Page 11 of The Billionaire's Teacher

“Someone’s testy.” I held up my hands. “My bad.”

He shook his head and continued eating.

A joke about needing a nap was on the tip of my tongue, but I bit it back. There was no need to irritate him on purpose. It was good to know that he was sensitive about the age thing though. That was definitely going to help me keep my thoughts in line.

Or so I told myself.

I forced myself to eat the fruit I’d scooped onto my plate, then stood and carried my dirty things over to the kitchenette. There was a small dishwasher, so I loaded them in and left it open for Wes. “When you’re done, can you clean your spot? Then we can head ashore and I’ll get you started on some intros. If you want to dive at any of the spots they like, I can take you out, or, if they’re running a group and you can tag along, I’m good with that, too. Just let me know your preference.”

“You don’t want to dive?” Wes glanced up as he reached into the bag for a second piece of bread.

“I’m happy to, like I said. I just don’t know what you prefer.”

He frowned. “I’d like you to come along.”

I waited to see if he’d expand on that. When he didn’t, I nodded. “Then I will. Let me know when you’re ready.”

I didn’t wait for him to say more, but headed down the stairs to my room. I opened the door, stepped in, and closed it with a quiet click. Then I leaned against it and closed my eyes. This was day two and I was already having problems. How was I supposed to make it three weeks?

I’d been praying he’d want space when we stopped on the various islands. I did enough moving between them that I could always occupy myself for the time he needed to scout and dive. I would’ve been fine just hanging out on the boat, for that matter. I had a freshly stocked Kindle and plenty of sunscreen.

But no.

Apparently, when he’d hired a driver and a guide, he’d planned for that to mean constant companion as well. And since that was absolutely something the charter company would support, it was going to be up to me to figure out how to deal.

So that was what I’d do.

I blew out a breath and moved to my bunk. I reached for my tablet and quickly turned it on. Of course it needed a minute to connect to the wi-fi, because why wouldn’t it? When I finally had internet, I opened the browser and went to the company portal to dig up the info on Wes’s age.

I’d been right on. Ten years.

I couldn’t pretend he was my kid. But my youngest brother was only four years older than him, so maybe I could treat him like a surrogate kid brother. That should keep any belly quivers under control.

Shouldn’t it?

I logged out and set the tablet back on the shelf. Kid brother. I pictured my youngest brother, his wife, and their triplets. I could do this.

There was a knock on my door. “Sunny?”

“Yeah?” I crossed the small space and opened the door. Then stepped back. Why was he so close? Kid brother, girl. “Ready?”

“I am if you are. Should I bring my dive gear?”

I shook my head. “We’ll come back for it. Let’s go schmooze the operators first.”

Wes stepped out of the way and gestured to the stairs. “After you.”

I wanted to argue, but bit my tongue. My brother would never have let me go first. How was I going to be able to keep our relationship on the right foot if Wes refused to play by the rules?

5

WES

Ihad to give it to Sunshine, she knew the island as advertised. If she had this kind of knowledge—and this number of contacts—at every stop on our planned trip? I had my whole job basically done for me already.

I glanced longingly at the little sidewalk café as she led me toward our next destination. My steps slowed.

She stopped and looked over her shoulder. “Coming?”

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