Page 19 of Come Sail Away

Chapter Six

As they drove to Mimosa Marina, all Sully could think about was how much he sucked at relationships. Breakfast had gone too quickly, and he didn’t take the small opportunity he had to voice his feelings for Harper. Let him write a song about how he felt… Yes, that would be better. Honestly, he wasn’t exactly sure what his emotions were, but he suspected he’d fallen for his little geek, big-time. How could he be certain, though?

He shook his head. What was he thinking? Their worlds didn’t mesh. She couldn’t travel all over the country with him, and he couldn’t plant himself in one place. It didn’t matter what he felt. A sigh rumbled through his chest and amplified his defeated heartbeat.

Long-distant relationships didn’t work, either. His friend Derrick was a good example. Too much time away from each other, and they both started cheating.No, thank you.

As he pulled into the marina parking lot, Harper waved at a tall man with dark hair.

“There’s Max,” she said.

Sully parked and then plucked her luggage from the trunk. He observed the dude as they approached the boat. Max had a classy, debonair way about him. Very Harvard. He wondered if they’d met in college.

At the dock, Harper gave Max a big hug. “I’m sorry about the boat,” she said.

“Don’t worry about it,” Max said softly. “There’s nothing you could’ve done about it.”

Sully tensed. He fisted his hands, forcing himself to ignore his possessive reaction. He couldn’t draw her back. He had no right. Yet he couldn’t shut off the pang of resentment and frustration and…jealousy.

Harper made the introductions, and Sully forced a smile, calling on his acting training.

“Thank you for your help,” Max said to Sully as they shook hands.

“My pleasure.” He presented Max with Harper’s bag. The dude took it and stepped onto the aft platform.

Harper looked around. “What are you going to do about your car?” she asked Max.

“Rick dropped me off.”

“Rick is Max’s brother,” she explained to Sully.

He nodded.Great.She knew the guy well enough to know his family.

As Max disappeared with the suitcase into the cabin, Harper turned to Sully. She took a step toward him, locking her gaze with his. Her tongue did a nervous sweep over her lips. “Thank you,” she said. “I… It turned out to be an awesome vacation.”

Sully moved closer and took her hands in his. “Don’t be surprised if I make a trip to Baja.”

She smiled, a bittersweet look in her eyes. “I’d like that.”

He leaned in and kissed her good-bye, sliding his hand into her thick, wind-tousled hair and drawing her to him. Her lips were sweet. She tasted so good, so right, his heart ached at the thought of letting her go. How could he?

And yet he also knew he couldn’t keep her from the job she was meant to do. His breath mingled with hers as he inched away. He smiled grimly, retreating one step, and then several more, watching her eyes, waiting for her to call him back.

But she didn’t.

Max exited the cabin and started to collect the tie ropes. Harper retreated from Sully, watching him, and extended a hand, her fingertips touching his fingertips until the distance grew too far and they separated. She turned and climbed aboard with Max.

The engine rumbled to life. Then, cutting through the glassy water, the boat eased from the dock and into the channel.

He watched it until he couldn’t see her any longer.