Page 19 (1/2)

She looked out the windshield with a grin on her face "Fantastic"

As they drove, he stole glances at Evelyn She never once co down on her She tilted her head back, laid her aro by

He was in one of his favorite cars, with a beautiful wo the seat next to him What more could he ask for?

They drove for about forty-five minutes, then he pulled into a marina, parked the car in a corner slot far away fro attendant, Walter, who he kneould give an eagle eye to his baby, rabbed their bags and left his keys at the desk Walter nodded froht ere going to hit the beach," Evelyn said

He slipped his hand into hers as they headed down the wooden deck "We will Be patient"

He led her to the boat that was parked toward the end of the slip

"Seriously? You have a yacht?" she asked as he helped her on board

"It’s a boat"

"It’s a yacht I know the difference"

"Whatever" He handed her the bags "You want to store these down in the galley while I get us ready to take off?"

She took the bags from him "I suppose this is yourboat"

"Yeah"

She rolled her eyes, then headed down to the galley He got the through as they headed out Evelyn ca zone, then gave it sorabbed the chair next to his and he cranked the speed up, the bow rising as he churned through the waves He was da season he didn’t get ot to colad for Evelyn’s company, for an excuse to take the boat out today

He found the isolated cove and, after carefully checking where he was, dropped the anchor

Evelyn had gone downstairs and changed into a sinful, skiet her out of They clis on the beach

"Feel like snorkeling?"

"I’d love to"

He grabbed the gear out of his bag and they hit the water

Normally when he ca the boat out, kick back, and do so, or just idle and clear his head If there was an available wo, but usually he preferred the ti the surface of the cove, Evelyn grasped his hand and drew hi several times, whether it was one of the many colorful fish that inhabited this area, or the coral that lived around the cove He could tell froed hi that she was pleased

When they came back to shore, she threw her arms around him

"It’s beautiful down there, Gray Thank you"

He slipped an arainst hirabbed towels and set therabbed his hands and he sat next to her

"I can see why The colors of the coral are aered species? Overfishing and environmental pollution of our waters have had a severe detrimental effect on more than sixty percent of the world’s coral reefs This could be disastrous to our entire ecosyste you’re passionate about, obviously?"

"Yes I’ve told you I love the beach and the water, and I wasn’t kidding I’ve lobbied for laws to be passed to li and to post sanctions on those companies that leave behind nets and equipment that can harm the coral"

He swept his hand over her hair "Maybe it’s so" He wanted to laugh at that thought, but he could see she was serious about it and didn’t want to puncture her balloon of hope

She cocked her head to the side "Gray, your father chairs a committee on environmental pollution It’s one of his primary causes"

"Seriously"

"Yes He and I have lobbied hard for legislation to protect coral reefs, as well as other key environ papers on the effects of global war, and the pollution of our waters I’m surprised you didn’t know that"

He didn’t know that, and it didn’t sound at all like sohtest bit interested in "Mitchell Preston cares about the environed Maybe you should check out the other issues he’s passionate about"

Gray still found it hard to believe his father cared about anything other than ould serve his interests or line his pockets "Yeah Maybe"

"Anyway, this area here is a slice of paradise"

"It’s also a protected area Fishing isn’t allowed, nor is recreation"

"Really? To protect the coral?"

"Yes"

She looked around "Sowe shouldn’t be here, either"

"It’s all right I’et new coral planted in this area It had been da and environmental pollution"

"You put money into restoration of this area"

"Not by roup of investors"

She reached for his hands "Maybe you and your father share more common interests than you’re aware of"

He looked out over the water

"Several years ago, I ca It had been a while since I’d been here, and I hated what I sahen I went down"