Page 26 of Adrift

“Have a seat.” I move the chair closer to Haley so as not to disturb Penny. I sit on the edge of the bed. I should get up—this feels far too intimate.

And I’m the one close to crossing a line.

“How is Brianna working out?” I clasp my hands together, resting my elbows on my knees. It is the pose I do to let my dog understand my hands are not available for petting. It alsohappens to be somewhat intimidating. I unclasp them and sit with my hands on my legs.

“I wouldn’t know. She hasn’t been out of her cabin. She told me yesterday that she had jet lag. Today she told Shayla she had to sleep off a migraine.”

“Oh, those can be bad. Do you want to find out if she needs a doctor?”

Haley frowns at me. “I can do that.”

Such a good sailor. “What do you really want to say?”

“I don’t want to say anything bad about her. I’ve only met her for a few seconds. But that’s the problem. She’s lazy, and even when she does come out of her cabin, I’m sure Shayla and I would do a better job without her. I can’t let her stay in there. It’s going to drive Shayla crazy. And I understand why. But I’m going to try to train her.”

“I know you will. Charlie said you turned around one of the worst stews on board.” Seriously, my brother wouldn’t shut up about Haley. He told me if I didn’t hire her, he’d tell our mother about what happened to her heirloom Christmas tablecloth, and that’s a story that doesn’t ever need to be told.

“If she never comes out of her cabin, how can I train her?”

“If she never comes out of her cabin, how can she cause any problems?” I half laugh. It’s not appropriate, but it makes Haley smile at me again. Fuck, this is messed up. I’m going to have to find a way to pull back these inappropriate feelings for her. “I’m afraid we are going to have to ride it out. If tensions between Shayla and Brianna get overblown and you can’t handle it on your own...” I raise my eyebrows.

“Maybe Easton could talk to his dad?” She shifts slightly in her chair, coming closer to me.

I tighten my stomach muscles. “I don’t think that will be necessary. If it becomes?—”

This time she giggles. A soft nervous giggle traveling straight to my cock. “You should see your expression. I’m sorry, Captain. I didn’t know Easton would tell his dad.”

“I understand. I don’t feel stepped on. And I was there too. I could have stopped him. But the real question is why did he do it? Why do you think Easton was willing to challenge his dad and stick himself out there?” I raise my chin to her. I know why he did it. He wants in her pants like almost all the crew. Like me.

“He’s not a fan of his soon-to-be stepmother. One more day without her makes him happy. They might be at a five-star hotel with killer views, but she’s not here. And on top of that, doing something to make Candy angry will give him a deep-seated, childish thrill.”

Shit, that’s a good answer. The thickening of my cock has knocked a good decade off my age and forty points off my IQ. “Possibly there might be another reason.” Because I’m sure the SOB was eyeing her like a trophy.

“What? I don’t get your... Are you saying he did it for me?”

I cock my head and give a small shrug.

“Captain. He’s an Olympian and a billionaire and soon to be the new CEO of his family’s business. He’s not interested in me.”

“I think he is. I can tell you’re a professional. You know what to do.”

Her shoulders square. “I would never lead a guest on.” She leans forward, her feet fidgeting.

I’ve made her uncomfortable. She squirms in the chair, and in doing so, she’s squeezed her incredible breasts together. The V-neck crew uniform is something that I need to look away from, but I don’t.

“Yes, I understand.” I hold her gaze. I see the moment it clicks for her. At least, I think I do. She can tell I’m attracted to her. And I’m fucked. As long as I don’t do anything that can beconstrued as something crossing that line all the way... But I’m hovering, man, I’m hovering awfully close.

“Captain Sam, just so you know, I’ve never had a relationship with a guest. I once dated a bosun on the boat, but that ended. And it ended poorly. He broke my heart. Broke me, really. I’m not going to do anything to embarrass you or this ship. It wasn’t my plan to have a boat romance again. Or any romance.”

“I never thought you would. Your resumé is impeccable, your references are perfect, and Charlie raved about you—and the only thing my brother raves about is himself. So no, Haley, I don’t think you would do anything to embarrass me or the ship. I was more concerned about what the junior might want to do to you.”

“If you trust me, why are you worried about what Easton might or might not do?” She drops her arms to the seat and leans back. It’s hard to not notice how nicely her uniform hugs her chest. Is she doing this on purpose? Her eyes flit to the floor and then up at me.

“Men like him like using their position to get what they want.” They want her in a certain position: her ass in the air or on the bed. Again, I’m not any better than them.

She smiles. “Well, you don’t have to worry about me. I get where the line is between flirting for a tip and staying in bed after turndown service, and I don’t cross it with passengers. Not that anyone has ever tried.” She nods and stands.

“I find that hard to believe.” I stand too. But Penny’s long body corrals us together.

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