Meredith looked interested but glanced at Charlotte.
“Oh, I don’t know. Don’t you need to run through your lines for tomorrow, Charlotte? Brad made some changes to the scene.”
“Don’t be silly. You deserve a few hours off. You go along,” Charlotte encouraged her. When Meredith still didn’t look convinced, Charlotte added, “Maybe while you’re out you can pick up a few things for me. I think there’s a shop up there that sells the French moisturizer I like. And I’m running out of that Moroccan Argan oil. I’d love it if you could find me another bottle or two.”
Meredith looked pleased to be assigned a real errand, which kept the trip from being purely for fun. “I’ll take care of that for you, no problem.”
Charlotte nearly sighed with relief. How easy was that? She went up to her room and got ready to meet Colin, dressing in shorts and a tank top for the bike ride and packing her bathing suit, towel, and a long-sleeved top. She already knew how cool it could be out on the water, even on a hot, sunny day.
From her bedroom window she saw Meredith leave the inn with Sally Ann and another crew member. A few minutes later, Charlotte came downstairs with her pack. Liza was clearing up the dining room and glanced in her direction. “Heading out?”
Charlotte nodded. “It’s such a beautiful day. I thought I’d take a bike ride and maybe stop someplace to sit on the beach. If I can borrow a bike again,” she added politely.
“Of course, help yourself. You have your cell phone, right? I don’t mean to sound like a mother hen, but just in case you have trouble with the bike,” Liza added. “You might not be as lucky as the last time.”
Charlotte was puzzled a moment then remembered her fib about the elderly couple who had helped her on the road. Oh, dear, she hated to lie—especially to someone as nice as Liza. That was the downside of having a secret relationship.
Not secret, Charlotte; private. You have a right to some privacy in your life. Even if the rest of the world doesn’t think so.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be okay.” She smiled briefly at Liza and headed to get the bicycle from the shed behind the inn.
A few minutes later she was out on the road, with the sea breeze in her hair and the brilliant sun warming her skin.
She paused on the road, to check if she was being watched or followed. She didn’t see a soul in sight, no cars or other boats in view. She even scanned the tall marsh grass that grew along the side of the road. She saw a few chirping birds, hopping from stalk to stalk but no reporters crouching in the grasses. Not today, at least.
She steered the bike the rest of the way to the dock, then chained it to a wooden bench. Colin’s boat looked empty and she felt a moment of dismay. Then he suddenly appeared from below deck and smiled at her, a smile that seemed familiar by now and never failed to move something deep inside her.
She grabbed her pack and ran to the boat, feeling as if she wanted to jump right into his arms.
He stepped up to the dock and met her. “I was worried for a minute that you weren’t coming. You said you’d send a text when you left the inn.”
“You’re right. I totally forgot. I was so focused on getting rid of Meredith and sneaking out.” Charlotte felt bad for giving him even a moment of doubt. She could tell from his expression he had been worried that she was going to stand him up. “I’m sorry,” she added.
“That’s all right. You’re here now.”
“Yes, I am.” Impulsively, she put her arms around him and hugged him. He hugged her back, pressing his face in the crook of her neck for a moment before pulling back.
“Come on. We’d better get going.”
He jumped onto the boat and helped her down. Then he untied the lines from the dock and pushed off with a long wooden pole.
“Is there anything I can do to help you get going?”
Colin grinned. “You can be my deckhand. Roll up these lines nice and neat, like those on the other side, so nobody trips over them.” He pointed to bunches of rope that were secured in neat figure eights and fastened to the side of the boat on brass hooks. “Then you can take out the bench cushions from the seats and tie them on. Like this …” He showed her where the cushions were stored, under the flap lids of the bench seats along the bow. “I’ll be up in the cockpit. Come up when you’re done.”
Charlotte had only been trying to be polite. She hadn’t expected to actually work. “Aye-aye, sir.” She saluted, her tone teasing.
“No need to be so formal, swabbie. As long as you follow orders.”
Charlotte had to laugh at the last remark and the nickname. She happily set about rolling up the rope and pulling out the cushions.
A few minutes later she joined Colin, standing beside him in the small sheltered space as he stood at the controls. The boat was moving quickly now; it bounced a bit as it hit the waves. Sea spray blew up and lifted her hair.
Colin smiled at her and brushed a strand of her hair from her cheek. “Are you all right? The bumps aren’t bothering you?” he shouted over the engine.
“I’m fine.” She turned and looked back. The coastline had already receded into the distance. She could hardly see the dock.
“We’re almost there,” he said a few minutes later.
“Where is … there?” she asked curiously.
“You’ll see. I think you’ll like it,” he added, smiling at her mysteriously.
Charlotte’s curiosity was piqued. She had thought they were just going out on the water, not heading for a destination. It didn’t matter, she decided. She was happy just being with him.
“What are all those screens and dials for?” Charlotte asked, pointing to the boat’s dashboard. “It looks like a spaceship.”
“That’s my high-tech fish-finder equipment. The poor fish don’t have a chance.” He pointed to one of the screens. “The sonar sends a sound wave through the water, so I can see where the schools are feeding or find my lobster traps. Sometimes I drop them without a marker. Like that one.” He pointed out at the water, and Charlotte saw a flag marker bobbing in the water.
“There are a whole string of traps tied to that marker, on a long line. Every lobsterman has his own special pattern on the flag, so we can tell them apart. The boat swings by and yanks them up with a pulley. I only have a few pots. I put them out for special occasions.”
He turned to her and grinned. “Or if I want to give someone who likes lobster a surprise.”
Charlotte gave him a look. He was all but admitting he had left the lobsters at the inn last week. “An anonymous surprise?”
“Sometimes,” he admitted. “That’s the best kind. Don’t you think?”
“It can be,” she agreed. “But then the person who gets the surprise can’t thank you.”
“They usually figure out some way to thank me.” He gave her a sly smile, and Charlotte didn’t know what to say.
Colin slowed the engine and glanced at her. “Want to drive the boat?”
“Can I?” Charlotte thought it looked like fun. “I don’t need a special license or anything?”
Colin shook his head. “For better or worse, you don’t. Anybody can get behind the wheel of a boat. You drive a car, right?” Charlotte quickly nodded. She didn’t drive herself around very often, but she did have a license. “It’s not much different. Come here, I’ll show you what to do.”
Colin stepped away, and Charlotte stood at the helm and put both her hands on the steering wheel. Colin stepped back and stood behind her. He was very close, resting his hands on her shoulders.
“That’s the compass. Just keep the needle hovering around the W. We want to travel due west.”
Charlotte nodded, but felt totally distracted by his nearness. “Whoops … I lost it …” The compass needle drifted to the E for east, and Charlotte made a quick, sharp correction with the wheel.
Much too quick and sharp.
The boat swung to one side and the deck shifted underfoot. Colin quickly wrapped one arm around her waist to keep them
from falling, and with the other, held the steering wheel and righted the boat.
“Oh … I’m so sorry. That was dumb,” Charlotte said, trying to regain her balance.
Then she felt Colin hugging her close for a moment. He dipped his head and kissed her cheek. “That’s okay. Everybody does that when they first try it. Slow, small corrections, that’s all it takes.”
Charlotte was tempted to turn in his arms and kiss him for real but didn’t dare. No telling what would happen then.
She nodded, staring straight at the horizon again. Suddenly, a small landmass came into view. It was a tiny island, complete with a sugary white shoreline and small trees that filled the center. Charlotte didn’t see any structures, not even a shack. Though there wasn’t room for much. The entire island would probably just fill a football field.
Colin reached around her and cut the power even more, so that the boat was just chugging along. “Here we are. It’s not the exact middle of the ocean, but it will have to do, considering I can only take you out for a few hours. I will guarantee that it’s totally private.”
Charlotte smiled at him. “It looks like paradise … a postage-stamp-size one,” she added.
He laughed at her description. “Let’s just swing around and make sure no one else is tied up out here today. I tried to reserve it, but no one answered the phone.”
She glanced at him then realized he was joking. Of course, there was no one to call out here—no phones, no people. Nothing but the deep blue water and brilliant blue sky.
The boat cruised around the island quickly. There were no boats tied up on the other side. Colin seemed pleased. He steered the boat into shallow water and cut the engine completely. “This is as close as I can get. I’m going to drop the anchor,” he said. He pushed a button then headed for the back of the boat. “Would you like to go ashore? We can do a little fishing and I brought a picnic.”
“That sounds great.” Charlotte was dying to go onto the island and explore. Or just sit on the beach and soak up the sun.
“We have to wade and carry everything over,” he added. “Still up for it?”
She nodded. “Sure. I even brought my suit.”
“Good thinking.” He looked pleased by that announcement, enough to make Charlotte blush a bit. She headed below and changed while Colin gathered what they would need for their island adventure.
When she came above, she saw that he had put on his trunks and had assembled a few canvas tote bags.
“I’ll take these two—they’re the heaviest—if you can take this one. Just put it up to your chest or on your shoulder to keep it dry.”
“No problem.”
A few moments later, Colin helped her over the side of the boat. The water was clear and warm, up to her hip. There were small waves but not strong enough to knock her over. With the canvas bag pressed to her chest, Charlotte made her way to the shore. Colin quickly followed.
They set up a large blanket in a fringe of shade from the scruffy trees. There was a cool breeze off the water, which kept the beach from feeling hot.
Charlotte took off her T-shirt and stretched out on the blanket. She felt totally relaxed and even a bit sleepy.
Colin was busy emptying out the rest of the bags. “Are you hungry or thirsty? I brought enough food for a week,” he confessed with a laugh.
I could spend a week out here with you very easily, Charlotte nearly replied.
“A cold drink would be great,” she said. “Just some water if you have it.”
“Coming right up.” Colin pulled out two frosty bottles of water, and Charlotte caught one easily.
“How did you ever find this place? It’s magical,” she said.
“Just by chance, cruising around, looking for fish. I camped out here once or twice. It was great. There are a few wild creatures in that little woods behind us. You’d be surprised. I can’t figure out how they got out here.”
“There just smart creatures, I guess. They know how to find the most perfect spot in the area.”
He walked over and sat down next to her. “I’m glad you like it so much. I’ve never taken anyone out here,” he added.
That made it feel even more special—and made her feel special, too. She had just assumed this was a place where he took his dates.
“I love it. I feel as if we’re castaways or something.”
Colin laughed. “We could be. Maybe you could use it as a movie set someday.”
Charlotte turned and met his gaze then shook her head.
“Never. That would ruin it. It would ruin my memory of coming here with you.”
He stared at her a moment, then took her face in his hands and kissed her. Slowly at first, softly tasting her lips. Then the kiss deepened. His mouth moved on hers, his lips tasting salty and sweet at the same time. Charlotte wound her arms around his back. She felt the hard ridges of the muscles in his shoulders. His skin felt smooth and warm.
She felt his hands in her hair as he slowly moved his head back. “You take my breath away,” he said quietly.
Charlotte felt the same, but wasn’t able to answer.
“And it’s not because you’re famous. It’s because … you’re you,” he added. His tone was calm and certain. As if he had given the question some thought and had come to this conclusion.
“I know I haven’t known you very long. And I don’t know you that well. But I feel as if I do,” he added. “As if everything that’s happened between us is just meant to be. I’m sorry, that sounds really crazy, doesn’t it?”
Charlotte swallowed hard then shook her head. His face was so close, and his brilliant blue eyes seemed to be the only thing she could see. “It doesn’t sound crazy. Not to me … I feel the same about you. Though I couldn’t find the words to say it as well. Just the way we met, out in the middle of the ocean. The way you saved my life. I do feel it’s all happening for a reason,” she agreed. Though she wasn’t sure yet what that reason was. Or if it meant they could be together, some way, somehow.
He took her hand and twined his fingers around hers. “I’m glad. That means I’m not imagining it … or we’ve both gone over the edge.”
Charlotte thought it could be a little of each. She was certainly way over the edge for him. Still, a small part of her held back. This all seemed so perfect—and unreal. Like a dream. But reality would set in pretty quickly. She had only agreed to see him this one time. The last time, she thought. It wasn’t the beginning of things for them.
“What’s the matter, Charlotte? You look worried.”
She sighed. “I don’t want to be. I just don’t know how this could ever work out for us,” she said honestly. “I’m leaving here very soon, within a week if the crew keeps to the schedule.”
What would happen after that? She didn’t know how they could keep a relationship going at such a great distance—and with such wildly different lifestyles.
“I know, I know.” He nodded and sighed. “Let’s not worry about that now. Let’s just have our day, okay? Our great day together?”
She nodded. He had gone to so much trouble, and it was a perfect day. Or would be, if they didn’t think about the future.
“Want to do some fishing? We could probably catch some striped bass out here, just fly casting.”
“That sounds like fun. Just show me which way to point the pole.”
Colin laughed and tugged her up by the hand. “Which way to point the pole, huh? You’ll probably have beginner’s luck and catch way more than I do.”
A short time later they were set up for fishing. Colin showed her the basics and baited her line. His prediction proved true, and Charlotte soon felt the third or fourth tug on her line.
“That’s it, play with the fish a little, tire it out. Are you sure you’ve never done this before?”
“Not fly casting.” Charlotte followed his instructions, reeling in another good catch, which they tossed in a bucket. “My father took us fishing once or twice, on a big lake not too far from our h
ouse. We never caught very much, but it was fun. My family didn’t have much money. So we always went camping in the summer.”
“That sounds like fun. Do your folks still live in Ohio?”
“My mother does, with my two sisters and little brother. My father died when I was about ten. But my mom remarried. My stepfather died about three years ago, I guess.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. I’m sorry,” Colin said politely.
Charlotte just nodded and kept fishing, turning toward the water so he couldn’t see her expression.
It was hard to tell him there was nothing to be sorry about. Her stepfather had been a cruel, sick man who had abused her mother and terrorized Charlotte and her siblings for years.
Early on in the marriage, before anyone could see his real nature, he persuaded her mother to let him legally adopt the children. Charlotte’s mother had thought that very generous—until she wanted a divorce and realized her second husband could win custody of her own offspring. A cold, shrewd man, he used the threat to control Charlotte’s mother and the entire family.
Charlotte wished she could tell Colin the real story of her family life. The magazine and TV interviews that she had been giving out for years painted a warm, rosy picture that was a complete lie. She carried the truth deep inside her, a bitter, sad secret. It was all part of the unspoken deal she had made for fame and fortune: No one—not even the people she was closest to—would ever really know her.
For one insane second, she wondered if Colin was the one person she could trust with this secret. No, she realized at once. The story was surely worth money to the tabloids and entertainment shows. It could tarnish her name if twisted about. Even worse, it would make her mother’s years of humiliation public. Charlotte felt deeply guilty that she’d left home at age eighteen, right after high school graduation. She had left her siblings and her mother to fend for themselves, as if diving off a burning ship.
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