Page 154 of Too Far

“It’s a pontoon,” Kylian corrects. As if I don’t already know that.

“Aye aye, matey. Don’t make me throw you overboard or force you to walk the plank!”

Locke laughs again, and even Kendrick cracks a smile. Decker continues to scowl.

“Wait,” Kylian says, perking up. “Is ‘the plank’ a euphemism for sex, or—”

“What the hell? Why is no one wearing life vests? Put them on,” Decker barks, sitting up straighter and reaching for his own.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention. We rarely wear them on the pontoon. I scan our surroundings, searching for what he’s seen to make him panic.

“We’re fine,” he assures me as he joins me at the helm. He wraps his arms around my waist and buries his face in the crook of my neck. Then he wordlessly straps me into a safety vest.

For a long moment, he stays like that, breathing me in. I don’t tease him or pull away, either. My heart aches for this stoic, heartbroken man.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbles against my skin. “I’m just anxious about how this is all about to go down,”

Nodding, I look at the guys and mouth, “He’s okay.”

Then, hoping to lighten the moment, I shout, “You heard my first mate, you scalawags. Put on yer life vests or prepare to walk the nonsexual plank!”

Decker’s breathing has evened out when he lifts his head and regards his friends.

“Hopefully the life vests deter our captain here from getting any dirty ideas.”

I elbow him in the stomach, but my heart floats in my chest, because he’s at least calm enough to make a wisecrack.

“Har har. Joke’s on you, Cap. The skipper and my cabin boy got me off before we set sail.”

Kendrick guffaws, nudging Locke. “You’re the cabin boy.”

“Yeah. Okay, Skipper,” Locke replies coolly. “Apparently cabin boys get to come twice, so I’m not mad about it.”

Decker grumbles as he sits again, resting his elbows on his knees and letting his head hang.

Kendrick makes his way over to me as we approach the marina, silently offering to take over and dock. He kisses me quickly as we trade places, then nods toward Decker.

I squeeze his arm in acknowledgment. “I’ve got him.”

As soon as I sit beside him, he wraps his arm around me. It’s awkward as hell because the life vests he insisted on makes it impossible for us to get close.

He scans the shoreline, then looks down his nose at me and reaches for the buckles. I purse my lips and use every ounce of restraint I possess to hold back the smart comment I want to make as he unclips us both and helps me shrug out of the safety device.

Once there’s nothing between us but a few layers of fabric, he envelops me in his hold again and exhales.

“I want to give you something,” he whispers once we’re docked, “but I’m nervous.”

The trepidation in his tone is so foreign it sends a wave of anxiety through me. Pulling back, I survey his face, searching for understanding.

“Meet you at the car,” Kendrick murmurs. He kisses my head and squeezes Decker’s shoulder, then he ushers Locke and Kylian off the boat.

Like he’s purposely trying to give us a minute.

Decker shifts, holding me in his lap with one arm as he reaches into his pocket.

He pulls out a little black box, and all I can do is stare, mouth agape and pulse taking off at a fast clip.

“I want you to have whatever ring you want,” he starts, popping open the lid with the flick of his thumb, “but for now—for today—I was hoping you’d wear this.”