Page 16 of Forbidden Forward

Friday morning finds me standing on the stern of the Gail, staring at the parking lot entrance while I finish my coffee. Jackie texted me ten minutes ago to let me know she’s on her way. I convinced her to give me her number before we parted the other day so I could let her know about any last-minute changes to our plans this morning, and I gotta admit, I pumped my fist more than necessary after I had that number recorded in my phone under “First Mate.”

I smile as I recall our conversation from the other day when she proposed being my first mate. In her damp, disheveled clothing, with her blond waves wild, her face without a stitch of makeup, and her fern-green eyes sparkling like gemstones, she was so damn cute perched on the edge of her seat I could barely keep my own excitement in check.

Now I’m a bundle of nerves as I look for her Jeep that’s a distinct mix of faded blue and rust. This effect she has on me is weird. I don’t get worked up about pretty women joining me on my boat—maybe because I’ve never invited one aboard.

Dim headlights sweep into the lot, and my heart lifts when her Jeep cuts left and maneuvers into a parking spot. I can’t tell if they’re dim because the cloudless sky outshines them or the bulbs are worn or the lenses are dirty. If the reason is either of the latter two, I can fix them for her. Working on sailboats for years has taught me a thing or two about being handy.

She alights from her vehicle and slings the backpack over her shoulder. My dirty mind immediately leaps to the satin and lace I fingered the other day, and I picture her wearing the sexy lingerie under her baggy black sweatshirt with “Beaufort” emblazoned on the front and her ripped jeans that showcase firm thighs. For such a small frame, her legs look miles long. They’d be a perfect fit wrapped around my waist, with her ankles hooked together and digging into my ass—in her brand-new boat shoes.

I drag my hand over my freshly trimmed beard and wonder for the millionth time what the fuck has gotten into me. My imagination isn’t usually so … vivid. Especially with someone I barely know. Especially with someone who is completely taboo. The thought of her brother finding out she’s here cools my wayward libido in a nanosecond.

If ever there was a reason for Harper to tell management to move me, this is it. And management would listen because no way would he and I patch things up if he knew I was eyeing his sister.

A smile spreads over her pretty face when her gaze lands on me. She waves and picks up her pace, her stubby blond ponytail coming into view as she approaches. On someone else, the look would be either goofy or sloppy, but on her, it’s attractive as hell. I straighten and, unable to stop myself, wave back. Not in a cool way either—more like a puppy-tail-wagging way that broadcasts how happy I am to see her.

And I am happy to see her. Is that such a bad thing? She’s here to help with the kids. With her here, we’ll be able to take the Gail out for a sail, and the kids will be elated.

Soon she’s right in front of me, and I hold out my hand for her backpack as though having a random woman board my boat is routine. It’s not. Peggy’s the only one who’s ever set foot on the Gail, and she carries her own gear.

“Good morning!” Jackie greets as I take the bag from her and hold up my other hand. She slips her smaller one into mine, accepting my help without a fight this time. My gut flips, then flops, and I can’t tell if it’s the feel of her soft skin against mine or the fact that this is a mini-triumph.

She’s talking, and I admonish myself to tune back in. “What was that?”

“You couldn’t have picked a nicer day.” She yanks on the hem of her sweatshirt in what I interpret as a nervous gesture.

“I didn’t pick it, but yeah, we lucked out.” Grinning, I glance down. “Nice shoes.”

She returns the grin. “You approve?”

“Absolutely. If I ever need a first mate, you’re my top pick for the job.”

Her face turns a pretty shade of pink, and we stare at each other for a charged moment. Is she feeling this too?

Thank fuck she breaks the spell when she rubs her palms together. “Show me what you got for me, Captain.”

Okay, that is not what I need to hear because suddenly there is so much I want to show this girl, and all of it spins through my mind at the same time. It’s got nothing to do with my sailboat either. Well, unless we’re talking about the sheets on my berth.

Fuck!

The full impact of what a bad idea this is hits me like an open-ice check delivered by a six-foot-eight defenseman. Today is going to be torture, and I will have brought every excruciating moment on myself.

I blow out a breath and think about knots, sails, anything except the places my sex-starved brain wants to take me.

Mostly, I’m successful as I lead Jackie around and acquaint her with the layout. The boat’s only thirty-five feet, so it doesn’t take much time, but we cover the essentials—life jackets, using handrails, location of the first-aid kit, and where to find the head.

She peeks into the berth. “So this is where you sleep?” I nod because it’s all I’m capable of. She’s standing so close I smell the cookies and flowers and lemons that make up her unique scent. My stomach’s doing acrobatics again, and I can’t form a coherent sentence.

“Looks cozy.” Her voice is on the husky side, and shit if things don’t start to move below my waistline. Peggy’s voice calling from the dock snaps me out of it.

“The kids are here,” I gust out, pivoting on my heel, moving as far and as fast as I can from Jackie Harper.

Within moments, chaos reigns as I’m lifting kids out of their wheelchairs and helping the more mobile ones onto the boat. Peggy shares details about the kids with Jackie as she shows her how and where to stow the chairs. The two women make short work of that chore, plus outfit the kids in their life jackets, and I introduce Jackie to the Wild Bunch.

“Is she your girlfriend?” Darla asks without so much as acknowledging said “girlfriend.” If I’m not imagining things, the little girl’s lower lip wobbles.

Jackie bends over, hands on her knees, and looks straight into Darla’s dark eyes. “I’m just a friend helping Captain Colby today,” she explains in the sweetest voice imaginable.

“She’s my first mate,” I blurt out. Jackie looks up at me and smirks.