Worthwhile

by Lynne Silver

  She pulled her phone out of her pocket. “Damn.”

  “What’s wrong?” Drew asked.

  “Battery died. I fell asleep before charging it last night.”

  “Go charge it.” He pointed to the small table next to the sofa. “There’s a charger over there.”

  She hurried over and plugged in her phone. After a minute, it powered back on, and immediately lit up with missed messages and texts. She cursed in Spanish.

  Drew came over to sit next to her.

  She gave him the side eye. He did realize he was mostly naked, right? Likely he was enjoying making her uncomfortable.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “My parents called a few times. They must be frantic by now. If I don’t call them back this second, the police are going to be knocking down your door.” She got busy calling them back.

  Drew shook his head and muttered, “How old are you again?”

  She gave him the international hand gesture to shut up, then held her breath as her father answered the phone.

  “Olivia. Where have you been? Your mother is so worried.”

  Her mom wasn’t the worried one, but her macho father would never admit to being concerned.

  “Sorry, Papi. We slept in today, and then my phone died, so I didn’t see you’d called. Is everything all right there?” She learned that strategy a while back to turn the tables and get them talking about themselves.

  She half listened while he told her about a neighbor who’d come for dinner and about a celebrity whose car Gabriel was customizing. Next to her, Drew was stretching, the muscles in his abdomen rippling.

  He caught her stare, gave her sly smile, and stretched even more, almost posing for her to ogle.

  She lightly slapped at his chest, and then her sense of humor caught up and she was trying not to giggle as she listened to her dad.

  Encouraged, he rose, walked around the coffee table and started posing like a body builder. She tried to hold in her laughter and had to turn away from him and say, “Papi, I’ll be home tonight. We’ll talk more then. I have to go back to work now.”

  The second her father hung up. She let loose her laughter. “You’re terrible.”

  Drew grinned at her. “You think I’m hilarious. Now give me an answer.”

  She sobered. “An answer to what?”

  “Are you in?”

  “For what?”

  He looked annoyed as if she should be able to read his mind.

  “I’m coming up with a specially designed tour of Miami. I want you to break free and have fun.”

  “I’m plenty fun.”

  “You agreed last night.”

  “What are you planning?” she asked suspiciously. “I refuse to go to an orgy or triple x movie.”

  He laughed. “What a dirty mind you have. How about spending Saturday on my boat? Me, you, a couple of other friends and some beer and fishing.”

  That actually sounded like fun. “This Saturday?”

  He nodded.

  “All right. I’m in. Can Amy and Danny come?” she asked, suddenly realizing that she wanted allies on board.

  “Probably not. They won’t bring the baby on the boat. She’s too young. Plus I’m not really friends with them. More acquaintances. They’d think it was weird if I called them out of the blue and invited them on the boat.”

  “Oh.”

  “I can invite Cat and Ian. You know them, right?”

  “All right.”

  He yawned, stretched. “Going to get dressed now, unless you need anything else from me.” He did another suggestive pose.

  She groaned and shook her head. He was impossible, and she liked him way more than she should.

  Olivia pulled up to the marina following Drew’s well-laid-out directions. Parking in the lot, she grabbed a beach bag out of the car trunk, stuffed with bottles of water, two towels, a tiny first-aid kit, and cookies she’d baked last night.

  Drew had said to meet on the boat, so she’d memorized the slip number and carefully read the signs to figure out where to go. There must’ve been a hundred boats here. Some looked obviously more luxurious, and some more utilitarian, but she wasn’t sure what kind of boat Drew had.

  “Olivia,” she heard a male voice call out, and she spun around to spy Drew waving at her from a white boat. It was bigger than she expected with two fishing poles stuck in holes off the back. The front of the boat had blue pads to make it comfortable for lying in the sun.

  She waved back and hurried over to him. He hopped from the boat to the dock, and took her bag from her. “Thank you.” Brodie bounded over demanding her attention.

  “My pleasure. No problem finding me?”

  She smiled at him and shook her head, then bent to give Brodie a quick pat on the head. Drew held out his hand for her to grasp. She slid her hand into his, while they continued to stare at each other. “Sorry, but Cat and Ian couldn’t make it. Hope that’s all right?”

  Before she could answer, she heard a feminine British-accented voice call, “Drew.”

  He took his attention from her and gave it to the woman who’d called his name striding up the dock. Olivia released his hand and climbed onto the boat herself. She was starting to regret her decision to take Drew up on his invitation, especially when she got an eyeful of the other people joining them on the boat.

  The woman she’d thought to be British was actually Indian with tawny skin and long, thick silky dark hair. She was too tall and beautiful to be anything but a model. Of course. Drew had a thing for models, and they seemed to love him right back. The last time she’d spent time with Drew and his model date, it hadn’t gone well.

  She was tempted to leap off the boat, but Drew was already helping the woman on and the two other women who’d accompanied her. Another guy, who was shirtless and in board shorts, came hurrying up the dock. Drew jumped on board.

  “Let’s cast off,” he announced. “Ladies. Go find a seat out of the way.” He pointed to the front.

  Olivia gave him a look, which he missed. It was a look that cursed him for lumping her into his groupie category and assuming she’d happily fall in with the other women who were strangers. She remained where she was.

  “Olivia, I need you out of the way,” Drew said, brushing past her as he caught ropes tossed to him by his friend. Even Brodie knew how to follow orders and was seated quietly out of the way.

  “This was a mistake,” she said. “I’d…” She was about to say that she’d like to get off the boat, but at that moment, the other man hopped from the dock to the boat and Drew took the wheel and they were off. She’d have to swim for shore.

  “Don’t be a coward, Olivia,” Drew said. “Go introduce yourself to everyone. I promise they don’t bite.”

  “Fine,” she muttered and inched her way to the front of the boat, realizing that at some point in the past few years, she’d become anti-social. The majority of her social circle was with family and the extended Colombian community. Back in high school she used to relish making new friends. When had she begun looking upon new people as a chore? Drew was right: she needed to broaden her horizons.

  Putting on her game face, she walked up to the three unfamiliar women and smiled. “Hi, I’m Olivia.”

  The women had all already peeled off their clothing to reveal skimpy bikinis. Olivia had to be right about the Indian woman being a model because no one looked that way in real life, as if she’d been Photoshopped.To her surprise, the woman sat up and held out her hand with a friendly smile. “Hi, Olivia. I’m Radha. That’s Bibi and Rebecca.” The other two women also gave her friendly smiles.

  “How do you know Drew?” Radha asked as she sat back down and began squeezing sun screen into her hand, then rubbing it onto her long, perfect legs.

  “I’m his mother’s nurse,” she said, also sitting down, but choosing to remain in her tank top and cut-off jean shorts with her bathing suit underneath. She and Drew were not in a relationship, but she didn’t want him to see
her in a bikini next to this vision of perfection.

  Radha’s expression brightened at hearing Olivia was a nurse. “Really? A nurse? I’m applying to medical school.”

  Olivia felt marginally more comfortable. “Oh. I thought you were a model. I mean, you’re gorgeous enough to be.”

  Radha gave a light little laugh. “Oh, I am that too, but that’s to pay the bills for med school.”

  Olivia glanced back at the dock, judging the distance to see if she could dive and swim for it. No wonder Drew only toyed with her. He already had the holy grail of women. Radha was a smart model, and worst of all she seemed nice, too. Olivia kind of wanted to hit her, and then she remembered that she had no designs on Drew, and they were only sort of friends.

  “What do you think of him?” Radha asked, and the direction of her stare made it clear she was asking about Drew.

  She didn’t know how to answer. For all she knew Drew was dating Radha, and she didn’t want to insult him or sound like they had a closer relationship than they did. “I don’t know him all that well,” she finally said.

  “Yet he invited you on his boat,” Radha mused. “He’s been after me for months, and I finally decided to give him a chance.”

  “What was holding you back?” she asked, curious. “Is he not your type? Or is it a cultural thing?” She felt her cheeks heat and hastened to explain. “I’m Colombian and my parents would prefer I date a man who shares our religion, language, and culture.”

  Radha chuckled. “That’s a piece of it, but it’s more that he seemed frivolous, not much up here.” She tapped her temple, then shrugged. “But then I got to know him better, and I’m not looking for a long-term commitment right now. If I wanted more, I wouldn’t be here. Word is that Drew won’t give more.”

  “He’s never dated anyone for more than a week,” Bibi said.

  “A week?” Olivia repeated. A year ago Amy had told her the same thing, that Drew was never spotted with the same women twice, but she’d somehow disregarded the statement. Hearing it repeated from these women reinforced the idea. “How strange.”

  Radha said, “What’s strange about it? He’s a good-looking guy who owns a nightclub. Women make it way too easy for him.”

  “I meant what was strange was that in every other part of his life, he’s very loyal and has long-term relationships. Guess that doesn’t extend to women.”

  “Nope,” Radha said, stretching out on the mat, looking as if she were camera-ready. “That’s why I’m making him work for it.”

  “Good for you,” Olivia said, earning a grin. She was not jealous of Radha. Drew was a free man, and she had no interest in him other than as her client’s son.

  Maybe if she kept telling herself that, she could make her heart believe it.

  Drew steered his way out of the marina and out into the bay. It was a gorgeous day to be on a boat, and a ton of other people were out today. It meant he had to pay attention to driving rather than enjoying the view in front of him.

  Carlos came up next to him. Los was one of the bartenders at OCXA and had grown up in Miami with a dad who commercial fished. They’d hit it off right away, and Drew rarely went out on the ocean without Los on board.

  “Nice view,” Los commented now as he settled into the chair next to the captain’s chair.

  Drew knew he was talking about the women in front of them and not the sparkle of sunrays hitting the almost turquoise water

  “She’s finally giving you a shot?” Los said.

  “Yeah. I really didn’t think she’d come today,” he said.

  “Because she had a photo shoot or because she’s too smart to get involved with your dumb white ass?”

  He blinked, realizing Carlos was talking about Radha, not Olivia who was chatting with the other women. She still was wearing her clothes, though he could see the lines of a bathing suit under her thin tank top.

  “Who’s the other chick?” Los asked, without waiting for Drew to answer.

  “Olivia. She’s my mother’s nurse.” He did not like the grin that spread over Carlos’s face.

  “A nurse, huh? Sweet. Does she wear the little white dress?”

  He gave him a punch in the upper arm. “Nurses now wear scrubs. We’re not shooting pornos at my apartment.”

  “She’s hot. I wouldn’t say no to her being my nurse. You think I’d have a shot?”

  Inwardly he scowled. On paper, Olivia and Carlos were kind of perfect. His family was from Nicaragua, and he was enrolled at FIU in their graduate hospitality program. Bartending paid his living expenses, but it wasn’t his career goal. And he was close with his family, going home every Sunday for family dinner.

  “She’s too old for you.”

  Carlos frowned. “How old is she?”

  Drew wanted to say thirty-five, but he admitted the truth. “I think she’s twenty-seven.”

  “I’m twenty-five, asshole. She’s almost exactly my age.”

  “Yeah, but women are more mature, so in guy years, she’s at least ten years more mature than you.”

  “Eff you. I’m going to introduce myself. You got the wheel?”

  He gave a curt nod and watched as Carlos sidled around to the front of the boat and sat next to Olivia. He got her to smile within seconds and soon they were chatting as if they’d known each other forever. Fuck.

  “Hey. What’s got you frowning?”

  Drew looked up, caught off guard by Radha who’d left the bow without him noticing and came to stand next to him. “Nothing. Sun’s strong today. I’m squinting.”

  “You’re wearing sunglasses,” she pointed out.

  He tore his gaze away from Olivia and Carlos and forced himself to give her his flirtatious smile. “So I am. How are school applications going?” he asked. With most women, he would’ve complimented how they looked in a bikini, but Radha didn’t want to hear it. She knew she had a perfect bikini body. He’d score more points by showing he cared about her mind. Even if he was only mildly interested in her med school applications.

  “All right. My score on the MCAT was higher than expected, so I’ve expanded my list of where I’m applying.”

  “Oh?” He pretended to listen as she listed pros and cons of a variety of med schools, but all his focus was on watching Olivia chat with Carlos.

  “But I’m really thinking that clown school might serve me better in the long run,” Radha finished.

  “That sounds about right,” he said, absently.

  “Drew!” She laughed and gave him a light punch in the arm. “You weren’t even listening. I know you’re not a guy who does relationships, which is good because I’m not looking for long term right now, but you could at least pretend to listen to me when I speak.”

  “Sorry,” he muttered, tearing his gaze away from Olivia and giving it to Radha.

  She held his gaze for a minute, then raised her brows. She looked out to where everyone else was sitting and then a wide sly smile spread her lips. “Oh. I get it now.”

  “What do you get?” A coast guard boat passed by, sounding its horn. He pressed his once in response.

  “You like your mother’s nurse. Olivia.”

  “Do not.”

  She chuckled. “I kind of want to say, do too, but we’re not in nursery school. What’s the matter? Do you actually have a conscience when it comes to dating employees?”

  “She works for my mother, not me,” he said.

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  He took a deep breath and fully focused on Radha. “There’s no problem. I’m not into Olivia. I invited you on the boat today. He tugged her by the wrist until she was standing in front of him. “Want to learn to drive?”

  Immediately he was aware of her back pressed against his front. It did things to him. What sane man under the age of eighty wouldn’t feel something when pressed closely against a gorgeous woman’s body? But she didn’t feel right. Her shoulder was too high against his, their arms lined up too much, and it simply didn’t feel as good
as when Olivia had pressed against him while fixing the drain.

  He stepped back and took the co-captain’s seat.

  Radha shot him a questioning glance. “You trust me not to crash?”

  He shook his head. “We’re out in the open now. You’d have to actively steer toward another boat, and I’m right here to grab the wheel if necessary.”

  They stayed in comfortable silence, with him directing her every so often toward one of his favorite fishing and swimming spots.

  After a few minutes, Carlos came in, pulling Olivia behind him by the hand. “Yo, Drew. Where’s Olivia’s bag. She said she baked cookies.”

  Drew rose and pointed to the corner where he’d stowed her bag. He glared at their hands connected, and relaxed when she pulled her hand away from Los’s to reach into her big bag and pull out a Tupperware full of round cookies covered in powdered sugar.

  With his doggie sixth sense, Brodie immediately leaped up, aware food was out in the open.

  She opened the lid and held out the container. “They’re full of nuts, so I hope none of you has a nut allergy.”

  “Nope,” Carlos said, grabbing two.

  Radha turned from the wheel. “Any butter in them? I don’t eat dairy.”

  Olivia gave her an apologetic look. “Yes, sorry.”

  “It’s all right,” Radha said. “Butter-free cookies aren’t worth the calories.”

  Olivia held the box to him. “Cookie, Drew?”

  Irrationally he shook his head, even though he wanted to scoop up all the cookies and claim ownership. He wanted to reach down Carlos’s throat and pull the cookies back as his rightful property.

  He wanted Olivia to have made those cookies for him and him alone, and he didn’t want to share. Which meant, he stupidly took none. Stupid because Carlos finished chewing, then sank to his knees. In Spanish, he said, “Olivia, my love, baker of the greatest cookies in the world, marry me. Bear me children and bake those cookies every day for the rest of my life.”

  Drew glared, then schooled his expression, because he didn’t want to let on that he understood. Olivia didn’t know that he spoke fluent Spanish.