“You’re worth staring at, ma’am.” He winked.
She licked her lips and leaned forward. “So are you. Has anyone told you that you look like Superman, not the old one, the new one, I can’t remember the actor’s name but when he like comes out of the water after he saves those people on the oil rig and you think maybe he drowned and he’s all buff and hairy, but I guess he has blue eyes where yours are dark and your hair is longer… what?”
He wanted to tell her how much he’d missed her, listening to her talk, the way she made him feel like Superman. He definitely wasn’t that shredded so he wasn’t sure about her analogy. “Superman, huh?”
She grinned. “My own personal Superman.”
The boat captain looked back at them and smiled. Tucker returned the smile, but couldn’t keep his eyes off Maryn.
“So, you’ve kidnapped me on this beautiful boat and now we’re going to just jet around the ocean all day?”
“You should know me better than that.” Even as he said it he realized she didn’t know him very well. They just hadn’t had enough time together.
“Yes.” She nodded. “All that pent-up energy. Sitting for more than an hour probably kills you. How do you do your programming?”
“Adjustable desk.”
She smiled. “Lucky. So… what do you have planned for my playing hooky from work pleasure today?”
“You’re just going to have to wait and see.”
She leaned back, closed her eyes again, and muttered, “I don’t like waiting.”
Tucker laughed. She claimed he had pent-up energy, she was like the Energizer Bunny and he loved every minute he spent with her.
They pulled into a dock on Catalina Island a few minutes later. Tuck tipped the captain and told him he’d text when they were ready to leave. The man brushed his fingers along his cap. “Best of luck with your day.”
“Thanks.” Tucker thought that he didn’t need luck, he already had Maryn by his side and that was all he needed.
He reached for her hand as they walked off the dock and she fit her small hand in his larger one. Tuck grinned. The island breeze, a day of no work and all Maryn.
Directing her toward Catalina Island Golf Cart Rental, he told them his name and within a few minutes they were seated in a golf cart.
“I love that you rented a golf cart.”
Tucker shrugged. “It’s the best way to see this island.”
“Yeah, but how many billionaires do you know who drive a p. o. s. golf cart instead of proving how rich they are by renting a helicopter or something.”
“I’m the only billionaire I know, so I’d say a hundred percent. Did you want a helicopter?”
“Oh, no way. I’d much rather see the island like this.” She gave him a little side hug and Tucker’s breath caught. She was acting more comfortable around him by the minute, maybe by the end of the day he’d be able to kiss her again. A guy could hope.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a man watching them from the side of the rental shop. He was average-sized with deeply-tanned skin, a bright Hawaiian print shirt, and pants riding so low Tucker wasn’t sure how he kept them on. When he saw Tucker watching him, he turned and disappeared behind the building.
Tucker knew the guy was probably harmless. Maryn turned a lot of heads and he understood if the guy was checking her out, but it still bothered him. Pressing the gas down, he was surprised when the golf cart shot forward. “Underestimated the power of this beauty.”
Maryn’s tinkling laughter and her hand grabbing his as he turned a corner too fast made him push the guy to the back of his mind. He’d ride a p. o. s. golf cart every day if he could have this. They cruised around the island, taking their time as he showed her Chimes Tower, Avalon Harbor, and the Zane Grey Hotel. She said she’d grown up poor, but he was still surprised she’d never been here.
“Zane Grey, the author?”
“Yeah. Too bad it’s closed. It’s a cool location to stay.”
Maryn leaned back slightly and Tucker wondered what he’d said wrong.
They took their time driving around some rutted back streets through the trees and then made their way back into town. Tucker pulled into the entry of the Edgewater Hotel. Maryn climbed out of the golf cart and eyed him strangely. He gave the valet money to return the golf cart to the rental place, got the key from the front desk, and escorted her to the elevator. He could’ve sworn that same guy with the Hawaiian shirt was in the lobby, but when he searched for him, he had disappeared. He was being far too paranoid, but he felt a fierce protection toward Maryn and didn’t want some schmuck checking her out.
Maryn folded her arms across her middle and didn’t talk or meet his gaze in the elevator. Oh, no. What had he done wrong? She was being much too quiet. When he unlocked the door to the suite she marched inside, tossed her bag on the couch, and folded her arms across her chest. “You didn’t tell me it was anovernightdate. I would’ve packed differently.” Her voice was cold and distant.