Marcus

9

EDEN STOOD ON THE DECK of her mother’s Malibu beach house staring out at the Pacific, her coffee cup clutched in her hand. She’d been back in California for a week, and as the days had passed, she’d begun to grow restless. This wasn’t her home anymore, this sun-washed house with the fussy decor and the celebrity neighbors. Though she’d spent most of her youth holed up in the pretty lavender bedroom, nothing here felt right.

She closed her eyes and breathed deeply of the salt air, trying to recall the only place in the world where she did feel right. Marcus’s loft. Now when she thought of her favorite place to be, it was there, above the boatyard in Bonnett Harbor, in the bed draped with old sails.

It seemed a lifetime ago, but it had only been seven days since she’d left. She’d picked up the phone hundreds of times, prepared to call him and just see how he was. But Eden had promised herself that she’d sort out her life before she contacted him again. He’d already suffered enough because of the mistakes she’d made, and she wasn’t going to add to his troubles by making more.

She reached up and touched her bottom lip, running her finger along it and recalling the sensation of his kiss. Time after time, she’d caught herself lost in a daydream about him, the memories so vivid that she could almost feel him. And then the ache would begin, the longing for the weight of his body on hers, for the hard heat of his shaft buried deep inside her.

As she remembered each perfect moment, she couldn’t help but wonder if she’d ever experience such pleasure again. The prospect of living the rest of her life comparing every man to Marcus Quinn was enough to make her a bit crazy.

“Darling! You aren’t dressed yet?”

Eden turned to see her mother walking toward her, dressed in ultrafashionable workout wear. Pamela Ross was nearly fifty, but daily workouts and a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon had made it possible to shave off at least ten of those years.

Her latest husband-and soon-to-be ex-was a financial consultant for the Hollywood movie studios. He had been tossed out a few weeks before Eden’s arrival, and already Pamela had been in constant meetings with her lawyers. After her fourth failed marriage, it was clear that Pamela Kitteridge Ross Wilsing Antonini Frasier had turned marrying well into an art and divorcing well into a financial windfall.

Once the divorce was final, she would come away with at least five or six million, enough to keep her in Prada and Gucci until she found another man willing to take her on.

“You should have come to Pilates with me,” Pamela said. She lifted her warm-up, revealing her stomach. “There are twenty-one-year-old girls in class that don’t have abs like mine. I’ve got a yoga class this afternoon. It would do you good, darling. You seem so tense.”

“I can’t go out,” Eden said. “There are photographers everywhere.”

“They’re parked right outside on the road,” Pamela said, studying her French manicure. “But what harm can they do? Just fix yourself up, put on something pretty and let them take a few pictures. After that, they’ll go away.”

“No,” Eden said. “I won’t give them the satisfaction. They’re like vultures, always hovering, just waiting for me to step into the road and get flattened by an oncoming truck so they can pick my carcass clean.”

“How long are you going to continue to pout?”

“I don’t know, Mother. But when I’m finished, I’ll be sure to let you know.”

“Life can’t possibly be that bad.” She sighed. “Your father called last night and he’s decided to buy that silly tape for you. In a few days everything will be forgotten and you can get on with your life.”

Stunned, Eden stared at her mother. “You’re kidding. He’s going to buy the tape?”

Pamela nodded. “He was adamant. Was mumbling on and on about some letter you sent him. I think you ought to call him and thank him for his generosity. And make sure you tell him you’re calling at my suggestion. It always pays to keep that piece of bread buttered on both sides.”

Eden closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. She’d been prepared to fight this battle on her own, to go to court with expensive lawyers and plead her case.

“All your friends have been asking about you.”

“What friends?” Eden murmured. “I don’t have any friends. Once they find out I don’t have any money left, I’m sure they won’t be asking.”

“Well, then you’ll have to find a way to make some money,” her mother said. “And I think I have an idea. A job opportunity for you.”

“A job?” Eden’s interest was instantly piqued. She’d already come to the conclusion that she wasn’t really qualified to do anything. She’d attended college for only three semesters before leaving to pursue her life as a party girl. “What kind of job?”

“You’ll see. A friend of mine is coming over for coffee and she’ll tell you all about it.” Pamela wrapped her arms around Eden’s neck and hugged her tight. “I’m so glad you’re home, darling. Just think, we can go out to the clubs and have some fun now that I’ve given Harold the heave-ho. Good Lord, he was a stick-in-the-mud.”

“I’m not going clubbing with you, Mother.”

“Why not? I need to be around exciting people again. I’m thinking my next man will need to be younger, ten, maybe twenty years. Can you imagine me with a boy toy?”

Eden fought back a shudder. “Are you interested in spending time with me or spending time with the people I seem to attract? If it’s with me, then why don’t we just sit here and talk?”

“About what, darling? You and I have nothing in common-except maybe your father. And I don’t want to talk about him.”

Eden felt tears of frustration pushing at the corners of her eyes. She’d hoped that she and her mother might be able to forge some type of relationship now that she was back. But the longer she stayed in Malibu, the more she realized it wasn’t possible. Pamela craved the celebrity that Eden had, and Eden couldn’t wait to rid herself of it.

She thought back to the conversation she’d had with Marcus’s mother. Had she been born to Emma Quinn, perhaps Eden might have become a different person. But she couldn’t blame her troubles entirely on her parents. By the time she’d turned eighteen, she’d known that the choices she made were entirely her own. “I’m sorry I’ve made such a mess of my life, Mother. I never wanted to embarrass you and I’m going to do my best to make some positive changes.”

Her mother blinked, taken aback by Eden’s apology. “Are you seeing a therapist, darling?”

“No,” Eden replied. “I’ve just had some time to think. You and Daddy gave me everything I could possibly want. But you never gave me what I needed.”

“What could you possibly have needed? Your father and I gave you everything.”

“I needed parents who cared about me. You gave me things, possessions.”

“And what’s wrong with having nice things?” Pamela asked.

Eden sighed softly. Her mother would never understand. “I think I’m going to go lie down. I didn’t sleep well last night.”

She turned and walked toward the French doors, but her mother reached out and grabbed her hand as she passed. “You’re a beautiful young woman,” Pamela said. “Isn’t that enough?”

Eden shook her head. “No, Mother, it’s not. Not nearly.” She wandered back into the beach house, unable to continue the conversation. As she passed the phone, she again fought the urge to pick it up and call Marcus. He would understand how she was feeling. She could tell him anything and he always listened.

“You can’t take a nap,” Pamela cried, following Eden inside. “Sally Petzell will be here in a few minutes and she wants to talk to you about that job.”

“What kind of job is it?” Eden asked.

“Oh, I don’t know. Something in television.” Pamela ran her fingers through Eden’s hair. “Why don’t you go put on something pretty? And comb your hair.” She wrinkled her nose. “This color really does nothing for you, darling. I’ll take you to Nando and he’ll fix this for you.”

“No!” Eden said, pulling away. “I like my hair the way it is.”

Pamela hitched her hands on her waist. “Get dressed, Eden. If you meet Sally looking like that, you will be an embarrassment to me.”

Sighing, Eden walked back to her bedroom and rummaged through her closet for something decent to wear. Her wardrobe was scattered around the world, some on the boat, some at Andreas’s apartment in Paris, some at her favorite hotel in Monaco. Once she found a new place to live, she could finally put a life together and gather all her belongings in one place.

She found a taupe silk blouse and a little navy skirt that looked simple and conservative. A pair of embroidered mules completed the look. Eden was just combing through her hair when she heard the doorbell ring.

When she returned to the living room, her mother was already deep in conversation with their visitor, a tall bleached blonde with a husky voice. She was dressed exactly like Pamela; in truth, they looked like sisters.

Eden held out her hand. “Hello,” she said. “I’m-”

“Eden Ross,” the woman said dramatically, rushing toward her. “Who doesn’t recognize you? Sally Petzell. I’m a producer over at the Entertainment Network. I understand you’re looking for a job.”

“I-I am.”

“You’ve never done television before,” Sally said.

Eden shook her head. “I’ve been on television but never on purpose.”

“So what do you think you could do for the Entertainment Network? How would we use your…talents?”

Eden considered the question for a long moment. “Maybe I could do something with fashion. I’ve been to all the runway shows in Paris and Milan and New York and I have a very good eye for what’s going to be big. I’m known for my fashion sense.”

“Interesting,” Sally said, pursing her lips. “Go with me on this. Fashion is…boring. Everyone thinks they know about fashion, but who really cares?” She grabbed Eden’s hands and gave them a squeeze. “You have something special. You’re much more.”

“More than what?” Eden asked.

“Just more. You’re parties and champagne and handsome men with expensive European sports cars. Here’s what I have in mind for you. It’s a quirky take on a dating show. Reality television is so big now that we’d have no problem selling the concept. We’d call it Eden’s Adventures in Paradise. You’d travel the world to romantic locations looking for that perfect man. Every week you’d go out on a fabulous date with some heir to a European fortune or maybe even a prince or a Venezuelan polo player. You know, the kind of guys you’ve always dated. I hear the king of Spain has a son who’s available.” She pulled out her BlackBerry and typed a quick note to herself. “I’m going to have Katie give him a call.”

“You want me to date on television?” Eden asked.

“Not just date. We want you to party. We want you to get crazy and wild, all those things that you do so well. We want you to show these men the best time they’ve ever had.”

Pamela clapped her hands giddily. “Doesn’t that sound like fun, darling? You’ll travel, you’ll stay in wonderful hotels and be catered to morning, noon and night. And you’ll get paid for being yourself. What more could you ask for?”

“No,” Eden said flatly.

“No?” Sally frowned. “No to what? The prince of Spain? That was just an example. How about the prince of Wales? Now there’s a man you could loosen up.”

Eden shook her head, backing away. “No. I’m not going to do this. I’m not going to make a fool of myself anymore, especially not for the public’s enjoyment.”

“Eden, darling, consider this carefully,” Pamela said. “You don’t have much left in your trust fund, and I certainly can’t support you. Your father has cut you off.”

Eden shook her head. “I-I have to go. It was nice meeting you.” She nodded at Sally Petzell, then hurried back to her bedroom. Eden rummaged through her closet until she found her old luggage, then threw it onto the bed.

“What are you doing?”

She glanced up to see her mother standing in the door. “I’m getting out of here.”

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t know. But I can’t stay here. Call a cab for me and have them park up by the Fergusons’ house. I’ll walk up the beach. The photographers won’t know I’ve left.”

“What has gotten into you, Eden?”

“Not what,” Eden replied. “Who.”

“Who?”

She turned and faced her mother. “His name is Marcus. Marcus Quinn. And I’m pretty sure that I’m in love with him.”

IT WAS A PERFECT SUMMER day on Rhode Island Sound, the sky blue, the water calm. Marcus dangled from the bosun’s chair over the bow of the boat, the restored figurehead clamped into place. He braced his hands on the bowsprit and stared up at the mainstay, watching as a small pennant fluttered in the gentle breeze.

He’d been living on board Victorious again, finding the solitude preferable to the emptiness of his loft. Eden had been gone for a week now, and in all that time he’d been unable to convince himself it was for the best.

Every day he woke up hoping that she’d return and every night he’d lain in bed convincing himself that she wouldn’t. Their time together had been a lovely holiday that was never meant to go beyond a couple weeks. Their lives had moved in completely different directions from the start, and though the roads had intersected in one spot, they now veered off again.

He closed his eyes and swallowed back the lump of emotion stuck in his throat. Missing her had become a physical pain, nagging and chronic. His mind constantly replayed their time together, and he lost himself in elaborate plans on how he might convince her to come back.

But always in the end he was left with the realization that what they had shared had been a fantasy come to life and not real life at all.

“Is this what you were looking for?”

Marcus glanced over at his brother Ian and nodded. He held his hand out for the wrench, then fitted it over the bolt.

“It looks really good, Marky,” he said. “You do some amazing work. Hard to believe you started out with those little animals in Nana’s barn.” He shook his head. “Dec and I always used to think you were a queer one, spending all your time up in the haymow. You didn’t talk much back then.”

“I didn’t have a lot to say,” Marcus replied.

“Still don’t,” Ian countered.

“Shimmy out there and put that socket wrench over the bolt. I need to tighten this a little more.”

Ian did as he was told, lying on his stomach and reaching over the bow. Marcus carefully tightened the last bolt, then swung the bosun’s chair back to the rail of the boat. He crawled back on board and dropped the wrench into his toolbox.

“I’m almost done here,” Marcus said. “Maybe a week and that’s it.”

“What’s up after this?”

Marcus shrugged. He felt as if he was at loose ends. In truth, he wanted to go find Eden and make things right between them. Their relationship hadn’t had a proper ending. There were so many things left unsaid that Marcus couldn’t seem to move forward.

“Did you bring my video camera back?” Marcus asked. He’d been waiting for the moment to pose the question casually.

Ian cursed. “Yeah. We didn’t use it after all,” Ian said. “One of the guys brought his camera and it had a tripod. But I lost the tape. I pulled it out of the camera and set it down somewhere and-”

“You lost the tape?” Marcus asked, his stomach twisting into a knot. God, this was all he needed. The furor over Eden’s first sex tape was beginning to cool. All she needed was another home movie to hit the market. Hell, she’d trusted him with this one and now it was out there.

According to Dec, Trevor Ross had purchased the other tape for a tidy sum. Due to that unexplained expense, he’d decided to hold off on further investments, including Marcus’s business. But with the check for the commission and a generous bonus, Marcus had enough to get by for a while.

“I’m sorry, I-”

“I need that tape,” Marcus insisted. “Come on. We’ll go over to the station right now and get it.”

“What is so damn important that it can’t wait a day or two? I have the tape. It’s in my office somewhere, I’m sure of it. Jeez, Marcus, what has gotten into you lately? You’ve been acting really weird,” Ian said.

Marcus shrugged, then grabbed the beer he had wedged against the rail. He stared out at the horizon, his gaze fixed on the white sails of a boat nearly a mile out into the sound. “I was talking to Da the other day. Doing a bit of research on our…project. He told me he fell in love with Ma the moment he first saw her. Do you think that’s possible?”

Ian frowned. “There is something wrong with you.”

Marcus cursed. “Just answer the question. Is it possible to fall in love in a day or a week? I always thought it took a long time.”

“No,” Ian said after some consideration. “I think it’s definitely possible. Yeah, it could happen. Kind of like lightning striking. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it knocks you on your arse.”

“What are the odds?” Marcus asked.

“You want a number?”

Marcus leaned back and closed his eyes, turning his face up to the sun. “Yeah. A hundred to one? A thousand to one?”

“I don’t think it makes a difference,” Ian said. “When it happens, it happens. It’s not a science, Marky.”

“I know.” He paused and glanced over at his brother. “I mean, I figured that’s the way it was.”

“So how are you doing with the pact?” Ian asked.

“Fine. Women don’t come swimming out here every day, so I’m safe.”

Ian lowered his voice. “Between you and me, I think Dec might be breaking the vow of celibacy.”

Marcus scoffed at the notion. “He’s got a girl?”

“You know he’s been playing bodyguard to some radio-talk-show lady named Dr. Devine. He says she’s an uptight egghead, but I’ll bet she’s gorgeous. There’s no way he’ll survive guarding a beautiful body without indulging in it at the same time.”

“Dec is pretty tough when he wants to be,” Marcus said.

“Not that tough. No guy is that tough. We all have our weak spots.”

“Maybe we should call off the deal.”

“No way!” Ian cried. “Dec is going to cough up two thousand, and I intend to make him pay. Hell, he’s the one who suggested this-I think we should hold him to it.”

“I thought you were the one who came up with this brilliant idea.”

“Nope, it was Dec.” Ian pushed to his feet. “Let’s go get some lunch. All this hard work has made me hungry. Afterward, we’ll go look for your tape.”

Marcus got up and gathered his tools, then carried them down to the cockpit. He braced his arms on the boom, his gaze coming to rest on the dock. How many times had he caught himself looking for her, hoping that the next time he looked she’d be standing there waiting for him?

“Get a grip,” he muttered to himself. It was over. And if he wanted to fancy himself in love with Eden Ross, then this torture would go on forever. As soon as he and his brothers called an end to this ridiculous pact, he’d go out and find another woman to occupy his mind-and his body.

Ian climbed down into the cockpit and stood next to Marcus, staring over the water to the Ross mansion. “This is the life, huh?”

“It looks like it from the outside, doesn’t it? But it’s not that much different from ours when you strip away all the pretty stuff.”

Ian gave him an odd look, a frown wrinkling his brow. “You’re turning into a bleedin’ philosopher, Marky. I don’t know the cause, but I’m gonna figure it out.”

“There’s nothing wrong with me,” Marcus murmured. “I swear.”

It was easy to say but not so easy to believe. He was determined to forget her and he vowed to do just that. Starting right now.

EDEN STARED OUT THE tinted window of the limousine, watching the familiar scenery of Ocean Avenue pass by. She’d hopped the red-eye last night at LAX and had arrived on schedule in Providence just shortly after noon. The limo had been waiting and whisked her away on the fifty-minute drive home.

“Home,” she murmured. How many homes had she had over the years? Malibu, Newport, her father’s house in Providence, her favorite hotels scattered across the world, even Victorious had been a home. But home was no longer a place, it had become a person. Marcus Quinn was home to her now.

The limo turned off Ocean Avenue and continued along the winding road toward the water. The gates of her father’s house loomed in the distance, and Eden’s nerves began to fray as they approached. She smoothed the skirt of her tidy Armani suit and ran her fingers through her hair.

She’d called her father yesterday afternoon, requesting a meeting with him. To her surprise, he’d agreed and asked her to meet him at the house for a late lunch.

The limo pulled into the circular drive and her father’s chauffeur jumped out and ran to open her door. Eden thanked him and asked him to leave her bag in the foyer.

With a steely resolve, she walked up to the house and rang the bell. A moment later the door flew open. Sarah Corrigan stood on the other side, a smile coloring her cheeks rosy. The housekeeper threw out her arms and gathered Eden into a fierce embrace. “You’re home.” She kissed both of Eden’s cheeks.

“I am,” Eden said. “I’ve missed you.” Tears flooded Eden’s eyes. She’d avoided seeing Sarah during her last visit, knowing that she couldn’t test the housekeeper’s loyalty to her father. In truth, she’d been so ashamed of her behavior she hadn’t been able to face the woman who was like a second mother to her.

But that didn’t seem to matter to Sarah now. “I’ve made all your favorites. The minute your father told me you’d be coming, I started cooking. And your room is made up.”

She took Eden’s hand and led her through the house. “He’s in the study. I took him coffee a few minutes ago and I think he’s a little nervous. He’s pacing.”

Eden stopped in the hallway and grabbed Sarah’s other hand. “Thank you,” she murmured. “And not just for today but for every day that you watched over me and fed me and read me to sleep. I know I’ve never said this, but you were one of the only people that made my childhood tolerable. And I’m sorry if I’ve disappointed you in any way.” Eden sniffled, brushing an errant tear from her cheek. “I just wanted to say that.”

Sarah kissed her again, then pressed her palm to Eden’s cheek. “Go see your father. When you’re finished, you and I will spend some time catching up.”

“I’d like that,” Eden said. She turned to the door of the study and took a deep breath. The rest of her life started today, at this moment. And though she wasn’t sure what the future held, she was finally ready to face it.

Eden knocked softly on the study door, then opened it. Her father looked up from his desk, his reading glasses perched on the end of his nose.

“Hi, Daddy,” she said.

“Come in,” he said. He pointed to one of the leather wing chairs, silently ordering Eden to sit. “Your mother says you’ve run through most of your trust fund. I suppose you’re here to ask for money. Well, I’m not going to give you any more.”

“I realize that,” Eden said. “And that’s not why I came.”

“You went through nearly three million in four years, Eden. I put that money in trust for you so that you would get a good start in life, maybe go to school, find yourself a husband, settle down. I’d be a fool to give you more.”

“I know that, too,” Eden said. “And I’m not here to ask for more. I’m here to tell you that I’ve made some decisions about my life.”

“That’s it?”

“From now on, I think it’s best that you hear these things directly from me. You won’t have to read about them in the tabloids.”

He leaned back in his chair and studied her intently. “That will be a change.”

Eden took another deep breath, attempting to calm her pounding pulse. “First, I should tell you that I’ve fallen in love. You may not approve, but that really doesn’t matter to me. I plan to spend the rest of my life with this man.”

Her father threw his hands up and shook his head. “Who is it this time? I hope he has money so he can finance your lifestyle.”

“Actually, he doesn’t. He works for a living. In fact, he works for you. Marcus Quinn.”

Her father gasped. “How is it possible that you even know Marcus Quinn?”

“It’s possible,” Eden replied. “I’ve come back here to be with him, if he’ll have me. I don’t want to live without him, Daddy. I can’t.”

“You’re going to propose to him?” her father asked.

Eden shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. I just want to make sure that he and I have a future together and we’re never apart again.”

“Eden, you’re still very young and-”

“Daddy, this is what I want. I know I’ve said that before and you have no reason to believe me this time. But so much has changed for me. I want to have a life with him and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.”

“What do you see in this man that you didn’t see in the others?”

Eden smiled. “Oh, Daddy, there’s so much. He’s kind and he’s steady and he watches over me. And when I make mistakes, he helps me to understand what I’ve done wrong, but he doesn’t judge me. He lets me be myself but a better Eden Ross than I’ve ever known.”

“How will you live?”

“That’s why I asked for this meeting,” she said.

“Well, now we get down to business.”

“I don’t want money. I want a job.”

Trevor Ross chuckled. “You’ve never had a job in your life.”

“I know, but it’s time I did something productive. And I was hoping you could find a place for me in your company. It doesn’t have to be anything important. I could work in the mail room or I could do filing. I’d be willing to go back to school to learn what I needed.”

“You’re not serious,” Ross said.

“I am,” Eden replied. “But I’ll understand if you don’t want me working for you. I can’t offer much in the way of references or previous experience. But I promise I’ll work hard.”

He considered her offer for a long time, his face caught in a deep scowl. “All right,” he finally said. “But the first time you screw up, I’ll-”

“I understand,” she said. “And I won’t.”

He stood and held out his hand, then realized what he was doing and pulled it back. He circled his desk and gave her a perfunctory hug. “Report to the Providence office on Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. I’ll have you meet with Human Resources and see what we can find.”

Eden smiled, emotions overwhelming her. The first piece of her plan had fallen so easily into place. “Thank you, Daddy.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a long hug. “I promise I won’t disappoint you.”

He drew back, and for the first time in a long time Trevor Ross smiled at his daughter. “I suppose I have Marcus Quinn to thank for this?”

“Maybe,” Eden said with a smile. “A little bit.”

“Well, why don’t you invite him to lunch with us? He’s down on the boat, finishing up the job I gave him.” Her father paused. “He’s good at what he does, Eden. I like his work. And I like him. You could do a lot worse than Marcus Quinn.”

“But I couldn’t do better,” Eden said. She drew a deep breath and steadied herself. “Wish me luck.”

He reached up and cupped her cheek in his hand. “How could he refuse such a beautiful woman?”

Eden pushed up on her toes and kissed her father’s cheek. “Thank you, Daddy.” She hurried to the door, but her father’s voice stopped her.

“There is one other thing.” He opened the drawer of his desk and pulled out a videocassette, then held it out to her. “I just received this by messenger. I thought you might like to dispose of it yourself.”

“I’ll leave that up to you,” she said with a grateful smile. “And I promise, I’ll do my best to pay you back, Daddy. I’ll make you proud of me.”

He nodded, and Eden hurried out of the study through the main hall. She threw open the wide doors to the terrace and kicked off her shoes. The grass was cool on her feet as she ran down the lawn toward the water. When she reached the dock, Eden shaded her eyes and stared out at Victorious, rocking at anchor.

Her heart began to beat faster again and she couldn’t help but smile. Though it had been only a week, the days had seemed like years since she’d seen Marcus. She felt like a silly schoolgirl, all flushed and nervous.

It was a first date of sorts. From now on, things would be much simpler. She wouldn’t have to always be watching her back, waiting for her past to catch up with her. She had a chance to begin again.

The dinghy was tied up to the swim ladder, and she couldn’t see Marcus anywhere on board. Eden shrugged out of her jacket. She’d made the swim once before, the day they’d met. Making it again would give her time to calm her nerves and prepare her for her proposal.

She finished stripping down to her underwear, then dived neatly off the end of the pier. The water was warm and clear, and as she swam she felt a curious serenity overcome her. For the first time in her life she knew exactly what she wanted, who she wanted, and he was waiting on that boat. She ought to have been afraid or at least a little nervous, but Eden realized that she had nothing to lose. She’d already lost it all and was determined to get back what she couldn’t live without.

Even if he didn’t accept her proposal, she wasn’t about to give up. Now that she’d be living in the area, she’d find a way to convince him that what they had was worth saving. No man had ever touched her the way Marcus had, and in her heart Eden knew they were meant to be together.

By the time she reached the boat, she was breathless, not from the swim but from anticipation. She’d thought about Marcus so many times over the past week, imagined them together, lost in an endless kiss. As Eden climbed the swim ladder, she shivered, the breeze causing goose bumps to rise on her skin. She brushed the wet hair from her eyes, then walked to the hatch for the master suite.

He was there, sitting in the center of the berth, his back to her, tools spread out around him. A tiny smile twitched at Eden’s lips as her gaze slowly took in the broad shoulders and narrow waist. Her fingers clenched and Eden realized that she knew exactly how his skin would feel, how his mouth would taste.

The man had burned himself into her being, and everything about him, from the tiniest detail, now fascinated her. She stood in the hatchway, her arms braced on either side of her, her body still dripping water.

Eden watched as he shifted, then slowly straightened, his back still to her. She held her breath, wondering if he’d sensed her presence. “Hi, Barney,” she said softly.

He tipped his head back and took a deep breath, as if he’d merely imagined her voice. But then he slowly turned. His gaze met hers and Eden felt her limbs go weak.

His blue eyes scanned her body, and Eden shifted, the attraction between them intensifying by degrees. “I missed you,” she said.

He crawled off the bed and crossed the cabin to stand below her. Eden took a step down, and a moment later he grabbed her waist and swung her into the cabin. Without speaking, Marcus cupped her face in his hands and kissed her, frantically, deeply, starved for the taste of her. His hands moved over her body, touching every inch as if he needed to prove that she was real.

When he finally drew back, his fingers skimmed over her face, tracing every feature. “You’re here,” he said.

“I am.”

“I’ve been having these dreams and sometimes I was so sure you were with me. And then, I’d wake up and you wouldn’t be.”

Eden ran her finger along his lower lip, and he kissed her fingertip, holding her hand to his mouth. “I got all the way to California only to realize that we weren’t finished,” Eden said.

“No,” he murmured, kissing her palm. “We aren’t. I’m not sure we’ll ever finish with each other.”

Eden smiled, her gaze searching his. “I’m counting on that. I’m back to stay. I’ve asked my father to give me a job.”

“You’re here for good?” Marcus asked. “Here with me?”

“If you’ll have me.”

Marcus took a deep breath and then shook his head, a smile playing about his mouth. “I don’t know, Princess. You can be a real pain in the ass.”

“I’m working on that,” Eden said solemnly, wanting him to know she meant it. “You have to give me time.”

“I guess I could do that,” Marcus conceded with a twinkle in his eye. He pushed her back toward the bed and then tumbled them both onto it. “But you may have to convince me.”

Eden stared into his handsome face, her fingers smoothing his hair out of his eyes. This was the man she loved, and though she hadn’t said the words yet, she knew it in her heart. “We’ll have to leave that for later. My father wants you to join us for lunch up at the house. I think he wants to talk to the man who has finally tamed his daughter.”

“Oh, I don’t think I want to tame you, sweetheart,” Marcus said. “I like you just the way you are.”

“Well, I suppose I can’t rid myself of all my wild inclinations,” Eden admitted.

“Are you sure I don’t have time to tear your clothes off and make love to you before we eat?”

Eden thought about his offer, then shrugged. “Only if you’re very, very quick about it.”

“Sweetheart, when it comes to making you moan, I’ll do it any way you want.”

Eden giggled and rolled on top of him, tossing aside her bra and shaking out her wet hair. “I bet you won’t last five minutes,” she challenged.

Marcus grinned. “I’ll take that bet.”