The Ruthless Gentleman

by Louise Bay

  Hopefully my being ashore would ease Avery’s burden. She’d told me she’d always wanted to explore Taormina—now she’d get the chance. Perhaps it would take her mind off what was happening at home. And maybe I’d stop thinking about her.

  Landon could organize this without any consequences for the Phoenix deal, couldn’t he? If I didn’t conduct any business on shore then the only risk would be someone planting a listening device on me while I was on dry land and me taking it back to the boat. But I could scan anything I brought back. This shouldn’t be a problem, and my little brother wasn’t the type to not tell me when he thought I was being an idiot. An overnight trip would be worth it. I could distract myself and make Avery happy. Not that the chief stewardess of the Athena’s happiness was on my agenda at the moment.

  Definitely not.

  I was just going stir crazy. I needed to find something else to think about.

  Nineteen

  Avery

  Nothing made me happier than my dad cracking jokes about the Sacramento Kings’ shitty defense. It meant he was feeling better. And I got to hear it because of Hayden’s generosity in letting me use his satellite phone. He couldn’t have been more thoughtful or concerned. I’d also called my aunt and between the two of us we’d arranged for some additional care for my brother to ease the strain on my dad. He’d been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and although apparently it was easily managed with the drugs, I wanted him to take it easy.

  “All crew, all crew in the mess—five minutes,” the captain announced through my radio on my nightstand.

  I groaned and peeled myself off the bed. All-crew meetings mid-charter were rarely a good thing. Usually it meant there was a serious complaint or an unexpected change of plans. Surely Hayden would have told me if something was wrong? He’d started to ask Skylar for things here and there, but I hadn’t seen him properly interact with anyone other than me and I kinda liked it that way. It was ridiculous but I didn’t encourage him to ask Skylar for things. I liked to be the one who got him what he needed. It was my job to ensure guests had everything they wanted, and he was the only guest on this charter, so it made sense I would be his main point of contact. I was the chief stewardess. He was a guest.

  A guest, so I shouldn’t be kissing him on the top deck while watching fireworks and sipping champagne.

  A guest, so I shouldn’t be playing our kiss over and over again in my mind.

  A guest, so I shouldn’t be wondering if he’d ever kiss me again.

  I blew out a breath, smoothed my hair back into a ponytail and headed to the mess.

  “How’s your dad?” August asked as I appeared at the doorway.

  I slipped onto the banquette. “All over the Sacramento Kings and their shitty defense, apparently.”

  She laughed. “Sounds like he’s getting back to normal.”

  Neill high-fived one of the engineers while Eric tried to explain why the joke he’d just told was funny. With twelve of us in the tiny space, it was loud but good-natured.

  “Settle down,” Captain Moss said as he appeared. He was only ever in the mess for mealtimes and meetings, so the crew often hung out here when we were on break or off shift.

  Everyone quieted, and the banquette filled with five others while everyone else leaned on counters and against doorways.

  “We’re switching things up a little,” Captain Moss said.

  People exchanged glances and murmured. There hadn’t been many changes this charter.

  “Mr. Wolf is going ashore tomorrow and staying overnight in a hotel,” he continued.

  It wasn’t unusual for a guest on a longer charter to go ashore overnight, or to stay at a particularly nice hotel or a friend’s villa. That wasn’t what had my heart thumping in my chest. I just didn’t understand why Hayden hadn’t said anything to me. I saw him regularly throughout every day. He’d discussed business with me, he’d kissed me but didn’t mention he was going ashore overnight? It didn’t make sense.

  The room grew quieter as everyone waited for Captain Moss to continue. There were two possible scenarios when a guest left the boat. We could end up detailing the yacht from anchor to radio mast, or we could be getting time off. It all depended on how decent the captain was.

  “As a result, we all get a day off,” Captain Moss said.

  Everyone whooped and cheered and despite the uneasiness spreading through my body, I couldn’t help but smile at their joy. Even the corners of Captain Moss’s mouth threated to curl into a smile.

  “Settle down or I might change my mind,” the captain said.

  The whooping calmed but the excitement was still palpable.

  “Tender leaves this boat at ten tomorrow morning and collects Mr. Wolf from shore at nine a.m. the following day. That means you have to be back on this boat, sober and ready to work by eight. Do I make myself clear?”

  Everyone grinned from ear to ear, nodding their agreement, and tossed the occasional “Yes, sir” into the excited atmosphere for good measure.

  Twenty-four hours in Taormina? That was twenty-three more than I’d ever had before, and if I could have chosen the one place in the Mediterranean to have a day off, Sicily would be the place.

  “I want this boat perfect before you go, so get your Q-tips out,” Captain Moss warned.

  I elbowed August when she groaned. When she’d first started, I’d told her that the bathrooms needed detailing and explained I wasn’t joking when I said every inch needed to be cleaned with Q-tips. She’d nearly passed out, but she’d done a good job. She might be a bit flighty and a little too noisy, but she worked hard and that was what mattered.

  “Captain,” I called as he made for the exit. “I’ll stay if you—”

  “No. I’ll be on board. You’re to have the day off with the rest of this lot.”

  I glanced behind me. The crew had already begun to plan the following day, the boys talking about the bars, the girls, the beaches and cocktails.

  “But I don’t mind—”

  “Take a freaking day off to relax, Avery. This is a gift. Take advantage of it.” Conversation over, he swept out.

  “Avery,” Skylar called. “Isn’t Taormina your dream destination? This is fate. There’s bound to be a ton of rich, handsome men waiting for me on shore.” She squealed and turned back to the table.

  Taormina was the place I told everyone about. I’d only managed an hour on shore a couple of times and always yearned for longer. The idea of a whole day there was almost too good to be true

  For a split second I remembered my conversation with Hayden about always wanting to come to Taormina. He wouldn’t have remembered that, right? This wasn’t about me, was it? In another lifetime, we’d go together, explore the narrow streets and the amphitheater, sit in the piazza with the beautiful people while being overlooked by Mount Etna. But that wouldn’t be this lifetime.

  “The boys are just going to drink all day, aren’t they?” Skylar came up to stand beside me and we watched them plan which Italian beers they were going to order.

  They’d been weeks without alcohol. I was sure they’d make up for it. “I’d say so.”

  “I want to lie on a beach. Dinner and drinks in the evening. Somewhere glamorous. Where the beautiful people go,” Skylar said.

  “Should we get a hotel?” Eric called out to us. “Then you don’t need to worry about us wrecking the boat if we come back hammered.”

  There was no way I was going to book a hotel room. I needed to save every penny.

  I put on my best, professional grin. “I don’t need to worry about you wrecking the boat because you know if you do I’ll kick your ass so hard you won’t sit for the rest of the charter.”

  Eric’s smile faltered, but he nodded and turned back to the table. “I think we should definitely pay for a hotel.”

  “Sounds good. Then we can order drinks from the beach. And we have somewhere to change for the evening,” August said. “I want to eat pasta in Italy. I’m sure it must taste diffe
rent, right?” she asked, turning to me.

  I smiled. Eating pasta in Sicily sounded just about perfect, even if it was at a table for one. Maybe with some Chianti while people-watching in the piazza, even without Hayden. I tried to hold back a smile, not wanting to get too excited in case Captain Moss came back and told us he’d made a gigantic mistake.

  “Ready to top up your tan?” August asked as she came toward Skylar and me, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

  I could totally understand why the girls would want to laze on the beach for the day, but I wasn’t going to waste the opportunity I had to explore even if I had no one to share it with. I was going to take my dad’s advice and take some time for myself, be a tourist, get waited on in a restaurant. I was going to think about nothing but the sun and the buildings and how beautiful everything was. And then Hayden kissing me under the fireworks would no longer be the best thing that had happened to me in seven years.

  Twenty

  Hayden

  I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had nothing to do.

  I’d left the tender just before ten with a small overnight bag that included my satellite phone and my bug sweeper. Once I’d checked into the hotel, worked out in the gym and had a shower, my skin had started to itch from boredom and boredom led to more thoughts of Avery. Maybe this hadn’t been such a good idea. I’d come ashore to escape Avery Walker and here I didn’t even have work to distract me.

  I wandered into the lobby, scraping a hand through my still-damp hair. I’d go and explore Taormina, pick up a newspaper, have a coffee, keep my options open—it wasn’t like I had plans.

  “Signor Wolf,” the porter addressed me as I strode through the lobby. “Any plans on this beautiful day?”

  “Just a little walk,” I said. It would be nice to stretch my legs and enjoy solid ground. Maybe I’d run into a beautiful Italian girl who would scorch Avery from my mind.

  “Don’t miss out on our Greek theater,” he continued, smiling at me.

  Sophocles was the last thing I was after. I’d come here to relax, and although I might be bored and in need of distraction, I wasn’t in the mood for a Greek tragedy. I smiled and continued on my way. The porter followed.

  “Turn right, up the hill just a few steps and it’s right there. It is a very beautiful view,” he said.

  I frowned. A panorama wasn’t the first thing a theater was ordinarily known for, but with nothing better to do, I thanked him and decided to turn right out of the hotel after all. I was already one coffee down this morning and my second one could wait while I investigated a little. Perhaps it would help take my mind off things.

  I slipped my sunglasses over my eyes and headed up the hill. The heat crawled over my skin as if it were trying to steal my breath, and I slowed my pace. I’d grown accustomed to the breeze on the yacht and how it took away the stickiness of the humidity. There was no respite now I was on solid ground—it was a different planet.

  As I took long, slow strides along the road, I imagined Avery wandering these streets and a sense of pleasure settled in my gut. She’d always wanted to come here, and I’d made it happen. I’d hated seeing her so upset about her father. I’d wanted to bring her smile back, and I’d hoped a day in Taormina would do that.

  Avery had been nothing but professional since that day just nearly two weeks ago, but she remained careful to maintain her distance. I understood there were rules between guests and crew, but I was used to exceptions being made for me.

  I was used to getting what I wanted.

  I wasn’t used to wanting a particular woman. It never got to that point.

  But I wanted Avery.

  I wanted to pull the hairband out of her hair, scrunch up her skirt, untuck her blouse and slide my hands over her skin. I’d seen glimpses of the real Avery beneath the professional veneer, but I wanted to pull that wall down for good. I wanted to unravel her, show her how good I could make her feel, hear her scream my name.

  Shit.

  So much for distracting myself.

  Luckily, before me were the ruins of a Greek theater almost erupting out of the ground. I wasn’t going to have to endure a play, just take in the ancient stones.

  Someone tugged at my shirt and when I turned a short, elderly lady wearing a headscarf waved a book at me. I bent slightly and tried to see what she was offering me. It was a small guidebook with an image of the orange-pink brick structure right in front of me.

  I pulled out my wallet and exchanged my cash for her book and she scurried off to the next potential customer.

  I paid the entrance fee and stepped through a cave-like corridor back into the bright sunlight and onto the wooden floor of the amphitheater. On my left the wood continued, built over the original brick-and-stone-stepped amphitheater. Modern seats had been fixed to the boxed-in levels. The place was clearly still used. Toward the back the original brick was exposed and the crumbling, dirty, orange walls stood out against a background of bright blue sky. I turned to take in the whole space. On my right was a wooden stage in front of half-remaining Greek columns and more dilapidated brickwork, the sea and the sky filling in the gaps left by age. It was so perfectly decayed it looked as though a set designer had been here, assembling the background, ready for a performance, but the elements and passing time had created this place’s background.

  I headed up the steps past the modern seating. When I got to the top I turned and instinctively took half a step back, overwhelmed by what I saw—the blue of the sky bled into the warm sea, which dipped and clung to the curves of the land leading up to Mount Etna looking over everything.

  It was stunning. Epic.

  Something had led me here, as if I’d been meant to see this. To gain this perspective. The people who’d built this beautiful ruin had climbed these stairs thousands of years ago. Mount Etna had looked over them while they’d worked just as it did now as I worked on the yacht floating in the water below. The sun would keep rising and setting over this land whether or not I bought Phoenix. This beauty would still be here, yet I wouldn’t have seen it if it hadn’t been for Avery Walker saying it was the place she liked most. What else was I missing out on while I fought to keep a business that wouldn’t exist in a hundred years?

  Thank God I’d done this and not kept myself cooped up on the boat, pouring over documents. My muscles began to unknot, and I smiled. Taking a deep breath, I tried to commit this picture to memory, wanting to press the history and beauty into my soul somehow.

  “Beautiful view, right?” a familiar voice said from beside me.

  I turned to see Avery Walker, looking out and sharing the same picture I was drinking in, and now she was the only view I was interested in.

  Twenty-One

  Avery

  When faced with the sweeping vista from the top of Taormina, the only thing I wanted to do was share it with someone. Hayden being there hadn’t shocked me. It was as if it was meant to happen because the moment was perfect and he made it more so.

  “Hey,” he said.

  I kept my gaze forward, unwilling to tear myself away from the most perfect view I’d ever seen . . . though Hayden Wolf’s sugar-brown skin against his white shirt might be a strong contender to the sight of Mount Etna rising out of the landscape.

  “Is it everything you hoped it would be?” he asked.

  So he hadn’t forgotten I’d wanted to come here.

  “More,” I said softly.

  We stayed gazing out in silence for a while.

  “Where’s the rest of the crew?” he asked.

  “The boys are in an Irish pub just off the piazza and the girls are on the beach.”

  He didn’t respond.

  “I got a guide,” he said, holding up a pocket-sized booklet with a picture of the amphitheater.

  I laughed. Hayden didn’t strike me as a man who’d pour over guide books. “Did you read it?”

  He shook his head and pushed his hands into his pockets. “I was waiting for you so you could explain it a
ll to me.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “You were waiting for me?”

  He shrugged. “Maybe.”

  It felt as if we were talking in code, but I didn’t have the decryption key.

  “Well, the place was built in the third century BC. They don’t actually know if it’s Greek or Roman because the brick suggests Roman but the way it’s laid out—”

  Hayden turned to me and placed his hand on my arm. “Stop. I’m not really expecting you to be my guide. You’re off duty.”

  I tried to ignore the press of his fingers. “I just want you to enjoy it.”

  He held my gaze and slipped his hand from my arm and down my back. It was the act of a lover, a boyfriend, a husband. “Now you’re here, I couldn’t like it more,” he said, then turned back to the view.

  Despite the heat, I had to repress a shiver.

  A few minutes later a cloud passed over the sun, breaking the spell this place had trapped us in. “What’s next?” he asked, turning to me.

  “Next?”

  “Where do we go now?”

  The corners of my mouth quivered. “We? I thought I wasn’t on duty.”

  He cupped my face and swept his thumb over my lips. “You’re not. Where do we go now?” His tone was matter-of-fact, as if he always touched me as though he owned me, as if I shouldn’t be shocked he had his hand on the small of my back as he guided me down the steps.

  I should have made my excuses and left. I should’ve done a lot of things. But being there, in that beautiful place I’d wanted to visit for so long, I just wanted to enjoy it. And I knew I’d enjoy it just a little more with Hayden. We’d run into each other by accident, after all, and if any of the rest of the crew spotted us, I could legitimately say that I’d found him and ended up walking around the island with him. I didn’t have to tell them if I enjoyed it, though I knew I would.

  I puffed out a stream of breath. “Let’s walk around, get lost a little.”

  “Really?” he asked, smiling at me. “That doesn’t sound like you.”