by K.N. Lee
Isla’s eyes widened as she looked down at her salad. “At least the food will be good. They always use Chef Kwo. She’s my favorite.”
“It does look good,” Garrett said, nodding.
“Hello,” Samantha said to them. “Do you two need anything?”
“We are fine,” Garrett said and she smiled.
“Enjoy your meal.”
“Thanks,” Isla said and took a bite of one of the pears in her salad.
“Garrett here is somewhat of a war hero. Isn’t that right?” Peter said from the opposite end of the table.
“Soldiers aren’t heroes. We just do our job, isn’t that right, Garrett?” Senator Kinley asked.
“That’s right, sir.”
“I read about you in the paper,” Senator Kinley said. “How are you holding up being a civilian again?”
Garrett shrugged. “I’m fine.”
Senator Kinley held up his glass of champagne. “To Garrett here and all of our soldiers away from home right now.”
Everyone cheered, Garrett holding up his glass of water. Isla could tell that he was tense. Any mention of the army seemed to make him put up walls.
“I was in the army myself,” Senator Kinley said, nodding his bald head. “No one quite knows what it'’s like to have seen the things we’ve seen and return home expected to pretend that everything is normal.”
“That’s true, sir.”
“Still, I can’t say that I’ve dealt with anything like what you experienced. I commend you and thank you for your service.”
Garrett’s jaw tightened, but he nodded in silence, looking at his plate.
Isla ran her hand along his thigh, hoping to comfort him.
“Oh?” Eleanor said. “What happened to you over there?”
“I’d rather not talk about it, ma’am. All due respect.”
“Come now. Don’t be ashamed. To have been a prisoner of war and survived it is commendable. Something to be thankful for. It takes a strong soul to come back from that.”
Isla’s face paled.
Prisoner of war.
CHAPTER 16
GARRETT GLANCED AT HER, his own face drained of color. She felt his thigh tense under her hand.
Her heart broke at the thought of Garrett suffering through something so horrible. It turned her stomach.
“Heavens no,” Eleanor said. “That’s awful.”
“But he’s fine,” Peter said, drinking a glass of dark liquor, probably bourbon. “The papers call him a hero, and so do I. I must say that I’m glad my beloved daughter is in such good hands.”
Beloved? Isla frowned at her father. What game was he playing?
“Ever thought of going into politics?” Senator Kinley asked.
The questions. The revelations. The hypocrisy from her father. It was too much.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Garrett said, standing. He faked a smile. “You all are very kind, but I need to find some pain reliever. A splitting headache.”
“I’ll join you,” Isla said, leaving the deck with him. She stopped before Samantha at the top of the stairs. “Can you show us to our room, please?”
Samantha nodded. “Of course, Miss Maxwell. Right this way.”
They followed Samantha in silence, Isla smoothing Garrett’s back as she walked behind him.
What a mess. Already her parents made her regret coming. How could it get worse?
“Here you are,” Samantha said, opening the door to their suite. “They picked out one of the best rooms for you two.”
“Sure they did,” Isla mumbled. She gave Samantha a smile. “Thank you.”
She gave a bow and closed the door for them.
Inside, their bags were nearly stacked at the foot of the bed that was set in the middle of the spacious room with wood flooring, a sunroof, and a wall of glass that looked out to the ocean. Garrett took off his shoes and climbed onto the bed, resting on his stomach.
Isla joined him, lying beside him, her arm wrapped around his back.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I know that topic must be hard for you, Garrett.”
He turned onto his side to face her. “It’s fine, babe. I mean, it is hard. But I am a survivor. I’m back here with you and that’s all that matters.”
She moved closer until they were chest to chest. “I had no idea that happened to you. I just assumed you were injured in combat when Robin mentioned you having to learn how to walk and talk again.”
He closed his eyes, exhaling. “Isla.”
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “Forget I said anything.”
“No, baby. It’s okay. I don’t want any secret between us,” he said, tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I survived for you. You are what kept me from giving up. Every day that I was locked away with the survivors of my unit, memories of you kept me from losing my mind. And it was hard, baby. Harder than anything I’ve ever had to go through.”
“God,” she whispered. There were tears in his eyes. It cut her to the core to see him hurting. “I’m so sorry, baby,” she said, squeezing her eyes closed.
Isla held onto his neck.
She didn’t want to know anymore. She couldn’t take hearing about his suffering.
She kissed his lips. “It really is amazing, isn’t it? You thought of me during your dark times, and I did the same by thinking of you. I got myself into some bad situations,” she admitted, dread filling her at those memories. “But your memories got me through them.”
“Fate, babe. Fate.”
“I believe that,” Isla said. “You were so made for me.”
“Will you stay with me?” Garrett asked, holding her in his arms. “Just for a while. I can’t go back out there and face those questions. Not right now.”
Isla rested her head on his shoulder. “I’m not going anywhere. They’ll have to rip me from your arms and risk losing an eye if they want to take me away from you.”
“How violent,” he said, smoothing her back with his fingertips.
“Well, it’s the truth.”
“No,” he said with a small grin. “There’s that feistiness I missed. I like it.”
CHAPTER 17
THEY HAD THEIR DINNER DELIVERED to their suite. It was a quiet night together, avoiding the others, but Isla didn’t care. She knew they’d have to face her parents and their friends again once they reached Catalina Island.
Once the boat docked and let them off, Rebecca and Peter were waiting for them on shore at the end of the long dock.
“You two feeling better today?” Rebecca asked.
“We’re fine, Mother,” Isla said.
“Good,” she said, glancing at Garrett. “So, how about you and I go to the spa and catch up. Garrett can go off with the men. They plan on golfing. How does that sound?”
Awful.
“You want to go golfing?” Isla asked Garrett, putting on her sunglasses as the sun’s rays shone in her eyes.
“Sounds like fun. Sure,” he said.
“Good man,” Peter said. “Let’s leave the women to their devices.”
Garrett gave her a quick kiss and left to join her father and Senator Kinley to the car that would take them to the golf course.
“He’s a handsome man, Isla,” Rebecca said, sounding earnest for the first time since they’d reunited.
“Thanks...”
“Seriously, when I first met him I instantly saw what you saw in him. But, I also now see something more.”
“And what is that?” Isla asked, folding her arms across her pink sundress with a plunging neckline that went to her belted waist.
Rebecca searched her eyes. “He makes you happy.” She reached out and stroked Isla’s cheek. “He makes you smile.”
Isla lifted a brow, taken aback by her mother’s rare show of affection.
Something inside her begged for more. A hug. A smile.
Anything.
Rebecca withdrew her hand, a wave of sorrow flashing in her eyes.
Was it possible that her mother regretted how they’d treated her in the past?
“I told you that years ago,” Isla said.
Nodding, Rebecca sighed and checked her watch. “Eleanor and Joy are on a food tour around the island, but I scheduled facials, manicures and pedicures, and massages for us.”
“I can’t complain about that,” Isla said and Rebecca laughed. It was a refreshing sound, genuine and light when Isla was used to her mother’s tight and contrived laughter.
“I didn’t think so.”
***
GARRETT WAS THANKFUL for the times his father had taken him golfing when he was just a boy. Or else he would’ve been in danger of looking like an amateur in front of Isla’s father and the senator.
They played a few rounds of golf before heading inside the club for lunch.
Garrett was surprisingly comfortable around them by the time they’d finished their morning of golf. As he sat at a table with them, eating his lunch, he was no longer regretting coming out. Peter Maxwell could be charming and fun when he wanted to. And Senator Kinley was a stand-up guy.
“So, you’re still planning on marrying my daughter?”
Garrett swallowed, a little taken aback by the question. “I do.”
“Good,” Peter said. “Isla is my youngest. And though she was a difficult child, we’ve always sought to give her the best, to make sure she took advantage of every opportunity.”
“Any father would do the same,” Garrett said. “But, they’d also take into account their child’s wants in addition to their needs.”
“Right,” Peter said. He took a bite of his pasta and chewed. “It was a shock that she wanted a troubled young man such as yourself. How did the two of you meet anyway?”
Troubled?
Embarrassed, Garrett set down his fork. “We met at the beach. I was a lifeguard that summer.”
“You delivered pizzas too, right?”
“Yes. I’ve always been a hard worker.”
“I respect that,” Senator Kinley said. “I myself delivered papers when I was a boy. I also waited tables to pay my way through law school.” He looked to Garrett. “Not all of us were born privileged, son. That’s what makes America great. We all have the potential to be leaders, even the poorest of us.”
“I believe that. With all of my heart.” Garrett nodded, relieved by the senator’s words.
It took the spotlight off of him and revealed a truth he would never have guessed of the man with the expensive watch, shoes, and a mansion on the beach.
Garrett cleared his throat and looked down into his glass of water. “In England, my father was a boat maker. When we moved here, he continued to make the most beautiful boats but made a mistake with his choice of friends. Not only did I learn from his mistakes, but I’ve made a pact with myself to bring honor back to our family name. Joining the U.S. Army has given me that chance.”
“I’d say you’ve accomplished what you set out to do,” Senator Kinley said.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Well, you have my blessing now. I will support your marriage to my daughter.”
Garrett nodded. Not that it mattered anymore, it was nice to hear those words.
But, why now?
The question ate at him, and so he could no longer keep quiet. “Thank you. But, what makes you give your blessing now? You essentially told me to fuck off when I asked you years ago.”
Senator Kinley looked from Garrett to Peter, his brows lifting. “Well?”
Peter laughed, swishing his bourbon. He tilted his head. “When you came to me, you were a child.” He leaned forward in his chair. “Listen, in politics, you have to be careful whom you associate with. And to be frank, your family has a tarnished name. Had. You said it yourself.”
“Right,” Garrett said, nodding. “And now I’m a ‘hero.’ So, you can associate with me and the press that comes along with it. I see. You’re nothing more than an opportunist.”
“Now, don’t take it the wrong way. That’s life,” Peter said. “I do what’s right for my family.”
“And your image. I get it,” Garrett said. “But, it’s all irrelevant. No offense.”
Peter shrugged, yet stared at Garrett with an icy glare.
“Enough of that talk,” Senator Kinley said. “We should be getting back to the yacht. It’s getting late”
“Lunch is on me,” Garrett said, pulling out his wallet. “He wanted to show Peter that he didn’t need him for anything. Not anymore. He had enough money in the bank to finally do what he wanted.
“Nonsense,” Senator Kinley said. “I’ve already taken care of it.”
“Thank you.” Garrett stood from the table, done with pretending to be chummy with Peter Maxwell. “I’m sure the ladies are waiting for us.”
Peter left to wait for the car outside and Senator Kinley stopped Garrett before heading toward the door.
“Take this,” he said, hanging Garrett a business card with his name and number on it.
“Thank you, Senator.”
“Call me James. You contact me when things quiet down in the press. I hear you’re a writer, right?”
Garrett’s brows lifted. How did he hear that? Perhaps Peter had mentioned it.
“Yes. I’ve written a few books over the years.”
“I have an agent I want to get you in touch with. You just keep your head up, take care of that beautiful woman, and we’re going to get you on your feet.”
Garrett couldn’t help the smile that came to his face. Was this really happening? After all that he’d been through, he’d never had any luck in life. For years, Isla had been the only good thing, the only thing to look forward to. Now, his dream might come true.
“Thank you, James. Seriously, I can’t thank you enough. This means the world to me.”
James patted him on the shoulder, giving him a wink. “No need to thank me. We’re brothers, right? We look out for one another.”
Garrett beamed, watching James leave the club.
“Amazing,” he whispered to himself.
CHAPTER 18
BACK ON THE YACHT, Isla and Garrett showered together. She wrapped her arms around his waist as the warm water sprayed on them both.
It was refreshing to get clean after a hot day on the island. She’d actually enjoyed her time with her mother. It had been ages since they’d spent time together like that.
“Tell me about your day with my father,” Isla said, looking up at Garrett as he blocked the water from spraying directly into her face. She reached for the body wash and poured a generous amount into her hands.
“It was what I’d expected. The golfing part was fine. I enjoyed meeting Senator Kinley.”
“But?” she asked, rubbing the bodywash onto his stomach and chest, and then trailing her fingers between his legs, waking him with her touch.
He looked down at her as she wrapped her hand around his erect shaft, stroking it with just enough pressure to make him tense and groan.
“I can’t think when you’re doing that,” he murmured, his eyes closing.
“Sure you can. Tell me what happened.”
“You know,” he said, swallowing. “He gave his blessing.”
“What?” she asked pausing.
“Yeah,” Garrett said, pressing her back to the slick shower wall and kissing her. “But it’s all an act. There’s a lot of press about me now, so, of course, this changes everything. Just think of the headlines: Senator Maxwell’s son-in-law is an American hero. Estranged daughter turns her life around.” He rolled his eyes. “Rubbish. All of it.”
Isla nodded. She wasn’t surprised. At least everyone was on good terms. That much was a win for her.
She lowered herself down to her knees, looking up at Garrett as he peered down at her. As she licked the smooth length of him, he closed his eyes and held his hands out onto the wall, steadying himself.
She took him deep into her mouth, closing her lips around the base. Isla had no gag reflex. Men
were driven crazy by her skills, but this time, it was special. She actually enjoyed doing it for Garrett. It wasn’t just something she knew to do to appease a man or to avoid actually sleeping with them.
Garrett reached down and held onto her head, which turned her on even more. She slid her mouth to the tip and back down, feeling him deep into her throat. Her own core pulsed with need as he seemed to grow even harder and bigger with each thrust into her mouth.
Isla wasn’t finished, wanting to feel his hot seed on her tongue.
Garrett lifted her up and turned her to face the wall. She held onto the shower door, a sharp cry coming from her mouth as he thrust into her from behind. He held her by her waist, pumping his hard length into her with the perfect amount of speed and pressure. She closed her eyes, pressing her cheek to the wall as he reached around and rubbed two fingers to her clit, nearly driving her delirious with pleasure.
Her breaths came out quickly as the sensations of the water, mixed with him inside of her, prepared her for a climax. She just hoped that she’d be able to keep herself from shouting out and alerting everyone on the boat of their activities.
Isla’s mouth parted as an orgasm ripped through her, heating her entire lower body from her waist to her toes. The sensation was almost unbearable as Garrett continued to rub her slippery clit and thrust into her at an angle that caressed her G-spot.
As she shivered with waves of pleasure, he abruptly pulled out of her and came onto the shower floor, the white substance washing away with the water.
Breathless, she turned to him and reached her arms around his neck. A smile came to her lips as their eyes met.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she said, blushing. “I’d happily carry your baby.”
She instantly regretted her words. She didn’t want to ruin things by having Garrett think she was too eager, clingy, or assumptive. She looked away, wishing she could take it back.
He lifted a brow. “In due time, babe. I’d like things to go in the proper order.”
She grinned as she turned back to him. “Proper order? What a gentleman. I love you,” she said.
