The Wrong Gentleman(41)
“Yeah, well, I’ll live.”
She let out a breath as if relieved.
“I freaked out,” she said, peering at her toes. “I wasn’t sure what to do.”
“So rather than wake me and talk to me, you decided to run off before I’d given you money for breakfast?”
I was trying to make light of the situation, but it seemed she knew me better than that. She frowned then took a step forward, placing her palm on my chest. “Don’t say that. You know that it wasn’t like that.”
I sighed, trying to ignore the heat of her skin against my tense muscles. “It felt a lot like that. You didn’t need to run off, Skylar. I understand that whatever you want, it isn’t me, but do me a favor? Don’t regret last night. It was too good to be something you wish hadn’t happened.”
She shook her head and pushed her hand up my chest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to come across like I was regretting what happened. Not at all. It’s just you said you weren’t done and part of me feels the same, and that’s what freaked me out.”
I exhaled. So her problem was that she wanted more. Or at least part of her did. I’d struggled when I figured out that I wanted her again. That she was different to me than other women. This draw I had toward her wasn’t exactly the center of my comfort zone either. “You’re freaking out because you want something you think you shouldn’t?”
She tilted her head up to me. “Exactly.”
I brushed my thumb across her cheekbone. “If it makes you feel any better, when I said that to you, I didn’t have a plan of what I wanted. I’m not saying we should swap promise rings or start picking out china patterns. I just like you. And I want to keep liking you.”
She dropped her shoulders and pushed her face into my hand. “It makes me feel a lot better. So, you’re not expecting—”
“Anything. From myself or you. It’s just for the first time ever, I . . .” My feelings for her were difficult to explain. It wasn’t as if cupid had shot me with his arrow, and I was in love with this woman. More that she intrigued me. I wanted to be in her orbit. “I like you. That’s all I’m trying to say.”
She grinned at me. “You said that already.” Before I could reply, she circled her hands around my waist and pressed her head to my chest. I couldn’t ever remember being held like that by anyone. It was comforting. I followed her lead and gently wrapped my arms around her. “I like you, too. And I feel awful for running off. Let me make it up to you.”
Whatever she was thinking, she had it wrong. I didn’t want her trading blow jobs for forgiveness or whatever else she had in mind.
“When we get our next day off, if we’re still in the area, let me take you to one of my favorite spots,” she said.
Again, she’d caught me off guard. “Where’s that?” I wasn’t a man who liked to shop.
She looked up, resting her chin on my chest. “Careful. I might surprise you.”
She did that so often, I was almost getting used to it.
“So what are you suggesting? We’re going to hang out? Spend time together?” I asked.
“We have the summer on the Sapphire and then we both walk away. Let’s enjoy the time we have,” she said.
I couldn’t argue with that. I knew I liked her and wasn’t ready to walk away, but I’d been serious when I said I hadn’t thought further than that. It wasn’t as if a relationship was a well-trodden path for me. I might be able to let her go after a couple more months together.
Although something told me it wouldn’t be that easy.
“Agreed.” I pressed a kiss on the top of her head. Right there in that moment, I’d give her whatever she asked of me.
Twenty-Five
Skylar
Another twenty-four hour’s leave for the entire crew? I headed back to my cabin after the news, a little giddy. I hadn’t expected another day off so soon. The lack of guests mid-season meant that more time with Landon was coming sooner than I’d thought. But I was ready, wasn’t I? There was no pressure. I could handle a summer fling, right?
“Wanna go shopping?” August asked as she burst into our room. “Another day off—can you believe it? I hope this doesn’t mean our tips are going to be shitty.” She collapsed dramatically on her bed. “We’re in the South of France. It’s like we’re on holiday.”
“Can I borrow your backpack?” I asked, pulling out my bikini and two small towels along with sunscreen, a comb, and toiletries.
“You hitting the beach?” August asked.
“I’ve promised Landon I would go with him today. Do you mind?” I asked.
August sat up and raised an eyebrow. “Not at all. Are you two . . .?”
“We’re not anything. We’re just going to the beach.”
“Not anything?” she asked.
“It was your idea to have a summer fling.”
“So, you’re taking my advice?” August asked as a grin crept across her face.
I really was. After years of swearing to stay away from all men, I was going to allow myself one summer of fun. If we hadn’t been yachting, if he hadn’t been British, based thousands of miles from me and only a deckhand for a season, things might be different, but it was as if Landon was designed for me. There was no way this could turn into anything more. Geography and circumstances wouldn’t allow it. I just had to relax and let it happen and then walk away at the end of the season.