Page 91 of The Billionaire's Heart

"About four miles. We’re almost over it. Why? Are you scared?”

“No, I’ve just never been on a bridge like this before.”

As we exit the bridge, we pass by a small college and then turn west. I’m not sure how much farther west we can go.

“We’re almost there. You don’t get seasick, do you?”

I laugh, “No, but what if I did?”

“Then I’d change our plans.” He smirks as he pulls into a parking lot for Loggerhead Marina. “We’re here.”

“Great. Where’s here?”

“My boat.”

“Your boat? You have a boat on the other side of the state from where you live?” This sounds ridiculous to me.

“Yes, well, sort of. I have my yacht docked at Hibiscus Island Marina, but I have put my boat here up for sale. I thought we could use it.”

I shake my head even before he finishes his sentence. “Why are you shaking your head?”

“You have a boat and a yacht. Must be nice.”

He leans over and kisses me. “We’ve already established that. Let’s go. We’re running out of time.”

“Out of time for what?”

“You’ll see.”

We take Ian’s boat out of the marina and out towards the Gulf of Mexico. He’s a very skilled boat captain and insisted that I wear a life preserver if I plan to hang out on the deck while he’s driving, even though I’ve insisted I’m an accomplished swimmer.

This is my first time out on the water like this, so I put the stupid thing on and watched the water from the front of the deck as we sliced through it. I’m not missing this opportunity to do the whole Titanic pose, either. After about a half hour, he ends up beaching the boat on a small, and what looks to be deserted, island.

“Is this safe?” I ask because I’m not sure how we’ll get the boat out of here.

“Yes, it’s safe.” He insists.

“Are you sure? Most people trynotto beach their boat.”

He pulls the life preserver off me as he laughs. “I’m sure.”

“If you say so.”

“I say so. Come on and take your shoes off. They’re going to get wet here.”

I toe off my sneakers as Ian jumps from the back of the boat into the water. It’s only up to his ankles, and now I’m convinced we’re not getting this boat out of here. There’s just no way.

Following Ian, I jump from the boat into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. “Where are we?” In the distance, I can see civilization, so we’re not too far away, but I’m completely lost.

“Shell Key. An island nature preserves in the Gulf just outside of Tampa Bay.” He helps me make it to shore. “Now, watch your step. This side of the state gets really great shells, hence the name Shell Key, but they hurt like hell if you step on them.”

I look down to make sure I’m not stepping on any of them, but also because I want to collect them. No seashells in Knoxville.

“Although this place is beautiful, what are we doing here?”

“Well, I thought that we could have dinner and watch the sunset.” He points behind me and there’s another table with more silver domes.

“Are you kidding me? You did this all for me?”