Free The Tycoon's Perfect Match by Christine Wenger Page A

kiss, when she was sixteen and he was heading to NYU. The year he didn’t—couldn’t—say goodbye to her.
    â€œMari, there’s something I want to clear up between us.” He took a deep breath. “I’ve thought about you a lot since that last summer at Hawk’s Lake.”
    The way she bit down on her bottom lip toldhim that she didn’t believe him. “Then why didn’t you ever call?”
    â€œI don’t know.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I guess the more time that went by, the harder it became.”
    â€œI was so mad at you.” She met his gaze. “Actually, I was mad at everyone and everything. Sixteen wasn’t a fun age for me. My whole world was changing, and way too fast. And my best friend never said goodbye.”
    â€œDammit, Mari. You were only sixteen. I was eighteen. If you want the truth, I was…scared.”
    â€œScared? Why?”
    He tried to find the words. “I was scared of my feelings for you. And you were younger than I was. You were sixteen and I was eighteen. That was a big gap back then.” He shook his head. “You were going back to Boston—for good. What did I have to offer you? I had a scholarship waiting for me. You had your world—your society events, your family business.”
    â€œBut you were my best friend, Brian.”
    He could hear the hurt in her voice.
    â€œAnd you were mine. That’s why I had to let you go—to live your life.”
    She turned away, and he could see her wiping at her eyes.
    â€œI can’t believe how this still hurts me aftertwelve long years.” She turned and looked at him for what seemed like an eternity. “But I guess I do understand. You meant well.”
    â€œThanks, Mari.”
    Everything was quiet. He could only hear the swishing sound of the oars pushing through the water. He couldn’t take his eyes off Mari. Illuminated by the moonlight, she seemed ethereal, angelic. She was finally back in Hawk’s Lake. This time, he didn’t want to stay away from her. “Look at all the stars.”
    She was silent for a while. “You’re right, Brian,” she whispered. “It seems as though I can reach out and touch them.”
    Her head was bent back, and he wanted to touch his lips to the curve of her neck.
    â€œI brought some wine,” he said. “Are you in?”
    â€œDefinitely.”
    He pulled out a corkscrew from his pocket and, by the glow of a flashlight, he uncorked the wine and poured it into two plastic cups.
    â€œA toast?” he said, holding up his cup.
    Mari held up hers, too. “To Hawk’s Lake,” she said. “The best place in the world.”
    He had the urge to sit beside her, put his arm around her and let her rest her head on his shoulder, but he didn’t want her to move away.
    â€œI know you don’t think so, Brian. But that’s because you’ve always lived here. You take things for granted.”
    She was quiet for a minute. “I’d like to stay here forever.”
    â€œForever is a long time in a place like this. What would you do?”
    â€œHonestly?” She raised an eyebrow, and he nodded. “I would really like to make pottery and sell it in the little gift shops here, and then—” She stopped abruptly. “Well, there’s no sense carrying on. I’ll probably have to go back.”
    â€œSo you’ve thought about it?”
    â€œI never really stop thinking about it, but I don’t want to talk about Sherwood. Not on such a beautiful night. But thanks for asking.”
    She reached over and took his hand, and he took that opportunity to move next to her.
    He put his arm around her and hugged her to his side, just like an old friend.
    But when he smelled the hint of strawberries on her hair and caught the floral scent of her skin, it was hard to remember that they were just old friends. Or that he’d thrown