The Ten-Day Baby Takeover(35)

“I can think of fifty reasons, easy.”

“No. Listen. You have a vibrant concept, you’ve demonstrated there’s a demand for your product and most importantly, you have you. There’s no substitute for a smart, creative mind. That brain of yours is pure gold.”

Sarah’s eyes swirled with wonder and emotion. Exquisite and teary, they took Aiden’s breath away. He’d played a role in her reaction and that made his heart thump wildly.

“You make it sound like I can’t fail.”

“I don’t think you can.” Aiden blanketed Sarah’s hand with his, unable to keep from touching her. He really did believe in her. After all, she’d found a way to reach him when he’d been determined to keep her away.

She turned her hand, allowing their palms to touch, wrapping her fingers around his. Her grip said that she didn’t want to let go. Neither did he. Her skin was too soft, too warm. He’d waited too long for this. He had to know where this single touch led.

“Mr. Langford, the boat you hired is waiting. Anything I can carry out to the dock for you?”

John’s voice yanked Aiden out from under the spell of Sarah. They were already in a parking lot adjacent to the beach.

“We’ll be just fine, John.” Even with the disruption, Sarah hadn’t let go, and neither had he. Was his heart about to leave his body via his throat? Sarah was giving him a glimmer of hope he wasn’t sure he should cling to. Why he was in any way unsure of himself with Sarah was a mystery. With any other woman, he knew precisely where hand-holding led...into his bed. With Sarah? They might never share more than what they just had.

They hiked across the hot white sand, sidestepping people soaking up the midday rays. The crew was waiting for them on a shiny blue speedboat, bobbing in the water. The winch, which held the line for the sail, was all set up on the back. Aiden greeted the young man standing sentry on the dock, introduced Sarah and helped her aboard.

“Here are your life jackets.” An older man handed a red one to Sarah and a larger blue one to Aiden.

Sarah placed her handbag on one of the benches lining the perimeter of the hull. Aiden removed his T-shirt and put on the life vest. His eyes connected with Sarah’s—she’d been watching, again filling him with ill-advised hope. She turned her attention to getting her flowing cover-up sleeves through the armholes of the life jacket.

“You should get rid of the top layer,” he said.

She blew out a breath. “Yeah. Okay.”

She tossed the vest aside and turned her back to him, suggesting she wanted privacy. But this gave him the perfect chance to watch. The aqua fabric skimmed the backs of her toned legs, over her pleasantly round bottom, revealing the feminine curve of her waist, and the beautiful contours of her back and shoulders. With string ties at the back and at the hips, her bikini left little to the imagination, but his mind was racing to fill in the details. Blood rushed to the lower half of his body. Heat surged. Again.

She turned and sat on the bench as the boat puttered from the dock. Aiden wasn’t sure he could sit alongside her and keep his hands to himself, so he kneeled on the bench, steadying himself with his hand. Ocean air rushed as the boat picked up speed, cooling his overheated skin.

The crew prepared the harnesses and called Aiden and Sarah over. Even with the boat jostling them as it bounced over the waves, it wasn’t hard to see Sarah’s nervousness. Her back and shoulders were stiff as a board as she stepped into the straps and they hooked her onto the winch. Aiden took his place next to her, the two of them sitting on the platform at the back of the boat. One of the men released the chute. The wind caught it, yanking on the line.

Sarah grabbed his thigh. “Oh, my God. I’m going to die.”

No. But I might. He swallowed hard and took her hand. “We’re in this together.”

“What a comforting thought,” she yelled, as the boat gained speed.

One of the crewmen leaned in closer, grasping the top bar carrying the harnesses. “We’re sending you up now. Give us a signal if you decide to come back down. Have fun.”

The boat engine revved. The winch creaked. The rope began to unwind and they were lifted to standing.

Sarah yelped and squeezed his hand even harder. “Don’t let go,” she screamed as their feet left the deck and they were carried up into the air.

* * *

The line unrolled, steadily carrying them up into the warm, cloudless sky above the crystalline sea. She’d never before wondered what it felt like to be on the end of a kite string, but this had to be what it was like, floating free while tethered to safety. As they reached a height that she’d been sure would terrify her, elation bubbled up from the depths of her stomach, giving way to breathy giggles.