“Yeah.” He went back to the physical therapy exercises, carefully lifting my leg up, up, then down. “I bought one a few years ago from a retired couple who’d sailed all over the world on it. I’ve been fixing it up, personalizing it, making it my own. I named herMonikafor my mom. Mom’s been going downhill fast, her condition more aggressive than most, and the doctors don’t expect her to live more than a few years. After she dies, I’m planning on leaving everything behind and just sailing away.” He paused, clearing his throat. “That’s why I don’t bother having surgery on my face. What’s the point in fixing my ugly scars when no one will see me where I’m going?” Color crept into his face, and he ducked his head.
Compassion tugged at me. I didn’t like that Adrik felt so ugly and alone. He didn’t have to be alone.
But I sensed he wouldn’t want my pity.
“Wow. That’s…fascinating. It sounds scary, but also,exhilarating. Freeing.” It sounded likeheaven.
He bobbed his head in a nod. “Yeah.”
“Take me with you.”
He jolted, dropping my leg, his gaze darting to mine. “Excuse me?”
“Take me with you,” I repeated.
He cocked a brow. “What about your piano?”
I shrugged. “It’s not going anywhere. It’ll be right here waiting when we get back.”
He stared at me, an indecipherable look in his eyes. “You joke.”
I held his stare. “I do not. I’m not like everyone else in my family. I’m the weirdo. I don’t feel like I really belong, like I’m the ‘redheaded stepchild’ or something. Do you know how badly I want to just run away from it all?”
His gaze bore into mine. “You’re not weird.”
I disagreed. “Yeah, I am. How many women my age do you know who never socialize, never date, and spend most of their time playing the piano?”
Our gazes locked.
“None,” he admitted at last, a tenderness in his eyes. “You’re special.” He reddened and lowered his gaze.
He thought I was special? Warmth spread throughout my entire body. He was special, too.
He lifted his head, looking into my eyes again. “You really want to sail the world with me?”
“Yes, thank you for asking. I do. Let’s go.”
He chuckled, his gaze softening even more.
Then his expression turned cautious. “I don’t think your family would like that.”
I shrugged. “I’m an adult. I can do whatever I want.”
An uneasy look crossed his face. He lifted my other leg and began the stretches. The tingles continued down my leg with each movement, more prominent than before. But I was too distracted by our conversation to pay much attention.
“You think I’m joking.”
He hesitated. “Yeah. No offense, but you’re a Popov. You have everything and anything you could ever want. Why would you want to run away withme?”
I grabbed his hand, and he halted, his gaze darting back to mine.
“You think I care about money or possessions? I like you, Adrik. You’re a true hero, and I’ve witnessed the beauty of your soul.” I paused, holding his stare. And in that moment, I decided to just be truthful with him. “Honestly, I’ve never been as attracted to a man as I am to you. It started the moment I first saw you across the yard a few years ago and hasn’t gone away since. You take my breath away, Adrik, and every time you’re near, my heart flutters like crazy. There’s something special about you and Ilikebeing around you. You’re good for my soul.”
He dropped my leg again, blowing out a breath. “Annika…”
I snagged his hand. “Look in my eyes, Adrik. Tell me what you see.”
He slowly lifted his gaze to mine. Hesitantly, he searched my eyes, then dropped his gaze and yanked his hand free. “No woman haseverbeen attracted to me. They take one look at my face and shy away.”