'Well my lovelies, what is your preference for a lunch time anchor?' His knowing smile and now familiar raised left eyebrow directed straight at Imogen indicated quite plainly that he had caught her ogling his back or was that butt. For the umpteenth time Imogen felt herself blush like a school girl. To hide her embarrassment and in an attempt to ignore Ethan's magnetism Imogen made a big deal out of looking over her shoulder for a quiet cove to drop anchor as the boat puttered at low speed. While ostensibly looking at the slowly passing shoreline her mind whirled with the ramifications of the change in Ethan. In the 2 days following Saturday night's dinner Ethan had kept his distance. Cursory "Good mornings" and tight lipped "Good nights" book ended a day spent virtually alone. Chloe had spent Sunday night at a sleep over that stretched into all of Monday. There had still been Darlene but Imogen could hardly spend her day disrupting the ordered existence of the housekeeper, especially as arrangements for the party were in full forward mode. She had kept busy with the few tasks assigned to her and Ethan's exhaustive library but she still felt lonely. Ethan explained away his daughter's complaints of his unusually long hours away from home. Catching up on paper work, he said. Imogen grimaced as she knew that she was the singular reason why he had had to catch up. Ethan didn't appear to be one who ever got behind.
'A penny for them?' Ethan's whisper in her ear brought her out of her musings and back onto the boat. 'Or perhaps a dollar, any amount if it will clear that frown from your brow.'
Deciding to once again put her doubts and worries away Imogen pasted a brilliant smile on her face. She turned and was disconcerted to find Ethan sitting close, thighs touching, looking intently into her eyes.
'Um… here looks nice.' Ethan's gaze followed her outstretched hand and shook his head trying obviously to suppress a chortle. Imogen dragged her glazed eyes away and sighed disappointedly at her random choice. Thankfully Ethan returned to the helm and headed away from the jagged rocks towards a delightful cove with towering sides and calm water. The serenity of the hushed scene seemed palpable, soaking into the bones until a great sigh just had to burst out.
And sigh Imogen did drawing Ethan's gaze. He was glad that whatever caused her brown to pleat no longer affected her. In it's place a dazzling smile this time genuine. It seemed that at this moment at least all was right with her world. Though he conceded this situation couldn't go on forever. It was not fair to Imogen to continue living in a kind a limbo. A company credit card but not his employee, mothering Chloe but not her mummy, living under his roof but not his partner.