Page 8 of Beyond Me (Beyond Me #1)
Monday
“T HAT’S YOUR boat?”
My mouth dropped open as I stood on the deck overlooking the huge catamaran with the massive sails tugging in the wind.
It looked about forty feet, with gorgeous teak wood and equipment galore.
I knew nothing about sailing, rarely venturing into the water except for a quick swim, but I knew this was mega expensive.
I had expected a small motorboat we’d tool around in for the day.
Should have realized my Ivy Leaguer would impress the hell out of me.
He pushed his sunglasses up on his head and grinned.
God, he was gorgeous. The light played on his midnight brown curls and soaked into his tanned skin.
Tiny lines crinkled around his full lips as he smiled, and those eyes rivaled any body of water in the world—a searing light blue that lasered right to the soul.
He wore white shorts, boating shoes, and a collared blue shirt that stretched over his broad chest and emphasized the powerful muscles of his biceps.
Oh my. Thank goodness I had donned the daring red bikini Mackenzie had bought me and I refused previously to wear.
Right now, it was hidden discreetly under my black tank top and khaki shorts.
With my ponytail and Ked sneakers, I felt about twelve years old next to his masculine yumminess.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“It’s huge.” I expected something cozy with just us. Surely this came with a crew.
“I thought bigger was better.”
I pursed my lips at his little quip, but couldn’t help the laugh that spilled out, and quickly turned into my awful pig snort. I decided to give it back to him a bit. “Big is nice, but you have to know how to use it.”
His eyes darkened. “Oh, I know how to use it.”
A delicious shiver raced down my spine. I shrugged. “So you say. We’ll see.”
He laughed and I grinned. I was terrible at flirting, but with James, it felt natural. Like teasing him was part of the fun and the sexual spark. “Brat.” He pulled playfully at my ponytail and my scalp tingled. “Got everything you need?”
I showed him my gaily striped beach bag with towel, lotion, bottled water, phone, and a change of clothes. “Where are we going?”
He grabbed the bag and guided me toward the catamaran. “I’ll show you some sights first, head down the Gulf. I staked out a pretty place for a swim and a picnic. We’ll let the day guide us.”
The sheer freedom of those words made me giddy. No plans, no timetable, no responsibilities. How long had it been since I was able to let go? Too long. Emotion choked the back of my throat. “Sounds perfect.”
He studied my face, then smiled as if he liked what he saw. “Good. Welcome aboard.”
The marina was buzzing with activity and packed with an array of schooners, catamarans, and smaller powerboats.
Men yelled back and forth to each other, seagulls screeched in outrage or happiness, and lines formed by booths for private charters and excursions.
The sun was blinding and hot, scorching delicate skin and dousing the choppy water with glittering sparkles.
James gave me a quick tour, and I was amazed at the amount of space on the boat.
A shower, huge cabin, and fully stocked bar was down below.
Long teak benches were set up to lay out, and the brilliant white canvas was shocking against the stinging blue of sky.
“Where’s the rest of the crew?” I asked.
“Just me. No worries, I’ve been sailing since I was ten, and I know boats and the water in Key West well. Been coming here a long time. Do you trust me?”
The words meant more than boating, and I knew it. I also knew my answer. “Yes.”
His face softened. “Then I won’t let you down,” he said lightly. “Let me get started and we’ll pull out in a few.”
I settled down to watch from behind the safety of my sunglasses, sipping from a bottle of water, and admired the ripple of muscles as he moved back and forth and we drifted away from the marina.
As the crowds shrank and the noise dimmed, I was taken to another dimension where only nature ruled.
I’d only been on a boat once before, a ferry cruise for sightseeing with my dad.
The event, as usual, had ended in disaster.
I’d begged him to just drink soda, but he snuck to the bar a few times for his beer, got drunk, and fell down the spiral stairs.
He only avoided serious injury because he was so inebriated he literally bounced.
The humiliation from the public attention was brutal. I’d never gone on another boat since.
But I didn’t want to think about the past right now.
I pushed away the memory and concentrated on today.