I sat across the table from him, a plate of perfectly grilled salmon in front of me, a glass of chilled white wine in my hand. He was almost finished. I’d barely touched my dinner. My heart was thumping uncomfortably against my stomach and I had a feeling food wouldn’t help. My thoughts were running every direction at once. But mostly, I couldn’t figure out why I hadn’t known all along. How could I have given myself to him and not known… And why the hell hadn’t he told me…?

“I should probably be getting back…,” I said, putting my napkin back up on the table. “I haven’t even been inside the cottage yet. As soon as we docked, I couldn’t get Violet to leave the beach.” I stood up, my chair legs scraped the tile floor softly. “Mattie and Jane got stuck with all the unpacking. I should at least be there to put Violet to bed.” He stood, too, and his napkin fell to the floor. “This is more change than she’s used to…,” I went on. “And it’s already late…”

“But I haven’t shown you the house…,” he took my hands in his. They were warm and steadying. “You are still willing to stay… to do the job I hired you for?”

“Yes… I… as long as… If Vi settles in,” I stumbled over the words, distracted by his thumb rubbing warm circles into my palm. “This is all a lot to absorb,” I said honestly. “You, this job… what we did… Hell, our whole history.” I took a deep breath and withdrew my hand. “I can see the house in the morning. We can talk about your ideas then, and I can work up some designs for you to consider.”

“And I want to see them,” he said. “I very much want to hear your ideas, your vision for this house. It’s only brick and wood now.” I stared up at him, his face so familiar. I’d almost forgotten how expressive his eyes were…

“I want you to turn these big, empty rooms into a home,” he finished. “And I have some particular needs we can discuss later on.

Here,” he gestured toward the heavy wooden doors. “I’ll walk you back to the cottage. I’ve almost finished laying the flagstones, but it’s dark… and I haven’t installed the lighting yet.”

We stepped out into the cooling night air and he slipped his jacket around my shoulders. He took my hand in his, and our arms swung gently between us as we walked. A big yellow moon hung in the night sky, streaked with thin clouds. I could smell the salt water.

I closed my eyes, letting his hand… his presence... at my side guide me. Without intention, I leaned into his arm, and we walked without speaking until we reached the stone wall that bordered the cottage garden. Raised beds held a variety of newly planted flowers. A handmade wooden swing set sat close to the back door, sheltered from the breeze that blew in over the water. An enormous wave of gratitude washed over me, knowing he’d done all this for me… for my child. I turned, putting my hands on his chest. His muscles flexed under my hands and I felt that powerful pull between us again.

“You should go in,” he said. “It’s cold.

Can I meet you here in the morning… about nine? There’s a lot to discuss.”

“I’ll come up to you,” I said quickly.

He ran his fingers down my arm. “Good. I won’t press you for more, not tonight.” He lifted my mouth to his, his fingers under my chin. His kiss was patient… sweet. “Just sleep...and we’ll start fresh in the morning.” But I could see in his eyes that he wanted to say more.

He ran a thumb across my bottom lip. “I thought that if I told you I was your new boss… well, that you just might disappear again. I wasn’t willing to take the chance.” He looked at me intently, and I flashed to being naked in his arms, his cock in my…

“Goodnight, Will,” I said, tearing myself away. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

I opened the door to the cottage and it closed behind me with a soft click. No need for a key, I thought with a blink. We’re the only ones on the island…

It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. I stood waiting, as details of the room began to appear. Moonlight reflected off the water and through the tall glass windows. The living room was larger than I’d expected, and a short hall extended to the left. The bedroom doors were closed. Mattie and Vi must be asleep, I thought. Except that I heard shuffling sounds… and the first few notes of a waltz. I followed the music and found her, sitting at a piano in her favorite pink pajamas. She knew the keys, without even looking away from the view of the ocean. She played softly… quietly…

“You should be in bed, baby,” I said gently, as my mind raced. How had he known… to bring a piano to an island…? She didn’t turn around, but dropped her hands into her lap, her sign of acceptance. I wrapped my arms around her and picked her up, and she pointed to the hall and the door that was hers. She smelled clean and sweet as I tucked her under the covers and kissed her cheek.

I wanted to curl up beside her, to hold her and feel the reassurance of her light, sleepy breathing. But I was trying hard to follow doctor’s orders. And the specialist we’d consulted had agreed. I had to respect her independence and her need for space. Even though, in so many ways, she still reminded me of the baby she used to be, she was growing up. And I had to do everything I could to help my special child adjust to the world around her. Coming here, changing up the familiar rhythm of our lives, was a part of all that. I stroked her hair, humming one of my favorite songs, until she fell asleep. My beautiful girl…

She could play any piece she’d ever heard, after only hearing it once. Music came to her as naturally as speech came to other children. She used it to communicate, if you knew enough to listen. Savant, the specialist had said.

I closed her door and found my way to the room where Mattie slept. I curled up on my own bed, without bothering to undress, and listened to the soft sound of Mattie’s throaty snoring. My baby girl was getting close to her fifth birthday. On a good day, she might meet my eyes without looking away. She was gaining weight finally, but slowly. Donna had arranged to work with her in private sessions, and she was learning to draw simple pictures and letters. All of it was good news. But even with all the specialists, all the therapy, my baby girl had never used her voice. Not once. Not to cry, not to speak, not to call me mama…

I closed my eyes, exhausted, overwhelmed by the last few days. How could I even begin to deal with finding Will again… with discovering that he was my new boss… with the fact that only last night he’d tied me up and fucked me…? And left me wanting more…

I’d disappeared with my daughter to escape the bonds of the past. And now he was back, having moved heaven and hell to find me. He’d told me he didn’t want any more secrets between us, and yet he’d made sure Jane never told me his name. William Bond. My Will. I’d let go of him once… but never in my heart. I’d already admitted that much… He knew how much I wanted him still. And he wanted me…

But nothing was as simple as he thought. Not the past, and certainly not the present…

I was still wearing my mask… in so many ways…

And something inside me said that he was, as well…

I felt my chest rise and fall with a heavy breath, and felt my eyelids flutter with exhaustion.

He was the only man I’d ever wanted… and he’d given us a piano with a view of the sea…

And I fell into a restless sleep, dreaming of satin sashes and Will’s strong hands, all set to the soft, lonely strains of a Chopin waltz.