Page 24 of Role Play

Chapter Nineteen

Jane

It couldn't have been a morebeautiful day. A crisp blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds and sunlight glittering off the water in such a way that it looked like a rippling carpet of diamonds. To top off the fantasy, I was sitting on a glistening white yacht with a man who was turning out to be everything I ever dreamed of in a perfect mate. And I had even grown instantly fond of his friends.

While I never considered men to be proficient at describing people, Aidan had done an accurate job when he'd told me about his friends and their significant others. Trey was extraordinarily handsome, the type of man who was just made to wear a tailored business suit. He looked dashing in his captain's hat as well. And he had that serious charm that made him seem very much the gentleman. And his girlfriend, Georgie, was the type of woman who just shouted sex appeal. And her brainy worldliness showed in the way she spoke. I had expected Chase to be gorgeous, but he surpassed even the image I'd had of him. And yet he was down to earth and funny and not the least bit conceited. His girlfriend, Macy, was as cute as she was nice. She was the type of girl who everyone in high school wanted as a friend. And she'd brought along spectacular strawberry tarts that melted in my mouth as if they were made of pure butter.

It seemed, though, that I wasn't going to get to meet Zane this round, which was disappointing.

Trey had driven us to a quiet cove, where the only other signs of life were seagulls and the occasional jumping fish. Aidan and I were sitting on the circular couch snacking on chips and dip. Chase and Macy had joined us. Georgie came out with a tray of strawberry daiquiris.

She lowered the drinks onto the table. "I'd hang on to these. That wind is picking up and last time Trey and I anchored here, I ended up with my drink in my lap"

Chase handed Macy and me a drink. "Where's Trey?"

Georgie looked at the cabin entrance. "He was on the phone with Zane."

Aidan took hold of his drink. "I'm thinking of lowering the canoe into the water and paddling to shore."

"I'm up for it," Chase said enthusiastically.

Aidan tilted his head. "I was talking to the lovely woman at my side. If I wanted a romantic shore excursion with you, I would have asked you specifically."

Macy giggled behind her glass, but Chase didn't look the least bit embarrassed. He didn't seem like the type of guy who even knew what embarrassmentt felt like.

Chase put his arm around Macy. "Fine then. Take the lovely woman, just don't expect me to ever say yes to your invite again."

"I'll try to power through that disappointment."

Trey walked out pushing his phone into his pocket. "Get this. Zane and Raini are flying to Tuscany for the weekend on the Bonneville private jet." He grabbed his drink and shook his head in disgust. "Must be nice."

I leaned my head closer to Aidan and lowered my voice. "He does realize that he's standing on a luxury yacht, right?"

"Just proves that even if you're standing on a grassy knoll in the middle of Ireland, the grass is always greener somewhere else."

I turned and looked up at him. "Well put. I might just take you up on that shore excursion since you're in such a philosophical mood today."

He tightened his arm around me. "You like that, eh? Well, let's go ashore, and I'll see what other nuggets I can come up with."

We got up from the table.

"Where are you going?" Trey asked.

"They're going for some beach exploration," Chase piped up.

"I see." Trey sat next to Georgie and pulled her closer. "Georgie and I left our exploration prints on the beach right behind that giant palm last month."

Georgie elbowed him. "Not everyone needs to know that."

"What? Just letting them know where the best spots are. Actually, don't use that spot. It's ours." Trey winked at us. Georgie popped up from under his arm. "I think I need another daiquiri."

"Have a good time," Chase called to us as I followed Aidan to side of the boat where the canoe was stored.

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