Chapter 44
Zara was so relieved she felt almost dizzy. She collapsed against Lincoln, grateful for the steady thump of his heartbeat.
“So that’s what a high-stakes negotiation feels like,” she murmured. “And I thought Mia was tough.”
His arms came around her. “Are you okay, my love?”
“I think so. My heart is still hammering. That is one terrifying man.”
“Yes, but he’s gone now. You were absolutely incredible. The way you kept your cool and made him call off our deal…” He lifted her chin in his hand. “I was trying to keep you out of this to protect you.”
“I hope you learned your lesson,” she said lightly, even though she deeply appreciated the thought. “I generally don’t like other people making decisions for me.”
“Message received, I promise.” His gaze caught sight of someone behind her, and his eyes darkened. “Maureen. Are you sure it was a good idea to bring her into this?”
“I probably should have consulted you, but you did abandon me in the middle of the jungle.” She winked at him, giddy with the opportunity to tease him again. What if those scary guards had lost their tempers?
“I absolutely did not—” Lincoln’s heated words were interrupted by the arrival of Maureen.
“Can someone catch me up on what just happened? Why was Zara digging in the sand? Why did those guards try to go swimming with all their clothes on?”
Zara shared an amused glance with Lincoln. “It’s such a hot day. Can you blame them?”
Maureen lowered her sunglasses and eyed the two of them. “I see how it is. I guess I can’t blame you. But if we’re going to work together—”
Lincoln interrupted. “There’s a piece of tech that Tanaka wanted back. The ocean had other ideas.”
“What would that tech do?”
“Nothing, unless he also has the CHUM. If he gets his hands on that, he’ll be extremely dangerous. Are you sure you want to be involved in all this? I appreciate you coming to Hawaii and being open to whatever Zara told you—”
“She told me there might be a way to repair things with you and get back to making tons of money.”
Zara’s lips quirked. She liked the way Maureen’s bluntness contrasted with her soft Southern accent.
“I have to be straight with you, Maureen. Right now, I don’t have the CHUM and the lab hasn’t managed to produce another functioning sample.
My father is currently destroying all our research.
Not only that, but there’s a crew of amateur geologists out there who might make a version of the CHUM long before we do.
They want to claim it for the general public, and I think I agree with them.
Tanaka has control of all the material they’re using to make his weapon.
Our only tiny bit of it just disappeared into the ocean. ”
“My goodness, that’s a real run of bad luck.”
“Maybe.”
To Zara’s eye, Lincoln didn’t look worried about that.
In fact, he seemed energized, as if he loved a challenge.
She found that attitude very sexy, almost as sexy as the bare chest peeking from behind his open shirt, and the way his hair curled against his neck.
Really, everything about him just worked for her.
Strange, out of all the people on the planet, that she’d fall for this complicated man who’d wandered into her life.
“Okay, then exactly how are we going to make money with this CHUM thingie?” Maureen planted her hands on her leopard-print-covered hips and glared at Lincoln.
He shrugged. “Maybe we’re just going to ride the wave and see what happens.”
Maureen wheeled on Zara. “That’s not what you promised me, Zara.”
“I promised you a way to connect with Lincoln, who’s the brilliant leader who made Kerr Enterprises what it is.
” Chin up, Zara held her ground. She’d been very careful not to promise anything other than guaranteeing that Lincoln would be open to engaging with Maureen.
She knew his wounds went deep, but she also understood how much he wanted a real family.
He wanted to create his own, yes, and she was down with that.
Being a surrogate parent had been so much more satisfying than she’d ever imagined.
But resolving things with the Kerr family, and his father, would bring him some peace.
She’d be there for him every step of the way.
Tension enveloped the three of them. Then Maureen relaxed into a laugh. “You know what, Lincoln? You’ve made money all your life and you probably won’t stop now.”
“I’d say that’s a safe bet.”
She dropped her sunglasses back over her eyes. “Then I trust you, and yes, I want you to come back. I want in on this. And now I’m going back to my beach nap. The two of you can make out now, since I can tell you’ve been dying to this whole time.”
She wasn’t wrong.
As Maureen walked away, Zara linked her hand with Lincoln’s. “I knew we were in sync. You just almost quoted my famous motto. ‘Whistle while you wait for the wave, then ride it with all your heart.’”
Lincoln grinned down at her, finding her more enchanting than ever. “That’s an endearingly long motto.”
“Yes, I’ve been told. I also keep changing it. You know why?”
“Because life changes, and so do mottos?”
“Nice one! I will enter that into consideration as my next motto.” She gave him a slight smile, warier than he would have liked. “I have a feeling there’s a lot I will have to adapt to, being with you.”
He tilted her face so their eyes met. “This can only work if it’s equal. I want to support you and your dreams and desires, not take over your life.”
She nodded soberly. “I’m glad you said that. I can see how that might happen. I mean, you bought me the house. I didn’t ask for that. All things considered, things between us would be less complicated if you weren’t a billionaire, or a millionaire, or wherever your bottom line stands right now.”
He got it. He really did. Before crashing in the jungle, before working as a gardener, he wouldn’t have. But now he knew—being a decent human was much more important than being a billionaire.
“Listen, Zara. I may not be able to stop being a billionaire. These things take on a life of their own. But I never want to be a callous one, like you said before. Will you help me with that? I’m not sure I can manage that by myself.”
“You can.” She smiled, radiating confidence and sunshine. “Or I wouldn’t love you so much. My heart wouldn’t let me.”
His own heart sank a bit. What was she saying, that she didn’t want that role in his life? He got it…she was happy where she was. She didn’t need his problems piled on top of her own.
“Don’t look like that,” she said gently. “All I’m saying is that you don’t need me to be your conscience. I have faith in you, in your heart.” She flattened her palm against his chest. “But there’s something I need from you.”
“I already took care of it. You’re protected, all of you. Your house is paid for. Your—”
“I don’t want your money, dumbass.”
He bit back the next thing he was going to say, which was that he’d set up a medical fund for them all to draw on whenever they needed.
“I want…you,” she said softly. “Your heart. Your sweet, gigantic heart hidden away beneath all those stern frowns. And your body. The way you touch me, like you’re memorizing me, like you never want to forget how it feels when we’re together.”
“I never do,” he whispered.
“And there. Your smile.” She touched the corner of his mouth. “It doesn’t come very often but when it does I turn into a bowl of Jell-o. I want the way I feel when I’m with you. Like the world can be anything we want it to be.”
His heart was pounding so hard he thought it might leap out and land on the sand like a flopping fish. “You got it,” he promised. “All of it. And more.”
They kissed then, with all the passion and longing of two people who’d been waiting their whole lives to find that one person who fit just right.
When they finally drew apart, he tucked her windblown hair behind her shoulder.
“I bought your house in case I didn’t survive this negotiation with Tanaka.
I wanted to make sure you were taken care of.
But you’re right. I promise not to rely on money in our relationship.
I always equated money with worth, because that was how I gained acceptance.
But when I look back, it’s people like Vernon who stand out, not any of the billionaires I’ve dealt with. ”
“Vernon?”
“You’ll meet him soon enough. He’s going to love you. We’ll make this work, you’ll see. Nothing is more important to me.”
“Not even the CHUM?” she teased.
“Aw, you called it the CHUM. You do love me.”
Laughing, she took his hand to her lips and kissed it. “I think we’ll be okay too, as long as we listen to the Hawaii Board of Tourism.”
“How so?”
“Haven’t you see the billboards? It’s advice for people getting into the ocean. ‘Never turn your back on a wave.’ Meaning, make sure you pay attention, but please do get into that water and play.”
“I like that.” Maybe that was another reason he’d been a boy in all his recent dreams. That was the last time he’d played.
“Speaking of which…” Zara turned to look at the ocean, her hand shading her eyes. “The surf is picking up. Did you see that wave? That was a perfect five-foot left-side wide-open barrel.”
“I have no idea what that means.”
“Oooh good, a rookie. I have so much to teach you.” She rubbed her hands together. “Starting with…did you know there’s a current that swirls around this part of the beach? In about half an hour, I’ll bet you anything that tin will be bobbing back against those rocks over there.”
“Are you kidding me?”
Nothing would make him happier than getting that chip to some weapons experts so they could be prepared for whatever Tanaka managed to develop.
“I am not. Come on, look at those waves. I gotta get in there.” She slipped off her coverup and dropped it onto the sand. “Last one into the ocean buys dinner. And I’m unemployed and nearly broke, so take your time.”
She took off across the sand, her tanned legs practically a blur. He ran after her, ignoring the twinges of pain from his soles of his feet. His shoes were still back in the jungle, on the edge of the lava cliffs, unless someone had grabbed them.
He caught up with her just as she splashed into the water.
They had to wade past some rocks along the shore, but when it was deep enough, she dove into the curl of a wave.
He followed suit, then opened his eyes underwater so he could find her.
Her long hair streamed behind her like a mermaid’s.
She swished it over her shoulder and turned his way.
They kissed—the first underwater kiss of his life, warm and just a little salty—then surfaced, gasping for air.
“That’s the other part of ocean safety,” she said when she caught her breath. “The buddy system. Always stay close to someone.”
“Count me in, but can we tweak the definition of buddy at all?”
“Sure.” As they treaded water, she wrapped her legs around his hips and pulled herself against him, flesh to flesh. “I’m very open to suggestion.”
Instead of offering one, he blurted, “How about May twentieth?”
He didn’t know where that random thought came from. It just surfaced from somewhere deep inside. But it was significant, something told him that. So he didn’t take it back.
“May twentieth? What does that mean? That’s the same date Sasha mentioned. What is it?”
“I…have no idea.”
Her confused frown disappeared under the crest of another wave washing over her. When she surfaced, water streaming down her face, she was crowing with delight. “The best surf in days and I don’t have a board with me. Just my luck. Want to body surf with me? I’ll show you some of my tricks.”
Did he want to body surf with her?
Was water wet?
“Always. Forever.” And they dove headlong into the next wave.
Thank you so much for reading!