Chapter 14
Claire dabbed her napkin against her lips. “This is way too much food. Such a feast could serve six people.” Fresh fruit, cupcakes, muffins, pastries, and omelets… “I doubt I can make a dent in this.”
“Give it your best shot.” He winked.
The four-story yacht, more like a floating mansion, bobbed on the water. She’d read the name in elegant cursive on the side as they boarded from the main island. “Why is the boat named Liberation?”
Wade rested his fork on his plate, gazing at the ocean with an intensity she didn’t often see.
“My siblings and I bought the yacht together.” His gaze drifted, distant now, tethered to memories.
“We needed something that marked the freedom we found after… everything.” He drew a breath, the kind that carried an ache of what went unsaid.
His jaw tightened before softening. “Adopted into God’s family and into each other’s…
Liberation wasn’t just a name. It was who we became. ”
If only she could reach across the table and hold his hand, offer more than silent understanding!
He’d faced obstacles she couldn’t comprehend, but the depth in his eyes told her enough.
Instead, she followed his gaze to the water.
The midmorning sun cast a golden glow over the vast ocean.
She imagined them adrift in some magical world, isolated from everything else.
She peeked at Wade since his gaze was far away. A dusting of a beard covered his chiseled jaw. The top buttons of his crisp white cotton shirt remained undone. The glimpse of his chest made her heart flutter, distracting her in a dangerously real way.
He looked over at her then, his eyes warm, and she looked away.
“You slept well?” he asked through laughter. He lifted his teacup. Steam curled into a haze before the lips he folded into a smile.
“Um, what did you ask?”
“You slept for twenty hours.”
“I did?” Her hand covered her gaping mouth. He’d estimated their arrival at five thirty p.m. Hawaii time, but they’d arrived later. The last time she remembered had been around eighty thirty when he led her to her suite on the massive yacht.
“I guess I slept well, then.” She’d also dozed on the plane. After Bella’s constant waking during the nights, it had been the best rest she’d had in ages. “How about you?”
He set down his tea, crossing his arms. “Well, your snoring shook the entire plane, and the yacht is still reverberating.”
She swatted his shoulder. “I don’t snore.” She rolled her eyes. Sitting here with him, having brunch, felt natural—like they’d been married for years, not hours.
“Sure you don’t.” His deep chuckle sent vibrations through her that settled in her chest. She tried to focus on her plate, but the view from the deck kept pulling her gaze to the glistening water.
It was either that or stealing glances at him.
With him leaning back, she dared another peek.
His strong forearms made her replay how secure she’d felt whenever he wrapped them around her during the dance. His chest took her to unholy thoughts.
“How’s the cupcake?” he asked. The teasing glint in his eyes said he caught her checking him out.
“Perfect,” she squeaked. Good grief, she sounded like a mouse. She dragged her gaze back to the corner where she’d bit into the cupcake. “The view is making it hard for me to be hungry.”
“The view.” That glint said he didn’t believe her. His gaze drifted out to the sea. “Grace suggested we get some photos at sunrise or sunset.”
“We definitely missed the sunrise.” The sky offered a dazzling blue dotted with few clouds, the horizon stretching out endlessly.
“Tomorrow’s another day.” He spoke as if they had endless tomorrows.
After all the fan photos taken at Tokki, Toby hadn’t needed to send the media his pictures.
Grace had called that night before Wade left Claire’s house, thrilled their date-night photos circulated on social media.
His fans were buzzing over his small-town girlfriend, their enthusiasm turning the spotlight on her.
“This is the buzz he needed to raise the stakes for Vaulting Hearts,” Grace had said.
“Perhaps with this publicity and the needed changes, it won’t be the flop we feared. ”
But they were alone now, minus wherever Toby was hiding in the yacht, so Claire longed for the assurance they were past the facade. But this was just a two-day trip—not enough to connect. “So, what do people do on a fake honeymoon?”
“Can’t say for sure.” He shrugged. “Never been on a honeymoon. But I have been here a few times. If you’re up for some water sports?”
“Pleasant View doesn’t exactly have beaches and water sports.” How special was it that he’d brought her sailing? And they intended to stay on the yacht the entire time.
“You’re in for a treat, Mrs. Stone.” He held up his fingers, ticking them off. “Kayaking, snorkeling, hiking on the island, even cliff diving.”
Each one seemed more thrilling than the last and quickened her pulse. “Kayaking around the cove sounds… interesting. Though I wouldn’t know how to begin.”
“I’ll teach you. And snorkeling is simple. You won’t need much training.” He gestured across the clear water to the distant cliffs. “If you’re feeling brave, there’s a waterfall hike over there. We could even try cliff diving.”
No way! “Maybe you could give me a tour of your property instead.”
His eyes twinkled. “We might need an extra day for a full tour. Guess we’ll have to come back next time.”
Next time? A thrill ran through her. She nodded, soaking in his unspoken promise. “Sounds good to me.”
“Let’s finish brunch so we can get the day started.” He rubbed his hands together, urging her on like the typical adrenaline junkie from Peak Protectors.
She fiddled with her white sundress. “Do I need to change? Or dress a certain way?”
“Not a thing to worry about.” The spark in his eyes made her insides twist pleasantly. “We’ve got all the gear we need.”
Lighthearted, she relaxed. With no cameras around, surely he wasn’t pretending. They were just normal friends, reconnecting with perhaps a romance in between. There was no pressure to kiss—though it wouldn’t hurt if that happened—but it was nice just to be themselves.
She finished her cupcake and wiped her sticky fingers. Wade had clearly requested they add the treat to the menu for her. She then nibbled a few grapes and pineapple and mango bites while he sipped his tea and polished off his omelet.
Getting off the yacht was more of an event than she anticipated.
With his help, she lowered herself into the kayak. Her every movement sent slight tremors through the little vessel. But his calm, unhurried motions as he climbed in behind her made it feel more stable, his confidence alone anchoring them.
Once they settled, the splash of his paddle dipping into the water created a steady pulse. “We’ll start slow. Just follow my lead. You’ll get the hang of it.”
Claire glanced over her shoulder, her cheeks warming at their proximity. “Are you sure?”
He chuckled, the rich sound vibrating through her both calming and thrilling. “Trust me.”
And she did. Maybe more than she’d admit.
They paddled into the open water, the ocean slapping against the kayak in the silence. The sky above remained a vivid, endless blue, and the sun warmed her skin. Wade’s instructions guided her as she settled into a rhythm, their paddles propelling them through the gleaming water.
“You’re doing great,” he said after a while. “See? Not so hard.”
Her lips almost twitched into a smile. “Maybe you’re just a good teacher.”
“Maybe.” His voice dipped. “Or maybe you’re a natural.”
Now, she couldn’t contain a smile. He was again the Wade she’d always known.
He’d always had a way of making her feel at ease as he taught her mountain biking and skiing—yes, Albert was always there, but he’d complained Claire was slowing them down.
Right now, she was where she was meant to be, even if everything in her life felt borrowed and temporary.
They rounded a bend, and the view shifted. Tucked behind a rocky outcrop was a secluded cove, the water a jewel-toned blue, ringed by jagged cliffs. It was stunning, untouched.
“It’s like we paddled straight into a hidden paradise,” she whispered, more to herself than to him. “So beautiful.”
“It is,” he replied.
When she glanced back, his gaze wasn’t on the cove, but on her. She sucked in a breath, unspoken words flowing into the small space, leaving her unmoored.
Clearing her throat, she focused on the paddle, the water lapping as it broke beneath them. “So, what’s next on this adventure-filled day?”
“You’re not getting tired?” His light tone didn’t mask the challenge.
“Not a chance.” She wasn’t going to waste her vacation by sleeping it away.
“Good.” He shifted behind her, and the kayak tipped just enough to remind her of his presence, the closeness, the warmth of him radiating even in the open air. “Because I’ve got a lot more to teach you, Claire Stone.”
The words seemed innocent enough, yet an unspoken layer lingered beneath them. She swallowed and gripped her paddle tighter, every instinct in her fighting the way she wanted to lean back, relax into him, and savor his closeness again.
“I’m willing to learn,” she promised, masking the butterflies that had taken flight in her stomach.
His laughter floated over the water and settled somewhere deep inside her. Then his paddle sliced through the water, and he led them onward, the moment slipping away like the current beneath them.