Page 31 of Rum Sips and Salty Lips

Haley heads to the galley to organize the food. She packed a picnic lunch and plenty of booze. Christian and Alex follow her, knowing their roles in helping her out.

She has an easy camaraderie with both men. They’re in relationships with other people, and I don’t pick up any underlying sexual tension between any of them. It was something I noticed the other night at Paradise. It’s the same with Carina. The only person I noticed checking her out that night was Beckett.

And Carina looked beautiful. I’ve been thinking about her in that dress all weekend.

I’m taking off the mainsail cover when I see her walking down the dock. I hope she’s burned off whatever frustrations she felt. She gets closer, and from the smirk on her face she’s been thinking up some snarky comeback the entire twenty-minute walk over.

The sun has fully risen at this point, and I see a sheen of sweat across her chest. She’s wearing a pair of shorts with a white flowy tank top sheer enough for me to see her baby bluebikini top underneath. Until now, I haven’t seen her in anything other than her own line of clothes.

I wonder what she’d look like in a cocktail dress, at sunset, at a candlelit table for two.

I stand at the stern as if I will offer her a hand across the gap between the boat and the dock, but that’s not all I intend.

She stands in front of me. “Permission to come aboard?” she asks, one eyebrow raised as if daring me to start again. I love the challenge I see in her and how much our relationship has changed since we were last in this position. It’s only been a little over a week, and along with the house and the water, Carina has been my constant in Wendell Beach. Not just her physical presence, but the way she’s always in my mind. I can’t believe it’s only been ten days since we first met.

“Not yet. We need to call a truce.”

“Why?” Her eyes narrow behind her sunglasses.

“No fighting on the boat. It’s a safety thing. I need to know in an emergency you’ll listen to me no matter what.”

“Your boat. Your rules?” she says.

“Something like that.”

“I don’t like this.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to.”

“If you’re an ass to me, I will take it out on you once we are back on land.”

“Sure, no problem. Throw me in the ocean,” I say. She’d jump in to save me. I know it.

“Gulf,” she corrects.

“Whatever. Do you agree?”

It’s clear she doesn’t want to, but Alex walks up from below deck and she sees him watching us. Her glare at me turns into a smile that I know is fake. “Won’t even be an issue. I’m perfectly pleasant all the time.”

“Sure, princess.” She doesn’t react to my nickname. I’d like to think it’s because she’s holding back. I’ll say it again on land and wait for her to explode.

“You going to help me board?”

“Nope, you’re capable. It’s not like you’ll fall in the ocean.”

I turn and continue my work, knowing Carina will be able to get on the boat no problem. But she waits a minute to take the step.

twelve

CARINA

Orion is infuriating.No one should look as good as he does while he navigates a thirty-seven-foot boat out of a marina in the morning light. And how dare Bristol be so helpful.

She’s so bright and sunny, and anyone would be lucky to date her. She’s usually single—I’ve only seen her in casual relationships. If she wanted to start something with Orion, I’m sure they would be a good match. It’s not hard to notice they are both incredibly fit. Orion thrives on having a partner who can match his strength.

When Orion had mentioned sailing when we were at Paradise, my plan was to remind him it’s dangerous to be out on the water alone. I should come along, for safety reasons.

It was complete bullshit. Orion has plenty of experience sailing on his own. I wanted time alone with him. In a platonic way, of course. I was not thinking about navigating him to the cabin when we anchor.

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