Page 16 of The Bosun

“I can assure you I know what I’m doing,” I tried to reassure her.

All the women laughed at my words, but it was Reagan who spoke. “In all aspects of life?”

I wouldn’t have known what she was talking about if she wasn’t looking straight at my dick. Damn, she was brutal.

“There’ve been no complaints,” I shot back. It was the most neutral thing I could think of in the moment. There was something about Reagan I didn’t like, not that it mattered, but it made it hard not to say something unkind to her.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Penelope grab onto Stella’s arm and laugh. “I think you need to take him for a spin and find out.”

“Pen, you’re crazy. He doesn’t think of me like that. He’s only being nice because it’s his job.”

I moved so I could watch them. The boat was small enough that it didn’t matter where I was; I’d be able to hear them unless they were whispering. They were talking quietly enough that it was difficult to hear them over the voices of their friends.

“You must be blind if you can’t see the way he looks at you.” Stella shook her head and looked out at the water. “Stell, you’re a fucking knockout, and everyone in the world can see it except you,” Pen said, this time loud enough for everyone to hear.

“You’re only saying that because you’re my friend. I know I’m not horrible to look at, but I’m notthat.There’s no way in hell someone with a body of a God and with looks like that is interested in me.”

Her quiet words stung my heart. Pen was right. Stella was a knockout. What I wanted to know was who made her think she wasn’t? I was the one who was shocked that Stella wanted anything to do with me. I didn’t have the status or money she had to be accustomed to.

“Who’s ready to see some fish?” Owen shouted, breaking me out of my thoughts. It was probably a good thing since I couldn’t stand all day staring at Stella while trying to probe her thoughts on why she felt the way she did.

The girls all perked up at Owen’s question and started talking excitedly to each other.

I waited until Owen had on his lifejacket before I started up the boat and set off to our destination. Keeping my gaze on the horizon, I missed Stella getting up and moving to stand beside me. Her soft words and light touch filled me with a feeling I hadn’t felt since I was in the war. Purpose. “How do you know where we’re going?”

“I have a GPS that I put in the coordinates to where we’re going.” I pointed to the dash.

“But you haven’t even looked down to see.”

Had she been watching me the whole time?

“I know my way for the most part, but I put it in just in case. Once we get closer, I’ll be using it more,” I explained, looking down at her. “If you want, you can stay here, and I’ll show you.”

Breaking our gaze, Stella looked away and then ducked her head. Everyone was watching us— even the guys.

“I better not. I don’t want to be the reason we get lost and stranded out at sea.” She laughed her comment off.

“That would never happen. All the watercraft have tracking locators on them, and if we’re gone too long without reporting in, the Captain will send out a search party.” I wasn’t sure why I told her that, but I felt the need to reassure her. “You’re safe with me.”

Raising her hand, one finger trailed down my forearm until it reached my hand. The tip of her finger traced the veins in my hand. I wasn’t sure how a simple move could be so seductive, but it was. “For some reason, I believe you.” She spoke the words in a breathy whisper. Clearing her throat, Stella shook her head. “I’m going to go back over there before I do something that...yeah, I’m going over there.”

Even though I wanted to tell her she could do whatever she wanted, I kept my thoughts to myself. I knew Scout and Owen would keep their mouths closed, but no matter how crazy attracted I was to Stella, I didn’t know her or her friends. All I could do was watch her walk away and remember she was going to be gone just as quickly as she came. I couldn’t let my feelings get me in trouble and fuck up my life.

Half an hour later, we arrived at the perfect spot for snorkeling. The water was clear and not too deep. Whoever stayed back would be able to see us.

Owen stepped to me as I set the anchor with a shit-eating grin on his face. “Do you want me to stay back?”

Unconsciously, my gaze went to Stella as she leaned over the side with Penelope and ran her hand through the water. “I can stay if you want.” Owen wanted to stay back, likely to smoke, and so he didn’t have to deal with the ladies. They were more than likely going to be a handful going by the shrieks.

“I’ll let you be with your lady love,” Owen said quietly but then started to crack up. While I was happy to have crew members who weren’t serious all the time, sometimes it got old. Like now.

“Don’t make it into something it’s not,” I growled.

Owen rolled his eyes and shrugged it off. “Dude, I’m just giving you shit because I’ve never seen you like this. Take advantage while we’re not on the boat and the girls aren’t around. You know if Ophelia gets word you’ve got the hots for one of the guests, she’s going to freak.”

“She was a mistake. One I don’t plan to make again and a good reminder as to why I shouldn’t fuck anyone on the boat.” My tone suggested he take it as law for himself as well.

Turning his back on the guests, he leaned close. “So maybe you can get a room tomorrow night when we’re docked.”

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