Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 128211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 641(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
The fact that he was here was answer enough to that last question.
Which only made a dozen more pop into my brain.
“Now, I will say, there is one first for me on this charter that I am not particularly thrilled about,” Captain said, his eyebrows raising as he shook his head. “But I’ve been assured there will be no issues.”
A few of us frowned — me included — as Captain sighed and ran a hand over his bald head.
“This will be my first time working a season with two crew members who are a couple on board.”
Did he just say… a couple?
For a moment, the entire crew was silent. Then, Bernard let out a whistle and threaded his hands behind his head, a smile on his face as he wagged his brows. “Oh, this ought to be good.”
I was inclined to agree, the corner of my mouth climbing as I surveyed my new teammates. I couldn’t help but try to guess who it was. Leah and Palmer, possibly? It obviously wasn’t Bernard, and no way was it Eli — that boy was a walking flirt if I’d ever met one.
The camera operators stood completely still where they flanked us, but I swore I felt their lenses adjusting — zooming, fixating, capturing reactions.
“Like I said, this is one first I’m not exactly thrilled about, but as long as you two keep it professional on the clock — the rest’s none of my business. Just keep the snogging to your down time in the crew mess or when you’re off the boat, yeah?”
I surveyed the crew on each couch, waiting for the lovebirds to reveal themselves, but everyone looked just as confused as I did.
I glanced back at Captain Gary.
Wait… why was he leveling a gaze at Finn?
The question had barely formed in my brain before my body started to shut down as the obvious answer hit me like an anchor, sinking my stomach and the now racing heart in my chest along with it.
As if the boat had taken on water, everything warped to slow motion. I gradually dragged my gaze to our chef.
Just in time to watch him slide a hand over Gisella’s knee.
My next breath lodged in my throat, eyes sticking to where his broad fingers were curling over her limb. I knew that hand intimately, knew the way the tan skin stretched over the bones, the scar on his middle left finger from when he nearly cut off the tip of it, the calloused heat of his palm when he wrapped that hand around my throat and tightened just enough to make me gasp and open for him and beg for more.
I didn’t know what it looked like holding another woman.
I wished I’d never had to know that.
“Don’t worry, Cap,” Finn said, an affectionate smile aimed at Gisella as she batted her lashes and leaned into his side. “We’ll be so professional, you’ll forget we’re dating.”
“Yeah, I barely even like him, anyway,” Gisella teased, wrinkling her nose in a way that somehow made her even more adorable than she already was.
I was going to be sick.
Acid burned my throat, my mouth watering in a most unpleasant way that reminded me of nights I’d drank well past my limit. I was all too aware of the camera duo positioned behind the couch opposite me, how their lens was directed squarely at where I sat.
Do not react.
Do not fucking react, Ember.
But my face felt frozen. I fired off all the signals to my brain to tell my stupid mouth to form a stupid smile, but nothing happened. I hoped my cheeks weren’t as red as the heat I felt burning in them, hoped my jaw didn’t look as unhinged as it felt, hoped the thick swallow I heard echoing in my ears wasn’t obvious enough for viewers to see when this show aired.
“I’m sure it won’t be a problem,” Captain said in a way of finality, still grinning and shaking his head as he looked to the clipboard in his hand. “Right. We’ve got our first charter tomorrow, and this boat needs a lot of work before then. Let’s get to it, shall we?”
“Let’s do this!” Eli declared, hopping off the couch with so much energy I flinched. I hoped I covered that reaction quickly with the smile I finally managed as I peeled myself off the couch and stood.
The hair on the back of my neck prickled with the distinct sensation of being watched, and when my gaze flicked to Finn, he was staring right at me again.
This time, his eyes were cautious, apologetic, the green-ish blue hue of them shadowed beneath his furrowed brows.
I’d had that man’s attention in so many ways before. I’d been the object of his lust, the subject of his longing, the root of his affectionate jest.