Without You
Page 121

He stuck out his hand. “Will?”
Will shook his hand and smiled. “I take it you’re Jonathon.”
He grinned and nodded his head. “You’re right on that one. Come on board.”
Will helped me climb on the yacht.
Jonathon said, “I’ve got a nice little trip planned for y’all. I hope you like dolphins, Miss Mathews.”
I was taken aback at how he’d known my name, but I figured Will must have told him when he’d made the arrangements.
I nodded my head. “Yes, I love them, and I’m super excited.”
Jonathon looked up at the sky and grinned. “The weather couldn’t be more perfect. The sunset is going to be amazing.”
I looked at Will, who was grinning from ear to ear, but he also looked like he was about to be sick.
“Please head on down into the cabin. I’ve got some trays out for y’all to snack on while I get us going.”
Will placed his hand on the small of my back to lead me down into the cabin. My heart skipped a beat, and goose bumps covered my body. I wasn’t sure why, but I loved when he did that. It felt like such a romantic yet manly gesture.
When we got down in the cabin, my hands came up to my mouth, and I sucked in a breath of air. The whole cabin was filled with every kind of flower I could imagine.
Will and I both said at the same time, “Wow.”
I looked at Will. “Did you plan all of this?”
He swallowed hard and dropped his mouth open just a bit. “Um…I, um…”
I threw myself into his arms. “Will, this is the most romantic gesture ever!” I lowered my voice. “I wish we were alone because I’d love to make love on a boat in the water.”
Will’s eyebrows lifted as he smiled. “Really? I’m going to have to remember that.”
It wasn’t long before we headed out. Will must have been feeling seasick because he looked like he wanted to lean over and throw up.
“Will, are you okay?” I asked as I rubbed his back.
He nodded his head and smiled. He jumped when I let out a small scream and pointed.
“Dolphin!”
Jonathon and Will both laughed. I couldn’t believe how they were swimming and jumping at the bow of the ship as we sailed along.
“How far are we going?” I asked as I looked at my watch.
The sun wasn’t setting for another two hours.
Will and Jonathon looked at each other, and then Will slowly looked at me.
Will smiled and took my hands in his. “I have a surprise for you, sweetheart.”
Will
I watched as Lex’s face lit up. She loved surprises, and I knew the moment I said it, she would get excited.
“Oh, yeah? Are we swimming with the dolphins? I thought that was illegal!” She began clapping her hands.
I wasn’t sure if she was excited at the idea of swimming with dolphins or doing something illegal.
I stared at her for a moment and chuckled. “No, Jonathon is taking us to a private island—St. Joseph’s.”
Recognition hit Lex’s face. “Mr. Shelton’s ranch?”
I nodded. “Yep. We’re gonna watch the sunset from there.”
Lex slowly smiled. “I used to love going over there when I was little. Do you know how many sand dollars Colt and I used to find there?”
Jonathon laughed. “The untouched beaches of the island make it beautiful.”
Lex looked around. “Well, darn it. Let me use the restroom before we get there, or I’ll be peeing in the ocean!”
I watched as Lex retreated down into the cabin.
I spun around and looked at Jonathon. “Did you do all of that with the flowers?”
He smiled and nodded his head. “She was hoping y’all were alone, wasn’t she?”
“Yes, and so in the hell was I.”
Jonathon threw his head back and laughed hysterically. “Her daddy wouldn’t like that response. He was the one who told me to do it.”
My mouth dropped open. “Gunner did?”
Jonathon nodded his head. “Yes, sir, he did. Told me to fill the cabin with flowers. Stupid romantic bastard.”
I chuckled and shook my head. “That he is, but he sure does teach me the right way to treat his daughter.”
Jonathon rubbed his thumb and index finger back and forth across his chin like he was thinking. “I can imagine. The key is to always put them first, son. I’ve been married for almost thirty years. My wife comes first and foremost. She is my life.”
Nodding my head, I said, “Yes, sir.”