“So?” I say when I read it. “What’s the problem?”
He scoffs. “She’s going to a pub tonight with her friend Rachel?”
“Yeah?”
“Rachel! She was over last month and she was drinking rose wine!”
I shake my head, so confused. “I’m failing to see the problem.”
“They’re going to a pub! They don’t serve rose wine at pubs. She’s clearly going with some guy she’s fucking.”
“Whoa!” I say as I give him the phone back. “You need to dial it way back. That is not what that text says. I’m sure this Rachel girl drinks other fluids beside rose wine.”
“I don’t know,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck as he stares down at his phone. “I just don’t know.”
He storms out of the bridge and Luke catches the door with his big hand before it closes.
“Nope,” I say sharply, but there’s a smile on my face as he looks in. “No guests beyond that point. It’s the law on this yacht and I have to warn you, Santiago is the judge, jury, and executioner for any laws broken.”
“A lifetime of pain would be worth a moment by your side,” he says with those dashing green eyes shining like emeralds.
“Okay,” I say with a smile and a roll of my eyes. “What did I say about cheesy pick-up lines? Let me do my job and stop distracting me.”
“But distracting you is my job,” he says with a grin.
I walk over and grab the door handle. “Then you’re not very good at it. I’m a professional and I don’t get distracted.”
“We’ll see about that,” he says as I close the door and lock it on him.
I exhale slowly as I head back to the wheel. It suddenly feels a lot hotter in here. He’s got me all flustered as I try to focus on the instrument panel.
“Oh come on,” I whisper with a laugh as he comes into view in front of the large windshield. He’s standing on the deck in front of me as he grabs the bottom of his shirt with both hands. I see him grin before his shirt goes over his face and off his head.
“Wow,” I gasp when I see his muscular frame in every stunning detail. His chest is rock hard and massive. His abs are defined like they’re carved out of granite. His arms… wow, those arms. They’re the best view I’ve seen from this boat.
The heat swirling around my core starts descending between my legs when he unbuttons his pants and pulls them down his thick muscular thighs.
I’m gripping onto the wheel, trying to look away, but that’s not happening. My eyes are glued to him and I’m all flustered because I know he’s watching me watch him.
He steps out of his pants and I try to look away, but that bulge in his gray boxer briefs is so incredibly large. It’s stealing all of my attention and sending a heated throb pulsing between my legs.
I never react to guys like this. It’s so unfamiliar to me to be filled with such desire and… lust. I don’t know how to handle it.
“I’m just going to tan here for a bit,” he shouts through the windshield with a grin on his lips.
My body tightens all over as he lies down on the deck, fully in my view. My heart is pounding as my breaths come short and quick like I’m about to start hyperventilating.
I can see it all. His big round triceps as he rests the back of his head on his hands, his massive chest that looks so comfy to lie on, his rows and rows of hard sculpted abs, that big bulge that makes my mouth keep watering, his muscular thighs that carry his large frame, all the way down to his toes that are pointing forward like he’s leading the way.
Oh lord. Even his toes are sexy.
I swallow the saliva in my mouth, grip the steering wheel, and try to focus on the horizon.
That’s my job and I’m good at my job. Keep focused.
Oh, bloody hell.
I’m lucky we’re in the open water or the tantalizing view of this guy would have me driving onto the shore.
I wouldn’t stand a chance.
Chapter Four
Aubrey
“Someone threw me off,” the guy that Eivind pulled out of the water says as all the guys are seated around the dinner table. Most of them still look half-drunk. One of them is sleeping on the luxurious table. Not Luke. His striking green eyes are nice and alert as they follow me around the room. “I think it was that tall guy who helped me out.”
“Why would he throw you in the water?” another one asks. “You were so drunk, you probably fell in.”
“I felt hands on me,” he says as he glances up at the ceiling. “I think.”
Luke isn’t paying them any attention. His focus is one hundred percent on me.
I’m getting all flustered as I lean between two guys to pour some water. He’s got me so rattled that I spill some of it on the table.
“Sorry,” I say as I quickly clean it with my cheeks burning red.
This is too much.
He’s looking so hot leaning back in his chair with the top few buttons of his dark navy blue shirt open. The breeze is blowing through it, making it look fluid as the wind tickles the ends of his hair. He has more color in his skin than he did when he walked onto the boat—probably from his suntanning show that lasted an hour—and it really suits him. It brings out the sharpness in his eyes.
We’re anchored in front of Nassau and the sun is setting behind him, casting the vast sky in spectacular pink, orange, and purple hues. The lights from the island are on and they’re getting brighter as it gets darker. I wish I could take a picture of him like this.
“Finish up,” I tell Ashley as I hand her the water pitcher. “I’m going to go check on the food.”
Julie walks over from the bar with a huge tray of cocktails for the guys. I hold my breath as I step into the kitchen.
“Oh, boy.” This guy… How is he getting me so frazzled?
It’s the look he has in his eyes whenever his gaze is on me. It’s like I’m his or something. Like he knows something I don’t. Like he paid someone or something off and now he has ownership over me.
And the craziest part is, I like it. I want to be his.
“Try this,” Santiago says as he comes over with a full spoon. I moan as I taste the most delicious fish that’s drenched in a heavenly sauce.
“You’re good,” I say as I wipe the corner of my mouth with my finger. “If you ever want a wife, Santiago. Please think of me first.”
He laughs as he tosses the spoon into the sink and checks on his vegetables that are grilling on the monstrous stove. This man is such a prima donna that he made our company replace the entire kitchen to his specifications before he would even agree to an interview.
“I couldn’t do that to you,” he says with a grin. “I’d feed you until you weighed four hundred pounds.”
“Oh, I don’t think I’d like that,” I say with a laugh. “I wouldn’t be able to get up the stairs.”
“A chef who has a skinny wife is no chef at all.” I laugh as he tosses some spices into his sizzling pan.
This guy has everyone who steps onto the boat running scared, but not me. He tried that nonsense when I stepped into his kitchen on my first day.