Page 2 of Bear's Midlife Bridesmaid
Erin watched in horror as the contents spilled out onto the deck. Panties and bras decorated the teak paneling, along with a small pack of tampons, just in case. An eyeshadow palette popped open, and the now-broken pans spread a blast of color. Worst of all, a shiny silver vibrator rolled out for a grand finale.
Pain shattered her knees, but it was nothing compared to the sheer embarrassment that washed over her. Erin’s inner bobcat went berserk. It had told her she never should’ve gotten on this boat, and here was the proof!
She crawled forward, snagged whatever she could reach, and tried to stuff it back into the bag, hoping no one would notice the most embarrassing item among the mix. Erin had packed it at the last minute, thinking it might be her only source of joy on this trip. The impact must have hit the power button because it began to clatter and clack againstthe deck, sending itself off in an arc just as she reached for it.
By this point, there was no chance it wouldn’t be noticed. The other women were laughing and screeching, and she didn’t have to look to know they were pointing at her. This couldn’t be any worse, right?
Oh, but it could. The damn thing rolled further out of her grasp and right up to a pair of shiny deck shoes. As Erin watched, a strong hand reached down and picked it up. The other hand, just as strong and rugged, easily clicked the button and turned off the device.
Erin thrust herself to her feet, ready to throw herself overboard. Her gaze traced up the long lines of his crisp trousers, to the broad chest behind a uniform shirt, and up to a handsome face. Hazel eyes looked at her with humor in them as he handed the vibrator back. “Welcome aboard.”
A tightness had taken over her chest as the scene played out, seemingly in slow motion for her, but that tightness dropped down into her stomach as she looked into the captain’s face. Her fingers brushed his as she snagged the vibrator and shoved it into her bag. “Thanks,” she whispered as she turned away.
Her inner bobcat knew that what she was feeling right now was much more than embarrassment. Yes, the sheer horror of seeing all of her most personal items exploding on the deck threatened to override everything, and she was seriously considering bolting back down the ramp or finding a black hole to dive into, but there was another sensation that pulled at her very core. She kept her eyes down, waiting impatiently for the women to quit their cackling, but she dared to steal a peek at the handsome captain.
Unlike the guests, he’d kept his cool. He was directing his staff, instructing them to show the guests to the proper cabins. He didn’t look the least bit ruffled, smiling politely at everyone and making sure things ran smoothly.
Erin’s eyes lasered in on his hands, which had only a moment ago clicked off her vibrator and given it back. She was mortified, but a small part of her was satisfied that he’d touched an item so intimate. Her breath grew quick and shallow as she imagined what his wide chest looked like under that pressed shirt, and she was sure there was a delicious transition to everything below the waist, too.
“Erin, you’re bunking with Florence.” Gretchen’s voice sliced through Erin’s thoughts.
“Hm?” Her bag was zipped shut again, but Erin held it bunched in her fist, daring it to defy her a second time. She tore her gaze away from Captain Sexypants.
Gretchen was beaming at her. She had a humorous spark in her eye, but at least she didn’t blatantly say anything about Erin’s little accident. “You’ll be bunking with Florence,” she repeated. “Blaire and Hadley are in a cabin, Hugo’s two friends are staying together, and of course Hugo and I are staying in the bridal suite. That leaves you and Florence.” She gestured toward the tall, willowy woman who stood next to her.
Florence had a long face with a Roman nose and hooded eyes. She stood with her head tipped slightly back and to the side, like some actress from the early days of film. Her hair was pulled sharply back, and she swept her gaze over Erin. “Nice to meet you,” she said, her voice dripping with disdain.
“You, too.” Erin only said it out of obligation, although there was obviously nothing nice about this interaction at all.
A young deckhand came out onto the deck and nodded politely to them. “Right this way. Can I take your bag for you, ma’am?”
“No, thank you,” Erin said, quickly clutching her weekender bag even tighter against her. “I’ve got it.”
“As you wish.” He led them down into the yacht.
Erin was completely in her own head, but it stopped her from gawking at her surroundings. Everything was sleek and squeaky clean, with accents of top-notch wood, marble, or some other luxury material. As they moved through the boat, she spotted leather furniture, crystal glasses, and even plush carpet. This was like a small, floating hotel, and it looked like it’d been built yesterday.
“You’ll be right in here,” the young man instructed, opening a door and waving them inside. “Marissa, our stewardess, is right down the hall. Please let our crew know if you need anything.”
“Thank you,” Erin said automatically, although she noticed Florence didn’t say a thing.
Her new roommate was too busy eyeing their room, checking the view from the massive windows and poking one long finger at the mattress to test its firmness.
Erin swallowed, although her throat was as dry as a bone. What was that old Samuel Taylor Coleridge line about water everywhere and not a drop to drink? Well, there was no time to get poeticright now. She could bury herself in a book later, but she had to deal with this for the moment. “You can pick whichever bed you want. It doesn’t matter to me.”
Florence turned slowly to look at her, scrunching her eyes slightly as though she’d forgotten that Erin was even there. “My biggest concern is the noise level at night. Do I need to wear my earbuds, or will you keep the vibrator down to a minimum?” she asked in that cool, clear voice, letting her gaze slide down to the offending bag.
“It’s not like that.” Erin slung the bag down on the end of one bed. She didn’t know this woman, and she owed her no explanations, but she still didn’t want her roommate to think she was some sort of horndog. Erin’s explanations were cut off, however, by muffled buzzing. It was coming from her bag.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Erin yanked open the zipper and turned off the vibrator once again. She knew Florence was watching her, but she had absolutely nothing left to lose. She unscrewed the device and dumped the batteries into her bag. “There. Nothing to worry about.”
Florence’s thin lips moved slightly, but sheturned away and said nothing as she began unpacking.
Erin hauled her suitcase onto her bed and began doing the same. This was going to be the longest week ever.
2
Jace Brigham glancedfrom the deep blue water to the massive array of controls in front of him at the helm. He was grateful they’d left the harbor and were heading out into the bay because it meant he had time away from the guests. His only job right now was to guide the boat safely to their first stop of the trip, a point out on the water that would show off the sunset.
