Wyatt recognized the shock on her face. “Hard to admit the truth?”
Roselyn stared at the ceiling. “I dunno. I don’t do love.”
“You should let that rule go. Open your mind… and heart. You never know what is waiting for you in the end.”
☆¸.•*¨*★☆ * ☆★*¨*•.¸☆
“Hi, Wyatt.” Sal waved as he stepped onto the deck of the Spitfire. “Ros didn’t tell me what I’d be doing today.”
Wyatt set a bucket down near the rail and grabbed another from the stack. “Hey there, Salvatore.”
“Call me Sal. Only Roselyn and Devin insist on using my full name… oh, and my mom.”
“Either is good with me. So, Sal… guess you can start with filling the buckets with bait.”
Sal sighed. “Back to being bait boy. Damn.”
“No, that’s only a small part of the job.” Wyatt extended his right arm. “You’ll oversee this entire deck. While underway, you’ll keep an eye on the guests. Then when fishing begins, some will need help baiting their hook or instructions for casting their line. Basic stuff. You and I can trade off if you get tired of it.”
“I can handle all that.”
Roselyn walked down to the deck when she heard voices. “Wyatt?”
“I’m right here.” Wyatt scooped sardines and tossed them into an empty bucket. “Sal is up to speed and working hard already.”
A grin on her face, she approached Sal. “Thanks for saving me today.”
He pulled her in for a hug, then stepped back. “I probably stink.”
“Like I abhor the smell of fish.” She chuckled.
Wyatt laid a hand on both their backs. “It’s a match made in heaven.”
“Funny.” Roselyn shrugged him off. “Nothing’s perfect.”
“Nope and that’s the fun of it.” Sal slid closer to her and planted a kiss on her lips. “Every day is a new adventure with us.”
She held his gaze, affected by his words more than she would admit. Hands on her waist urged her toward him, and she obeyed. “What is this between us?”
“I think it’s… love.” He tensed, expecting a bad reaction.
Her heartrate increased as she mulled over the possibility. Can these confusing feelings really be love?
“Don’t think too hard about it,” Sal whispered. “Let it flow naturally. If you fall in love with me, great. You can’t force feelings.”
She looked up. “You love me?”
“I’m not sure, but it’s more than like… more than lust… It’s something else.”
Someone cleared their throat, reminding Roselyn where they were. She stepped back. “Morning, Byron.”
“Good morning, Captain.” Bryon Mills served as the boat steward. “I’m sorry to interrupt.”
Roselyn waved a hand in the air. “It’s fine. We have work to do anyway.” She gasped when she noticed a group coming down the dock. “Wow, we lost track of time.”
“It’s OK.” Sal squeezed her shoulder. “You got this.”
“Thanks.”
Since Sal had more to get done, he kissed her cheek and backed away. While he followed Wyatt’s instructions, he watched Roselyn. She went on like things hadn’t escalated between them. It showed her strength and professionalism.
“Welcome aboard, ladies!” Roselyn smiled at the group of domestic violence survivors. “I’m Captain Roselyn Jensen, and this is Chief Officer Wyatt Thomas. We’ll be in the wheelhouse most of the trip.” She held out a hand to the man next to her. “Byron is your Cruise Director, so to speak. He will announce the sights and be available for your basic needs inside the cabin. Over here is Salvatore, who will be on deck for help with fishing poles, bait or anything else you may need when outside. Second Officer Christie Hanson will also be here to coordinate with your director.”
Byron lifted a finger. “Any questions?”
A young woman stepped forward. “I’ve never gone fishing before. How do we get the fish on the hook?”
“Good question.” Bryon pointed at Sal. “I’m going to let Salvatore take that one.”
Sal chuckled softly. He grabbed a prepared pole and a sardine. “It’s easy, but you have to be careful not to stick your finger.” He held the hook and fish in each hand. “You just stick the hook right through their eyes.”
A chorus of “Ew!” echoed around him.
He tried not to laugh again. “Don’t worry. If you’re squeamish, I’ll do it for you.”
“Perfect, thank you.” Roselyn whispered in his ear. “Just remember some of these women are skittish.”
His lips brushed her cheek. “I understand. If there’s an issue, I’ll tell you.”
“Great.” She turned back to the group. “Wyatt, Salvatore and I have been fishing since we were kids. So, between us, we can answer any fishing questions. If you don’t want to fish, just enjoy the interior. We want you to have a good time.” She waved. “I need to go upstairs now, so we can get underway.”
Sal followed her. When they entered the wheelhouse, he took her hand in his. “Is there anything I should avoid when dealing with the women downstairs?”
“Thought you were ready for them.” She sensed anxiety.
He shrugged. “When a few of them shrank back from me, I panicked. It’s probably my height.”
“All you have to do is smile, and they’ll see you’re not a threat. If they don’t soften up to you, I’ll go down and you can help Wyatt.”
“I’ll figure it out. Thanks.”
She patted his cheek. “I believe in you.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Ros? Hello!” Noah snapped his fingers in front of his sister’s face the last day of February. “Are you OK?”
She jumped when she found him inches away. “Whoa, dude!”
“You zoned out.” He checked her forehead. “You don’t have a fever. Are you sick?”
“No.” She pulled back. “I’m just tired. Having a hard time sleeping lately.”
“That’s not good. You should see a doctor.”
She shook her head. “I’m not sick. It’s… Never mind. I missed you. It’s been a month and a half.”
“You can visit too.” He inspected her collection of ship models across the room.
“I have a business to run here, Noah.”
“And you have employees who can handle said business without you.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s not the same as being there. Anyway, I also have a life here.”
“A social life? You?” He couldn’t imagine it. “Sure you do.”
Roselyn smiled when Sal came to mind. He’d given her a reason to do something other than spend every free moment on her boat. Although, they’d spent time on the Spitfire as well. That’s a social life, isn’t it?
“You’re doing it again.” Noah dropped into the spot on the couch next to his sister and bumped her. “I didn’t drive all the way here to watch you daydream. What’s with you?”
She leaned her head on his arm. “Not sure I should explain. You might flip out.”
“Me?” He slid his arm around her back and tugged her close. “I’m the quiet one.”
“That’s always the troublemaker.”
“Funny. Get serious. We used to talk about everything when you lived at home.”
She nodded. “I know.” They were closest in age, so they had a special bond. “It’s about a guy.”
“Oh no.” He shut his eyes and tried to stay calm. “First things first… is he hurting you?”
“No. Noah, it’s not like that at all.”
He glared at the ceiling. “What did the asshole do then?”
“If you’re going to be like this, forget it.” She rose to her feet and headed for her bedroom.
He sighed and followed her. “I’m sorry. I worry. You’re so far away, and you don’t tell me much.”
After a glare aimed at him, she returned to the living room and sat down. “That’s because I’m a grownup now.”
“Y
ou are.” He took a seat next to her and scrubbed his face. “Are you happy down here?”
She grinned and turned to him. “I am. Lately, even more so.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
“Promise you won’t make assumptions or get mad?”
“Oh, man. This is big.” He laid a hand over his heart. “Promise.”
She took a deep breath and met his concerned gaze. “I’m dating a stripper.” Why’d I say that? A confused look came over Noah’s face, but he stayed silent. “It’s not what you think… exactly.”
“How do you know what I’m thinking?”
“You immediately went to sex.”
His cheeks heated. “Of course I did. You don’t do normal relationships.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“So that changed, huh?”
“Yeah, and it’s confusing.”
He threw his arm over her shoulders again. “Dating isn’t always easy. People can be asses and not keep promises.”
“He’s nothing like that. He treats me like a queen-”
“Wait! It’s a guy? Thought you meant a woman.” He chuckled. “I was imagining you in a love triangle… but without the love part.”
“You said you weren’t going to assume anything.”
“I’ll try to refrain from using my imagination. Glad he’s good to you. What’s the problem?”
“I have feelings for him… unfamiliar feelings. How can you tell you’re in love?”
“Love?” Noah jumped. “My baby sister’s in love?”
“Calm down. I’m not sure. He makes me happy. We’re very compatible. His family likes me-”
“Whoa! You met his family before you even told us about him? Who is this guy?”
Realization came over her, and her face fell. Oh, damn! They know each other. “Um… he’s a crabber on-”
“Didn’t you say he was a stripper?”
“Will you stop interrupting me! Otherwise I’m not telling you anything.” She scowled, then breathed deep. “I met him on Devin’s boat.”
“Hold up! Some guy put the moves on you after Devin promised you’d be safe there?”
“Dude! You need to calm down before I leave.”
Noah jumped to his feet and paced. “Do I know this guy?”
“Um… I’m not sure. Do you know Devin’s guys well?”
“Yeah. Felix is cool.” He saw no reaction. “Gus is a pisser.” Still nothing. “Junior is a ladies’ man.” Her face stayed neutral. “So, none of them.” He tapped his chin. “Doesn’t Sal Russo work on that boat? We hung out some when we were kids. He’s a bit of a dick now, but I think that’s a front because he’s the low man-” He froze when he realized she wore a smile. “Damn, it’s him? You can do so much better.”
Roselyn stood and pressed her fists to her hips. “I bet you don’t really know him.”
“Guess not, but that guy gets real cocky.”
“After I put him in his place a few times, he was all pussycat.” She winked.
Noah’s face screwed up. “Ugh! Do not give me that image!”
“What image?”
“You and him… Ew!”
She burst into laughter. “You’re so easy! But seriously, I meant on the deck. Showed him up, then taught him a few things. He and I were friends at the end. When I got home, Ciara dragged me to a male strip club, and we met again.”
“Tell me it wasn’t a full nude one.”
With an image of a naked Sal in her mind, she bit her bottom lip. “Yep and he was in all his glory. Mmm-mmm.”
“Yuck, don’t do this to me!”
After a short giggle, she continued, “Then he shows up on my boat.”
“He stalked you?” Noah leaned on a wall and banged his head into it. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because that’s not how it happened. His friend invited him on a fishing trip… on my boat. He said fate keeps bringing us together, so we should embrace it. Or something like that.”
Noah let it all sink in. “OK, so back to the confusion you’re having. I can see why this is hard to sort out. After that motherfucker… I won’t say his name… Does Sal know?”
“Yes.” She stared at her hands for a moment. “I saw the fury in his eyes when I told him the whole story, but he stayed calm and didn’t let me withdraw into myself. He reminded me how far I’ve come. No one has ever done that for me.”
“I have.” He scowled. “Name a time I wasn’t there for you.”
“There aren’t any. I meant someone not related to me. You should know how often I let anyone in. He didn’t have to try hard for me to open up. It felt natural. Maybe he’s right about the fate thing. We seem to complement each other. Is it possible to fall in love in two months? This is not a chick flick, it’s real life.”
Noah shrugged. “Why not? Love doesn’t have a timeline. Remember Eve?”
“Ugh, that woman!”
“Forget that she cheated on me. I mean how much I loved her. It happened so fast I didn’t know what hit me. If I had a job close to home, we might still be together. But that’s not the point. I knew it was love after like a week.”
“How can it be love when she wasn’t faithful?”
“She didn’t fall out of love with me. Learning to control your impulses isn’t easy.” He cocked an eyebrow. “If this gets serious you can’t pick up men in bars anymore.”
“I don’t do that.” She fought the threatening blush.
He chuckled. “Sure. How about that Kale guy? You two disappeared for a while before you came back with a just fucked grin.”
Roselyn’s cheeks heated further. “You knew?”
“I always know.” He winked. “Just keep it to myself unless I get a weird sense from the guy. Now back to you and Sal. Has he said those three words already?”
“Sort of.
“What did he say?”
“He thinks he feels love for me… something like that.”
Noah nodded. “OK, he’s probably as unsure as you are. Sounds like you guys are pretty honest with each other. Most guys wouldn’t admit it before they were sure.”
“I don’t—guess I keep my feelings to myself. I need to tell him, so we’re on the same page, huh?”
“Yep. That’s the way it should be. Have we solved your problem?” Noah sensed her confusion. “Guess not. Invite him over, and the three of us can figure this out.”
Her jaw dropped. When she could speak, she replied, “I don’t want him to know I’m doubting myself.”
“If you’re as connected as it seems, I bet he is too.”
Roselyn’s mind spun again. “Um… Is there a foolproof way to know you’re in love? I mean it could be something else. Salvatore’s hot and good in bed.” When Noah cringed, she smirked. “So easy.”
“Behave. This is supposed to be a serious conversation.”
She sighed. “Sorry, but this terrifies me. I don’t even know why. He’s nothing like that asshole. If this is real, it’s not infatuation or obsession.”
“I know you pretty well. You don’t get your panties twisted for just anyone. If it wasn’t real, you would’ve dropped him already.” He stared at her until she nodded. “One question. Can you imagine him in your future?”
Her face lit up. “Yes. He’d fit in with our family as much as I do with his. We have some of the same dreams and goals.”
“That means a lot.” He thought for a moment. “What happens when you see him?”
She smiled. “He kisses me.”
“No. I mean what do you feel?”
“Oh, um… It’s a cross between elation and relief.”
Noah took a deep breath and grabbed her free hand. “Sounds like love to me. Talk to him about it. If you decide he’s the one for you, you’ll have to tell Dad. Can’t hide him forever.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Hours after Noah left on Monday, Roselyn opened her front door to find Sal walking up the driveway. “I heard your truck pull up.” Excitement filled
her when he smiled.
He jogged to her. “You were listening for me, huh? I’m flattered.”
“I missed you.” She threw her arms around his neck and nuzzled his skin.
As he held her, he laid his head on hers. “I’m happy to see you too.”
She gripped his hoodie while emotions ran through her. The multiple conversations with Noah had helped her sort her feelings some. However, she hadn’t seen Sal all that time.
“Is everything OK?” He squeezed her side.
“Yeah. Why?”
“You’re upset or nervous. Did I do something wrong?”
She looked up to find concern written all over his face. “No, it’s me. My brother was in town this weekend… Noah.”
“And you told him about us. Did he freak out? I didn’t get any angry voicemails.”
“He tried to, but I nipped that in the bud.”
“OK, then what’s wrong?”
Her mind flashed to her brother’s visit. “Nothing. Just thinking about something he said.” Although sure she needed to explain further, she uttered, “Thought this was a date.”
“Why do you say that?”
“You haven’t kissed me yet.”
“Oh, wow. Am I slacking.”
His fingers wove through her hair and cradled the back of her head. His other hand moved to her cheek. Without another word, he gave her several soft kisses. A tilt of his head coupled with pinning her to the doorway.
Her fingers tightened on his waist. She let a gasp escape when his tongue lashed hers. A shudder shot through her, and she whimpered into his mouth. Her entire body hummed with need. While their tongues tangled in an erotic dance, she rubbed her belly over his swelling cock. A groan from him urged her on.
“Please don’t,” Sal mumbled. “It’s been a long, lonely weekend.”
She eased the pressure and ran her hands up his back. “I’m sorry. I always want you.”
“Want you too… so bad.” He stood straight and hugged her head to his chest. “We have plenty of time for messing around. Dinner and conversation is all I expected tonight.”
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