Page 238 of The Heart You Kept

This is the first time since Edward and I have been together that I’ve been in his world, the Monaco one. The life so far removed from who am that it isn’t even funny.

The car door opens and Philippe smiles down at me. “Miss Sorenson.”

“Thank you.” I climb out to see Edward walk out onto the main deck to greet me.

He’s wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt; his hair is messed up. He looks up and sees me and gives me a breathtaking smile, and my heart stops.

My god…. How is he so perfect?

“This way, Miss Sorenson.” Philippe and another guard walk me toward the yacht, Philippe is carrying my overnight bag and another two guards in black suits are standing by the gangplank. “Hello, Miss Sorenson.” They nod.

How do they know my name?

“Hello.” I force a smile. Seeing him here in his natural habitat reminds me of who he actually is; up until now I’ve been living in a fantasy world with him in Nice, and it was easy to forget his past and his name and all that comes with that.

They usher me across the gangplank and Edward smiles and takes my hand. “Here she is.” He leans in and kisses me, his lips lingering over mine, and I discreetly pull back. Everyone is watching.

His eyes dance with mischief as if knowing exactly what I am thinking. “Place Miss Sorenson’s things in my bedroom. We can pull out now and will redock in the morning,” he tells them.

“Of course, sir.”

I swallow the nervous lump in my throat, we’re staying out to sea all night? What if there’s like an earthquake or a tidal wave or a damn tsunami for that matter.

I glance around, does this thing have a lifeboat? I make a mental note for later to find out how to work it just in case.

“Come.” He takes my hand in his and leads me inside and my stomach flips at the grandeur. Suddenly I’m taken back to the day when I came to visit him here and he told me I was his surefire and god, I’m so overwhelmed that I can hardly breathe.

“Hey.” Edward takes me into his arms and looks down at me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

The engine on the yacht starts and I see people out on the deck undoing ropes. People seem to be everywhere doing everything at once.

He tucks a piece of hair behind my ear. “You seem nervous.”

“Maybe a little.”

“Why?”

“Just….” I give a subtle shrug. “This is just all new, I guess.” I glance around at the luxurious furnishings and this doesn’t seem real. That I’m here with him…. Doing this…that we’re officially together.

“Would you like a drink?” he asks.

“Yes,” I reply way too fast. “It’s a margarita kind of night.”

“It is.” He smiles, his eyes have a certain warm glow in them tonight. “It’s so good to have you here.”

I twist my fingers in front of me, I wish I could say it felt good to be here.

“Go put your purse down, sweetheart, slip into something more comfortable,” he says as he walks behind the bar.

Slip into something more comfortable.

Something about that sentence triggers me and I stare at him as I have an out-of-body experience, he’s said that before.

Many times.

Right here…on this yacht.