She rushed toward the dock. She sensed Apollo behind her. Why was he being so insistent? Was he afraid he couldn’t handle the baby on his own? That was just nerves. Seb loved him. And so did she...
The thought sent a wave of fresh pain coursing through her body. Her feet moved faster. Apollo was right behind her. How was she supposed to get over him when he wouldn’t go away?
Apollo was speaking but with the crush of people and the sounds of the dock, she couldn’t make out his words—she didn’t want to make them out. She wanted to forget that she ever knew him—though she knew that would be utterly impossible.
When she finally made it through the congestion and reached the end of the dock, the walkway had been drawn up. The ferry was just beginning to pull out.
“Wait!” This couldn’t be happening. “Please. I need on the boat.”
“Sorry,” yelled a young sailor. “You’ll have to catch the ferry tomorrow.”
“But please. It’s important.”
“Can’t stop the ferry now.”
Popi was so anxious to get away from Apollo that, for a moment, she considered swimming for the boat. But she knew that would cause pandemonium, and the water wasn’t exactly inviting right next to the dock. It was murky, unlike the clear blue water on the island.
With a resigned sigh, she leveled her shoulders and turned. She knew Apollo would be standing there. What was it going to take to make him go away?
Her gaze met his and her heart thump-thumped like it did every time he stared deep into her eyes. “Say whatever it is you have to say and then be on your way.”
“I’d rather show you.”
“Show me what?”
“Come with me.”
She hesitated. “I... I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“How about we make a deal?”
“What sort of deal?”
“You come with me and if you don’t like what I have to show you, I will chopper you out to the island today. You won’t have to spend another night on the mainland.”
That deal was too good to pass up. But what did he have to show her that was so important?
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
THIS HAS TO WORK.
Apollo wanted this more than he’d wanted anything in his life.
And he was more nervous than he had been while crossing the Amazon with its many dangers.
“What are we doing back here?” Popi asked.
“You’ll see.” He drove past the front of the house, toward the back.
“Apollo, what’s going on?” Popi stared out the window at the big white tent he’d erected the night before. “If this is some sort of party—”
“It’s not. I promise.”
He got out of the car and came to her side. He opened the door and offered her a hand out but she didn’t accept it. She got out on her own.
“But I don’t understand.” She walked to the edge of the drive. “The gardens look like they are set up for a wedding.” She turned to him. The color faded from her face. “Are you trying to tell me you’re getting married?”
“I’m not. At least not right now. I put this together for you.”
She pressed a hand to her chest. “For me? But I’m not getting married.”
“Come see. And then I’ll explain.”
He held out his arm to her. She hesitated at first, but then slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. He led her down the aisle. And in that moment, he knew without any shadow of a doubt that he was doing the right thing. They belonged together. But how did he convince Popi of that?
At the end of the aisle, he turned to her. “I did this for you. I wanted to show you that Infinity Island isn’t the only place for beautiful weddings.”
Confusion reflected in her eyes.
He cleared his throat. “I’m not saying this very well. What I mean is that you could—if you wanted, that is—run a wedding business right here at the estate.”
“But why?”
He gazed deep into her beautiful brown eyes, willing her to truly hear what he was saying. “Because I want you to stay. I’ve made such a mess of things. I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with you—”
“You love me?”