by Lily Harlem
“But they’re not to you?”
“Nah, some think I’m shy. But I’m not.”
That surprised her. “So what is it? Why do you barely speak?”
“I guess no one has ever really caught my interest.” He turned his hand, catching hers in it. “There hasn’t been anyone worth talking to, really talking to and getting to know.”
She looked at how his big fingers had wrapped around hers. Lucas fascinated her. Could she be the woman he thought was worth getting to know? That idea thrilled her. To think she could be the one to get this big, handsome Scottish guy to finally come out of his shell.
He released her hand and gripped the steel again.
“So what star sign are you?” she asked, gesturing up at the sky again.
“Also Gemini.” He chuckled. “Fits, huh.”
“Yes, it does. I guess we’re all twins together then, us three.”
Chapter Eight
Olivia enjoyed her night shift chatting to Lucas and was surprised when Mason and Harry came to relieve them.
“Here, you go get some rest,” Harry said, nudging her away from the helm with his shoulder. “And don’t worry about what time you wake up.”
“Thanks.” She stifled a yawn. “I’ll do that.”
Harry looked ruffled from sleep. His hair was mussed and he had a crease on his cheek from a pillow. He also had a thick layer of stubble going on.
Mason however looked perfect, as if he’d hardly moved. She guessed that was the razor cut hair. Though he had pulled on a hoody and tugged it tight beneath his chin.
After glancing at the thin layer of pale pink rising on the eastern horizon, she headed into her cabin.
A deep and dreamless sleep soon claimed her. The rocking of the boat was soothing as were the gentle sounds of the ropes on the masts and the creaks of the hull.
When she woke, brilliant sunshine sent hot fingers around the small curtain covering her cabin’s porthole. Sitting, she rubbed her eyes and flicked it aside. Someone was standing on the other side of it, on the thin strip between the starboard and the mast. Slim but hairy ankles—she wasn’t sure whose.
“Mi niña hermosa, are you awake?” Raul’s voice was accompanied by a knock on her door. “I have made your beloved tea to tempt you from your lazy bed.”
“Oh, thanks, Raul.” She stood, grabbed a plain blue t-shirt and pulled it over her head, then stepped into her shorts from the previous day.
“What time is it?” she asked, opening the door.
Raul grinned. “It is lunch time, the sun is high in the sky.”
“Wow, I slept for ages.”
“You must have needed it.”
“Mmm.” She went to reach for the mug of tea.
“Ah, no.” He pulled it back. “You must come out of your cabin or the day will be gone.”
She laughed. “Okay. I’ll come up on deck and drink it. Just let me use the loo.”
He nodded, smile still in place. “I take it up for you.”
After freshening up, she made her way on deck. The sky was perfect blue and the sea mirror flat.
“Not as much wind today,” Evan said as he frowned up at the sails.
“Hopefully it will pick up soon.” She rested her hand on his bare shoulder, then sat and cradled her mug.
“You slept a long time, Liv.” Harry was fiddling with a fishing line.
“A bit of jet lag on top of everything else I guess.” She took a sip of tea, enjoying the familiar taste and the spread of warmth on her tongue. “I’m a heavy sleeper, once I’m out of it, that’s it. Would take a bomb to wake me up.”
Harry nodded. “You finished that yet, Mason?”
“Yep.” Mason handed him a hook with a red feather on the end. “We’re gonna catch us some supper.” He grinned at Olivia. “What do you fancy?”
“Whatever comes along.”
“Right answer.” He laughed.
“I think this needs to be a bit tighter.” Harry slid the fly back to Mason.
“Does it?” Mason studied it. “Oh yeah, it does a bit.” He looked up and winked at Olivia.
She had no idea if the wire did need tightening or if Mason was humoring Harry and his bossy ways, but even so, on board, it was best if they all opted for a quiet life.
“You caught anything yet, Lucas?” Olivia called.
Lucas was sat midway along the boat and she guessed it had been his ankles she’d seen. He had a wire in the water attached to a fixed line.
He looked her way and shook his head.
So he’s gone quiet again on me.
She smiled and went back to her tea. The boat was moving at a slow pace and she hoped the wind would pick up soon. It often did mid afternoon so perhaps they’d get lucky.
Harry, apparently now happy with hook and line, went to the stern and busied himself with setting up another fixed line. “We’ll have a contest, Lucas,” he called. “See who can catch the biggest fish.”
Lucas grinned.
“And what’s the prize?” Mason said, glancing at his brother.
“I know.” Raul hopped on his seat.
“What?” Harry asked.
“A kiss from the prettiest member of crew.”
“Hey.” Olivia jabbed him in the ribs. “I’m not here to be doling out kisses as prizes.”
“But it would be a good prize,” Harry said. “As long as I win of course.” He tipped his head back and laughed.
“I guess we’ll have to wait and see.” Mason grinned.
“I haven’t bloody well agreed to this.” Olivia laughed. “I am not a prize.”
“Ah, mi Olivia, we all won when you came on board.” Raul wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close.
She pressed her hand on his warm chest and laughed. His affection was sweet and his long, strong torso not at all unpleasant to be squashed up against.
“Damn this lack of wind,” Evan said. “We’ll have to motor for a bit, what do you think, Captain?”
Harry looked up at the sails now hanging limply. “Yeah, I reckon you’re right. Let’s bring the sails in and hope it picks up soon.”
Olivia jumped up, and along with Mason and Raul set about bringing Temptress’ big white sails in. Within minutes they were secured to the masts and folded perfectly.
Evan started the engine. “I hate to do this.” He shook his head. “Not least because I like the raw power of the wind.”
“Don’t we all.” Olivia was already irritated by the noise of the engine even though it was low and had only been on a few seconds.
She sat back down, aware of the vibration of the motor rumbling beneath them.
After finishing her tea, she headed below deck. She needed sun cream and something to eat.
As was habit she checked the navigation, then panned her gaze from left to right on all the gauges on the control panel.
A small red light caught her attention. “What is that?” She frowned at it. It was engine temperature. And it was high.
“Harry,” she called. “Can you come here?”
“Sure.” Within seconds he appeared at the opening to the top deck. “What’s up?”
“We’ve got a heating problem. Looks like the engine is getting hot.”
He frowned and came to stand next to her. “Goddamn, you’re right.”
“Let’s take a look.” She indicated the panel in the floor that would give them access to the engine.
“Hey, Evan, turn her off will you,” Harry called up.
Within a second the engine was off, and the dull vibrations stopped. Much as Olivia welcomed the quiet, she was concerned.
Evan appeared. “Problem?”
“Yeah. Temperature gauge is reading hot.”
Evan pulled a face.
Raul and Mason came below deck. “Lucas has the helm under control.” Mason jerked his head upward.
“Good.” Harry opened the hatch to the engine.
Olivia stared down at the sleek, chrome engine. It was b
rand new, perfectly clean but a strong, hot smell was coming from it.
“Bloody hell.” Evan wafted his hand in front of his nose. “It’s only been on a few minutes.”
“This not good.” Raul pulled a face.
“But it’s okay, between us we’ll figure it out.” Harry removed a side strip to reveal some inner workings, including the thermostat. He set it aside then scratched his head. “Looks okay.”
“Si.” Raul peered in and nodded.
“It clearly isn’t though,” Mason said. “I’ll get the tools. We’ll have to take a bit more off it.”
“No we won’t.” Olivia squatted down and eased her shoulders between Mason and Harry’s big ones.
“What do you mean?” Raul asked.
“This.” She tapped the regulating thermostat. “Simple mistake but easily done. It’s been put on the wrong way round.”
“Has it?” Harry slid his finger over it.
“Yeah and in cooler water a few degrees north, by the harbor, that didn’t matter, but the surface ocean temperature is cranking up here. It’s the difference between it being a problem and not.”
“Shit.” Evan tutted.
“But it’s okay,” she said, reaching behind herself for a small screwdriver. “We’ll just flip it around.”
“How the hell could the manufacturers make such a stupid mistake?” Harry said, turning his attention to her.
She shrugged. “I’ve seen plenty of professionals with lots of experience do it. Trouble is it’s hard to tell the right way around.” She smiled at him. “It’ll only take me a minute.”
“Go girl,” Evan said, squeezing her shoulder then standing.
“You need a hand?” Mason asked.
“No.” She concentrated on the task and released the screws holding the thermostat in place. “Can someone get me a bucket, bound to be some water in here?”
Evan was quick to do as she’d asked.
As she removed the thermostat, a small deluge of water slid out, landing neatly in the bucket. After turning the thermostat around, so it was facing the correct way, she refastened the screws.
“There we are, all done.” She handed the screwdriver to Harry, plonking it in his palm the way a surgeon might a scalpel.
“I’m impressed,” he said. “Without you, we might have been fiddling all day, longer even, trying to figure out the problem.”
“Nah.” She rested her hand on his shoulder. “Probably only a few hours.”
He chuckled and his eyes sparkled.
She loved the fact she’d impressed him. That she’d known something the others hadn’t. Although Lucas might have, he hadn’t had the chance to comment.
Standing, she wiped her palms over each other, removing a few bits of dust.
“Now I see why you picked her for the crew, Harry,” Evan said, an uncharacteristic serious tone to his voice. “That’s the kind of know-how we need out here in the middle of bloody nowhere.”
“Aw, shucks.” She shoved at his arm. “You’ll make me blush, Evan.”
“Maybe I’d like that.” He grinned and his usual fun tone returned.
“And we are in the middle of nowhere,” Mason said. “We’re miles from land.” He was spinning his thumb ring as he studied the map.
“Yeah, so let’s get that engine back on, and all pray for some wind soon.” Harry went to the base of the steps. “Flick it on, Lucas.”
The engine came to life again and Harry studied the gauge.
“Might take a few minutes to come down,” Olivia said.
He tapped it with his index finger.
“Why are you doing that?” she asked with a laugh.
“I dunno.” He laughed too. “It’s what they do in movies.”
Mason and Evan chuckled then headed on deck.
“I make lunch,” Raul said. “And if temperature comes down, we all have a shot of rum to celebrate, si?”
“You have rum?” Olivia asked.
He held up his hands. “I know, contraband, but I insisted.”
Harry threw a frown his way.
“Medicinal,” Raul said. “I am Español man with needs. Rum is one of them. It keeps me healthy.”
“I’m afraid I’m not a fan of rum,” Olivia said.
“So do you prefer champagne or cocktails?” Harry asked.
“Champagne, I’ve only had a couple of times, one was last night. And cocktails, well I don’t think I could name any. I’ll have a beer if I’m out, but that’s about it.”
“Ah, we have no beer?” Raul’s face fell and he slapped his hands over his cheeks. “Bloody hell…is that what you say? Bloody hell no bloody beer?”
“Yes, you could say that.” She smiled. “But it’s okay. I’d rather keep my wits about me out here.”
“Very sensible.” Harry turned to the gauge again. “It’s coming down.”
She nodded. She’d known it would.
Harry blew out a breath, clearly relieved the issue had been sorted out so quickly and with so little stress. He stepped up to her, close, then brushed his lips over her left cheek. “Thanks,” he said quietly. “You just got us out of what could have been a sticky situation.”
His nearness seemed to heighten all of her senses. The scratch of his stubbled chin on her cheek was as intense as any caress, and she noticed the lingering smell of his aftershave again.
He smiled down at her, then turned and strode up the steps.
“Captain likes you,” Raul said with a grin. He then swept his hands from high to low, gesturing to her. “And what is not to like? You are beautiful, clever woman. The most beautiful in all the world.”
“And flattery will get you nowhere, Raul.”
He twitched his eyebrows. “I have found in the past it has got me everywhere.”
“Behave.” She slapped his upper arm. “I’m going to go and see if any fish have taken the bait.”
“You don’t want to take my bait, huh?” He puckered his lips.
“Seriously, you’re incorrigible.”
He frowned. “What is…incorrigible? I do not know.”
“Unruly, persistent.” She shook her head. “But I guess you’ll never change.”
“Ah, you wouldn’t want me to.” He pulled open the refrigerator. “That would make life on board boring.”
“I guess that’s true enough.”
She headed on deck again and was pleased when a gust of wind ran over her cheeks. It wasn’t from the movement of the boat on engine, it was stronger than that, the wind was picking up.
“Sails up soon,” Mason said, as he sat making another fly, the breeze pressing his t-shirt against his torso.
“I reckon so,” Olivia agreed.
Lucas was still at the helm. She went to stand next to him.
“Well done,” he said quietly so only she could hear. “Sounds like you saved the day.”
“I think that’s stretching it, but thank you.”
He nodded, once, then continued to stare ahead.
That was progress, and she was happy with it. He’d spoken to her when the others were around. Okay it was quiet and it hadn’t been much, but it was good. It proved they’d made a connection, and she needed that, with all the guys if they were going to make it to Sydney.
Chapter Nine
Within an hour of the thermostat problem, the sails were once again full and Temptress was slicing her way over the ocean.
The fishing lines had been productive providing Raul with two big fish to cook up for dinner.
“This is the life, don’t you think?” Mason said, coming to stand at Olivia’s side as she took the helm.
“I’m never happier than in moments like this.”
“I can tell.”
“You can?” she asked.
“Yeah, your eyes show it.”
“How?”
“They’re full of life, they sparkle. It’s clear you love the ocean,” he said.
“I do.”
“And I think it love
s you.”
“Why do you say that?” She looked around at the glittering, endless stretch of water.
“The dolphins adored you. Temptress clearly does, too. She goes wrong, you’re the one who understands her. And the stars…Lucas said they shone all the brighter for you last night. Just for you.”
“He said that?” It was one of the most romantic things she’d ever heard. Too bad he hadn’t said it to her face.
Mason put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. “Go gentle with him.”
“What do you mean?”
“He doesn’t put his trust in many people but it’s clear he has you. And when Lucas trusts, it’s like steel, very hard to break but if it is snapped, then it’s unfixable.”
“I have no intention of breaking anyone’s trust, the same way as I hope you all remain trustworthy for me.”
“We will. Of course we will.” He looked up at the line on the port side. “Another catch!”
Quickly he dashed off, and within seconds was hauling out a large fish with scales the color of a rainbow.
“Hey, Captain, look,” he called.
Harry was at the stern. “Excellent. I think we’ll call it a day. We have plenty of fish to be going on with.”
They ate as the sun set and the sky was streaked with reds and purples, orange and gold. Raul had created a delicious meal of salad, rice and crispy fish with a Thai coating.
“This is amazing,” Olivia said, stabbing at her dinner. “Thank you so much.”
“I am glad you like.” Raul grinned at her.
“Yep, you sure can cook, mate.” Evan nodded as he shoved fish and rice into his mouth. He ate like a man who needed constant refueling. And she guessed he did. He’d spent some of the afternoon on a water-ski being pulled behind the boat. He’d whooped and laughed, the sun shining off his golden skin and his hair whipping wildly around his head.
He’d been at one with the waves and nature and it was clearly good for his soul. Skilled and brave, Olivia had to admire him; water-skiing wasn’t something she could do.
“I go get the rum,” Raul said, standing and picking up a few empty serving bowls.
“No.” Harry shook his head. “Not tonight, Raul. You’re on first night shift.”
“What…but I?” He nodded at the food.