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“Hard-ass.”
Smiling, she got dressed. Alex climbed aboard completely naked, and Hope sharpened her gaze at the straight lines of multiple surgical scars running down his right hip. He used his hands to push the water off his body, then changed back into his board shorts.
Hope couldn’t resist looking at him—he was a beautifully built man, and she loved watching the muscles move under his skin.
She widened her eyes, putting a hand to her mouth.
“What?”
“Oh no.” She laughed. “You have to get your shirt on before we get home! You’ve got bite marks on both shoulders.”
He pressed a hand against his skin, inspecting the damage. “Well done. I’ll wear them as a badge of honor.”
“Oh, shut up and put your shirt back on.”
He did, but his smile faded. “I better call Patti. I’ve already put her through a lot—the boat sinking wasn’t that long ago.”
Hope nodded, encircling his waist. “I know. I feel bad too.” She ran a finger down the center of his chest. “Having regrets already?”
Alex pulled her to him, kissing her deeply. “Not a chance.” Then he pulled away with a sigh. “I’ll try to keep this short. Wish me luck.”
He climbed up the ladder to call Patti. “We’re fine, Patti. It’s ok. I’m sorry—we didn’t mean to worry you. We were out of cell range.” There was a pause. “Less than ten minutes out now.” He winced and held the phone out from his ear. “Calm down. We had rougher water than I was expecting, and I wanted to show Hope some things on St. Croix she hadn’t seen before.”
He said this last part to Hope with a broad grin as she rolled her eyes.
“I lost track of time a little. Look, Patti, the water is rough out here—I need to concentrate. We’ll be there in a few minutes. Bye.” He hung up. “Well, that was fun.”
Hope glanced at the flat, calm water and pressed against his chest. “Seems like Golden Boy is in trouble. Though I noticed you took the blame instead of sharing it with me. Very gallant of you.”
“No sense in both of us being in the doghouse.”
Half Moon Bay appeared, and Alex angled the boat in, becoming pensive. He throttled down and cupped her face in his hands, his eyes full of emotion. “Thank you. This has . . .” He flushed. “Well, it’s been one of the best days of my life. I’ve felt alive today in ways I haven’t for a very long time. It’s hard for me to . . . open up about my injury. Being with you helped. I’ve spent years now just trying to bury it.”
“Oh, Alex. Thank you for trusting me.” His eye contact was too much for her, and she wrapped her arms around him. “Today was . . . I don’t even know how to describe what I’m feeling. I don’t want it to end.”
“Me either. But Patti’s probably got binoculars trained on us right now—I think it’s time to face the music.”
That brought more uneasiness. She hated feeling insecure but couldn’t help it now, afraid this would all come crashing down. He turned back toward the console, and she pulled him toward her again.
“Stay with me tonight,” Hope said into his chest. “I need you with me.”
“Nothing would make me happier.” Alex tilted her face up to his, a corner of his mouth lifting. “But realize, Ms. Collins, this might be another dangerous situation you’re getting yourself into.”
“Promise?”
“I told you. I keep my promises.”
CHAPTER 40
The palapa at the end of the pier came into view. Hope was surprised to see a crowd milling around. Patti and Clark stood there, and a pang of guilt rolled through her. This big step wasn’t only about her or Alex. The whole resort was excited about the new boat.
Alex was soon in his element, inviting everyone aboard so he could show it off. Even Patti seemed to be more impressed than angry, which Hope counted as a major win.
Alex was talking with a female guest who also owned a commercial dive boat. It sounded like they were comparing notes. Two more guests came on board, and Hope moved back to give them room, feeling uncomfortable at the crush of people around her as her earlier disquiet returned. Alex had a crowd clustered around him. After her day of intimacy alone with him, the crowd of people seemed loud and abrasive.
A knot of anxiety built, churning in her abdomen.
The man next to her was gesticulating wildly, and she moved back further to keep from being hit by a flailing arm. Besides, no one wanted to talk to her—they only had eyes for Alex. She turned to see him and the woman leaning over the side bench to look at something. They straightened up as she said something, and both started laughing. She touched his arm, and the knot in Hope’s gut turned into a stabbing pain.
