by Luck, Olivia
A hand wraps around my bicep, pulling me to a stop. “Karolina, if you have to leave, then leave. But I can’t allow you to walk away thinking that I would betray your trust. This is not a game to me.”
“Leave me alone, Alec.” My head falls forward, and my shoulders slump down.
His deep voice sounds a breath away from my ear. “I don’t think I can do that.” His lips tickle my ear. I swallow the lump forming in my throat. “Let me be your friend, Karolina. I can’t bear to think of you as lonely.”
My stomach clenches. Only a friend? I need one badly. There’s sincerity in his voice. I can believe him. I want to believe him. I will believe him. “Please don’t make me regret saying yes,” I whisper, still not looking at him.
“Never,” he vows. “Give me your cell number.”
The declarative command reminds me so much of David that I don’t respond at first. I drift away to a world where my husband makes all of the decisions and I trail along behind limply.
“Please,” Alec adds in my hesitancy. The word is my undoing.
As I rattle off the numbers, I remind myself it’s been six months since Alec contacted me. It will probably be another six months, if ever, that he uses those digits to call me.
After Alec leaves and I call Carlo for a ride, I beg off the rest of my social engagements for the day by calling the head of the planning committee for the breast cancer awareness tea to tell her I’m not feeling up to a meeting. Unfortunately, the head of the planning committee is Adriana Martinez. You’d never know Adriana and her husband, Hector, have amassed the wealth of a small island nation. She’s one of those people you would describe as the salt of the earth: kind, humble, giving.
The Martinez’s are David’s white whale. He wants their business so badly he practically salivates every time I tell him about a meeting with Adriana. Thus far, Hector hasn’t bit any of the bait my husband has sent his way. The last thing David wants to be is a pest, so he eased up on Hector. Meanwhile, he has strongly encouraged I befriend Adriana. He’ll be disappointed to know I had to miss time with Adriana. Then again, he’s the reason I’m holing up in the house licking my wounds.
I should be furious with David. No, I should stalk out of this house with the clothes on my back and never return. But where would I go? What would I do? I don’t even have a college degree or, except for one tiny savings, my own bank account. My husband has tied up any form of money I have. All the accounts are joint, credit cards linked. One large ATM withdrawal and David will know that I’m gone. Then what? If I left him and he found me, a broken wrist would be the least of my worries.
If only I could seek some solace in my designs, but the damaged wrist is on my dominant hand. I settle into one of the oversized leather chairs in the media room to watch a movie. There are three tiered rows of seats in the room with a massive projector screen and absolutely no ambient light to disrupt the picture. This was the only room I insisted to David that we not change when we redecorated the house because, really, what can you do to improve upon an in-home movie theater?
“Mrs. Karolina, would you like something to eat?” Miranda, silent as ever, hovers next to my chair, wearing a kind smile.
“Maybe some iced tea. And if we have popcorn, that would be really lovely,” I say. Miranda dips her head in a nod and shifts to leave. “Wait, Miranda.” She cocks her head toward me, waiting patiently. “I want to thank you for taking care of me yesterday. You’re always incredibly kind to me and I am grateful for you.” The older woman stares at me in silence. Then, to my complete shock, she stoops down and presses a kiss to my crown of my head.
“De nada, mija.” I let the sentiment wash over me in calming waves. For the second time today, someone touched me and I felt the warmth of genuine emotion all the way to my core. Despite the broken wrist, it’s the best I’ve felt in weeks or, more likely, months.
I’m halfway through a bowl of freshly popped popcorn when my cell phone buzzes from the chair next to me. David calling. Part of me wants to ignore the call, but I know it will anger him.
“Hi,” I answer after pausing the movie.
“How are you feeling, my jewel?” he asks immediately.
“Better today. This morning I went for a walk around the botanical gardens and now I’m watching My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” Shit. It’s not until I say the movie title out loud that I realize the inspiration for my movie choice. Freud would have a field day with this one.
“I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear that, Karolina. I’ve been worried sick about you.” He sounds genuine enough. The thousands of miles separating us makes me bold.
“Then why did you . . .” I can’t bear to finish the sentence. What am I thinking? Baiting David like this. “Why did you leave?” I finish lamely.
“You’re absolutely right. I should have canceled my trip. But your injury was on such short notice, and I’ve been planning these meetings for several months. I promise to make it up to you when I get back, my jewel. How about a vacation? Just the two of us. We could probably both use a few days away. Naples is wonderful this time of year, and I know you love it there.”
Actually, you love Naples. I find it pretentious. “Sure,” I agree halfheartedly.
“Karolina, you sound tired.”
“I am. Would you mind if we hung up? I’m sorry to cut the call short, David, but I could use some rest.” In reality, I want off the phone with him. This conversation, with all its false pleasantries, is nauseating.
“Of course, my jewel. I’ll call you tomorrow in your morning time.”
“Good-bye, David,” I say quietly.
He disconnects with a click, leaving me with My Big Fat Greek Wedding and a little peace.
True to his word, the next morning my cell phone wakes me from a deep sleep. Without bothering to look at the screen, I accept the call and mumble a sleepy greeting.
“Did I wake you?” The velvety masculine voice on the other line definitely doesn’t belong to my husband.
“Alec,” I gasp incredulously, ignoring the immediate rush of pleasure I get from hearing his friendly voice.
He laughs; a husky sound that breaks me out of my confusion and makes my stomach have a weird reaction. “Don’t sound so surprised. I said I would call.”
“You did, but twenty-four hours hasn’t passed since you asked for my number.”
“Never been a man to pass up an opportunity, Karolina. What do you have planned today?”
It’s nice for once to have someone ask what my plans are instead of telling me. Settling back against the pillows, I pause to run my normally planned activities through my mind. Gym. Lunch with the Junior League. None sounds as appealing as spending time with someone who doesn’t have any expectations of how I should or should not behave.
“Nothing as of yet. As you guessed, your call woke me up,” I reply.
“Would you like to accompany me on my boat?”
“Yes,” I answer instantly without thinking.
Alec pauses. I can almost hear him thinking through the phone.
Eagerness is not an attractive trait, Karolina. Hold your reactions in check. Do not speak without thinking through the consequences. David gave me that lecture many times in the past. Alec doesn’t make me feel like I need to follow all those social rules.
“I’ll send a driver to pick you up in an hour. Is that enough time?” he finally says.
“More than enough. Thank you for the invitation, Alec. A day on the water is just what I need,” I say sincerely.
“It’s my pleasure.” His words trickle through me temptingly. I don’t know if he’s trying to provoke me, but an uncomfortable warmth stirs low in my belly. I shouldn’t enjoy his company this much. It’s not right. I open my mouth to change my mind, but Alec cuts me off. “See you soon, Karolina.”
After we disconnect, I notice a text from David saying that he won’t be able to call me until the evening. Immediately, I sigh with relief, knowing he is preoccupied with work. Wi
th him out of the country, I don’t fear him finding out about my activities. For better or worse, I’m spending more time with Alec Christos.
This isn’t the first time I’ve been on a luxury boat. William bought a yacht before his passing, and we have it docked outside the house on the Coral Gables waterway. But this, Alec’s boat, is palatial. Gorgeous. Impressive. It bobs along the length of the private slip. From the lower level—there are two visible, and at least one deck below, I bet—Alec watches me cross the dock from behind tortoise shell Wayfarer sunglasses. The white t-shirt he wears accentuates his dark, tanned skin and flat abdomen. Red swim trunks display his narrow waist and strong legs. His casual dress makes me instantly comfortable. I like that around Alec there are no formal expectations.
As I draw closer, Alec moves to the bridge to greet me.
“Welcome, Karolina.” His masculine scent teases my senses when he steps close to help me aboard. One hand cups my elbow as I step onto the gently swaying boat.
“Thank you,” I say. “What an incredible vessel.” I sound stodgy to my own ears. Lighten up! This isn’t one of David’s clients.
Alec glances over his shoulder as though he forgot about the enormous boat. “Hmm,” he says in noncommittal agreement. “Can I get you something to drink?” I allow him to guide me through the narrow passageways until we reach the upper-level deck. There’s a round table set for two beneath an awning providing shade.
“Water. Sparkling, if you have it, please.”
“Of course.” I hear another pair of footsteps, likely a member of the staff walking away from us to fulfill the order.
“If you’re hungry now, we can eat. Otherwise, I thought we’d enjoy the open air first.”
“Would it be okay if we waited to eat? I’d love to sit on the bench.” I gesture to the white padded seat along the edge of the balcony.
“Your shot, Karolina. Whatever you want,” he explains further at my confused expression.
I’m not used to making my own choices like this, and for a minute, I’m not sure how to take the lead. “Okay. Let’s sit.”
One of the boat’s staff appears to present me with a clear glass garnished with a lime wedge. He places it on a cocktail table adjacent to a bench. Alec waves a hand ahead in an “after you” gesture. Grateful that I had the fortitude to wear shorts, I fold my legs at the knee and tuck them into my side when I curl into the plush bench. The carbonated water is refreshing as it trickles down my throat. With a contented sigh, I settle into my seat and watch the shoreline drift away as the boat plunges through the water.
“What’s her name?”
Without explanation, Alec knows I’m referring to the yacht. “Dýnami. It means strength.”
Shifting, I angle my face toward his and grin at him. “That doesn’t surprise me in the least.”
Alec lifts a shoulder in a casual shrug. “Heritage is important to me, Karolina. Where you come from may not define you, but it does lay the groundwork for who you will become—in spite of it or otherwise.”
“I grew up in a trailer park.” All of a sudden, it’s important that he know about me. All about me. Alec waits for me to continue speaking, his expression void of emotion. “Like you, I am a first generation American. My parents immigrated to Florida from the Czech Republic when my sister was a few years old. Dad got a job in a factory. Things were okay when I was born. We were poor, but it didn’t matter because were happy enough. And then, when I was five, Dad lost his job.” Unpleasant memories resurface in my mind. Out here on the water, away from the world, I drift further away from those unhappy times. On this boat, I gain strength against those demons. I can’t explain this change in me rationally. All I understand is that next to Alec, I am a little stronger. A little safer. A little bit better.
The ocean momentarily transfixes me. Turquoise water melts into a deeper blue as we get further away from the shoreline.
Still, Alec waits patiently for me to gather my wits.
“That’s when Dad started drinking. My mother was forced to get a job as a house cleaner. At first, he would come home sloppy but never mean. And then as it became more evident that he was losing himself in the alcohol, an immovable shell of anger formed around him. Any cash around the house disappeared to fund his drinking habit. He started coming home later and later from drinking binges. It would be late at night, pitch black outside, and he’d fall into the house with a bang. I would hide under my bed because I didn’t want him to find me . . . He was a violent drunk, and he took out his violence on my mother.” The memories wash over me, and I’m taken back to the terror I felt surrounded by the pitch black. “To this day, I’m still afraid of the dark. How pathetic is that? A grown woman who needs a night light.”
Alec comforts me the same way I did him yesterday. His large hand covers one of my exposed knees, thumb tickling the skin there with slow strokes. “Not pathetic at all, Karolina. You’ve made something of yourself despite the adversity. I respect your drive.”
Never comfortable with a compliment, my cheeks flush. I give Alec my profile in an attempt to hide my embarrassment.
“Your honesty is refreshing.”
If only you knew, I think glumly. “Well, it’s refreshing not to worry about appearances.” Lifting my injured wrist, I shake it back and forth slightly. “Imagine the horror when the ladies who I eat lunch with find out I can’t play tennis.”
Alec chuckles, and I smile shyly back at him.
“Why did you give up fashion, Karolina? I can understand not returning to school, but quitting it altogether is a tremendous waste of your skills.”
“How would you know that I have any skills to waste? You’ve never seen my work,” I deflect lightly because I don’t have a good enough answer for Alec. There’s no logical reason why I gave up my passion—except that David demanded it. It’s another example of how I’ve given over the reign of my life to David. The thought saddens me enormously.
“Oh? I saw the dress you made for the first wedding, Karolina. It could easily sell at any of the major department stores.”
I drift back to looking at him. Alec continues to watch me, his emotive eyes masked by the sunglasses. But I hear his genuineness.
“Thank you,” I say quietly. “I could never give up designing for good. Without a creative outlet, I’d probably lose my mind.” Or what’s left of it. “I have a studio in the house, and I still make dresses. They’ve always been my passion. Before David and I got together, I was working on my own collection as a requirement to graduate. My theme was a take on a shirtdress, different styles to fit and flatter any body type. I wanted to have models from the school show real women wearing the clothes.”
To my surprise, Alec listens with rapt attention. “What happened to those designs?”
“Oh, they’re buried in a drawer somewhere. But you don’t want to hear about my college days.” I shrug as if it doesn’t pain me to admit I never finished the assignment. I don’t need to tell him the task remains unfinished because I gave up that life to focus all my attention on David and the responsibilities of a Morgan bride. I stop talking, unwilling to dredge up any more unpleasant memories.
“That’s where you’re wrong, Karolina. I want to know everything about you.”
I sink my teeth into my lower lip to keep myself from saying something stupid.
Sensing my discomfort, Alec stands and extends his hand to help me to my feet. “Lunch?”
A split second goes by before I place our palms together. A thrill tingles where our skin touches. The moment I’m standing, I drop his hand. This is not a figment of my imagination. The sizzle is real.
Avoiding Alec’s penetrating gaze, I shed my shoes then cross the deck to the table. I take pleasure in a tiny act of rebellion against David’s stark rules of civility and pull out my own chair. The position of the chairs next to each other gives a clear view off the bow.
The same staff member appears seemingly out of thin air. “Sir,” he prompts patiently.
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“What would you like to eat, Miss?”
Unsure, I glance at Alec for direction.
“Whatever you’d like. We keep a fully stocked kitchen.”
Is this a test? David always orders for me. I don’t want to make a fool of myself by selecting the wrong thing. One glance at Alec’s neutral expression tells me I need to get a grip and stop worrying. “I’m craving a hamburger and french fries,” I confess as though it’s a sin. I can’t remember the last time I indulged in something so caloric or full of sodium.
“That sounds good. I’ll have the same, but make mine with cheddar cheese, Peter.”
“Certainly. Anything to drink?”
“If it’s not too much trouble, more sparkling water, please,” I request.
“Bottle of beer. Whatever we have. Thank you, Peter.” Alec nods at the waiter who disappears quietly.
“How often do you get out here?” I ask.
“Not as much as I’d like.” Alec leans back in his seat and stretches out his legs under the table. I notice he’s barefoot too, the tendons flexing when he props his feet on his heels. Every part of this man is strong and capable. He must put in an incredible amount of time at the gym. An image comes to my mind—Alec, sweating, lifting weights, his muscles defined by a tight shirt . . . My cheeks get hot, and it has nothing to do with the glaring sun rays.
“The information business is too demanding to make time for this paradise?” I’m teasing, sort of. I want to know more about him.
The darn sunglasses keep me from reading whatever he’s truly feeling when he answers. “Business takes up most of my time. And I’m getting a little old to be partying on this boat.” A slow, wry smile curls his lips. “Of course, I don’t have anyone in particular to enjoy this boat with, other than business associates and the occasional party with friends. Whenever I’m not using it, I allow her to be chartered.”