Page 92 of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart

I shot him a playful glare. “We’re going out. Lucia and Dominique are excited to hang out with you, and I want you to see the city lights from the water. It’s romantic.”

“Romantic,” he repeated, smirking. “You know, I’m not really the yacht-cruise type, Buttercup.”

“Humor me,” I said.

I started to undress. With him watching, I might have added a little heat to the show, taking my time to torture him. He eyed me like a wolf, all but licking his chops.

I slipped into the dress and glanced in the mirror. I couldn’t help but notice the way his eyes darkened with hunger. I turned to do my makeup, feeling the weight of his gaze on my every move. I walked into the bathroom to do my hair.

He got off the bed and started to dress. There was a weird feeling in my belly. I was looking forward to going out with him. It was our first official outing as a couple. I was beyond proud to be showing up with him on my arm. Or on his arm.

By the time I was ready, he was already up and dressed, looking impossibly good in dark slacks and a button-up that made him look far too sophisticated for the wild boy I’d grown up with. I was shocked he had even brought clothing that nice. The man was more complex than I’d thought.

“Last chance to stay home with me,” he said.

“And fail to show off how dashing my boyfriend is?” I retorted, flinging an arm through his. “Not a chance.”

Kannon looked down at me and smiled. He offered no further argument. We got a taxi and sat beside each other. Our fingers were laced together and we were both smiling.

At the marina, the party yacht was lit up like the Fourth of July. My friends were already waiting on the dock as we made our way down. Lucia and Dominique waved at us. I introduced him to a few of my other friends. A couple of my single lady friends couldn’t seem to stop sneaking glances at him, and I gripped his arm a little tighter, making it clear he was mine. If one of them came after my man, they would end up in the water.

“Quite the group,” he murmured in my ear as we walked along the deck.

“They’re good people,” I said. “You’ll see.”

The yacht was decorated for the evening, a mix of understated elegance and Miami flair. Waitstaff circulated with trays of cocktails and appetizers. A soft hum of conversation and laughter filled the air. Kannon looked a little out of his element, but to his credit, he didn’t let it show.

He gravitated toward the guys almost immediately, striking up conversations about motorcycles and cars. I caught snippets of their talk as I moved around, the familiar sound of his voice a comforting constant.

Meanwhile, the girls and I claimed a cozy spot on the upper deck with a bottle of champagne. The city lights sparkled in the distance. The gentle sway of the boat made the whole scene feel like something out of a movie.

“So, that’s the Kannon,” Lindsay said, her tone dripping with amusement. “You’ve told me about him before, but you definitely left out the part where he’s a literal god. Like, who has bone structure like that?”

Lucia snorted. “He’s a bit of a scaredy cat on the road.”

“Oh, please,” Dominique said. “He thought you were going to kill us. I always feel that way when you drive. It just proves he values life.”

The girls erupted into laughter, and even I couldn’t help but join in.

“He drives recklessly,” I said, a hint of exasperation in my voice. “I swear, he’s going to give me a heart attack one of these days. He has a Harley and rides like his ass is on fire. He got in a minor wreck last week.”

“Oh shit,” Dominique said. “Is he okay?”

“He’s fine. Just a few bruises and road rash, but it scared the hell out of me.”

That earned me a chorus of sympathetic murmurs. Lindsay poured more champagne, raising her glass. “Here’s to bad boys with good hearts,” she said.

“To bad boys,” Lucia echoed, clinking her glass against mine.

I didn’t share everything—some things about Kannon were too personal, too raw to put into words over champagne and laughter. But I did tell them about his motorcycle accident, the demons he wrestled with, and how he seemed to channel all of that into riding like he was trying to outrun something.

“Have you talked to him about it?” Dominique asked.

“Not yet,” I admitted. “But I will. When the time is right.”

There was a pause. “Well, girl, you better make sure that time is soon,” Lindsay said. “A guy like that isn’t meant to be tamed.”

After a while, Kannon appeared on the upper deck. “Hey, Buttercup, the boys are getting into a poker game downstairs and I told them I’d play. Will you be okay up here?”