Longing For The Beach Billionaire Daddy
Chapter 52

*Shelby*

“That is where we are having dinner,” Michael said, referring to the small island we were coming up on.

Michael went back to the wheel and left me to watch as we got closer and closer to the island. A weathered dock floated on the water, and a pebbled pathway led further onto the island.

Michael expertly docked the boat, and by the time we disembarked, the sunset had faded, and darkness was creeping into the sky. The pathway was lit by tiki torches on each side, illuminating our pathway.

“How did you get this set up so fast?” I asked, awestruck.

“Don’t ruin the magic,” Michael said and leaned down for a k**s.

My fingers intertwined with his, and we walked side by side down the pathway. Within five minutes, the path gave way to a clearing with a wooden table set up in the center.

A stream bubbled off to one side down a series of mini waterfalls. The entire clearing was illuminated by the light of tiki torches.

“This is unreal,” I whispered, more to myself than to Michael.

“Are you hungry?” Michael asked with a smile, leading me over to the table, which was overflowing with fruits, cheeses, and loaves of bread.

Michael grabbed two glasses and poured us each a flute of champagne, and handed me one.

He raised his in a toast, so I copied.

“What are we toasting?” I asked.

“Good question. How about we toast to our relationship and our future?”

I nodded in agreement, and he clinked his glass against mine.

“Let’s also toast to you getting that internship at Brunning’s and Hawthorne. I know you’ll get it, Shelby.”

“I don’t know if I will get it. Things have gotten more complicated,” I said, setting my glass down on the table and popping a cube of cheese in my mouth.

“What do you mean complicated? You seemed so sure of yourself the other night at dinner. What happened? You’re performing at the top of all your classes, Shelby. You deserve to get it. Don’t let a little stress get to your head,” Michael said.

I smiled at his support. It was nice to know that he believed in me.

“You’re right. I do have top marks, but I am just afraid that might not be enough anymore. I talked to Lin on the phone today while I was out by the pool. She was at a party and heard one of our classmates bragging about having a personal connection to Brunnings. It just made me worried that my hard work won’t matter in the end.”

“Shelby, if you need me to, I can make a few phone calls…”

“No!” I said with a little more emphasis than I meant.

“It’s just that if I do get it, I want to know that Brunnings and Hawthorne picked me for my brain and not because I knew the right people. But thank you for the offer,” I said, trying to soften my previous outburst.

“I understand and can respect that, Shelby. All I can say is that any firm would be lucky to have you.”

“I’m lucky to have you,” I said, reaching across the table to grab his hand and smiling at him.

“I loved watching you at the front of the sailboat today. Your hair was flowing behind you. Like a red waterfall. You looked like a siren. We’re lucky I didn’t crash the boat into a bunch of rocks,” Michael said, squeezing my hand.

“I think you have had too much champagne,” I responded with a raised eyebrow.

I was glad the torchlight hid my flaming cheeks. No one had ever compared me to a siren before. Leave it to Michael to say just the right thing to make me blush as red as my hair.

“It isn’t the Champagne talking. It’s the truth; I just can’t help it when I am around you,” Michael said with a shrug.

“I think I’m going to keep you,” I said with a laugh as I took another sip of champagne.

“Good, because I plan on keeping you too,” Michael said, taking a bite of a strawberry. “I’ve been meaning to mention that I have been looking for a place closer to Harvard. I figured I could start doing business there a few days out of the week.”

“Really?” I asked hopefully.

The thought of seeing Michael on more than long weekend trips was everything I wanted and more. It would be nice to have a place to go where we didn’t have to hide our relationship.

I could already see us cuddled up on a couch in some massive apartment Michael found. He could answer emails while I studied. It would mean so much just to be closer to him.

“Yes, really. I think there are some really great options. Maybe when we get back, I can call my realtor to set up some appointments. Would you go with me?” he asked.

It was huge that he was not only planning on moving closer but an even bigger step that he wanted me to help him pick out his new place. It was becoming easier to see our future together.

“I would love to, Michael,” I answered.

“I’ll make some calls when we get back.”

“What are you looking for? An apartment?” I asked.

“An apartment could work. I was thinking of looking at some houses too. It might be nice to have a little more space, maybe even a yard,” Michael said with a glint in his eye.

I picked up a chocolate-covered strawberry and took a bite.

“I think I am going to double my weight on this trip. I have never eaten so much food in my entire life,” I joked.

“That is the best part of a vacation, though, all of the food. You shouldn’t worry about the consequences until the trip is over. Although I have to say, looking at you now, I don’t think there are any consequences,” Michael said with a wink.

“Want to go for a walk?” I asked.

Michael stood up and came around the table to grab my hand. We made our way over to the stream. I took my sandals off and brushed my toes across the surface of the water.

“I can’t get over the natural beauty of this place,” I said softly.

“Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

I looked up at Michael, and his eyes were fixed on me. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close to him.

“I love you, Shelby.”

“I love you too,” I said as I closed my eyes, waiting for him to k**s me.

His k**s was passionate and longing. My hands found their way into his soft hair and I pulled him closer to me. With incredible ease, Michael picked me up, sat on a nearby rock, and settled me on his lap.

Our lips never left each other. His hands slid up my torso, and I longed for him to remove my dress and take me right there on the sandy earth. I was surprised when he broke our k**s and pulled back to look at me.

“I have something for you,” Michael said as he reached into his pocket.

Just as he did, his phone chimed. He pulled it out instead of whatever he had planned to give me, the screen illuminating his face.

“Wow, I honestly can’t believe you even have a signal out here,” I joked before seeing the look on Michael’s face.

His eyebrows knit together in concern and frustration.

“We need to go,” Michael said flatly.

“What? Why? Did something happen?” I asked in concern.

“We need to go now.”

***

We quickly made our way back to the dock, the sky completely dark and embellished with a scattering of stars. I had to jog to keep pace with Michael down the pathway back to the dock.

By the time we got there, I was so out of breath I couldn’t keep asking questions about what was going on.

Michael helped me back into my seat at the front of the boat and pushed the boat away from the dock. He made quick work of the ropes, and the sail was raised faster than I thought possible. Once we were out on the ocean, I didn’t feel confident enough with my balance to make my way to Michael, so I stayed put.

We were silent the entire boat ride back to the island. I didn’t know if that was because of the waves or because Michael was purposely avoiding telling me what was going on. I was still reeling through my confusion at the sudden shift in our evening.

What could that text message have possibly said that made Michael’s attitude shift so suddenly?

We were back at the resort before I could replace a logical explanation for Michael’s behavior. So I stood there on the dock with my arms crossed, waiting for him to explain.

“I am so sorry to do this to you, Shelby, but I have to go back to New York…tonight,” Michael finally said as we were standing on the dock, tying up the sailboat.

“Tonight? Why?” I asked, dumbstruck.

“Something has come up, and I have to go back to handle it,” Michael said, looking down and the rope he was tying the boat to the dock, not meeting my eyes.

“Something so important that it can’t wait until the end of our vacation or even until the morning?” I asked, my heart feeling as though it might break.

“No, it can’t wait. I have to go tonight. You are welcome to stay at the Cabana as long as you like. I will have a private jet waiting for you at the airport whenever you are ready to leave,” Michael said, standing but still not looking at me.

“You can’t be serious,” I was nearly begging for a different answer.

“I am afraid I am. I am so sorry, Shelby. I will make this up to you, I swear,” Michael said, finally meeting my gaze.

“I don’t even get an explanation? Who is texting you that caused such an unexpected shift in you? Is there a problem with Blaine, or the pictures of us?”

“No, this has nothing to do with Blaine, and the pictures, as far as I know, have not surfaced anywhere. It is just something I have to take care of. I’ll have to explain later,” Michael said.

“I can’t believe this…I can’t believe you,” I said before turning and walking away down the beach. I let the tears fall with no attempt to stop them.