by Talia Hunter
“Coastguard, we’re having problems with our electronics and can’t get our engine started. We’re currently anchored next to Monuriki Island.”
“Roger. Are you in any danger? Over.”
“No danger. Over.”
“We’re dealing with another emergency and have no boats available to help. Are there other vessels in the area you can call on for assistance? Over.”
“None. But I’m trying to fix the electrical problem myself. Over.”
“Roger. Will you call back in a few hours if you still need assistance? Over.”
“Roger that. Over and out.”
Suzie’s heart sank. “If they can’t come and get us, we could be stuck here for another night.” Which meant she’d miss another flight. And her time to convince the bride to let her make a last-minute adjustment to the menu for Friday’s wedding was running out fast.
Nate flicked off the switch he’d turned on for the radio, then gave her a deep kiss that made her tingle all over. “I know you’re in a hurry to get home, but I don’t hate the idea of spending the night together.”
So his one-time-only rule included a day and a night? It was tempting to let herself melt against him and forget she had to be anywhere but in his arms. Instead she forced herself to pull away.
“You should keep working on the electronics in case the coastguard can’t rescue us.”
“I’ll get the engine going, run my test and drop you off before sunset.” His gaze grazed the front of her towel, where it rode low across her breasts. “Although you’re not making it easy for me to think of anything but going back to bed.”
An answering shiver passed over her body and her nipples hardened. But if they spent any more time in bed, she may as well kiss her plans for Friday goodbye. “Later,” she said to both him and her body. “Once we’re at Denarau.”
“If you still want to try cooking the calamari, you should be able to do it without power. The stove uses gas and you can light the elements with a match.”
“Okay.” All that activity had made her hungry, and no doubt Nate was starving. Suzie went to the cupboard and looked in, hitching up her towel and tying it more tightly around her. “It’s a pity we don’t have butter, but there’s olive oil and dried garlic.”
She opened the far cupboard and pulled out a bottle of lime juice cordial. She’d always squeezed fresh juice when she cooked seafood, but cordial might work instead as a marinade. At least she had plenty of squid to experiment with. In fact, she was getting excited about the possibilities. There were chilli flakes and cayenne pepper to add some spice. Some dried herbs to season the dishes with. And what if she made a beer batter and deep fried some squid slices?
Okay, so she had limited supplies and a sad lack of fresh vegetables or fruit, but she could get inventive with what she had. Come to think of it, if she came up with something that tasted good enough, she could add a squid dish to her list of options for Friday’s wedding. But she was getting ahead of herself. First problem would be to make it edible, let alone create a gourmet recipe.
She’d have a shower first, then tackle the squid. She pushed her tangle of curls off her neck with one hand, keeping hold of the towel with the other. Her hair was still damp and stiff with salt. It must look a complete mess, and without washing it she’d never manage to get a comb through her thick curls.
Nate opened the cupboard to grab a soda. “Want a warm drink?”
“It’s a shame the wine isn’t cold,” mused Suzie, thinking about the range of drinks she’d be serving at Friday’s wedding. “What goes well with calamari? Something light and refreshing.”
“I might be able to chill some drinks in time for lunch.” Nate pulled out a couple of small bottles. “How about an apple cider?”
“Perfect,” she agreed. “If I could somehow, magically, have it cold.”
He gave a mock bow. “Of course.” He went into the cabin and came out a moment later with a pair of socks. He put a bottle in each one, then held them up with the bottles dangling inside.
“What on earth?”
“I’ll hang them in the sea and they’ll be cold in time for lunch.”
“Where did you learn that trick?”
He gave a mock frown, pretending to be shocked by her question. “I can’t reveal all my secrets, can I?”
He carried the socks up to the deck and Suzie fished the squid out of the bowl of water that was keeping it cool. When she put it on the chopping board, it lay like a dead sea monster, its large eye glaring at her accusingly. She should cut it up before she showered, in case there was any ink left in it to splatter her.
First, she hitched her towel up and tied it firmly. “Don’t look at me like that,” she muttered to the squid. “You don’t think I can do this, do you? Well, think again.”
Grasping its body firmly, she picked up a knife. Why did it have to be so slimy? With gritted teeth, she started cutting. If Nate could produce cold drinks, she’d show him he wasn’t the only one who could perform magic. The squid looked nothing like the clean white tube she’d got from the fishmonger, but that wouldn’t stop her. She’d make this slippery, ugly sea creature taste delicious if it was the last thing she did. She had something to prove, to herself as much as him.
Yeah, she could do this.
Now, where was that garlic?
12
Nate screwed the dashboard cover back on with satisfaction. After replacing every burnt-out wire and re-checking them twice, he’d finally found a loose connection in the ignition system. The engine would start now, he was sure.
Just in time, it seemed, because an amazing smell was floating out of the galley, an aroma that made his mouth water and his stomach rumble. Wonderful smells had been coming out for at least the last half hour, but this latest one was impossible to ignore.
He went down to the galley. Suzie must have washed her hair, because it hung down her back in wet tendrils. She looked different without her mass of bright red curls around her face. Instead it was slicked back, lying flat, which accentuated her cheekbones and the shape of her face.
He started to tell her how beautiful she was, then saw the dishes on the bench in the galley, and forgot what he was saying. The delicious smells were more than matched by the presentation of the squid. She’d cooked it a few different ways: one plate held battered slices, another had a fragrant sauce, and on a third, the squid had been grilled and tossed with seasonings. How on earth had she done that? Was there a hidden pantry on this boat filled with gourmet ingredients?
“Good timing,” she said. “Lunch is ready. Shall we eat in the cockpit?”
“I’ll get the cider.” He went out to the transom and pulled up the wet socks. The bottles felt nice and cold, and by the time he got back into the cockpit, Suzie had set up the table and was carrying up the dishes. He fetched a couple of glasses, poured the cider and sat down with her.
“Cheers.” They clinked their glasses together, and he added, “Let’s drink to the most delicious meal I’ve ever seen.”
“You haven’t tried it yet.”
“If it tastes even half as good as it smells, I vote you do all the cooking from now on.”
Only there wouldn’t be any more cooking to do. She was desperate to get off the boat, and he’d fixed the engine so she could do just that. They wouldn’t get to spend the night together. Instead, she’d be on a plane to LA, and he might never see her again. A damn shame.
But it was for the best. Nobody but her could tempt him to break his rules.
No regrets, remember?
He chose the closest dish, battered squid pieces, and dug his fork into it. Then realized she was watching him with an anxious expression. Surely she couldn’t be worried he wouldn’t like it? The smell already had him salivating.
Nate put the squid in his mouth and closed his eyes to better savor the delicate flavor. The batter was light and fluffy. Biting into it, he got a tang of chili, followed by a hint of lime. And then the fresh squid
, the glorious, tender meat, perfectly cooked inside its delicious parcel.
He couldn’t help smiling as he chewed, and when he opened his eyes she was smiling back at him. “Good?”
“Good doesn’t start to describe it.” He took a helping from the plate with the fragrant sauce. “If you can cook like this, your business must be booming.”
She was silent, as though he’d embarrassed her with his compliment. He took the opportunity to sample his next selection. Mmm. Another taste sensation. Did she have any idea how amazing she was? He’d eaten in the world’s top restaurants, and none of those meals could top this one. Maybe his assessment was slightly influenced by the gorgeous surroundings and way he felt about the woman sitting opposite him. But the squid wasn’t just incredibly fresh, she’d cooked it as well as a chef who’d been doing it every day of her life. And even better, she’d given it some unexpected twists. Twists that made it taste exceptional.
“Which did you like best?” she asked, when he’d sampled a little off each plate.
“The one with the batter,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong, they were all delicious. But that one…” He smacked his lips. “If I could eat that dish every day of my life, I’d die happy.”
“It’d be nice with a touch of coriander.”
He shook his head. “Don’t change a thing. It’s perfect, exactly as it is.” As he looked into her blue eyes, he wasn’t entirely sure whether he was talking about the calamari, or about her.
That was a problem.
He had to be careful not to get in too deep. All the heartbreak he went through after Yasmina’s death had taught him that much.
“How’s the engine going?” she asked.
He cleared his throat, glad for a distraction from his thoughts. “Actually, I’m pretty sure I’ve fixed it.”
“You have?”
“I’ll try it after lunch. We should be at the marina in Denarau in time to drink a cocktail and watch the sunset.”
She pushed her plate away. “Well, I’m done. Want to try it now?”
“Not while there’s any squid left.” He cleaned off the plates, enjoying every mouthful, then drained the last of his cider and sighed happily. “My compliments to the chef. That was the most delicious squid I’ve ever eaten.”
She blushed. He’d thought she was beautiful when she was angry, but complimenting her had the same effect. Could it just be her glowing cheeks that made her eyes so blue, or did their color deepen when she was pleased? An interesting scientific question, and one he wanted to study further. With wet hair, the effect was even more striking.
“How long have you been a red head?” he asked.
“A couple of years. Before that, it was jet black.”
“It used to be brown,” he mused, remembering her in her school uniform. It had been short back then, but he’d still wanted to run his hands through it.
She laughed. “Mousy, you mean? That was a long time ago.”
She’d be beautiful no matter what color her hair was, although he had to admit the bright, fire-engine red suited her. The brightness of her hair reflected her personality.
Suzie got up to clear the plates. He took one lot down, then went for the last of them. When he carried them into the saloon, she was at the sink starting to wash up. It wasn’t until he put the plates on the kitchen bench that he realized she wasn’t using the foot pump to run the water, and he could hear a low mechanical hum.
“The water pump’s on?”
She turned, and her wet hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, I forgot. I had to wash my hair, so I turned it on for my shower and meant to turn it off again afterward.”
Shit. The water pump would drain the battery quicker than anything. Nate crossed to the switchboard and was about to flick the switch off, when the sound stopped abruptly. Either the water had come up to full pressure, or the battery had just gone dead.
“I’m sorry, Nate.” She was chewing her lip. “It’s not flat, is it?”
“We’ll find out in a minute.”
Her stricken expression wrenched his heart, and he reached out to pull her close. “Hey,” he said gently. “It’s okay.” He kissed the tip of her nose, but her mouth was set and he could tell she was beating herself up.
When she spoke, her voice was flat. “Try the engine and see if it goes.”
He kissed her first, long and deep, feeling the stiffness go out of her as she melted against him. He gave her a last squeeze, went to the cockpit and put his hand on the key. If the engine started he could run his tests, but he’d also have to drop Suzie at Port Denarau. Now his hand was on the key, he was almost hoping it didn’t go.
What the hell?
His tests were more important than spending the night with Suzie. Besides, he was getting too close to her as it was.
He turned the ignition key.
The light next to it didn’t come on. The battery was flat. He knew the engine wouldn’t start, but he turned the key all the way around anyway. No engine roar filled the silence. Nothing but a blank click as he turned the key back to its starting position.
He looked over his shoulder at Suzie. Her expression was bleak.
“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “The coastguard will check on us eventually. Or another boat will come this way.”
“It does matter.” Her tone was still flat. “I forgot to turn the water off and now we have to sit here waiting to be rescued, and I’ll probably miss my flight.”
“So you made a mistake. It could have happened to anyone.”
“I’ll bet you’d never have forgotten something so important. Why is it always me who messes up?”
Nate wanted to kiss her and tell her not to be so hard on herself, but that wasn’t what she needed right now. Instead, he sat on the cockpit seat, arms folded.
“You’re right,” he said coolly.
Her mouth parted and a hurt expression shadowed her features for a moment. It just about killed him.
“I wouldn’t have forgotten,” he continued. “I have an exceptional memory and I rarely forget anything.”
“Good for you. Jerk.” Ah, there it was. A small spark in her eyes, but it was a start.
“But it just so happens there are a few things I can’t do,” he said.
“Oh yeah? Like what?”
“I’ve never gutted and cleaned a squid, and I wouldn’t know where to start. Even if I managed to clean it properly, I couldn’t have cooked it the way you did. And I sure as hell couldn’t have done it on an unfamiliar boat without power.”
She tried to cut in, but he held up one hand. “I haven’t finished yet. I also wouldn’t have had any breakfast, because I wouldn’t have imagined that orange juice poured over cereal would taste good. I mean, who knew?”
“It’s a well-kept secret. Only known to the few million Europeans who eat it that way every morning.”
He suppressed a smile at her acid tone. That was more like it. “You had your own travel consultancy. That shows that you’re organized, capable, and determined.”
“Until I went out of business.”
He ignored her interruption. “You said your clients loved you, and I don’t doubt it. Despite having Troy as a boyfriend, you were one of the most popular girls in school.”
“Troy was bad enough to cancel out my niceness.”
“Not quite. Everyone liked you anyway, and that says a lot.”
She grimaced, but at least she was throwing off her dark mood. He only wished he knew why one small mistake had thrown her into a tailspin.
“And another thing,” he added. “Can anyone else cut me down with just a few snarky words? Does anyone have a glare like yours? Or a famous, patented, withering look that can shrivel my balls from a distance of fifty paces?”
That earned him a smile. Success.
He stood and pulled her close, brushed her wet hair away from her forehead, and kissed her. “And does any woman in the world taste or feel as good as you do?” he murmured.
&nbs
p; “Okay, I feel better.” She managed a laugh. “You can stop now.”
“Mmm. But I don’t want to stop.” He proved it by kissing her again, slowly and lingeringly. He wasn’t exaggerating. Her kisses were addictive, and she felt so good against him that he never wanted to let her go.
And the strange thing was that he’d been so worried about making her feel better, he hadn’t felt bad about not being able to do his test.
Why was that? He only had until Wednesday to prove to Nate they could do things his way, and the clock was ticking. His entire future was riding on the next couple of days, but right now, all that mattered was her.
Shit.
That proved how dangerous Suzie was. He was an addict and she was the drug that could kill him. He knew better than this. He needed to back away. Now.
With her arms around his neck, she put her mouth against his ear.
“I want you.” Her warm breath and low invitation made his body react instantly. And when she drew back to look at him, the way her eyes were sparkling made him draw in his breath. That look was pure Suzie. It reached right into his chest to twist his heart.
She turned so her back was toward him, then leaned forward over the bench seat that ran along the length of the cockpit. Her short sundress rode up her thighs as she smiled invitingly over her shoulder at him.
Nate clenched his hands into fists. At least, he tried to. Suddenly his hands weren’t obeying his brain’s commands. Instead, they were reaching for her.
Traitors.
13
Cockpit was a good name. Whoever had decided to call it that must have read Suzie’s mind.
She wanted to get naked out here, shaded from the hot sun by the canvas cockpit cover, but with the warm, tropical breeze tickling her bare skin.
Putting her hands on the canvas cushion that covered the cockpit seat, she felt hot, urgent need pooling in the pit of her stomach. Especially when Nate lifted her dress and tugged down her already-wet panties.