“Morning, sugar,” he greeted her, reaching out a hand. “Find what I left you?”
“Sure did,” she answered as she stepped up into the boat. “And I am very confused on many levels. I mean, I have a lot of questions.”
“No questions, just trust the magic!”
She eyed him skeptically as they made their way back toward Kyle and her uncle. Just trust the magic? She had no idea what Dalton’s plan was or why she was going along with it, but since she was standing here with the swimsuit he gave her on underneath her tank and shorts, she guessed she was going along with it.
“Hey doll, how’s the day lookin’?” Grayson asked as she came to stand next to him.
“Good, we’re all sold out for this afternoon, so should be a busy day.”
“I like the sound of that. Guess that decides if I’m tagging along.” He clapped his hands together. “You set
out at noon?”
“We can fit you on. If we’re gonna have a full boat, having an extra set of hands wouldn’t be a bad thing. Besides, when was the last time you and Drea went out?” Kyle interjected.
“Come on, Uncle Gray, it’ll be fun. Kyle’s right, we haven’t been out in forever. Plus, I recognize some names on today’s list from yesterday’s tour, some female names, so if nothing else, we can sit back and watch Dalton make a fool of himself with all the attention,” Drea added in.
“Whatever,” Dalton scoffed. “What you will witness is me at my best! My prowess knows no bounds!” He raised his hands in triumph as he backed away from the group. They all laughed as he turned stylishly and headed toward the front of the boat to check equipment.
“Well then, maybe I will.” Grayson put an arm around Drea’s shoulder and kissed her on the top of her head. “Let me see how the morning goes. But you’re right, it’d be a good time. Until then, look after my girl here, Kyle. I’m trusting you with her life.” He kissed the top of her head again and turned to disembark the boat.
“You got it, sir!” Kyle called after him, as Drea simply rolled her eyes.
“I can be trusted with my own life!” she added. Grayson simply held a thumbs-up high over his head as he headed down the pier.
“I know you can,” Kyle said, turning to face her head-on. “Dalton, on the other hand…”
“Drea’s life can be trusted with me. I’d never let anything happen to our princess,” Dalton hollered from the front of the boat.
Drea cut her eyes to Dalton. Princess? What was he getting at? She slid her eyes to Kyle, trying to see what his reaction had been to the new nickname, but his face didn’t seem to change. Okay, then.
The guests started to arrive a little earlier than expected, but the three of them had a routine that ensured they were ready for it. Drea only half watched as they piled on, wiping down the bar and making sure that everything was ready for once they were out on open water. She looked up as she heard some giggles that made her freeze—“Candy” and her friends were getting on the boat. Damn it, that must have been the group of female names that looked familiar. Right behind them, though, was the part of the story that she had failed to mention earlier. Brig and all his buddies were also joining them again today. She took a deep breath, watching them all settle in. One of the blondes had basically surgically attached herself to one of Brig’s buddies—they must have been the pairing that Vaughn had witnessed the night before—and they settled right up at the front of the boat. The rest of the group followed, the girls smiling and winking at Kyle and Dalton as they did so.
Glancing over at the boys as they continued to help guests onto the boat, Drea couldn’t help but smile to herself. The sun glistened off of Kyle’s tan skin, and watching the muscles on his back move and contract as he worked caused all sorts of butterflies in her tummy. She was still so hurt by what she had witnessed last night, but thoughts of what it would be like to hold on to that back as he moved above her filled her head. Thoughts of how his tongue would feel against hers and the friction as he rubbed—
“Hi!” A high-pitched voice pulled her from her daydream. She looked over to find “Candy” standing in front of her across the bar.
“Hi,” Drea answered, taken aback by the girl’s sudden appearance.
“I’m Staci, with an i,” she said, reaching a hand out to shake. Drea took her hand and shook back.
“Drea. Nice to see you again.”
“Thanks! We just had sooooo much fun yesterday, we couldn’t resist another trip!”
“Glad to hear you enjoyed it.”
“So, you spend all day with these boys? You lucky girl!”
“Yeah, they’re the best. I really couldn’t ask for better crewmates.”
“Or a better view!”
“That part isn’t so bad either,” Drea admitted.
“So, can you give me the inside scoop?”
