There wasn’t anything he liked to talk about more. “She’s a ninety foot Queenship Motoryacht Hardtop. Real wood paneling inside, two staterooms, a state of the art galley…” He could talk for hours. “She’s a beauty.” She was also the best thing he ever spent money on.
Amanda ran a hand over the railing. “She certainly is. I don’t … go on the water.” She raised her head to meet his gaze. “I watched my cousin fall overboard and drown. I haven’t gone out on a boat since.”
“That’s sad on two counts.” He removed his glasses and studied her face. “Does it bother you being docked?”
She shrugged. “Not as much, but I should be leaving. It’s getting dark.”
“Let me walk you back.”
“No, that’s okay.” She almost flew down the steps and down the pier.
Drake watched her go, then glanced at his watch. He had an hour before the party guests arrived and they would expect to see him in his yachting clothes. Man, he hated getting fancied up, but five hundred bucks was five hundred bucks and worth some hair gel, white pants, and mild flirting.
By the time the party of twelve arrived, Drake stood at the helm, looking every bit a part of the lifestyle he’d left behind. He sighed and greeted his guests, ushering them toward the buffet and bar. The same two women who had stopped by earlier sized him up on their way past, alerting him to the fact he’d be fending off advances for the rest of the evening. He shook his head and reached for his water.
He served alcohol, but didn’t imbibe himself. A drunken captain was never a good thing.
“Hi.” A pretty brunette in a scarlet bikini and black sarong sidled up to him. “You look lonely.”
He smiled down at her. “Want to take the wheel once we’re out of the harbor?”
“Can I?” She gushed. “Absolutely.” She ran a hand down the sleeve of his navy blazer. “You look so different from this afternoon. You looked dangerously sexy a few hours ago. Now you look dashing and debonair. I’m not sure which look I prefer.”
Drake kept his grin in place and steered out of the harbor. Once upon a time he would have enjoyed the attentions of beautiful hungry females. Now, they interfered with his peaceful world. Not to mention that he now found himself distracted by a lovely temperamental redhead of a boss.
The moment they cleared the harbor, his pretty guest slipped between his arms, grasped the wheel, and purred like a kitten as she settled back against him. Drake groaned inwardly and put his hands over hers. “In calm waters, it takes a gentle touch. Don’t yank on the wheel.”
“I’m Lilly. Like the flower.” She turned to gaze up at him, her lips dangerously close. She wanted him to kiss her. Instead, he focused on the sea ahead of them and pretended not to know what she offered. Women had burned him before. Now, he kept his distance and liked it that way. He flirted and made them feel beautiful, but that’s as far as he let things go.
By the time the cruise ended, Drake’s face hurt from smiling. By the time he’d cleaned up after the party, exhaustion weighed on his shoulders. Amanda hadn’t said what time she expected him in the morning. If he showed up for work at eight, that would give him five hours to sleep and another hour to eat and shower. It would have to do. But with his luck, Boss Lady would have started at six.
He’d stuffed the last beach towel into a duffle bag when someone called from the dock. He glanced over the railing, and gulped. Lilly stood, this time in a white sundress, clutching a bottle of champagne. The moon’s glow behind her gave the impression of something ethereal, other worldly. Still, he wasn’t tempted.
“Want some company?” She called.
“Nope. Gotta work in the morning. Good night.” Drake turned to leave, glad he’d pulled up the stairs.
“Wait. It’s only two a.m. and I’ve come all this way.”
“Sorry, Lilly.” He ducked into the cabin and breathed a sigh of relief. He plastered his back to the wall and lightly banged his head. Sooner or later, his attempt to keep his guests happy was going to backfire in a big way.
The inebriated woman continued to cajole him for the next half hour, robbing Drake of valuable sleep. When she finally left, he tossed and turned. Amanda’s face flashed in his head over and over and he couldn’t help but wonder what she would think of his flirting.
Hate it, for sure. Fire him, most likely. Definitely afraid it would look bad on her business.
He pounded his pillow in a vain attempt to soften the unyielding rock. A lifetime of rich playboy habits was hard to break. But wasn’t that why he’d bought the yacht and moved to Maui in the first place? To leave the socialite life behind?
3
Amanda couldn’t deny Drake was good for business. Women flocked to her store to sign up for snorkeling trips, and, despite her reluctance, she went ahead and let Cassie hand out leis with a kiss. A month after opening and they had more business than they could handle which pulled Amanda from the back office to the sandwich counter on a regular basis.
The bell over the door jingled, pulling her attention from the Panini maker. Drake strolled in, looking like some kind of sea god. Any female customers immediately stopped what they were doing and stared.
Amanda rolled her eyes. “You’ve got a snorkeling tour at ten. Cooler of sandwiches and drinks is in the back.”
“Got it.” He gave her a wave and headed for the back. When he returned, cooler in his hands, he stopped by the counter. “I need you to come with me.”
“What?” On the water? Was he kidding? Had he listened to a single thing she’d said about not going on the water?
He leaned closer. “It’s a party of females. I don’t want to be alone with them. They’re like piranhas.”
“Then don’t encourage them.” He didn’t think of her as a female?
“You can say something to the effect that it’s against company policy for me to fraternize with the customers.”
“But it isn’t.” She frowned. “As long as the people are booking tours, I don’t care what you do. If you must have a Samson with you, take one of my sisters.”
“They aren’t any better than the ones going snorkeling.” He set the cooler on the floor and rotated his shoulders.
“Have they been inappropriate?” She’d whack them with the spatula.
“No.” He sighed. “It’s the way they look at me.”
“Then wear a shirt.” Good grief. What did he expect when he walked around looking like he did? What was wrong with the man? He acted like a prudish old woman.
He stared at her for several seconds. “I really wish you’d come, but I can’t make you. Eventually, I’ll get you on the water.” He picked the cooler back up and marched out the door.
He almost acted as if he wanted to spend time with Amanda. But that couldn’t be what prompted his behavior. They couldn’t spend more than a few minutes together without arguing. He thought she was too rigid, she thought he was too laid back. Maybe he really was worried about being the only man with five young women. Should she swallow her fear and go with him?
Taking her bottom lip between her teeth, she watched out the front window of the shop as he loaded the cooler into the store van. She’d wear a life jacket. She didn’t have to go in the water. Asking for help didn’t seem to come easy for the guy. She should feel honored that he’d requested her help.
“Bethie, Cassie, you two mind the store. I’m going with Drake.” She tossed her apron on the counter.
“That’s no fair!” Bethie glowered. “Why should you get to play?”
“Because he asked me.” Amanda hid a grin and rushed outside. “Wait, Drake. I decided to go.”
He turned with a grin. “Really? Thanks. You’re saving my life.”
While endangering hers. She wanted to change her mind before climbing into the van. But, no, a Samson was a woman of their word. She tried to swallow past a dry throat and climbed into the passenger seat.
“Aren’t you going to put on a swimsuit?” Drake asked sliding behind the wheel?
“Nope. I’m working, thus I’m in uniform.” And making a huge mistake.
By the time they reached the harbor, perspiration ran down her back and her hands shook. She’d stepped onto the yacht while moored and survived, what could be different than being out at sea while wearing a life jacket? Everything. If she fell over at sea, she couldn’t easily swim to shore. She’d bob up and down like a buoy, waiting for someone to rescue her.
Drake cast a sideways glance. “You can swim, can’t you?”
“Yes. Very well.” She wiped her damp palms on the legs of her Bermuda shorts.
“Then, okay.” He cut the ignition and jumped out, rushing to the back of the van.
Amanda wanted to throw up. Instead, she squared her shoulders and stepped onto the sidewalk. Maybe if she concentrated on helping unload the van she could forget that she’d be floating far from land within the hour.
“Relax. If you fall overboard, I’ll go in after you.” Drake winked and moved past her carrying the cooler to the yacht. “It’s a part of my job description,” he tossed over his shoulder.
“Very funny.” She clutched her stomach, refusing to get sick.
As a group of scantily clad young women boarded the yacht, Amanda greeted them with a tight smile. They ignored her and headed for the upper deck, leaving Amanda to suffer her fear alone.
Drake brushed past her on his way to untie the ropes, leaving behind the scent of sunscreen and ocean. Breathing deep, Amanda focused on his broad back. He’d substituted his earlier tank top for a white tee shirt. A breeze ruffled his hair. She put a hand to her heavily hair-sprayed bun and groaned. What in the world was she thinking?
She wasn’t the boating type. She was the type to sit behind a desk and crunch numbers. Since when did she let the badgering of a man get her to do anything she didn’t want to do? When the man looked like Drake, that’s when. That’s when she’d gone completely over the deep end and lost all reasoning.
The yacht lurched then moved forward. Amanda gulped and raced for the cabin.
*
Drake noticed Amanda flee once the Island Princess began pulling out of the harbor, and laughed. Fearing the sea was a concept he couldn’t grasp. While he experienced a pang of regret in almost begging her to come along, he needed her presence. Especially with Lilly once again on board.
“Captain.” The curvy brunette sidled up to him, a champagne flute in one hand.
“May I take the wheel?”
“You may not.” Amanda yelled through the door. “And that had better not be an alcoholic drink. They aren’t allowed on our tours.”
“Who’s the grouch?” Lilly pouted.
“My boss.” Drake grinned. “You wouldn’t want to get me fired now, would you?” He took the flute from her hand and tossed the contents overboard. “Bring me the bottle, will you?”
Lilly huffed and stormed away, casting a look of pure hatred to where Amanda had withdrawn back into the recesses of the cabin. Drake’s plan to keep the ladies away was working as planned. Once they dropped anchor near Molokini, he hoped Lilly and her friends would snorkel and Amanda would come up for air. He could supervise the women’s safety from on deck. He tended to stay out of the water when sharks were around.
He cut the engine and dropped anchor. Lilly and her friends grabbed equipment and immediately jumped into the ocean.
“Did they sign the consent forms?” Amanda ventured from the cabin, gripping the hand rails.
“They’re in the folder on the table.” Drake slipped off his shirt and stretched out on a lawn chair. “Join me.” He tossed her a bottle of water.
“Aren’t you going to supervise?” She caught the drink and lowered herself onto the chair farthest from the water.
“I can see them just fine from here. If they venture too far, I’ll whistle.”
She shaded her eyes, as nervous as a mother watching over her children. When one of women screamed, Amanda leaped to her feet. “What’s wrong? Where are the life preservers?”
“They’re splashing.” She really was frightened of the water. He removed his sunglasses and peered at her pale face. “I’m sorry I asked you to come. Lilly, the one with the drink earlier, doesn’t take no for an answer very easily. I thought it better to have you come along than to request she cancel.”
“I’m fine.” Amanda closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. “It’s stupid for the owner of a snorkeling shop to be afraid to go on the water.”
“Would you jump in if I were to fall?” He chuckled as she narrowed her eyes.
“Only if I believe without a doubt that you are dying.” She set her water at her feet and stood. “And if I have a life jacket securely fastened around me.”
“You said you could swim.”
“I can.” She lifted her chin. “So could my cousin. One whack to the head and you’re dead without a flotation device.”
He guzzled his water and reached for another, transferring his attention from her rapidly burning face to the swimmers. He counted four out of the five and stood for a better view.
“What’s wrong?” Amanda moved to his side.
“Someone is missing.” He went to the railing and, putting two fingers in his mouth, split the air with a whistle. Four heads popped from the water. “Where’s Lilly?”
“I’m here.” She smiled from the steps. “I don’t want to swim anymore. I’d rather sit up here with …” She frowned at Amanda. “Oh. Does your boss always come on these tours?”
Amanda looked at him to answer. When he didn’t, she replied, “Only when asked.” She turned and headed back to the cabin.
Lilly put a hand on her well-shaped hip. “You asked your boss to come?”
He rubbed both hands over his face and into his hair. How did he turn the woman off without hurting her feelings or making her angry enough to cause a scene? “Look, no offense, but you’ve been putting off vibes. I have a policy never to get involved with customers. I didn’t know how to tell you without hurting your feelings so I brought my boss along to dissuade you?”
“Is she that mean?” Lilly glanced toward the cabin. “Will she fire you over flirting with me?”
Amanda glared from the cabin door. “Will I, Drake?”
He’d done it now. No man in his right mind ever got between two angry women. Especially when they were both mad at him.”
“He’s all yours.” Lilly flounced around and leaped back into the water.
While she didn’t request to be taken back to Lahaina, he doubted Lilly would book another tour with him or rent his boat for a party. He sighed. There were plenty more tourists arriving on the island every day.
“You handled that well.” The look on Amanda’s face told him he did anything but.
“At least she didn’t cancel or have hysterics.”
“Is that what you expect women to do? Do you think so highly of your looks that you can’t believe a woman would shrug and move on to the next man?” Amanda set fresh towels on the lounge chairs. “Because, honey, you ain’t that hot.”
What the heck? Drake shook his head, then glanced at his bare chest. He’d worked hard to get abs that defined, and he had it on good authority that women found him very attractive. Maybe he’d viewed Amanda’s dark looks wrong. Instead of admiration, maybe she plain didn’t like him. The idea hurt more than he thought it would.
“Have I done something wrong to you?” He ran his hands back through his hair.
She rolled her eyes. “Nope.” With a sigh, she picked up the water bottles, empty champagne bottle, and glasses. “Not a thing. I figured if you wanted to portray me as a mean and cruel employer, then I should at least play the part.”
“I didn’t say that. She did!” He pointed at the water.
“You implied it enough for her to make the assumption.” She thrust all the items in her arms at him. “Clean this place up. I’m not paying you to look pretty.”
4
A week later and Amanda still fumed like a
child over Drake’s reference to her being mean. Well, that woman’s reference, but he hadn’t corrected her. She slammed down the stapler. Why did how he felt about her bother her so much?
Night covered the ocean view outside her window. She stared at her reflection in the window. Pale face, red hair, blue eyes. Many people thought her attractive, some even called her beautiful. Uncle Luke used to say her pretty face hid the brain of a fox and the sharp tongue of a shrew. Maybe that’s what turned men off. At twenty-eight she should be married or at least in a relationship.
What could she do to remedy the problem and did she even want to? There wasn’t anything wrong with being a single successful business woman. She had no doubt she’d be successful. After six weeks the store was already turning a profit, albeit a small one.
“Mandy!” Cassie barged into the office. “Let’s go to the beach. I see a bonfire.”
“I’ve got work to do.” She shook a handful of invoices.
“You’re always working. Bethie is going. Come on. Don’t stay behind again. Have some fun. Live a little.” Her sister crossed her arms and leaned against the doorjamb. “I’m going to stay here and stare at you until you get out of that chair and agree to stay at least two hours on the beach.”
Amanda laughed. “I’m coming. Do you have blankets? Sodas and water in the cooler?”
“Yes, yes, come on!” Cassie grabbed her hand and pulled her through the shop. “I know how to pack for the beach.”
While allowing herself to be forced to attend a beach party full of strangers, Amanda couldn’t help the spark of excitement that ignited in her heart. She wanted to experience more of island life, she really did, but there always seemed to be work that needed doing, a problem that needed solving.
She released Cassie’s hand in order to grab the handle of the small wagon they’d purchased for times like now. Except this was the first time Amanda had the opportunity to use it. Struggling to pull it through the sand, she waved a hand in greeting to Bethie, and then turned around to tug with two hands. There had to be a better way to get things to the beach.
Love Draws Near Page 2