Page 27 of Cruising for Christmas
“I think Ian is enjoying the view, too,” Ryan said.
Ian shot a glare at both Ryan and Shay, who snorted as she tried to rein in her laughter.
Norah looked back at Ian, a wide smile on her face. “I’m sure we’re all enjoying the view. Who wouldn’t?”
Shay barked out a laugh as she and Ryan paddled away.
“What’s so funny?” Norah asked.
“No clue,” Ian said.
They continued to paddle in silence, listening to Greg shouting out fun facts about the waterway and trees surrounding the edges. Greg paddled to the edge of a small, rocky beach and hopped out, pulling his kayak partially out of the water so it wouldn’t float away. He motioned for everyone else to join him.
“I feel like this is a terrible idea,” Norah said.
“Why?” Ian asked.
Their kayak hit the ground and Norah moved to get out, throwing herself off balance and dropping like a sack into the shallow water. Her butt hit the ground, and she groaned. Ian quickly stepped out, the water coming only to his knees as he walked the few feet over to her.
“Are you okay?” He took her hand and helped her up.
“Yes, but I think that rock violated me.”
Ian’s cock jumped, and he swallowed thickly. How much he wished he was that rock.
What the fuck, brain? Now is not the time, he told himself.Get yourself under control.
He moved around to the front of the kayak and pulled it up onto the shore. Norah joined Shay and Ryan, while he continued to help other people beach their kayaks. Ian knew he needed to get his act together and keep away from Norah, but somehow she kept drawing him back in. They had three days left on the cruise, and he suspected it would be the longest and most trying time of his life to date.
13
They were on their last full sea day. Tomorrow, they would stop in the Bahamas before heading back to Florida the following day. Ian, Norah, Shay, and Ryan had met up for breakfast that morning and made plans to spend their day at the pool. Later that night, Ian and Norah were going to dinner at Costa’s, the restaurant where Ian had won a voucher from the contest.
The four of them went to the pool immediately after breakfast to snag lounge chairs before they filled up.
“Come join me in the water, Norah,” Shay said.
Norah nodded and followed Shay in, wading into the shallow end. The two leaned against the far wall, keeping the guys in sight.
“So, what’s going on between you and my brother?” Shay asked.
Norah’s eyes widened. “Nothing. What makes you ask that?”
“Maybe because you two didn’t want to share a room and now you seem chummy.”
She shrugged. “We’re trying to make the best out of an unpleasant situation.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Norah rolled her eyes. “If anything were to happen, which it isn’t and won’t, it would be your fault, since you put us in the same room.”
Shay pressed a hand to her chest. “Myfault? Um, excuse me. I’d take the credit.”
“The credit?”
“Yeah. It would be awesome if you two hooked up.”
“Why?”
