Page 43 of Uncharted

“I pulled a few tubs out of storage and left them there for you.” Sam places his glass on the tray.

“Thanks, Cap.” Dante slaps Sam on the back and jogs up the stairs. Penny follows. “Are you coming with me? Let’s see what’s left. I’m sure I can find a treat for you.”

“I guess I’ll...” Haley’s jaw drops, and she looks at me. “What can I do to help?”

“I don’t know yet, Chiefie. But there will be something. Why don’t you have a look around?” Preferably far away from Sam.

“Yeah, I’d like that. Come get me when you have something I can help with.” Haley’s hand twitches toward me, but then she pulls it back.

“Sam, Green, just let me know how I can help.” Easton sits on a chair in the toy hauler. It’s a hardback one. “Oh, my damn. Sit down. This is amazing.”

I’m cocking my head at him like a dog.

“No, seriously. Green, Firefly, just sit for a second.” He pulls another chair over. There’s a tackle kit next to it. Sam must be fishing out here. Zane has disappeared. “Two seconds. Tell me if this isn’t the most comfortable chair you’ve ever sat in, ever?”

I nod. “I’ll trust you on it.”

Rockwell has his eyes closed, his hands folded over his stomach. “I’m going to take ten minutes and just enjoy the beauty of a backrest.”

“There’s more comfortable?—”

“I’m not a guest, Firefly. You don’t have to take care of me.” He opens one eye and smiles. “I’ll be up to help in a minute. Promise.”

Haley nods and dashes up the stairs to the porch off the main salon. I start to follow her, but Sam steps in front of me. “Are you heading to the engine room first?”

“I thought I would.”

“I’ll bring the manuals and the flashlights down.” He takes off after Haley. I watch him vanish after her.

“You doing okay, Green?” Easton’s eyes are open.

“Yeah, peachy.” I head through the latched door in the back of the toy hauler room to the engine room.

Chapter20

Christening

Sam

Taking the steps two at a time, I’m in the main salon behind Haley a second after her. But now I take it in with her eyes. It’s a disaster. There’s stuff everywhere. Sure, I’ve picked up a bunch. Or I tried to, at least. But it’s not fit for guests. Not that that’s an issue.

“Whoa, this place is... wow. Guess the Rock Candy’s not a sailboat, huh?” Things really moved around during the listing.

“I’ve swept up all the glass. I didn’t want Penny to get hurt.”

She picks up a pillow and puts it back on the sofa.

I do the same; I’m not sure why. Fuck. I’ve got her alone.

“I’ve got it. I’ll have her looking good in no time. But the second you have something I can do that’s more vital, I’ll do it.” She’s hugging a pillow to her chest. Her blue eyes are dark in the dim light. It gets a lot brighter in here as soon as the sun pokes over the edge of the cliff.

I glance down the stairs. I need to get down there to talk to Calvin. But this might be my only chance to talk to Haley alone. They’re all over her. Even in the tender on the way in.

I step toward the main staircase but stop myself. “Haley, can we talk in the wheelhouse?” It’s a shit place to have the conversation. It’s where I have the power, even now. She’s been yachting long enough that I know she’ll feel it.

“Oh, uh. Yeah, I mean. I need to make an espresso martini for a guest, but I’ll be right there.” She drops the pillow on the sofa, giving it a chop to make a ‘v’ in it. She’s joking, but it still gives me pause for a second. “Lead the way.” She bobs her head. And I can’t read her. It’s weird because I can read anyone. It’s what makes me a great captain.

I make my way down the corridor. It’s so odd being here with people. Even odder is not having Penny at my heels. I can hear her in the galley. Or rather, I hear Dante talking to her. His words from yesterday circle in the back of my head.Don’t tell her.Damn, how am I not going to bring it up?So, remember when we talked about exploring our attraction before shit hit the fan? What happened to that, and how the hell are you letting four guys screw you?

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