Page 113 of Never Tell Secrets

“No, you won’t.” He took my hand, fastening a lanyard around my wrist. On the other end was a key which he put in the ignition. His hands settled on my hips, doing nothing to calm my nerves.

“Alfie, you hate my driving.” My hands were shaking as I stared at the alien equipment in front of me. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing.

“True. But at least we have a soft landing. Also, there’s less shit to crash into out here.”

“There’s a million dollar boat,” I muttered, not at all comforted.

“A two hundred million dollar yacht actually. You can crash into it if you want.”

“Now, you’re just showing off.”

“And you’re stalling. Here.” He took my hands, placing them on the handles. “When you’re ready, turn the key in the ignition, then go easy on the throttle to get us moving. When we’re far enough away from the yacht, you can pick up some speed then just steer her where you want to go. Simple.”

I paused, my hands flexing. I didn’t want to move in case I broke something.

“I’m scared,” I whispered. I hated to admit it but it was true. I hated to be vulnerable in front of the man that had done me so much damage, but the walls were making me so damned tired.

I felt his lips press behind my ear, his breath warm on my neck. “You’re the bravest person I know. You can drive a fuckingjet ski. Besides, if you fuck it up, at least we’ll die together.” I felt his smile and mirrored it with my own.

“That’s oddly comforting.” I took a deep breath and turned the key in the ignition.

I did fuck it up. Twice. But when I got the hang of it, fuck was it exhilarating.

We raced across the water, the sun beating down on us, our laughter on the wind. After a while, Alfie yelled at me to head back to the boat. He jumped onto his own jet ski and with a boyish grin, he revved the engine. “Keep up, baby.”

We swerved and swirled around each other. I lost track of time. Alfie laughed, whooping as I caught up to him, cheering me on. Alfie was free and I was happy. Blissfully, painfully happy.

Eventually, Alfie motioned for us to head back to the yacht. It took me a few tries to get my jet ski back into the garage but with some surprisingly patient coaching from Alfie, I managed it.

He hopped off his first and took my hand to help me off mine. Back on the platform my legs immediately caved in on me. Alfie wrapped an arm around me, holding me up.

“It’s the adrenaline, it’ll wear off.” My legs felt like jelly and I allowed myself to lean into him. Elliot was back at the control panel, draining the ocean water from the garage and closing the door.

“I could get used to that,” I laughed, “can we do it again later?”

Alfie beamed, the pride clear on his face that I’d enjoyed a part of his world. “Tomorrow, if you want to.”Tomorrow.That would mean staying the night. “Come on, I’m starving.”

I followed him back to my cabin and he left me to shower while he returned to his own to clean up.

Before I jumped in the shower, I decided to call Keira, a call which lasted all of a minute because my best friend was half-asleep, passed out from an all night and all morning sex-a-thon. She stayed awake long enough to reassure me she was okay before falling back to sleep.

Maia was next on my list. She answered the phone immediately, I couldn’t tell if she was still with Eli or not but she assured me she was fine too.

With a twinge of worry for Keira gnawing at me, I headed for the shower. Once my skin was silky smooth and the salt was washed out of my hair, I slipped back into the dress he’d picked out for me this morning.

I found him on the sun deck, sitting at the table in blue shorts and a t-shirt, his gaze unreadable behind his Ray Bans. I stared at him. Aside from gym gear and those ridiculous Hawaiian shorts, I’d never once seen Alfie out of a suit.

My chest ached at the sight, he had grown so much and the hope that he might finally be the man I’d wanted years ago didn’t burn like it used to, it was more settled now. As if I was almost ready to hope, ready to dream.

I lifted the glasses off his face to see those eyes I adored so much.

“I like you dressed like this,” I said as I sat beside him. This splash of life, of colour, was huge progress. This calm, relaxed man in front of me bore no resemblance to the cold, stiff soul I’d known two and a half years ago. “And I like being here with you, I could get used to yacht life.”

“I knew you’d like it.” He threw an arm over the back of the couch and I settled in next to him. The sun was beginning to set behind us, and everywhere in my body I felt peaceful. “I hope you’re hungry, dinner will be ready soon.”

“Starved.”

“Great, we’re having steak. I can take you back to Keira’s after we eat if you’d like.”