Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(117)

Poking and jabbing at me a few times with words and his body, Joe threatens to spar with me if I don’t lighten up.

“Go ahead and try,” I encouragingly nudge. “You won’t win.”

“Ahh, there’s the Emma I’m looking for,” he playfully responds.

“What is it with guys like you and the need to have private jets or private this or private that?” I pick.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he chuckles.

“You know what I mean. We could have done the group tour I booked for where we’re headed.” I mention.

“This coming from a woman who loves her privacy,” he taunts, wrapping his arms around me.

“Ohh no you don’t,” I protest as I slip away from his embrace. “Yes. I like my privacy, but this is a little overboard, don’t you think?”

“No,” he argues, moving closer to me.

Shaking my head, I turn and look out the window.

He doesn’t force physical contact, but Joe stands close enough that when the boat sways, our shoulders bump into each other.

At some point, he places his hand on the small of my back and I allow it. “Thought you might like to know that the boat runs off of all electric motors,” he comments.

“Really?”

He’s piqued my interest.

“Yes. I know how important that is to you and I’ve been exploring more stuff about greener technologies across all industries since all of our business conversations,” he states.

I think he’s trying to impress me. I’m flattered and think it’s cute.

Extending our witty banter from before, I reply, “So, you were listening?”

“I always listen,” he informs.

The boat sways again, knocking me more off balance this time. My body lunges towards Joe, but he catches me effortlessly. Wrapping his arm around my waist, Joe steadies the two of us. I don’t try to get away from his embrace and we end up staying connected until the boat gets closer to our diving destination.

Once we’re close enough to the reef, Joe and I start stripping down to our bathing suits. Joe’s bare chest is an added view of beauty aside from the crystal water. Our captain and the crew instruct us on how to use the Snuba gear, but I get distracted on occasion when I look at Joe’s half naked body.

Snuba is different from snorkeling and is more closely related to scuba diving. Instead of carrying the oxygen tanks on our backs, they are attached to a raft that floats on the surface of the water. We’re able to go as far as fifteen feet deep below water level.

Strapped into our harness and with flippers on our feet, Joe and I head into the water. Sadie joins us for a few minutes, but I signal for her to stay on the boat until Joe and I return. While using the gear, we’re monitored the entire time we’re under water, but Joe and I are the only ones entering. As we begin swimming around, I see why Joe ordered the private charter, other than to impress me and be mindful of the environment with the electric motor, we are free to swim around and there isn’t a crowd of people near us, allowing for more of the marine life to swim closer.

I’ve seen pictures of aquatic life, but seeing it up close and in person is a completely different feeling. It’s otherworldly. The variety of colors and species is astounding. At some point, a bale of turtles come near us, close enough for us to reach out and touch their shells and bellies. Watching the animals dance around in the current is relaxing and peaceful. I feel the tension from last night and this morning melting away.

Fifteen minutes left on our tanks, we turn around to head to the boat. Surprisingly, several whale sharks head straight for us. As they approach, I notice that they circle around Joe and me. Staying close together, we watch the gentle giants. Even though I know that they’re vegetarians, the idea of being this close to a shark is still a little unnerving. One circles close enough, allowing Joe and I to reach out and touch it. I’m definitely glad that I didn’t cancel this morning’s adventure.

Sadie jumps into the water to greet us when Joe and I resurface from our excursion, getting a good laugh from us and the crew. Once we’re back on the boat, Joe, Sadie and I are offered a private lunch off of the bow of the boat. I should have seen this coming. A private boat. A private tour. Of course, we would have a private lunch. I’m starting to wonder if Joe planned this whole thing to be like a second date.

“So, what’s this all about?” I explore.


“What are you talking about?”

“A private boat. A private tour and now a private lunch. I’m starting to think that you are trying to sneak in a second date,” I state the obvious.

“No,” he bashfully disagrees. “We’re two friends hanging out.”

“Would you have planned all this with your brother?”

“Probably,” he answers slyly.

“Right . . .” I sarcastically reply.

He tries to hide a smile that forms in the left corner of his mouth. He’s definitely lying.

“Do you want to stay out here a little longer? Or, did you want to head back?”

“Now I know you’re lying,” I heckle.

We decide to jump in the water to cool off before heading back to Maui. Sadie joins us again, happy for the swim.

Once the boat starts moving back to land, Joe takes me on a little tour, answering my questions about sailing and boats. Several times, Joe tries to get close and kiss me, but I amusingly avoid. A girl needs to make the guy work for it sometimes; we can’t always be that easy.