame her.

“Can I explain?” I ask her, grateful for that much when she nods slowly.

She looks numb and I can see tears building in her eyes. But I need to tell her so many things, a day and a night, on top of how I already feel about her will never be enough.

I’m gonna need a lifetime to tell her everything.

“I’m Michael Parker, Zoe. I should’ve told you sooner but I really didn’t think it mattered. I mean, I was going to tell you, and soon. I just wanted… I just wanted-”

“You just wanted what? To have your way with me first? Another notch on your belt of rich guy conquests?” she says harshly, sounding more than hurt now.

“No!” I tell her loudly, speaking over her and taking her other hand into mine, holding both of them to my heart.

“I just wanted one day, just one, as a regular guy. A regular flesh and blood guy, no corporate takeovers, no meetings. No bullshit. I just wanted to be that guy who got in his truck, found his girl and claimed her as his own… Not a conquest Zoe… a love story. Something I’d be proud to tell my kids one day…”

She looks away, wiping a tear and I can’t tell if she’s mad or happy.

“If I’d stopped you in the street, told you who I was and what I wanted… I couldn’t risk not having you come along. I had to make it look natural, it is natural… I just wanted to be Michael for once, not fucking Parker… god! I’m so sick of that name. It’s the hardest thing in the world to be the source of everyone’s envy, when you have everything they think they want, but you feel like the loneliest guy in the world.”

She looks back at me, her eyes are clear again, but narrowed.

“I did feel lonely Zoe, I felt incomplete. And then I saw you, and I knew my life really was perfect, I just had to get you into it, into my life… for good.”

I feel a wave of relief as I feel her squeezing my hands back. Then she lets out a little cry-laugh of disbelief.

“I was gonna tell you. Zoe, I swear… I’m telling you now, and not just because of this,” I tell her, waving a hand at the TV and the sound from above.

“I want you, Zoe. Yesterday, last night… today and forever. I meant it when I said you’re mine and I don’t want you thinking, not even for one second that I’d ever lie to you about anything.”

I have to kiss her now. I lean in and I’m so glad when she kisses me back. I know I should’ve told her sooner, but what would I say? And why should it matter who I am? All that matters to me is I have Zoe, that she’s mine.

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