“Have you…” Then I stopped. It was ridiculous the way my mind wandered. “Never mind. It’s none of my business.”
“Ask the question, Drew.”
I smiled at the nickname.
“Your bond with Rowan is strong. I wondered if you and Rowan ever…”
“Nope. He’s like a brother to me. He feels the same.” Dylan smiled back at me, and I blushed, my cheeks flaming in the cool night air. Thank God for the darkness. “Besides, I’m partial to the ladies, and he already has his eye on one particular man.”
My body tensed, and I bit my lip. “You mean the man he met tonight? That’s good. I might look for someone of my own on my day off tomorrow.”
My phone pinged with a new message from Rowan.
Rowan:on my way back, no disruptions until 7 a.m.
Andrew:you got it boss, enjoy
Rowan:I intend to
My stomach flipped over in the worst way. Did I really tell Rowan to “enjoy”? Jesus, I needed a swift kick to the ass, because apparently that’s where my brain was now located.
“Rowan’s headed back, so I’m off to bed. Have a good night, Dylan.”
“Night, Andrew.”
I couldn’t look Dylan in the eye as I stood up. Why was I on edge? Rowan was my boss. Still, the thought of witnessing Rowan screwing around with this guy made me want to punch something, and the man Rowan was screwing around with would be my first choice. My reaction was flat-out ridiculous. I could admit that I found Rowan attractive, but there was no goddamn way I would go there. Not with someone I worked with. Never again.
I scurried down the stairs and headed inside until I reached my bunk. After taking a quick shower, I plunked down on my bed, downloading an e-book on my tablet. Lost in the mystery of my paranormal novel, I jumped when my phone pinged. Glancing at the time, I noticed it was just past one o’clock in the morning.
Rowan:My guest has to leave. Can you organize the tender?
Right now? It wasn’t my place to question the boss since he was paying for round the clock service, but shit. I’d have to face his fuck friend, and I wasn’t sure I was fully prepared. It had never been a problem for me in the past year to deal with these things, so why now? Why him?Stop analyzing and do your job.
Andrew:On it. Do you need me to come to your cabin and escort him?
Rowan:he’s waiting on the bridge deck.
Thank God for that, I didn’t need to witness their goodbyes. I threw on shorts and a clean T-shirt, grabbed my radio, and quietly made my way down the hall to the bunk where the lead deckhand, a young man named Charlie, slept. I knocked twice and entered.
“Sorry to wake you, but Rowan’s guest wants to leave.”
Charlie groaned and grabbed his phone. “It’s one in the morning. Is this a joke?”
“Nope. The boss man texted and told me this guy is waiting.”
“Fucking hell,” Charlie muttered as he sat up on the bottom bunk and ran a hand through his curly hair. “I’ll be ready in five minutes.”
“Thanks.”
I headed up to the main level and walked through the lounge to the deck, spotting the man sitting at the outdoor dining table in the dark. Rowan’s guest wore white shorts and a red button-down with the sleeves rolled up, his long dark hair falling in waves to his shoulders. When I opened the door, he turned his head. I wasn’t surprised at how handsome the man was, like model gorgeous. If I was reading his expression and body language correctly, he was also pissed off.Interesting.
I stepped out onto the deck. “Hello, I’m Andrew, Rowan’s assistant. I’ve organized a tender to take you back to St. Thomas. Can I get you anything to drink while you’re waiting?”
“No. I just need to leave. This has been a total waste of my time.”
“Alright then.” I wasn’t sure what else to say, but before I could ask any further questions, my earpiece buzzed.
“It’s Charlie. Send him down in five.”