Page 17 of Beauty
Squeezing my eyes shut, I try not to think about that. I try not to remember her sweet sounds and sensual moans. If I do, especially with the woman standing right before me inthatbathing suit, I’m at risk of tenting my shorts and showing the whole group exactly how I feel.
Eddy appears in front of us, skillfully carrying two drinks in each hand. “Who wants my special punch?”
I shake my head. Hell no. I need to have all my brain cells if I want to survive this.
After the group has toasted to new friendships, Eddy returns to Sienna and lays her towel out on the front of the catamaran. By some miracle, before he can blatantly hit on her or ogle her ass, the captain calls him over to help undo the lines.
Bert nudges me. “Now’s your time.”
I shake my head. “Let her relax. This is a four-hour trip. I’ve got plenty of time to talk to her.”
“Plenty of time.” Ernie tuts. “That’s what Bert thought about his first and second marriages.”
“And now my dog calls someone else Daddy, and I share holidays with my ex and her husband.”
I scowl. “I barely know the woman. There’s no need to even mention divorce.”
“It’s not about divorce. It’s about wasting time. Ask me how I know,” Ernie says in a tone that tells me my friend who looks like Ted Danson never found his Mary.
As the catamaran cruises out of the marina, tropical music floats around us. I can’t look away from Sienna, who’s now lying on her back, sunglasses still hiding her face.
She’s not my Mary. That’s not a real thing. Even if it were, we met yesterday. So what if we keep running into one another?
It could be that the two of us are just meant to spend the next few days having a bit of fun, right? Maybe it’s the universe’s way of telling me to relax and enjoy myself. That’s a theory I could get behind.
But more? I’ve got more than I can handle heading my way already. My son and my career are my only long-term priorities. They’re all I have room for in my life.
Eddy dances by us, hips swinging and arms rolling. “Enjoy the ride out. We’ve got thirty minutes before we reach the first diving spot.” He turns in a circle, still moving to the rhythm. “Let me know if you want a refill.”
With that, he makes his way to the front of the catamaran where he kneels beside Sienna.
She looks up at him as he speaks, and in response to whatever he asks her, she nods and then reaches into her bag. She produces a small bottle and passes it to him.
I know before he squeezes the sunscreen into his hand what it is, and when Sienna sits up and leans forward and Eddy begins lathering her with lotion, a low growl rumbles from my chest. I don’t want him touching her.
I don’t wantanyonetouching her.
“Barely know her, huh?” Ernie says, a knowing glint in his eye.
Fuck.
SEVEN
SIENNA
Well,this was an epic failure. Last night, when the itch to work almost overtook me, when I was struggling to just be, I booked this snorkeling trip. This morning, when I found out that Noah was switching rooms, I felt like the earth was going to swallow me whole.
Or maybe I wished it would.
Because a woman knows when a man wants her, and it’s clear as day that Noah does not want me. So much so that he’s given up a beautiful villa to get away from me. So that I won’t bother him? Is that it? So that I don’t throw myself at him and beg him to spend time with me?
Yes, I flirted last night, but did I go too far? Did I miss some sign that he wasn’t interested?
I don’t have the first clue, and now here we are, on the same catamaran. He probably thinks I followed him on this snorkeling trip. Especially if theyou againhe greeted me with is anything to go by.
Maybe while we’re out here, a whale will swallow me whole. Or maybe there’s a life raft nearby, and I can drift off to sea.
While I wait for either opportunity to arise, I do what any properly chastised girl would do and relegate myself to the corner of the catamaran, away from Noah, away from the crowd and the drinks and the dancing.
