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I’m going to be that guest.

“Alright. Are you ready to head back? ”

Glancing around, I take a few more photos, including a few selfies with Nicky. There’s no chance I’m not committing every moment of this trip to film. Or digital film, as the case may be.

“Now can we go?” Nicky asks after smiling indulgently for ‘just one more shot’.

I do a quick scroll of my photos and nod, satisfied. “Yep, let’s go.”

We walk side-by-side back to Seraph and separate when we get there with plans to meet up for dinner in an hour. I use this time apart to send photos of the yacht, the town, and the crepe to Tanya, who replies instantly, telling me she wishes we could switch lives.

Fair.

I send a quick-fire email to my parents and Matt with an update, keeping the details of our trip vague and light, not knowing what to share with them about my time with Nicky. Because while everything between us feels different— more —in the days after his crash, nothing has really changed.

Even if it feels like it has.

Shrugging off these thoughts, I take a long shower to freshen up, coating my skin with my favourite coconut-scented body lotion.

It feels fitting to smell tropical while sailing the seas.

I apply a light layer of make-up and slip on a long, breezy maxi dress, which skims my curves, hinting at rather than revealing the shape of my body underneath.

My stomach grumbles just as I fasten the straps on my sandals and I make my way upstairs to where our dinner is being served. Glowing in candlelight. With the burnt orange setting sun as our backdrop.

It’s the most romantic dinner set up in the world.

“Cherry.” Nicky’s deep voice draws me out of my daze and over to where he’s standing off to the side looking like a snack in a pair of beige chinos and a light blue shirt that highlights the tan he’s already developed over the last five hours.

My freckled skin screams: That’s not fair!

“Hi,” I say somewhat shyly, aware it’s just the two of us here awaiting the moonlight.

“Are you hungry?”

My stomach answers for me and my cheeks flush.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Why don’t we eat?”

We sit next to each other as Rachel brings up the first course. “Bread crumbed and pan-seared scallops with a burnt butter sauce.”

“Oh, fancy,” I breathe out, taking a photo of my plate before diving right in. “Oh my gosh. This is amazing.”

I gobble down all three scallops in record time, looking up to find Nicky watching me with a small smile.

“It’s so good,” I tell him, like he doesn’t already know.

He nods. “Yes, it is.”

Rachel quietly removes our plates and serves the next course. I dip my spoon into the creamy leak and potato soup and let out a moan of pure appreciation.

He grips his spoon a little tighter, his gaze following my tongue as it licks my lips.

Yikes, that’s hot.

Both the soup and the look in his eyes.

I swallow another burning mouthful and clear my throat. “I’ve been wondering. If you weren’t an F1 driver, what would you be?”

He tilts his head. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, if you could do anything else, what would you do?”

“Hmm.” He rests his spoon next to his now-empty bowl and rubs the back of his neck. It’s like I’ve asked him a question no one’s ever asked before. “I think I’d do something with my hands. ”

My gaze flickers to said hands and I take in a silent gulp. His hands are strong and veiny—a masterpiece.

“Such as?” I garble out some words, mentally fanning myself.

“Like a landscape gardener, or something like that.” His cheeks are tinged pink and I wonder at it. Is he embarrassed by this answer?

“I think you’d be great at that. Your garden at home is amazing.”

His eyes flare at my use of the word ‘home.’ “Thanks, but I can take zero credit for that. I helped design it but am never home long enough to nurture it.”

Ah yes, that makes sense.

Rachel clears our soup bowls and serves the main course. Lobster tails with a buttery sauce. Oh boy, I’m in culinary heaven.

“Thanks,” Nicky smiles at her and she titters. “What about you?” He turns his attention back to me. “Are you doing your dream job?”

I nibble at my food, giving it some thought. “I guess I enjoy most of what I do. Being part of this team and travelling the world with you guys is like a dream come true. I’m just wondering if I could be…more?”

His eyes hold mine hostage. “But what you are and what you do, is enough.”

My heart squeezes. How many times had I wished Troy would say something like that, and how many times he had said the opposite? In one short sentence, Nicky had soothed a part of me I hadn’t known was still sore.

“Thanks,” I whisper, blinking away tears.

“But you know, everyone can do more. I was thinking of developing Cherry’s Corner into a podcast or something on YouTube.

Doing candid interviews in the paddock with the drivers and pit crew.

But instead of asking them about F1, I’ll ask them about their favourite movies and their childhood pets. Things like that.”

His answering grin is excited. “I love that idea. The drivers get so tired of talking about racing. You should start with Nate. He’d happily spend all day talking about cricket.”

I scrunch my nose. Ew. Cricket. “I mean, that sounds…”

“Boring?” His laughter booms loudly in the silent ocean air. “Yeah, just don’t tell him that.”

We sink into a happy silence as Rachel places the last course in front of us. An exquisitely light and fluffy chocolate mousse. This meal has been chef’s kiss.

“What do we do now?” I ask as Rachel clears the table and leaves us alone.

Nicky stares out into the ocean beyond the yacht, before getting up and walking to the edge of the deck.

The sky, now a deep navy colour peppered with sparkling bright stars, is a perfect backdrop for the man leaning against the railing.

And like he’s a beacon, I follow him until we’re standing side-by-side, arms brushing against each other.

We stand in silence, both watching gentle waves lapping up against the marina and I wonder what’s going to happen next.

It feels like all our moments have led us here.

“It’s so peaceful,” I say softly.

He turns his face towards me, his eyes tracing a path from my eyes to my lips and back up again, a muscle bouncing in his cheek as he swallows hard.

“Cherry—” He stops and I lean closer.

“Yes?”

He turns to face me fully and I see hesitation flash across his face.

“Cherry—” he starts and stops again .

I sway towards him, brushing my chest against his and swallow a sigh as his strong hands cradle my face, his thumbs caressing my cheekbones.

I watch, not breathing as his lips inch closer, his nose softly nudging mine.

We stand like this, suspended in time, breathing each other in and then ever so slowly he leans down further and presses his lips against mine.

Nicky is kissing me.

Finally.

For a full second, I don’t respond, revelling instead in the gentle way his mouth is just tasting mine.

Like he’s been waiting for this moment and is savouring every second.

And then, it changes. His lips are no longer soft but are more urgent, more insistent, and I open up for him.

I kiss him back with an intensity to match his, my mouth fusing to his like it was always meant to be there.

As the kiss deepens, a soft groan escapes him and he sinks his hands into my hair.

Trembling now, I draw back to gasp in some air and his lips follow mine, nibbling on my mouth before deepening the kiss again.

Lifting onto my tippy toes, I push up to press my chest against his and anchor my arms around his neck.

His hands shake slightly as they move to cradle my jaw, angling my mouth to gain better access and I whimper as he sucks on my lower lip, my spine tingling with all the sensations.

We kiss like this for minutes or hours, switching from tasting each other to grinding our lips together. Nicky seems to know exactly how I want to be kissed and I know when we’re done here, I’ll be ruined for any other kisses from any other man for the rest of my life.

“Cherry—” He pulls away and gulps in a mouthful of air.

“Nope.” I crash my lips back on his, craving his touch the second it’s gone .

This time, he follows my lead, his arms banded like steel behind my back.

My weak knees buckle and I give up on standing, wrapping my legs around his waist, revelling in the way his hands grip my butt to hold me up.

In this position, our lips line up perfectly and I shudder when he pulls back and brushes his lips gently, gently over mine.

“Wow.”

Nicky clears his throat, not letting me go. I hold on to him, like a koala wrapped around a tree, as he nuzzles his nose in my hair.

“Cherry—” he tries again.

I lean back, drinking in his swollen pink lips and his heavy-lidded eyes. A small thrill rips through me at how thoroughly kissed he looks.

“Yes?”

“It’s probably too late to ask now, but was that okay?”

I giggle, nipping at his plump lower lip, before tightening my arms around his neck. “It was more than, okay. Don’t you think?”

His laughter is filled with relief as he carries me over to a lounge chair, lying back and settling me between his legs.

I sink back against him, resting my head against his chest and looking up into the ink-black sky.

We’ve been in many positions together over the past few months, but this one right here? This may be my favourite.

“I have to tell you something. To explain…” His voice is deep in the night air.

“Okay.”

He wraps his arms around my waist, his thumbs rubbing soft circles over my hips. My skin pebbles with goose pimples and I swallow down a moan.

“Firstly, I shouldn’t have launched myself at you just then. I should’ve asked for your permission. ”

I wave this away. “I loved the way you launched. Very romantic.”

His chuckle vibrates through his chest. “Even still, you must feel like I’m giving you mixed signals. One minute I’m asking for space, the next my mouth is on yours.”

When he puts it like that, I guess I do have questions. I tip my head back to look up at him. “I mean, you have a point. What’s changed between Montreal and now?”

“Silverstone.” His lips are set in a grim line. “When I hit that wall at that speed, all I could think about was all the things I haven’t done. And kissing you was at the top of that list.”

“Wow,” I mouth silently.

“And I know we have a few obstacles in our way. Matt’s a big one, not to mention I’m your boss. But when I was sitting in my car, not sure if I would walk out of there alive, I promised myself not to waste any more time. To not waste another moment without you.”

My heart thunders and I roll over so I can look into his beautiful face. “Thank you for explaining. And for what it’s worth, those obstacles you’re talking about? In my mind, they don’t even exist. I want to be with you, Nicky. I’ve always wanted to be with you.”

He reaches down and hooks his hands under my arms, pulling me up so I’m lying flush against his solid body. His lips find mine with another kiss, so heavenly, I’d happily die here where we lay. With his hands gripping my face like he never wants to let me go.

“Oh my gosh.” I pull back and press my fingers to my tingling lips, glancing around me. “We’re those guests the staff will complain about for inappropriate public displays of affection.”

Nicky pulls me back to rest flush against him, his arms behind me anchoring me in place. “First, we are not guests. I own the yacht. And second, there was nothing inappropriate about that display of affection.”

I tip my head back and smile at him, exhaling deeply when his mouth fuses with mine again.

Oh, I could get used to this.

We break apart again to stare at each other for a long while and I lose myself in his velvety brown eyes. And the expression I see in them.

“We should go to bed,” he says finally.

“Okay.” I sit up and tug on his hand and he laughs behind me.

“You’re going to your bed and I’m going to mine.”

I pout at him and flutter my eyelashes.

“That won’t work, Cherry. We’re doing this the right way. And I’m being a gentleman.”

I pull out the big guns.

“And that dimple won’t work on me either.”

I stare up at him, smiling harder now.

“Come on, Cherry,” he groans. “I want to do the right thing.”

“Fine,” I sigh. “But I demand one last goodnight kiss.”

We stop in front of the door to my room and he pushes me gently against it, kissing me in a way that has me forgetting my name.

“Goodnight, Cherry. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Through heart-filled eyes, I watch him walk away and then rush to get into bed. The sooner I fall asleep, the sooner it will be morning.

And we can start all the kissing again.