Her Very Strict Captain by Carpenter, Maggie (best book club books of all time TXT) 📗

He started off, his mind so focused he barely noticed the beauty of the lush foliage, or the sounds of the wildlife. When he’d hiked about ten minutes, he spotted a slight opening in the thick vegetation. It seemed too narrow and unused to lead to a house, but instinct sent him forward. Barely a minute later he found himself on a wide, cleared plateau, the vast ocean shimmering below. He paused for a moment to take it in, then returned to the track.

He didn’t have to travel far before he spied a well-trodden path leading into the forest. Cautiously starting off, he followed it around a bend, then stopped short and caught his breath.

A pristine two-story home sat in front of him.

With no other houses in sight, he was sure it belonged to Scott Specter.

Quickly retrieving an envelope from his satchel, he sucked in a deep breath. If he was there and questioned her, what would she tell him?

Plucking up his courage, he stepped up to the front door and slid the edge of the envelope into the door jamb. Finding only a keypad and no doorbell, he pressed the call button, and with his heart thumping, he hurried away.

Chapter 28

Peering down at the cove through the telescope, Elizabeth had spied a launch anchor off the beach, and saw a man climb out and march up the sand. Assuming he must be one of Jack’s team, she’d thought nothing of it.

But a short time later, hearing the call button and tuning into the security cameras, she watched a smartly dressed, sandy-haired man leave an envelope and march away. Waiting until he was out of sight, she quickly collected it and hurriedly closed the door behind her.

For Dizzy Lizzy

Personal and Confidential

Staring at the salutation and gasping in shock, she leaned against the wall and slid to the floor.

“It can’t be,” she muttered under her breath, but flashing back to the visitor’s haircut, she knew it was him.

With trembling fingers, she tore open the envelope, and pulled out a piece of paper.

I’ll explain everything. Leave the house and walk down the hill. I’ll call you as you pass by. Don’t tell anyone, and don’t bring your phone.

Her hands still shaking, she ran frantically out of the house and down the narrow path.

“Hey, Lizzy, over here.”

Turning her head and staring into the forest, she saw him standing straight and tall, his hair just as it had been when they were young teenagers.

Her first love.

The first boy she’d kissed.

The first boy who had made her heart race.

“Danny! What the hell are you doing here?” she exclaimed, racing up to him and throwing her arms around his neck. “How did you find me? What happened to you? Why didn’t you write or call or something? I’m so happy to see you.”

But overcome with emotion, joyous tears sprang from her eyes and she could no longer speak.

“Lizzy… finally…” he murmured, holding her tightly and letting out a heavy breath. “You have no idea the fine line I’ve been walking.”

“I don’t understand any of this, but I don’t care,” she sniffled. “Come back to the house. I’ll make us coffee. You have to tell me everything.”

“I can’t go up to the house,” he said softly, breaking their hug. “At least, not yet, but I found a spot where we can sit and look at the ocean while we talk.”

“I just can’t believe this. My head is spinning. How did you know where to find me?”

“I’ll explain everything, I promise,” he said, taking her hand.

Leading her a short distance through the foliage, the vegetation abruptly broke open to a wide, flat plateau. The pristine ocean looked close enough to touch, and as squawking gulls flew overhead, for a moment she thought she was dreaming.

“Before I tell you anything we have to make the vow,” he said solemnly, breaking into the surreal moment.

“Oh, my gosh, is it that bad?” she whispered, staring at him with wide eyes.

“You’ll think so at first, and you need to sit down.”

“It doesn’t matter what you’ve done.”

“You won’t understand, and I know how you can be,” he said firmly as they settled into the soft ground.

“I’m not fourteen anymore.”

He grinned, then poked out his little finger. “No, but you’re still my Dizzy Lizzy, and I know you haven’t have changed that much.”

“Okay, you’re right,” she admitted, looping her pinky around his and gazing into his warm green eyes. “My dearest Danny, I vow to listen to everything you say without jumping to any conclusions or making any judgments until you finish. I won’t interrupt, I’ll save my questions until you’re through, and no matter what, I won’t yell.”

“My dearest Lizzy, I vow to listen to everything you say without jumping to any conclusions or making any judgments until you finish. I won’t interrupt, I’ll save my questions until you’re through, and no matter what, I won’t yell.”

“Now please, please tell me everything,” she exclaimed, moving her finger away and taking hold of his hand. “Why didn’t you get in touch after you and your mother got away from that creep?”

“She was terrified the bastard would steal the mail from your mailbox, and find a way to get your phone. Which meant if I wrote to you, he’d find the note, or if I called or texted, he’d get my new number and trace us somehow. She was right to be afraid. He was capable of anything. She was even worried he’d go to your house and question you.”

“He did—he did come to our house,” Elizabeth exclaimed. “It was so scary. My parents even called the police, and she was right about my phone too. It was stolen.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. As much as I hated not being able to get in touch, I knew Mom was just being smart.”

“Thank God she never married him.”

“No shit,” Danny muttered, grimacing as he spoke.

“Where did you go?”

“A little place in the Santa Ynez Valley. It was great, except being away from