Sleeping with the Boss (Anderson Brothers, #1)(22)

Will gestured for her to lead the way up the ramp leading to a door in the side of the boat, or ship, or whatever it was. “Careful,” he whispered. “This has very high Claire-ism potential.”

No kidding. The whole prospect of a moving object in the water was fraught with peril. She climbed the ramp and entered a chic, modern cabin. Before she had a chance to really take a look around, the guy from the deck entered the cabin behind them.

“Will. So good to see you.” The man, who was much smaller than Will, extended his hand.

Will shook it vigorously. “T.J. Hooper, this is Claire Maddox. Claire, T.J. is the captain of the Linda IV. He has captained every one of the Lindas, in fact.”

T.J. took her hand and shook it briefly. “Been with the Andersons since I was a teenager. Known Willy since he was in diapers.” His attention went back to Will. “I was told you had an eleven o’clock return this evening. No sunrise then?”

“Sadly, no.”

“I’m glad to see you out again, even if it’s for a quickie.” He winked. “Well, as you can see, we’re all ready for you.” He gestured to a small, elegant table set for two, complete with silver candlesticks in the middle of the cabin. “I guess I’ll go up and get us under way.” He nodded to Claire. “Nice to meet you, Miss Maddox.”

He extended his hand again. When Will took it, the older man pulled him into an embrace. “I’m happy to see you again. And the entire crew of the Linda IV is glad, too. Especially Nancy. She can’t wait to see you.”

“Thanks,” Will said. “It’s good to be back on board. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to show off for my guest.” He winked, then added, “Show off the ship, I mean.”

He held out his hand and led her on a tour of the Linda IV, which he explained was named after his mother and not nearly as large as the Lindas II and III had been. For Claire, it was plenty big and intimidating. She swallowed the lump in her throat and focused on the polished wood of the deck, rather than the water that they were cutting through at a million miles an hour.

“You seem uncomfortable,” Will observed as they climbed back down to the main deck.

The climb, in combination with the movement of the vessel, had her coming unglued. She really wanted to sit on the stairs and scoot down on her butt like a toddler. “Not a big fan of boats.”

“You’ll have to be on lots of them if you plan to travel the world.”

“The end result is worth it, so I’ll deal.”

As sure-footed as a cat, he stepped off the stairs and strode to the railing right at the front and held out his hand. “Come join me.”

“I’d rather not.” She parked her butt on the bottom stair. No way was she doing the aquatic equivalent of a wing walk today. Nope. A potential full ten on the Claire-ism-O-Meter.

He kept his hand out and arched a brow. “Please.”

“Forget it.”

His features softened, which of course made her resolve do the same. “Join me.” He waited a moment, then added, “The end result will be worth it.”

Oh, great. The big, hot man had just thrown her own words back at her. Figures. Well, she had made a resolution to live life to the fullest, which is why she was here in the first place. With teeny-tiny baby steps, heart scampering around in her rib cage like a startled rabbit, she shuffled to where he stood. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and she grasped the railing and closed her eyes. Fast. The boat was going so fast.

“Look over the water, Claire. It’s beautiful.” He lowered his lips to her ear. “Like you.”

Swallowing hard, she opened her eyes and lifted her head, and then gasped. It was beautiful. The setting sun hovered low over the water, causing shards of light to bounce across the surface like dancing stars.

He tightened his hold around her shoulders, and she relaxed against him. Goose bumps rose on her arms as he brushed his lips against her ear as he spoke. “When I was a little boy, I used to stand here on the Linda II and pretend I was a Viking traveling to conquer distant lands. Sometimes, I was a pirate.”

Leaning down, he gave her a warm, lingering kiss, then pulled her against him, their bodies melting together and his minty scent filling her head.

Smoothly, the boat slowed almost to a stop, but Will didn’t loosen his embrace.

“We’re slowing down.”

Arms still wrapped around her, his breathing was deep and even. “I hadn’t noticed.”

“Is something wrong? Are we stranded or something?”

He chuckled and relaxed his hold. “No. It means it’s time to go below for dinner.”

She sighed with relief and melted against him again.

“Are you hungry?”

Yeah, she was. She was hungry for more time with this man who seemed too good to be real. “Starving.”

…

In the candlelight, Will’s eyes looked like they glowed from inside. Gold waves undulated across his skin, making him appear surreal.

A middle-aged woman, dressed all in black with a long white apron, took away their salad plates and refilled their wineglasses with calm efficiency.

“Thank you, Nancy,” Will said.

She smiled. “It’s good to see you again, sir.”

“Two years is too long.”