I didn’t have the time or energy to devote to salvaging the situation with the Wiltons right then. There were more pressing issues on my mind.
“I’ll be honest with you, Charles. My priority right now is getting Penny back, so I won’t waste any time convincing you to stay and talk it out. All I’ll say is that you looked to Penny as a guide to my character, and while the facts of our relationship and how it started were lies, nothing about our interactions has been. I hope to be in touch to revive talks, but there are more important things for me to deal with for now.”
I stooped to pick up the diamond ring from the ground, rising to see the bemused expressions on Sandra’s and Charles’s faces. Until Penny was back by my side, I had nothing I could say to change their minds about the situation, so I walked away, already planning the series of calls I would have to make in the most important campaign of my life.
Chapter Sixteen
Penny
A loud, roaring snore tore through the silence, ripping me from my dreams and thrusting me into wakefulness.
When the hell did Dylan start snoring?
That was one thing I appreciated about sleeping with him—unlike the grand total of two other men I’d ever slept in the same bed with, Dylan was a quiet and still sleeper.
And what the hell is wrong with my neck?
It was sorer than it had been since I started this trip and fell asleep on the plane with my head hanging forward for several hours. I sat up to rub it and banged my forehead against something solid in the darkness.
“Ow!”
A hissed “shh” startled me, and as more sounds of people breathing deeply and snoring came to my awareness, the memory of where I was came back.
After I’d run away from the restaurant the night before, I’d stumbled along Walking Road with tears blurring my vision until I’d found a hostel. There was enough money in my pocket to pay for a night, and I just wanted a place to curl up and loathe myself for having been taken in by Dylan’s good guy act.
I rolled out of bed and stretched, careful not to knock into any of the limbs overhanging the side of the top bunk beside me. My eyes had adjusted enough to the dimness to make out the faint outlines of the people and objects. Eight beds were crammed into the small room, and a smattering of backpacks littered the floor beside the beds.
Creeping out of the room, I reached the front desk as the first hints of light reddened the horizon to the east. Checking out was a simple matter of handing over the key and receiving my pittance of a deposit back, and then I was back on the street.
I just want to go home.
Even though it really hadn’t been that long since I’d seen her, I wanted Mom to make me tea and tell me I would get over the man who broke my heart. I didn’t want to even think about going back to the villa to get my stuff or to ask for the money Dylan had promised. All I wanted was to never have to see him again.
I walked toward the pier, determined to catch the first ferry off the island. As I walked, my phone vibrated and rang in my pocket.
Body like a back road, drivin’ with my eyes closed, I know every curve like the back of my hand.
I bit back a sob. The song reminded me too much of Dylan—I’d been playing it almost nonstop over the past week as we’d laughed, as we’d kissed, as I’d fallen for him.
It was Mom calling, but I had only a few percent battery left.
“Mom?”
“Penny! It’s so great to hear you! I know it’s early there, and I’m so sorry for probably waking you up, but I’m so excited and I couldn’t wait.”
I hadn’t heard Mom that animated since Dad had announced his retirement and she enthused about all the vacations they would go on and the countries they would visit.
That was before Dylan stole their savings to pad his bank account.
“What’s going on, Mom?”
The phone crackled from how loudly she spoke, and I had to hold it away from my ear so it didn’t blow out my eardrum.
“Your father’s pension is back! And not only back, but they doubled it from what it was supposed to be. It’s a miracle, Penny, a goddamn miracle!”
Her enthusiasm made me smile, but I was glad she wasn’t there to see how bittersweet it was. They would have struggled for the rest of their lives if I hadn’t randomly run into Dylan and guilted him into doing the right thing. And really, how much did it cost him?
“That’s great, Mom.” I tried to inject life into my voice. “It really is.”
“Steve’s been calling everyone he knows from the company, and they’ve all gotten the same deal. It’s unbelievable, Penny. This will turn the entire town around overnight. I don't understand how this is possible. It came from nowhere. I don’t—”
Mom cut out.
“Hello? Mom?”
The phone was dead. I slipped it into my pocket and continued my walk to the pier. Dylan hadn’t just brought back and doubled Dad’s pension. He’d done it for everyone. That was thousands of employees. It would cost hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
It’s a huge gesture, but that’s all.
I set my jaw, determined to avoid thinking too hard about it. I’d made up my mind.
The huge white hull of the Hunting Glory loomed at the side of the pier, and I tried to pretend it wasn’t there, as if looking at it may serve as a siren call that drew Dylan to me. There was something off about the boat, and I couldn’t resist a peek.
That’s weird.
The side of the yacht didn’t look quite right, and it took a moment to figure it out. Instead of the bold script proclaiming the name as Hunting Glory, unassuming characters spelled out a new name that still glistened in the dawn light.
Paying the Price.
My throat closed up even as a small smile fought its way onto my face in acknowledgement of the pun on my name.
Haltingly, unable to resist even though I knew I should stick to my resolve, I walked to the yacht to get a better look at the new name. I shook my head.
That cheesy son of a bitch.
The affronted part of me, still outraged at Dylan’s past actions, screamed in vain as I approached the boat ramp as if drawn by an invisible hand. The understated but fine furnishings were familiar. I’d spent so much time on board over the past week that it felt a little like coming home.
I made my way toward the master stateroom, knowing in my heart that Dylan must be on board. I didn’t make it all the way there before I found him.
“Penny. I’m glad to see you,” he said, standing from his chair as I climbed the stairs to the main deck.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I asked him. “First, my Dad’s pension, then renaming the boat—do you think a couple of simple gestures are enough to make up for what you’ve done?”
Dylan took a step forward but stopped when he saw me tense. “Look, Penny. No matter how big of an asshole I used to be, I’ve changed, and I think you know that. Have you seen any hint of the Shark of Saginaw over the past week? I’ll do anything to keep you and make you happy.”
The thing was, bringing back and doubling the pensions of not only Dad but all of his coworkers was simple, but huge. Dylan had never acted poorly toward me, but it was hard to look past who he had been and be able to take it on faith that he was a completely different person.
“I don’t…” It was hard to find words to say. The past twelve hours had been so overwhelming, and the poor sleep on a thin mattress in a noisy room didn’t help. “We still aren’t a good match, Dylan. You know that. We want different things out of life.”
When Dylan closed the distance between us, I let him. When he put his arms around me, I stiffened for only a moment before I let his comfort radiate through me. No matter how indignant I’d become, there was something so viscerally right about us. As long as his arms were around me, I couldn’t dream of a reason I wanted to leave.
“I love you, Penny,” Dylan whispered into my ear. “You’ve got me thinking more and more over t
his past week about my life and the legacy I want to leave. I want to start a family with you.”
He could not have said anything more surprising. I leaned back to stare up at him, my bottom lip trembling as I processed his words, unable to speak.
Dylan chuckled. “You’ve convinced me that family is more important than I thought, and I want to eventually build one with you. But for now, I’ll settle for you coming home with me. We’ll figure everything else out as we go.”
I put my arms around his neck and kissed him harder than I ever had.
“I love you, too.”
Chapter Seventeen
Dylan
“Are you ready?” I asked, feeling Penny’s hand slip into mine as we stepped off the tender from Paying the Price.
Penny nudged me with her elbow. “You’ve asked me that five times since we pulled in. Maybe you should ask yourself that question.”
I chuckled. She had a point. An uncharacteristic set of nerves had descended. How could I convince people whose trust I’d already betrayed once to trust me again?
The island was small, barely more than a pile of sand atop one of the reefy atolls that made up the Maldives. It was sturdy enough to support a large but tasteful residence, with palm trees providing both tropical ambience and shade. A few banana trees with wide, verdant fronds provided variety.
There were no gates. There didn’t need to be, since there was only one building on the island and only one pier. A veritable fleet of yachts and cruisers surrounded the island, anchored in deeper waters. Their owners would use smaller boats to ferry them back and forth, as we had.
As we approached the house, the door opened and Sandra Wilton stepped out to greet us. She gave Penny a quick hug first.
“Penny, I’m so glad you could join us. Charles and I couldn’t be more delighted to have you here for this week.” Sandra gave me a nod. “Dylan.”
I didn’t let my hackles rise at the cool greeting. It was to be expected after how we’d left things last week. The fact that I’d been invited to come at all was wondrous enough.
“Your island is so amazing!” Penny said. “Thank you so much for inviting us. I’ve been constantly telling Dylan how excited I’ve been to come. I can’t believe he never told me to shut up about it and let him prepare.”
That made Sandra smile and give me a softer look. Penny was so genuine. She had a gift for disarming even the toughest critics.
“Oh, it wasn’t bad,” I said. “I’m just glad you were by my side. You could talk about anything at all and I would consider myself the luckiest man in the world.”
Sandra gave us an appraising look. “I see you’ve forgiven Dylan.”
Penny shrugged and smiled. “He’s a different, better man than he used to be, and I would trust him with my life and my future children’s lives.”
That gave Sandra something to think about. “I can’t help but notice you aren’t wearing the engagement ring, Penny.”
Squeezing my hand, Penny nodded. “We are starting our relationship fresh, with no lies, either between us or to the world. Things will take course in their own time.”
Sandra smiled, a wide one that showed her perfect teeth. “I’m glad to hear that. Now, if you’re ready, the entire consortium has gathered and will hear your proposal out, Dylan. Please follow me.”
The older woman led the way, and Penny stayed by my side as we followed. Her presence steadied me, and the nerves that had plagued me since the morning fell away. I was a businessman, and above all else, a dealmaker and negotiator. All I’d ever needed was an opportunity, and Penny had given me that.
“Hey,” she said, tugging on my hand to turn me toward her. Then she leaned up to plant a deep kiss on my lips. “I love you. Knock it out of the park. For us, and for our future kids.”
Epilogue
Fine bubbles rose in a line in front of my mask, floating up from the indiscernible depths. The coral a few feet in front of me was vividly colored in greens and peaches and blues and swayed gently from side to side in the currents as though breathing.
A hand waving in the corner of my vision caught my attention, and I looked over at Dylan. He was bundled up in diving gear, but his face was still visible through his mask and it gave me a burst of reassurance. I still wasn’t completely comfortable diving, but I know he would never let me come to any harm.
He pointed at the coral and gave a thumbs-up, and I nodded.
It’s already recovering.
We were diving in an area of the reef worst-hit by oceanic acidification, where the bleaching had been advancing so quickly that experts warned it could disappear completely within ten years. To see a reversal, even a minor one, so soon into implementation of Dylan’s project was a heartening sign we were on the right track.
Dylan signaled that we should move on and pointed in the direction he wanted to take. I nodded and swam beside him as we passed over the reef. Hundreds of fish swirled through the water and amongst the reef in giant schools, their brilliantly colored bodies flashing in the filtered sunlight.
A sparkle amidst the reef ahead caught my attention. I tapped Dylan’s arm and swam lower, curious. There was something strange about it.
There was a relatively flat piece of rock surrounded by bright purple sea anemones. On the rock sat a large, empty clamshell opened wide. Resting in the middle of the lower shell was a diamond ring.
It was even bigger than the one I’d worn for a week back when Dylan and I first met, and it was in my favorite style.
I looked up where Dylan floated only a few feet away. He pointed at me, then pointed to his chest, and made a heart symbol with his hands.
Oh, my God!
Careful not to be too zealous and accidentally knock it away, I took the ring from its picturesque natural display case and slid it onto my finger. It was a perfect fit.
It was impossible to express my emotions properly underwater with so much gear strapped to my body, but I flung my hands and legs out in a submerged happy dance as love for Dylan bloomed through my body. In a moment, he was there, taking me into his arms as fish darted around us, curious but cautious at the display.
Dylan’s eyes crinkled as we stared at each other through our masks, and I didn’t need to hear him to know how much he loved me.
Epilogue #2
“Careful, Penny, it’s slippery out here. Let me help you out.”
I swatted his hand away, but he still insisted on lifting me out of the car as if I were an infirm grandmother. Once he had me on my feet, he wrapped an arm around my waist and kept me pinned to his side as we walked to the front door over the icy drive.
“Watch this patch of ice. Let me lift you over it.”
“I swear to God, Dylan, if you keep fussing then I’m renaming the yacht the Mother Hen. You know I’ll do it.”
That kept him from saying anything else, but he didn’t relax his grip on me. I was content with that, especially with how much strength and love I drew from his touch.
The door opened before we got there, and Mom spread her arms wide in greeting. “Penny! Dylan! I’m so glad you made it safely. This storm had us worried.”
I gave her a tight hug and kiss on the cheek, then entered past her to hug Dad as Mom greeted Dylan.
“I’m so happy you’re back in this house,” I told them. “There are so many great memories here. I was heartbroken when you had to move out.”
Dad cleared his throat. “It was a rough few years, but that’s all behind us, now. We’re back where we belong.”
Charlotte and Emma stood a few feet away, whispering to each other as they looked at the knot of us at the door.
“What are you two gabbing about?” I asked them, even though I knew the answer.
“Oh, we’re just discussing how hot your husband is,” Charlotte said.
I rolled my eyes. It was an ongoing joke and had been ever since the first family gathering Dylan had come to.
“You need to find your own man and stop creeping on
mine,” I said, only partly joking but careful not to sound like Mom. I’d been on the other end of that sentiment for far too long.
In no time, we sat in the family room. A fire crackled merrily behind a row of stockings. Mine, Charlotte, and Emma’s from when we were children were hung up, along with a new addition. It was a large and much fancier stocking with large gold letters proudly bearing Dylan’s name.
“What is this?” Dylan asked, the stocking catching his eye, and he wandered over to get a closer look. “Susan, you didn’t have to do this!”
Mom grinned. Her insistence on sitting in this room now made perfect sense. She wanted her handiwork noticed and admired. “Oh, it’s nothing, Dylan. You’re part of the family now, and we are so happy to have you with us for Christmas.”
Dylan returned to my side, and I took his hand. He nodded, and I took a breath.
“Mom? You should start on another stocking. Next Christmas, we’ll have another new member of the family.”
It was rare that I could catch Mom without words, but for once, I managed it, if only briefly.
“You’re pregnant?”
I nodded, a grin on my face as I watched the waves of emotions crash across her face.
“You’re giving me a grandchild!” She pulled us onto our feet, and Dad and my sisters joined for a massive group hug. “This is the best Christmas ever.”
In the midst of our loving family, I found Dylan’s hand and shared my love with as happy a look as I could muster.
I’d never been happier.
Afterword
Thank you for reading Secrets Abroad. If you enjoyed the story, please consider writing a review so that others may discover it as well. Share with your friends, family, and reader’s groups!
Secrets Abroad: A Fake Fiancée Romance Page 7
