Page 19 of The Billionaire's Teacher

“I think we saw everything yesterday.”

Sunshine laughed. “We did. But I also know if you’re not used to this much time on the water it can be nice to have dry land under your feet for more than a few hours. I’m fine with that, if that’s what you need.”

“I’m doing okay.” I chewed another couple of bites. “You’re sure this dive site isn’t worthwhile?”

“It’s notnotworthwhile. It’s as good as the places we went yesterday. But it also tends to have more tour operators, so it can get crowded. Depending on how good the divers are, that scares the fish.”

That was definitely not the sort of location I wanted. “Let’s skip it.”

“Okay.” She glanced at her watch. “Probably have another five, maybe ten minutes before we should leave. This church isn’t on island time.”

Island time was a recurring theme I was finding as we traveled from place to place. Most of the diving and hospitality contacts did their best to adhere to the actual clock, but not always. It only took one weak link in the timing to leave Sunny and me twiddling our thumbs for half an hour.

I could admit in the quiet of my own thoughts that I didn’t mind the extra time with her.

But I still didn’t want to walk into a church service late when I was a visitor. I hurried to finish my coffee and fruit. Sunshine took my dishes and carried them to the sink over my protests and then we were busy making our way down the pier to where a scooter waited.

“What’s this?”

Sunshine took one of the helmets off the handlebars and offered it to me with a grin. “More authentic transportation than a car.”

I tipped my head to the side. “Where’s mine?”

She just laughed and fastened the chin strap of her helmet, then straddled the scooter. “Hop on, Wes. Or don’t you trust me?”

There was a teasing edge to her tone that I was almost convinced I’d made up simply because I wanted to hear it. But there was no mistaking the glint of something—humor? Challenge? Both?—in her eyes as she waited, watching me.

I settled the helmet on my head and, squashing my misgivings—and boy, oh boy, did I have misgivings—threw a leg over the back of the scooter.

Sunshine started the tiny machine and I imagined it wincing under our combined weight. Neither of us were large, but we were still grown adults. I rested my hands against her waist. Surely that would be enough? I was trying, desperately, to minimize the contact points between us.

I was failing. Miserably.

“You’re going to want to hold on better than that.” Without waiting for me to respond, Sunshine tugged one of my arms and drew it around her waist.

The force pulled me forward and before I could think about it, my other arm followed suit. And now? Now there was nowhere that we weren’t touching. My legs pressed against hers. My chest pressed against her back. I was surrounded by her scent and the fireworks that exploded in my skin everywhere we touched.

With a raucous laugh, Sunshine kicked off and we zoomed through the parking area of the marina and out onto the streets.

Sunday morning was, apparently, a quiet time here. There were some people out walking or opening shops and restaurants, but the majority of the short drive was devoid of people. It was as if we were driving through an enchanted town.

I smiled slightly as my imagination took off. I was going to blame Sunny’s proximity for any and all flights of fancy. There was no other reasonable explanation.

Ten, maybe fifteen, minutes later, Sunny slowed, signaled, and turned into the parking lot in front of a low-slung building with a large veranda across the front and a boat ramp leading up to the main doors. It wasn’t the type of church building I was used to, at all, but the sign on top made it clear that we were exactly where we planned to be.

She parked the scooter in a line of similar vehicles—although ours was by far the least dinged-up of them—then reached up and took off her helmet. She twisted and met my gaze. “You can let go now.”

Right. I quickly moved my arms and slid off the scooter. Only when I was safely not touching her did I unfasten my helmet.

She held out a hand for it. “What’d you think?”

“Of the scooter?”

She nodded.

“It’s better than walking?” I really didn’t know what she was after, but that seemed like a reasonable answer.

Sunshine laughed, throwing her head backward as she did. “I guess I’ll take it. Ready to go in?”

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