They were still in the marina. He was at the wheel, but turned to her. “I didn’t leave yet, I…oh, dear God in heaven!”
She panicked. “Did I wear something I shouldn’t have?”
He just watched her.
Then, slowly, he crossed to her. He took off the visor and let out a breath. “This is right out of a fairy tale, Rapunzel.”
She didn’t know how to react. “Yeah, I don’t know why I don’t cut it.”
“Hush your mouth. That would be a crime. It’s breathtaking.” Reaching over, he took some strands in his fingers. Rubbed them. Her stomach dropped. “Soft, silky. And so long. Hayley, why do you hide this?”
“It’s inappropriate for work.”
“You’d have the male jurors eating out your hand.”
“As if I’d try seduction.” She shrugged. “Besides, I’m not very good at it.”
He captured her gaze. “I highly doubt that.”
“You’re, um, making me feel…I don’t know. Like it’s inappropriate to be with you, I guess.”
“Because I invaded your personal space?”
“Not only that.”
“What is it?”
“Never mind, let’s go out on the water.”
He waited a few seconds, then let her hair drop and asked, “Do you need sunscreen?”
“Yes, I do.”
“It’s in the cockpit. Come on.” He led her to the bucket seats and fished a tube out of the storage space. “Here you go.”
“Thank you.”
Sitting on one of the benches, she slathered the cream on her face, rubbed some on her arms and on her legs. When she looked up, he was staring at her. “You’re making me feel that again.”
“Sorry.” He turned to the controls and soon, the motor roared to life.
* * *
Paul needed the smacks of air that hit his face. He welcomed the mid-day sun, too, hoping it would clear his head. But he could still see the mass of heavy waves falling down almost to her waist. Suddenly, he wondered if she’d let it out of the bun on purpose, wanted him to see it, to see her as a woman.
Now if that wasn’t wishful thinking…
He let the boat slap the water, up and down, for a long time. It was too windy and noisy to talk. When he slowed down, she started to get up. “Hold on, Hayley. Until we even out.”
“Aye, aye, sailor,” she said sassily.
They’d gone out far enough so all he could see was water around them. He killed the motor, hefted out the anchor and tossed it over the side. Now he turned to her.
She grinned. “That was fun.”
“You like this, don’t you?”
“Yes. As I said, Finn and I went out a lot. Still do. We used to take our cousins out, too, but we got estranged from them.”
“How?”
“I’d have to know you better to tell you that.”
She’d said the same thing in jail about her oldest brother.
“I feel the similarly about my background. So, Finn’s younger or older?”
“I’m the baby. Ronan’s the oldest.” Her eyes got mischievous. “You’ve probably seen him on television. Or in the movies.”
“Ronan Casella?”
“No, Ronny Case.”
“Ronny Case as in Rebel?”
“Yep.”
“Every teenage boy on the block wanted to be him.”
“I bet.”
“What happened to him? I still search online for him once in a while.”
“You won’t find him anywhere. He’s a ghost.”
He knew the feeling. “To you, too?”
She nodded.
“That must be hard.”
“It is. But Finn, who’s 34, is my best friend. We share a place in the city. I think I told you that.”
“Yes, you did.”
Before she could ask about his brothers and sisters, he said, “Are you hungry? Because I’m famished.”
“I am hungry.” He got up and she grabbed his arm. “Paul, it’s fine if you don’t want to share your background with me. Say so.” She arched a brow. “Instead of running away.”
“I’ll remember that.”
His mind was elsewhere as he pulled out a table stowed on one side and went to the deck fridge and got out champagne, fruit and croissants. He also had hunks of salami. “I stocked the boat yesterday because I was planning to go out after the trial ended.”
“I can help, you know.”
“Nah, you’re my guest.”
They sat on the padded benches with the table between them. He picked up the bottle. “Champagne?” she questioned. “But you lost.”
All he said was, “No, Jamie Callahan lost.”
“So, what should we toast to?”
“New friends?”
After that, Paul took surreptitious glances at her—when she popped a grape into her mouth, and tucked some cheese into a croissant then bit into it. He watched her mouth, when her tongue came out to lick her lips. At one point, he took in a breath he hoped she didn’t hear.
For sanity’s sake, he transferred his gaze to the water, as he ate too, appreciating the brie, gouda and cheddar. He bit into a strawberry. When he finished, he said, “So, Ms. Boat Person, you obviously know that the bow is the front of the boat and stern is the back. What’s each side called? And why?”
He saw the challenge light up her face. “I know, smarty pants. The term starboard is old English meaning the side on which the ship is steered. Before ships had rudders on their center lines, they were steered with an oar at the stern of the ship. Since more people are right-handed, it was placed on the right-hand side.”
He laughed. “You amaze me.”
She leaned over then. “You have something on your face.” She swiped the corner of his mouth with a fingertip painted a light pink. He wanted to grab her hand, kiss it, lick it. Lick her.
He downed the glass of champagne.
She stood. “How about I put everything away and keep out the Godiva and the champagne.”
“Great. I’m going for a swim.” Exactly what he needed after watching her make a sensuous banquet out of a cheeseboard.
“But you just ate.”
“Not that much. I’ll take a quick dip before the sun goes down.” If you want to join me when you’re done cleaning up, there’s bathing suits below deck, where the other clothes were.”
“I am hot.”
So am I.
As she put the food away, he whipped off his T-shirt, went to the swim deck and dove in.
The water was cold enough to make him sane.
* * *
As she changed into a one-piece black Speedo, Hayley admitted that her stomach fluttered and goosebumps rose on her arms when she was with Paul. She could label the feelings. And wondered if Paul had, too, hence the swim.
You know, I read a study where suppressed attraction makes people fight with each other.
Had he been right all along? In any case, nothing could happen between them. She only wished her body would listen.
Ask to be taken home.
Never see him again alone.
She should, at the very least, inure herself against his luscious dark hair, his toned muscles, his cute butt. She looked at her clothes, neatly folded on the counter. Put them on, Hayley. Escape the situation.