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The moon slipped out from behind a cloud illuminating him as if a spotlight shone from the heavens. I met his gaze and drew in a breath. Holding the plate with stiff fingers, I couldn't look away from him. He lounged on one of the bright blue and white striped cushioned chairs, his ankle resting on his knee. A highball glass dangled from his fingers. He hadn't left after all.
Lord, this man! Could he be any more attractive?
He raised his glass, tipped it slightly in my direction, and then finished off his drink. His smile, his perfect smile, caused a tingle of delight to rush over my skin. He set the glass on the table in front of him. What was he going to do next? Did I want him to come to me?
A crash and shout from behind the bar broke the spell he'd cast over me. Normally, I'd check to see what had happened, but not this time. I stood there stupidly staring at this man who had crawled under my skin.
What on earth was happening? Everything about him was oh so wrong, and yet all I wanted was for him to sweep me off my feet and carry me away. He stretched his arms across the back of the cushions, never breaking eye contact.
And I knew how right it would be with him.
This was not good. His ability to distract me with a single glance was alarming. I was captain of this ship and needed to remind myself of that. I couldn't behave like a silly high school girl smitten by a good-looking boy.
Nope. I had a job to do.
I smiled, inclined my head, and turned away as casually as possible. Once in my cabin, I put down the plate with shaking hands.
I needed a cold shower to snap myself out of this crush. Getting involved with Beck was not the best idea.
Goddamn!
Was all he could manage when Micki disappeared through the doorway. Everything in him told him to go to her. But he'd resisted knowing full well they'd end up in bed. Which wasn't a bad thing, right?
Wrong. He chastised himself for the thoughts he was having about her. It made him feel awkward. She was his friend and business partner's relation, and that right there, was a no-no, not to mention that she was almost fifteen years younger than him. Plus, she was on his payroll, and that was another barrier for professional reasons.
But damn, he couldn't get her out of his mind. Beck rested his head back and stared up at the sky. Clouds were rolling in and the moon was shy behind them, now and then peeking out and casting its silver light to the earth.
The music and laughter from the deck party faded away as he lost himself in thought. Most of it revolved around Micki. The sooner they got this show on the road and the sooner Fletch healed, the better. He checked his watch and snorted. He stood and met the gaze of the lead deckhand as a signal to wind down the party.
Nothing good ever happened after midnight.
8
Morning had come way too early for me. After the party last night, being late to bed, and the fact that I couldn't stop thinking about Beck. I'd doze off and jolted awake with dreams of him. Somehow I had to get him out of my system. I couldn't let him disrupt me.
I was utterly exhausted and had a long cool shower hoping to snap me out of it. Coffee. I needed coffee something fierce.
This gig was so quick coming together that I hadn't been able to round up a couple of my most reliable crew mates. They came with me on most of my jobs. Benny served as Officer of the Watch and Skye as Chief Engineer. I counted on them and trusted them implicitly. I knew this trip I'd been on high alert with the new crew regardless of Fletch's reassurances. I reported directly to the owner, — Beck — as the hierarchy went aboard, all other crew members reported up the chain of command to me.
Beck's assistant provided me with the itinerary for the next five weeks. After today's guests and their overnight stay, we had two days to get ready for a passage to the barrier islands, spend overnight at sea, and arrive in the morning for the shore excursion cruise back overnight to Love Beach for the following morning. Then it was prep and provision for next weekend for the July 4 party aboard Intrepid.
Today the crew would be busy prepping for guests. Provisioning was brought aboard and stored and Intrepid was stocked to the gills with drink, food, and everything needed for the comfort of the guests. Too big to tie up dockside, we were moored in the basin, which meant ferrying provisions back and forth.
I bent over the chart table, plotting the course we would take to the island. It was roughly a twelve-and-a-half-hour passage. For Beck and his guests to spend the day at the destination, we'd have to depart the evening before and arrive early in the morning. At the moment, all conditions were favorable and the future forecast was good.
I stood and stretched and looked out the wheelhouse windows at Passion Cove Yacht Club. The sun was still low on the horizon, painting the view in golden light. Turning, I watched the sun slowly rise on the horizon, and smiled its light on the Earth. It never got old.
Intrepid was beautiful and I'd already fallen in love with her and understood why Fletch was possessive about her. Perhaps we'd battle for control one day. I smiled thinking of us side by side at the helm.
My nose twitched. The aroma of breakfast drifted on the sea air and my stomach grumbled. I was hungry and debated heading down to the galley for coffee and something to eat. Maybe in a minute.
I rested my hand on the bulkhead, feeling the smooth rumble of the auxiliary power. Six bells and all was well.
I sat in the captain's chair and swiveled to watch the rest of the sunrise when I heard a clink of china.
"Good morning, Captain." One of the stewards approached with a tray. I admired her attire. The white pullover and deep plum-colored knee-length shorts finished with a white belt, smart and spotless.
"Morning, Jessica."
