Reckless Abandon(16)

Even if we didn’t have instructions we would have been able to figure out where we needed to go quickly. Amongst the older sailboats and motorboats is a very modern speedboat of black and silver, standing out like a supermodel in an old-age home. There is no ignoring the sleekness, newness, and absolute beauty of the boat. It looks like a bullet with its long, curved bow and is accented with see-through black glass and chrome.

The boat Devon drove yesterday was really nice but this piece of nautical transportation is down right sexy.

Sexy.

Sexy.

Sexy.

And I am no longer talking about the boat.





Leah must have the same reaction because she gasps out loud, and grabs my arm. We both halt as a man appears, climbing up from the inside cabin. He has on a black crew-neck shirt and light gray shorts. His blond hair is perfectly styled back, accenting the prominent cheekbones and square jaw of his face.

His arms flex out as he reaches around the captain’s chair and checks the instruments on the dashboard. His back muscles come into full view through the thin material of his shirt and I get an eyeful of something I hadn’t seen yesterday. A perfectly defined ass.

He turns around just in time to see Leah and I gawking at him. My only saving grace is he wearing dark sunglasses that cover those golden eyes.

Leah turns her back to the boat and stands so close to me her shoulder rubs against mine. Leaning into my ear she asks, “Is that the guy you met yesterday?”

I nod my head yes.

“The one who was mad you were in the music room?”

I nod my head yes, again.

“And yesterday was the first time you ever saw him?”

I nod my head yes, again, even though it’s a ridiculous question.

The bow of her mouth puckers out and she looks down as if trying to work something out. She opens her mouth and then closes it again before looking at me. It’s for the briefest of moments, yet it feels like she’s studying me for an eternity.

“Okay, then.” With a nod, Leah turns around and faces the boat, pulling my hand up to the stern. “Hello! I’m Leah.”

Asher steps forward and meets us by the back of the boat. He gives Leah a polite nod and then turns his face toward me. I can feel his gaze drilling me through those damned glasses.

“Emma, pleasure to see you again.” His full lips are curved up on the side.

Leah looks at me, and then Asher, before giving me a nudge on my lower back. “After you, sis.”

My body jerks slightly forward. Asher holds out a hand and I take it as I cautiously move my feet from the stone dock to the boat. I do not want any sort of mishap as I had yesterday.

His large hand holds onto mine, steady, as I climb on board. Sensing my unease, Asher pulls me toward him until I am flush to his front and wraps a hand around my waist. My body reacts in a non-lady like way to the hardness of his chest. I back away quickly and take a seat on the white cushion of the seating area of the boat.

When I am safely in place, Asher turns back to the stern and offers a hand to Leah. She puts out her hand and then quickly retrieves it before grabbing her stomach.

“Oh no.” She grumbles, bending over slightly.

I swivel my body around in my seat. “What’s the matter?”

“I feel sick. I can’t go.” Her hand rubs her tummy and her cheeks sallow in.

“Let’s go back to the hotel.” I rise from my seat but Leah puts her hand up in the air.

“No!” She exclaims, then retrieves her sickly composure. “No, please. You enjoy the ride. Devon went through a lot of trouble and I’d hate to waste it.” She turns to Asher, “Please, take care of my sister.”

If the sun weren’t glaring in my direction, I could swear she winked at him.

Asher smiles at Leah and I think my heart just leapt out of my chest. Damn, the man has a great smile.

Before I have a chance to catch my thoughts and become a rational human being, Asher has the boat started and we are driving away from the dock. I turn to face Leah—she’s waving a bon voyage from the dock and grinning from ear to ear.

I stare back at her as the denim devil gets smaller and smaller.

There is no way she knew Asher was going to be here. One look at him and she goes from needing to be on her next adventure to throwing me to the wolves.

Or in this case a golden god.

What is up with that? I mean, seriously, what is wrong with her? For three days she guilt trips me into doing whatever she wants. I have to get out of bed because I’m ruining her honeymoon. I have to go on Devon’s yacht because I lost our passports. Today, I’m on this boat ride because we have no money and it’s all my fault.

For someone who is so worried about me, she certainly has no respect for what I want to do.

Sitting here is definitely not where I want to be. Leah wanted to be here. But why isn’t she here? Because of the supernatural being driving the boat. She thinks it’s what I need. Like meeting a guy and getting some action on vacation is going to change the course of my year.

Well, it’s not. Nothing is going to change what’s been done.

Not even the gorgeousness of his taut physique staring me in the face.

Like I’d even. I was with the same guy for four years. I can count on my hand the amount of boyfriends I’ve had and I’d still have room for more. I don’t do random hookups and certainly not with men in foreign countries.