Page 39 of Kissing Flynn

“Better you than me,” she teases, then winks at me before skipping away.

I watch her go, my lips curving up into a wide smile. I love the way she teases me. How she always makes me feel better. Lighter. I need her in my life.

And I’m never going to let another fucking thing come between us. Of that, I am sure.

Twenty-Three

Max

As we ate, the captain moved the yacht to a new spot before dropping anchor again. Just as I spot a smaller boat in the water next to us, Barnard announces that there’s a small reef nearby and the man in the boat will be taking us on a guided snorkeling tour if we’re interested. Flynn nods in my direction, excitement lighting up his eyes. I nod in return, his glee rubbing off on me.

“Maxine, if you have a moment,” Barnard calls out, and when I look over at him, he’s motioning me toward the interior of the boat.

Flynn shoots me an encouraging look, and I take a deep breath before following Barnard. I know Barnard asked Flynn about our checkered history, which he probably wants me to confirm, so I have some idea what I’m in for.

He takes me into an office with a large desk, but instead of moving behind it, he sits at a small table and motions me into the chair opposite him. I try not to fidget when he just stares at me for a moment.

“Your work with Personality has always intrigued me. You’re a talented storyteller,” he says, and I feel the tendons in my neck and jaw relax.

“Thank you,” I say. “I love meeting interesting people and telling their stories.”

“Have you ever written a book?” he asks, then holds up a palm. “I know you haven’t published one, but do you have any experience writing one?”

I swallow thickly. “I have been working on a novel for the last year.”

Please don’t ask me what it’s about. Please don’t ask me what it’s about.

“That’s good,” he says with a nod, and I relax once more.

I’m not embarrassed or ashamed of my work, but somehow, I don’t think a smutty bodice-ripper novel is exactly what Barnard was looking for when he asked about my experience.

“And what of Mr. Nightingale?” he asks, and the sudden change of subject startles me.

“What about him?” I ask, my voice tentative.

“You seem to be getting along well, now. That wasn’t the case when you first arrived, was it?”

“A misunderstanding between us has been cleared up,” I say carefully.

Barnard nods. “Flynn said as much. So you’re getting along well together now?”

Memories from Flynn’s bed, my bed, and my shower flash through my mind, and I feel my cheeks heating. Clearing my throat, I nod.

“We get along just fine.”

“Very good,” he hums, his lips curling up slightly. “Well, you better get going if you don’t want to miss the snorkeling tour.”

He pushes himself out of his seat as he speaks, then holds out an arm for me to precede him from the room. Thanking him quietly, I walk out ahead of him, my face scrunched with confusion. That was the weirdest interview, yet.

Why does he keep asking about my relationship with Flynn? He knows we’ve been working together, so maybe he’s just curious. Some people are just nosy and desperate for gossip, but Barnard doesn’t strike me as the type.

No, everything he says and does has a purpose, but I just can’t figure out his curiosity over my history with Flynn.

When I walk out onto the rear deck where the others are gathered, Flynn shoots me a questioning look. I shake my head slightly and mouth the word “later.” Barnard is right behind me, and I don’t want him or the others eavesdropping on our conversation.

I move in next to him to gather my snorkeling equipment, and when I glance over my shoulder in Barnard’s direction, I see his gaze bouncing between Flynn and me while he smiles with smug satisfaction. His behavior just keeps getting stranger and stranger.

Flynn and I jump off the boat, following the guide, Lars, and Peter to a spot several yards away before securing our masks, fins, and snorkels. Then we dip our faces into the water. Colorful fish dart through the water before hiding in the coral. Sea anemones sway, eels slither cross the sandy bottom, and I even see a crab scurrying around.

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