It is a hot day, the sun beating down, warming the skin. Tourists are wearing big floppy hats and sunglasses. I kick myself for leaving mine in the room.
Leah and I make it the dock of the marina promptly at twelve o’clock and follow the instructions on the note as to where we should meet our boat.
Even if we didn’t have instructions we would have been able to figure out where we needed to go quickly. Amongst the older sailboats and motorboats is a very modern speedboat of black and silver, standing out like a supermodel in an old-age home. There is no ignoring the sleekness, newness, and absolute beauty of the boat. It looks like a bullet with its long, curved bow and is accented with see-through black glass and chrome.
The boat Devon drove yesterday was really nice but this piece of nautical transportation is down right sexy.
Sexy.
Sexy.
Sexy.
And I am no longer talking about the boat.
Leah must have the same reaction because she gasps out loud, and grabs my arm. We both halt as a man appears, climbing up from the inside cabin. He has on a black crew-neck shirt and light gray shorts. His blond hair is perfectly styled back, accenting the prominent cheekbones and square jaw of his face.
His arms flex out as he reaches around the captain’s chair and checks the instruments on the dashboard. His back muscles come into full view through the thin material of his shirt and I get an eyeful of something I hadn’t seen yesterday. A perfectly defined ass.
He turns around just in time to see Leah and I gawking at him. My only saving grace is he wearing dark sunglasses that cover those golden eyes.
Leah turns her back to the boat and stands so close to me her shoulder rubs against mine. Leaning into my ear she asks, “Is that the guy you met yesterday?”
I nod my head yes.
“The one who was mad you were in the music room?”
I nod my head yes, again.
“And yesterday was the first time you ever saw him?”
I nod my head yes, again, even though it’s a ridiculous question.
The bow of her mouth puckers out and she looks down as if trying to work something out. She opens her mouth and then closes it again before looking at me. It’s for the briefest of moments, yet it feels like she’s studying me for an eternity.
“Okay, then.” With a nod, Leah turns around and faces the boat, pulling my hand up to the stern. “Hello! I’m Leah.”
Asher steps forward and meets us by the back of the boat. He gives Leah a polite nod and then turns his face toward me. I can feel his gaze drilling me through those damned glasses.
“Emma, pleasure to see you again.” His full lips are curved up on the side.
Leah looks at me, and then Asher, before giving me a nudge on my lower back. “After you, sis.”
My body jerks slightly forward. Asher holds out a hand and I take it as I cautiously move my feet from the stone dock to the boat. I do not want any sort of mishap as I had yesterday.
His large hand holds onto mine, steady, as I climb on board. Sensing my unease, Asher pulls me toward him until I am flush to his front and wraps a hand around my waist. My body reacts in a non-lady like way to the hardness of his chest. I back away quickly and take a seat on the white cushion of the seating area of the boat.
When I am safely in place, Asher turns back to the stern and offers a hand to Leah. She puts out her hand and then quickly retrieves it before grabbing her stomach.
“Oh no.” She grumbles, bending over slightly.
I swivel my body around in my seat. “What’s the matter?”
“I feel sick. I can’t go.” Her hand rubs her tummy and her cheeks sallow in.
“Let’s go back to the hotel.” I rise from my seat but Leah puts her hand up in the air.
“No!” She exclaims, then retrieves her sickly composure. “No, please. You enjoy the ride. Devon went through a lot of trouble and I’d hate to waste it.” She turns to Asher, “Please, take care of my sister.”
If the sun weren’t glaring in my direction, I could swear she winked at him.