“All of us… well, the dream team at least.” She winked.
“Sure, I’m game,” he agreed. “What time are we shipping out?”
Zoey glanced at Dylan, who shrugged. “Eight?”
“We’ll take care of the drinks and food,” Zoey added before jumping up and down and clapping. “A fun day in the sun. We haven’t had one of those in…” She frowned. “Too long,” she added with a laugh. “Let’s go tell the others.” She took Dylan’s hand and pulled him back down the dock.
“You didn’t have other plans for your day off, did you?” Jules asked.
“No, the only plans I had were possibly sleeping in and an afternoon sail,” he answered. “Trust me, I’d rather spend my day captaining around my friends than spend a day alone.” He glanced around and realized that the sound of the party had died down. Most likely, everyone had gone home, no doubt getting rest so they could meet first thing in the morning. “Why don’t we head to our cars? Sounds like the party has wrapped up.”
“Oh.” She glanced towards the main building. “I didn’t mean to keep you so long.”
“You didn’t.” He smiled. “I’m the one who asked you to take a walk. Remember?”
“Right.” She hid her eyes from him by dipping her head down. He knew that it was a move she did when she was embarrassed.
He took her hand in his, and they started walking down the pathway in silence.
“Can I ask you something?” Jules said when they made the turn towards the parking lot.
“Sure,” he answered and glanced over at her, pausing under one of the lights.
“Why now?” she asked.
“Why what now?”
“Why ask me on a weekend sail and…” She held up their joined hands.
He looked at their intertwined fingers. His long dark, calloused fingers, and her small, much softer caramel-colored ones were mingled together. Then he looked up into her soft blue eyes.
“Because it’s about damn time I did this,” he said, leaning closer to her. Her body was like silk against his, almost as if they’d been made for one another. She was shorter than most women he’d dated, but this felt… right.
Using his free hand, he reached up and tipped her chin up by sliding a finger under it. Her eyes moved to his lips for just a split second before he covered her soft lips.
He’d been right all these years. The moment he kissed her, for him, there would be no going back.
It was as if her entire body melted against his while, at the same time, she came alive. Her hands moved to his shoulders, and her short nails dug into the button-up shirt that he’d worn that night.
He felt her body vibrate against his, or maybe that was him shivering with excitement? Her lips were by far the softest, the most luscious, he’d ever enjoyed.
Then she broke apart and chuckled as she looked over his shoulder.
“Someone’s coming,” she said, taking his hand and pulling him along the pathway.
Like a blind man, he followed her until they stood just outside one of the outbuildings. When he looked, he realized it was the woodshop where Liam worked. On the outside of the smaller building were hundreds of wood carvings either Liam or one of the guests had made and left behind.
Liam was a very talented carver, and his works were easily distinguishable from all of the novice carvings.
“We’ll wait here until they leave,” Jules said with a sigh. “Gosh, I always forget how talented Liam is,” Jules said, reaching up and touching one of the man’s carvings of a pelican.
“Yeah,” Damion agreed. “He’s talked me into trying my hand at carving a few times.” He walked over to where one of his carvings of a turtle hung. “I’m not so good at it. Have you tried?”
She shrugged. “I made Liam burn all of my attempts.” She laughed. “They were really bad.”
“So, not an art major, I take it?” He leaned against the building.
She laughed again. “Singing and theater were more my pace.”