by Kim Linwood
“Couch.”
“You’re a cruel bitch, Sis.” He sighs melodramatically. “But I suppose I knew that.”
My train of thought as I try to come up with a reply is interrupted when the ship’s horn blows loud enough to make me jump. Three long blasts and then the floor shifts just slightly under my feet. Outside the windows, the city seems like it’s moving very slowly. I want to go look, but I don’t want to act like a tourist.
Gavin solves it for me. “This is your first time, right? Let’s watch.” He grabs his tumbler and heads for the balcony.
I don’t really want be anywhere near him right now, but I do want to see. I might never be on a luxury cruise ship again, so I follow him outside. It’s windy this high up, making me shiver. I should’ve dug my sweater out of my suitcase, but if I take the time to find it now, I’ll miss it.
Gavin sees me shiver and stands behind me. “I’ll keep you warm, if you want.”
Rolling my eyes, I bite back over my shoulder, “Don’t touch me.”
He steps back, raising his hands. “Hey, just offering, Sis. It’s the kinda stuff big brothers do, right?”
Whatever. I know exactly what kind of brotherly love he has for me, and chivalry has nothing to do with it. Besides, I have a luxury liner departure to watch.
It’s not quite like in those old movies with the transatlantic ships setting out and the docks packed with cheering people and streamers, but there’re at least a few people down there under the floodlights keeping the dock lit, waving as the ship pulls out. I wave back, though I’ve no idea who they are. They probably can’t see me up here anyway. Gavin throws me an amused glance before looking the other way, towards the open ocean.
As the ship picks up steam, it’s not long before the only sounds left are seagulls, water streaming by below us and the rumble of engines deep within the ship. It’s beautiful, but watching the shore pull away is a little scary too. There’s no running away now.
Gavin drops into a deck chair and sets his drink on the table next to it. The sun set a while ago, and the only light is what streams out from our room, so from my angle he’s mostly hidden in darkness.
“You’re being unusually quiet. I haven’t heard a crude comment in minutes.” I sit in the chair across the table from him.
“I dunno. Thinking about this marriage shit.”
“If I’m not letting you fuck me, I’m sure as hell not letting you marry me.”
He laughs. “We’ll see about that. What about you?”
“What about me?” I have lots of feelings about the marriage, most of which I don’t intend to share with him.
“What do you think of this whole marriage thing? Your mom’s getting hitched to a multimillionaire, if not billionaire. I lost track of how much money he makes a long time ago. That’s got to be a little weird for a girl... um... in your situation.” He trails off.
Ouch, direct hit. “In my situation? And what situation is that exactly?” My eyes shoot daggers at his outline.
“Well, you know... I mean, I guess you’re not homeless exactly, but now you’re suddenly heading into super rich territory. What do you think you’ll get out of it?” He takes a sip. “College money? Fancy clothes? A car?”
That is so far beyond insulting, words almost fail me. “Screw you, Gavin. I can work for my own damn things, if that’s what you’re so worried about. I’ve got a free ride to Stanford.”
“Fuck, should’ve known. You’re smart and sexy. What are you going for?” His question sounds like an inmate’s. What are you in for?
“Pre-med. I even have a lot of the first year requirements done early.”
He laughs, a short bark. “No wonder you’re still a fucking virgin.”
I consider denying it, but what would be the point? I get up, taking my water and heading for the door when he stops me.
“Wait. I’m just saying, you’d had to have worked real hard for that. Me? I tried business, but dropped out after a few months. I didn’t have time for that shit.”
I stop in the door, insulted that he thinks education is ‘that shit’, and annoyed that he has enough money for it not to matter. “Am I supposed to be surprised that a thug like you never graduated college? Hell, I’m surprised you graduated high school.” The temperature’s dropping as the ship moves further from land, but nowhere near as fast as it does in the space between the two of us.
“Loosen up and enjoy it while you can is my advice. It’s not going to fucking last, anyway.” He huffs, looking back out over the water.
“What’s not going to last?”
“Their marriage. You think this is the first time?” He drains the last of the whiskey. “This is Dad’s fourth marriage, plus a couple of false starts that didn’t even get that far. He’s a hard man to live with, especially when you’re only marrying him for his money.”
I’m halfway in, but I storm back out to stand over him. “Are you calling my mom a gold digger?”
He shrugs. “Just saying, isn’t it awfully convenient? Her business isn’t doing well, right? Are you so goddamn sure?” In the dark, his pupils are black, his eyes rectangular slits under his thick, frowning eyebrows.
I turn away, my voice quieter. “Mom’s not like that.” Right? She grew up poor, working her way up. Meeting Dad and becoming a Navy wife certainly bought her a lot of security, but she’s always worked hard. But now that her business isn’t doing that well, would she? It all happened so fast.
“For what it’s worth, I believe you.” His voice is calmer.
“You do?” I talk to him over my shoulder, not looking.
“You’re the stubbornest and proudest girl I’ve met in my life, babe. That shit came from somewhere.” His chair scrapes on the deck as he gets up. “I’m getting another drink.”
“I don’t think stubbornest is a word.” I smile at his praise in spite of myself. Why do I even care about his approval?
“I don’t give a fuck.”
For a minute there he almost seemed reasonable. “Alright. Fine. So what are you working for, then?”
He looks at me curiously. “Working for? I don’t have to. I’ve already got it.”
“Seriously? There’s nothing you’re burning for? Nothing you want to do?” I give him a disbelieving look. “Just party all the time and be an asshole?”
“Sure. Why not? What choice do I have? Dad expects me to take over at some point, so I guess I will. Maybe I’ll just sell it all off when he’s gone. Live off the interest.” He shrugs.
Must be nice to not care about money. “Sounds boring.”
“Hey, it’s how the other half lives. You’re born. You do what they tell you and have fun while you can until it’s over. Are you hungry?”
The conversation just got way too deep. My stomach rumbles in response to the talk about food. “Hell yeah.”
“Alright, I’ll order up some room service.”
By the time I’m done staring at the water and looking for the horizon in the darkness, the food’s here. They’re quick. There’s so much food you’d think we’re having guests. “How many people is this seafood platter for, anyway?”
“Doesn’t matter. Eat up. Put some fucking meat on those bones.” He grins while cracking a gigantic lobster claw.
“What are you trying to say?”
“That I don’t want you to break when you’re under me.”
I roll my eyes, but crude come-ons are almost a relief. This Gavin I can deal with, even if the thought of him over me makes me tingle. I’m not letting him know that. I don’t even want to know that. Gavin can dream all he wants, but it’ll never be more than that. There’s still Paul, if nothing else. “Then I’ll eat as little or much as I want, because that’ll never happen.”
“Maybe not tonight. Maybe not tomorrow night. But some night. And soon.” That cocky smirk again.
The stupid thing is that I can’t quite keep the smile off my face either. It must be the white wine, or the chocolates, or the sea air.
It’s definitely not him. “In your dreams.” I raise my glass to him. “To all expenses paid luxury cruises.”
He raises his, responding with an eloquent, “Fuck yeah.”
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About the Author
Kim Linwood is a sucker for bad boys, billionaires and alpha males. If they're all three at once, that's even better. When she's not writing about romantic conflicts and witty dialogue, she's herding two growing boys (who are of course not bad) with her husband.
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Contact Kim directly with any comments, questions or concerns at [email protected].
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Liz
Hunter
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Epilogue
Bossy: A Stepbrother Romance
Declan
Claire
Claire
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Declan
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Declan
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Epilogue
About the Author
Table of Contents
Sign Up For My Newsletter
Liz
Hunter
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Epilogue
Bossy: A Stepbrother Romance
Declan
Claire
Claire
Claire
Claire
Claire
Declan
Declan
Claire
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Epilogue
About the Author