Page 65 of Mr. Red

“Just a little work. You sleep in until the middle of the day.” He kisses my forehead. “Come on, let’s get going before the sun sets.”

I shove at him. “Hey!”

He loads our stuff into his car in the garage, then starts driving to...somewhere. I don’t care anymore. It’s weird. After our conversation from dinner the other night, I can trust him. He opened up to me when he never has with anyone else. He brought me to his favorite place. I have no idea if we have a future, but there’s a pull towards him I’m sick of avoiding. I’m probably making a terrible decision.

“I like how you don’t ask any questions about what we’re doing anymore. Finally know who’s in charge around here, huh?” He gives a teasing smile. Buttface.

“Oh, don’t worry, Matt. I’m keeping score. Iwillkeep my promise of getting you back. Maybe my plan is toletyou think you’re in control, until one day...bam!” I clap my hands together, trying to create a loud noise. He doesn’t even blink. “I’ll get you.”

“I’m not sure it’s wise to tell me the plan. Now I’m expecting an ambush.”

“Exactly.” I smirk.

“Good thing I don’t scare easily.”

Thirty minutes later, we pull up to a marina. Matt grabs our bags from the trunk and we start walking down the dock after he inputs a code for the gate. We’re passing one niceboat after another. Sailboats, motorboats, catamarans, probably yachts. I’m not sure what the requirement is to qualify to be a yacht, but most of these boats should be on the list.

He stops once he reaches a catamaran at the end of the dock. It’s fifty feet of white with black touches, an outdoor seating area, a trampoline in the front I’m going to jump on, and a covered space on the roof where you can hang out and drive.

“Wow!” I say, putting my hands over my mouth in disbelief. “We’re going on this?”

He’s looking at me like I’m the biggest dork in the world. Whatever.

“Is a captain meeting us?”

“I’m the captain.” He steps onto the boat.

Is there anything this man can’t do?

“Of course you are,” I murmur.

There’s a walkway at the back of the boat with staircases on either side. In the middle is the boat’s name. I freeze and my eyes widen.

Scarlett Skies

“Ah, you noticed,” Matt declares.

“When did you name it?”

“I bought it last year and it came with the name. Yet another coincidence when it comes to you.” He shrugs with his hands in his pockets, moving up and down on his tiptoes.

“I don’t believe in coincidences,” I tell him.

He grins. “Take your shoes off before you get on. Have you ever been sailing before?”

“My dad took me a time or two out in the bay, but it was a small sailboat. Nothing like this monster. It’sbeautiful, Matt.”

“Some might say it’s small, but it’s the biggest I could sail on my own.”

The way he talks sometimes. Hiding behind a facade. I wonder if he realizes he’s so much more than his money.

I remove my shoes and then step onto the boat. I go up the stairs with them in hand. It’s easy to maneuver with handrails all along the side. The sun beams down with a slight breeze.

He starts the engine and then begins untying the yacht from the dock. I’ve made it to the bow and am jumping on the trampoline. Guilt hits me because he’s doing all this work to depart.

“Can I help you?” I ask mid jump.

“Oh no, I’ve got it. Just relax.”