“Are you both done with this fascinating conversation? We’re wasting valuable time.” I sat down and motioned to Charlie, who was keeping a respectful distance, waiting as we got settled.
Andrew’s low chuckle made me finally turn my head to face him. Dressed in tight black shorts and a matching tank top, his wraparound sunglasses framing his face, Andrew looked casual, relaxed, and sexy as hell. This was going to be an excruciatingly long day.
“It’s a day off, so there’s no such thing as wasting time. Today is all about forgetting our jobs and immersing ourselves in the moment,” Andrew replied as he sat down on the bench seat beside me and stretched out his long, tanned legs. Legs that would look and feel amazing wrapped around my waist. Or over my shoulders.Fuuuuck...
“Thank you for the self-help pep talk,” I growled as I ignored the fluttery sensation in my chest. “Charlie, let’s go,” I yelled out.
The deckhand untied the tender, and Charlie started up the engine. Within a minute, we were cruising at a fast clip, the wind whipping through my hair. Being out on the open water was so liberating. I should do it more often and spend half my year on the yacht moving forward.
Andrew and Dylan chatted away while I took the opportunity to check my mobile one last time for any work emergencies. Twenty minutes later, we reached Crown Bay, a tiny but bustling marina packed with sailboats, yachts, and boats of all shapes and sizes. Tourists and locals alike walked along the pier and gathered at the nearby beach.
“I booked a car rental so we can take a scenic drive before we head to Corazon Beach Club,” Andrew said as we walked through the marina toward Charlotte Amalie, the capital city of the island.
“I’m glad we came back today,” Dylan replied. “We didn’t see much except the restaurant last night, and the island is even more stunning in the daylight.”
I couldn’t agree more. There was something about the rugged beauty of the island that called to me. The rolling hills were covered in lush greenery, and the air was sweet with the smell of flowers and fruit as we walked by the local market. Birdsong and the rhythmic sound of the lapping waves melted away some of my anxiety. Maybe Andrew was right, I should relax and take in the moment.Bloody hell, I sound like one of those dreaded infomercials people watch at two o’clock in the morning.
The rental company turned out to be a tiny pink shack in the middle of main street. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that they’d provided us with an open-air jeep. It wasn’t pretty, but it was solid ride for navigating the more rural type of inroads on the island. After much arguing, I insisted upon taking the wheel since they drove on the left-hand side here, like in the UK.
“I’m perfectly capable of driving on the wrong side of the road, Rowan,” Andrew grumbled from the back seat as we cruised along a winding road to the eastern section of the island.
“You mean the correct side,” I replied. “What did you tell me earlier? Immerse yourself in the moment. Take your own advice, Andrew. Sit back and enjoy the ride.”
“I’ve heard that before, but I still prefer to be ridden. I mean, drive,” Andrew mumbled in return.
My breath caught as I instinctively tightened my grip on the steering wheel.
“Then I guess you haven’t had the right driver yet,” I returned as I glanced at Andrew in the rearview mirror. Intense brown eyes met mine, and my body jolted with the force of Andrew’s stare, my pulse pounding out a wild beat in my chest. Thank God I’d remembered to take my blood pressure meds this morning.
Andrew leaned forward between the two front seats, his hot breath on my ear causing a shiver to run through my body. “I guess not. It’s not easy to find someone who’s careful and confident at the same time. And that’s the best kind of driver there is.”
The softly spoken words reverberated in my mind. I had a mind to pull over to the side of the road, push Andrew down on the back seat, and show him just how good a driver I really was.
Dylan reached over and turned on the radio.Shite.I’d completely forgotten my best friend was sitting in the passenger seat beside me.
“How far are we from the beach club?” Dylan asked.
A change in topic was welcome. Beads of sweat rolled down my body, and I shifted in my seat. I needed to calm down or the guests and staff at the beach club were going to get more than an eyeful of my excited junk. Flirting with an employee in a public space was a risky game with real consequences. One photograph, one second in time, could send the tabloids into a frenzy, but the repercussions for my health and my business could endure for months. Andrew was adept at lobbing back my flirty retorts, but that didn’t mean I should continue to rally with him.
“According to GPS, we’re about twenty minutes away.”
I dared one last glance in the mirror. Andrew’s face was flushed, and he bit his full bottom lip, looking out the window to the view beyond. I followed suit, and what a view it was. Now outside the city limits, we passed several organic farms as well as a horse ranch and fruit stalls on the side of the road. The scenery was breathtaking, with dense green forests leading down to sandy coves and the turquoise waters below.
“This is one of the most beautiful islands I’ve ever visited,” Andrew said. “I’ll have to come back and stay for a week or two to explore it.”
“Agreed,” Dylan turned and smiled. “Hey, maybe we can book a beachfront villa and have a group of friends down here. What do you say, Ro?”
“That’s wonderful idea, but I won’t be able to take a week off until March.”
Dylan scoffed at him. “Can’t you just assign stuff to your staff? What’s the point in having all this wealth if you don’t take time to have fun?”
“Work is fun,” I replied. Andrew and Dylan both groaned in unison.
“What? It’s the truth, I love what I do,” Or, I used to. I wasn’t sure anymore. I wasn’t sure about anything in my life. Lately, I was stressed and tired. “If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
“Yeah, but what do you do in your spare time? Besides heading to an island with your best friend and your assistant.” Andrew’s smirk added fuel to his comment.
“I read voraciously. I’m on the board of several UK and global charities. I stay active with sports.” I paused. “I’m also a Gemini, and I love dirty martinis, classic movies, and foot rubs.”