Honestly though, I can still feel the burning imprint of his muscles as they tightened and clenched beneath my fingers, his strong heartbeat as it thudded against my palm. When we get to Brier Island, the first thing I’m going to do is take a dip into the cold ocean. Either that, or I’m going to throw myself at him and beg him to take me.
I get that I’m not his type and that I don’t fit into his world. I’m not a put together, sexy bunny or any sort of socialite. I’m the opposite of all those things. Still though, there are times, like when I touch him that none of that seems to matter—that this man wants me. The truth is, I have been a bit lonely. My friends are all gone, and I have my family and my work, but some things…I don’t know, I crave more.
But getting involved with Wes isn’t a smart idea. It can’t go anywhere. We live in different worlds. Then again, does it have to go anywhere? Can’t I for once in my life, just have a casual hook-up? It’s not my style, but there’s nothing wrong with it either.
I let my gaze fall over him as I consider that. I take in his smile as he snaps pictures, and there’s no denying I want him, that my body is screaming at me to climb him like a goddamn tree. Maybe I should. Maybe I should climb into his tent tonight and seduce him. One night. One hook-up. Tomorrow, things go back to normal. It’s been so long since a man put his hands on my body, I forget what it’s like to be touched. If I go into this knowing it’s a one-time thing, what could it hurt? It’s not like I’m going to fall for him. He’s a player and I’m smarter than that and it’s not like he’s going to ask me to leave with him, and when I say no, quickly replace me with someone who will.
“You okay?” Wes asks.
“Yeah, why?”
He angles his head. “You looked like you were a million miles away there.”
“Just ah…thinking about my uh, equipment,” I fib. Good Lord, I’m not going to come right out and tell him I was thinking about his equipment. “Doing a mental check of the things we need to set up tonight.”
Just then another whale pops out of the water and I’m grateful for the distraction. “Omigod, look, two of them now.”
Jules claps her hands and everyone starts snapping pictures again. One of the whales comes closer to the boat, curious about us, and it breaches and lands with a big splash, soaking us from head to toe. We turn from the spray, laughing and sputtering and checking to make sure our phones aren’t ruined.
I wipe water from my face and take in Wes’ wet T-shirt as it clings to his skin. With my wool sweater soaked, I peel it off, and remove my hat, but I’m drenched all the way through to my T-shirt.
The whale comes up again and gives us all another splash and the boat rocks. We’re all laughing and banging into one another and the next thing I know, Wes’ arms are around me, my body crushed against his as we sway together. My nipples take that moment to harden, and no it’s not from the cold splash of water.
“I think he’s messing with us,” Wes says, his voice an octave lower.
“You know they say if you get showered by a whale, it’s supposed to bring good luck.”
“Really?”
I shrug. “It’s an old wives’ tale.” It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the whales perform for people, and I have to say, it’s a lot of fun watching them. Jeez, when was the last time I had this much fun on the water with customers? Then again, none of them were homeboy Wes Hatfield. He is kind of fun…and nice to hang out with.
“So you’re saying I’m going to get lucky?” Wes teases.
“Maybe with her. She’s the one who finds you charming,” I clarify and point toward the water.
He angles his head, that sexy grin of his doing ridiculous things to my body. “You think she likes me?”
Who doesn’t?
“I don’t know about that, but what I do know is that I’m all wet,” I say, stating the obvious, but then heat jumps into my cheeks when I meet his gaze and realize what I just said, and how it could be taken as sexual. “I mean…”
“Yeah, we’re all wet,” Wes says and let’s go of me. “It’s a good thing we all brought a lot of extra clothes.” He reaches over his back, and peels his shirt off with ease, and I swear to God, my legs go so wobbly, I nearly topple overboard. I sink down onto a bench seat as he fishes a dry shirt out of his bag, and shakes it out.
Rider and Jules root for clean clothes too, and I should probably get the boat into motion so we don’t drift out to sea, but I’d have to stop staring and drooling, and I’m not in much of a hurry to do that.
He tugs on his shirt, and I wish erotic dance music wasn’t playing in my head, but alas it is, and there isn’t a damn thing I can do about it.
“Did you bring a dry shirt, or do you want to borrow one of mine?” Jules asks, as she dries her face with a towel.
“I uh…think…”
“Here,” Wes says and tosses me one of his. “It’s big, but it should do the trick.”
“Oh, okay, thanks.” Even though I have my own clothes, I take the shirt and bring it to my nose to breathe in the fresh scent of fabric softener. I stand. “I’ll just dart into the cabin and change.”
“I’m coming with you,” Jules says. “I’m not much into flashing whales, or Wes.”
“Too late for me, Jules.”