Wandering Heart (9781101561362) (21 page)

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 house. 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.

She turned to Colin. He was baiting his line and didn’t seem to notice that she had been totally lost in her own thoughts for a while now. But, like her, he wasn’t the type of person who needed to talk constantly. Which made her feel even more comfortable with him.

“Do you get to see your family much?” Colin asked suddenly.

“Not as much as I’d like to. But I do what I can for them. I bought them a nice house and pay all the bills. My mother doesn’t have to work anymore or take care of the housework either. She’s not that strong. She’s been through a lot. It’s been good for her to be able to retire.” Charlotte glanced at Colin, wondering if he thought she was bragging. She really wasn’t. She was just being as honest as she could with him.

“It sounds as if you take good care of them.”

“I try. I want to give my sisters and brother the advantages I
never had. I know it can’t make up for everything, but it makes life easier for them. Which is why I work so hard, I guess. I think I’m a pretty good actress, but the public is fickle. That’s what my agent is always telling me. Sooner or later, I’ll be bumped by another pretty face. I have to make the most of my fifteen minutes of fame,” she joked.

Colin smiled briefly then looked serious. “I think your career will last much longer than that. But it’s good of you to do so much for your family. You’re young to take on that role. I admire that a lot. It sounds like you miss them.”

“I do. Especially my sister Lily. She’s almost ready to start college. I want her to come out to California, so I can see her more. Lily is so great. I wish you could meet her,” she added.

“I’d love to. Maybe someday I will.”

Charlotte glanced at him. They were starting to talk about the future again. Hadn’t they agreed not to do that? She sighed. It was hard not to look ahead. Especially when you felt so wonderful just being around someone. It was hard not to want this feeling to last and last.

A short time later, they packed up the fishing gear and Colin spread out their picnic. The sun was making its slow path to the horizon, and the breeze on the island had shifted. Charlotte pulled a gauzy long-sleeved shirt on over her bathing suit and Colin put on a T-shirt.

They sat side by side on the blanket, enjoying the feast of fruit, cheese, crackers, and a bottle of white wine. “Not that original a menu. But this is all gourmet stuff … from my aunt’s general store,” he joked with her. “She traded me for some striped bass.”

Charlotte laughed and bit into a juicy ripe peach. “Your aunt owns that general store, the one in the island center?”

Colin nodded. “My aunt and uncle, Marion and Walter. They’re quite a pair. That’s why my family used to come out here in the summers, to see them. That’s how I got to know this place. The Doyles are pretty famous around here,” he said, puffing out his chest. “I mean, it’s not Hollywood.”

Charlotte laughed. “It’s definitely not.”

Colin looked shocked, acting as if he were insulted. “Some people,” he said under his breath. Then he smiled and slung his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “Some people are so … amazing,” he said quietly. He glanced down at her. “How’s that peach, any good?”

She nodded. “Very good. Want a bite?” She held it up for him to taste.

He smiled and leaned closer, but instead of biting the peach, he kissed her. “Mmmm. That is good,” he murmured. “I’ll have some more.”

The peach dropped to the sand as they continued to embrace. Charlotte fell back against the blanket and held him tight. It felt so wonderful to be close to him like this, so true and right. It was more than just physical attraction between them. She had never felt this way about anyone before. And doubted she ever would again.

Suddenly a rustling sound from the woods made them jump. Colin sat up suddenly and looked around. Charlotte sat up, too, feeling dazed and slowly coming to her senses. She turned, expecting to see someone with a camera pop out of the woods. “What is it?” she asked anxiously. “Did someone find us?”

“Looks like they did. But if we toss him some crackers, maybe he won’t take any pictures.”

He pointed and Charlotte saw a huge seagull sitting on a piece of driftwood, its beady black eyes fixed on their food.

She laughed and playfully pushed Colin to the side. “You really scared me. That wasn’t very nice.”

Colin grinned. “I know, but it was fun to see your expression.”

He got to his feet and pulled her up by the hand. “It’s getting late. We’d better get back before someone does find us. I expect your friends at the inn will be sending out the Coast Guard again.”

Charlotte had lost all track of time and was shocked when she checked her cell phone. “You’re right. I’m going to call Liza and tell her I’m fine. Just sat on the beach too long.”

He smiled and shrugged. “Well, that’s not entirely a lie. We have been on the beach a long time.”

Not nearly long enough,
she wanted to say. But she just smiled back. Along with the cool breeze and soft late-afternoon light, Charlotte also felt reality setting in.

As they rode back to the dock in Colin’s boat, Charlotte went below and changed back into her clothes. When she came above, it was almost dark out on the water, and the sun was setting on the very edge of the horizon, giving off a last flare of brilliant light, the clouds all around tinged with rose, pink, lavender, and gold.

“When the light streaks the clouds like that, I used to say to my parents, ‘Look Dad, that’s God in the sky.’” Colin told the story with a little laugh.

Charlotte held his arm, standing close to his side. “But that’s what it looks like. Like God is trying to remind us He’s still there, watching over everything. What else could look so brilliant and beautiful?”

Colin nodded but didn’t answer. He took her hand and gently kissed it.

When the dock came into view, Charlotte felt a knot of dread in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t want to leave Colin. She didn’t
want their time together to end. And she didn’t want to answer the inevitable question: When will we see each other again?