“I know. I always walk around there when my breaks between sessions are short.”
“Can you look on your phone and see if there’s any service still operating now, or are they only during the daytime?"
"Let me look." She took out her phone, tapping on it. "Hey, it says here that we can still rent one. They have several types, but for some of the big ones, you need a boating license.”
“I have a license.”
“Mr. Gallagher, I like you more with every passing day.” With a chuckle, she added, “We have to bring it back by midnight."
I nodded. "Okay. That sounds great.”
“I’m so excited. And so are you. You’re grinning.”
“Told you that you’re captivating.”
She laughed, looking at me. “Thanks again for coming with me to Dad’s and helping out.”
“No problem. Happy I met him.”
“He likes you.”
“When did he tell you that?”
“After you got him the medicine. And I think after tonight, he likes you even more.”
“How about you?” I asked. “Do you like me more?”
She drummed her fingers on the cup holders between the seats. I covered her hand with mine, bringing it to my lips. She shuddered.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” I whispered.
“Hmm, I don’t know. You came with me to my dad’s and now want to take me on a boat tour,” she teased. “What do you think?”
I laughed, letting go of her hand and focusing on the road. I asked her more about her childhood on the drive, and her years at NYU. Her dad’s suburb was an hour away from Manhattan and even farther away from Mel’s place in Bay Ridge. She went to his house at least twice a week. She also helped her friend Charlotte at the shelter at least once a week, which didn’t leave her much free time. I wanted to see Mel again soon, and it seemed like she didn’t have much time in her life for me. I didn’t like that one bit.
I parked in the underground garage of my apartment building because North Cove was a few minutes away on foot.
We arrived at the parking lot of the boat rental soon after. It was surprisingly full, which meant we’d have company on the water. We walked side by side up to the boathouse, a modern construction of metal and glass. The guy in charge of it, Joseph, explained that he only had small motorboats left. All the bigger ones were still out on the water.
“Okay, we’re taking one,” I said.
“For how long? Half an hour, an hour, more?” Joseph asked before looking over his shoulder at a yacht that was pulling in. “You can decide while I deal with them.”
Mel looked at her smartphone after Joseph left. "I think we should only take it out for thirty minutes.”
"Why? It's Saturday tomorrow," I said.
"Yes, but I have a client in the morning, so I'll have to wake up and take a shower. And then I need fifty minutes from Bay Ridge to Genesis. So I have to wake up at seven.” She winced as she said it.
I flattened her against me with a hand on her waist, bringing my mouth to her ear.
"How about you sleep at my apartment tonight? You'll need five minutes in the morning. It's convenient for you.”
This wasn't the only reason I was asking her. I wanted her with me all night.
She turned around slowly as her head tilted to one side. "Oh, I could sleep more."
"That's the only reason you’re saying yes?"
"I might have a few others, but I have to keep my air of mystery. Besides, I'm still considering it," she said in a teasing tone.
I touched her cheek, pressing my thumb to the corner of her mouth. "So you’re mine for at least one more hour?”
"One hour," she whispered.
We waited until Joseph was done with the couple that had just stepped out of the boat before paying for one hour. He gave us the boat the couple had vacated. It was a Tiara that could seat up to six people. The cockpit area had glass in front of it, but it wasn’t covered, so if it rained, we’d get drenched. There was a seat next to the driver and a bench in the back. It looked comfortable enough.
I walked onto it first, then held Mel's hand while she stepped on the edge and then on the bench in the center. She bounced precariously, and her bag nearly slid off her shoulder. She clutched it tightly with her free hand.
“Whoa.”
“You’re good. I’ve got you,” I said as she sat down on the seat next to the driver. Joseph walked us through safety measures and insisted we put on life preservers. After that, he explained we had enough time to drive to the Statue of Liberty.
Mel clapped her hands. “That would be awesome.”
“Then we have our course,” I said, maneuvering the wheel to the right.
Mel looked around with a huge smile. She lit up when she was happy. "This is so cool. I've never seen the city lights from the water."
"Neither have I," I admitted.
"I kind of thought we wouldn't see anything in the dark. I wonder how it looks during the day."
"We can come back once during the day."
She looked at me with wide eyes and raised brows.
Why was she so surprised? I wanted to please her.
"You, sir, are a bit dangerous to me. You make my dad laugh. And now you want to give me boat tours through the city."
"Is that a problem?" I asked.
She lowered her gaze to the water, then looked back up at me. I knew what she was thinking—what she didn't want to say out loud. This wasn't what we agreed on, but I didn't particularly care. It felt good, and I didn't want to throw it away.
She sat on the chair next to the driver seat while I steered the wheel. The city lights were beautiful, as was Ellis Island straight in front of us. The water was calm tonight.
Standing up, she held her phone for a selfie. We both smiled into it. The skyscrapers were huge behind us, with the flickering lights casting a glow in the picture. It contrasted starkly with the image in front—water surrounded us everywhere, with the lights around Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty piercing the darkness. The air smelled salty—even fishy.
“Is it more difficult steering a boat than a car?” she asked after a while.
“No, it’s easier. I’m feeling very warm for some reason.”
“I suggest you roll up those sleeves.”
“Why? Won’t make a difference.”
“Oh no. That’s entirely for my benefit. Eye candy and all that.”
I rolled each of the sleeves.
“I love those forearms. They’re my kryptonite.”
“Good to know.” After a while, as we passed by Ellis Island, I said, “This is the most relaxed I’ve been since moving to the city,” I said when we passed by Ellis Island.
“Happy to hear that. Project Z is taking a toll on you, isn’t it?”
“We didn’t need the additional workload.”
“I admire you for taking this on,” she said, surprising the hell out of me.
“Most of the people outside my family think Ian and I are insane.”
“Well, I don’t. It’s one of the things that made me rethink my resolution. Though your kissing skills played a role too.”