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“Your bachelor party?” Mikelina tried to keep her voice down, but she heard the outrage in it. “You’re married?”
“God, no.” He lifted his head up to stare at her. He held out his left hand. No ring. “Not for five years, no. We’re divorced. Happily divorced. I’m not even seeing anyone. In fact...” he frowned “...you’re the first woman I’ve slept with in over a year. Damn, no wonder I’m all over you. Not that you’re not irresistible, because you are.”
“Nice recovery. It’s been about that long for me, too.”
“Why?” he asked, sounding aghast. “Are the men in South Beach idiots?”
“I travel a lot,” she said. “I meet a lot of jerks.”
“I’m sorry about that. You deserve to meet someone who treats you like a queen.”
“You’re doing all right.”
“I’m a prick, remember?”
“I remember your prick.” She tried to push him off the paddleboard, but he was too heavy. She wound up pushing herself away from him instead.
“I would hope you remember it. Although, I am regretting not going home with you last night. It would be fresher in both of our minds if I got to make love to you last night.”
“No regrets,” she said. “No matter what happens these next few days, I don’t want you to have any regrets.”
“Then I think I want you in my bed. Or in your bed. Up against the wall. I’m not picky. I was fantasizing fucking you on the kitchen island last night.” He dragged her board back to his so they were touching. “Will you be my girlfriend for the next week and a half?”
Mikelina had to laugh. “I don’t know if I can commit to that.”
“Why not?” he growled.
“Because I might not want to let you go after the bachelor party is over.”
Bastien was quiet for such a long time, she was afraid that she had made it weird and awkward. Just as she was about to make a joke to hopefully smooth things over, he said, “I’m willing to take that chance.”
“Are you?” she said, her heart suddenly pounding loud in her ears.
“We’ve got something going on already. It’s chemistry, sure. Pure unadulterated lust, that’s for damned sure. But I really like you, Mikelina. It doesn’t have to end when I go back to New York.”
For a moment, she was elated. Once the bachelor party was gone, she wouldn’t have to worry so much about her reputation.
But then she remembered who her father was. She’d have to tell Bastien about him if they were going to have a relationship beyond these two weeks.
“Let’s get through the bachelor party first,” she said breathlessly.
“You want to follow the schedule?” he asked. “Where’s your spontaneity?”
“I think you’re rubbing off on me.”
He groaned. “I’d love to rub off on you.”
After lunch on board the sailboat that had been giving them a tour of the bay, it was time to head back to the beach house. Bastien had a cookout scheduled with an ocean’s worth of seafood that was sitting in the fridge. She only hoped that Jace, Zack, Shane and Max would be around to help eat it.
Back at the park, Mikelina grabbed her backpack from the lockers. “I’m going to get changed. I’ll be right out.”
Bastien was still talking with the guide, so he just nodded and waved.
She walked into the changing room. It was empty so she had her pick of the little stalls. Closing the bamboo shade, she stripped out of her wet suit and toweled herself off. She was having fun despite it being on borrowed time. For Bastien’s sake, though, she hoped the guys would make it an early night so they could all go parasailing tomorrow. She sure as hell wasn’t going to go up four hundred feet in the air.
The door of the changing room opened and she peeked out of the curtain. She was surprised to see that Bastien had followed her in.
“Shh,” he said, coming inside the little cubicle with her.
