“Then I’ve been lying to my staff for years then.” I chuckle, “Thanks, Dad.”
“Does that answer all your questions?”
“It does, thanks, Gabby.”
“We miss ya. We haven’t seen you in a while. I know Mom is keeping busy doing charity work under Dad’s name, but she’d love to hear from ya too. Call her.”
“I know. I miss you both too. I’ll be done in about three weeks, then by the time I go back out, you’ll both be ready to get rid of me again after seeing me so much.”
“I look forward to it.”
“Okay, I better get going; this boat isn’t going to sail itself. Plus, I think I will give Mom a quick call.”
“Yeah, yeah, my brother, the big CEO Captain.”
I smile at her comment. “One of us has to be.”
“Before we hang up, are you going to admit that it’s you we are talking about?”
“Goodbye.”
I hang up quickly and dial my mom’s number as fast as I can. I know Gabby; she’ll try to tell my mom all about it before I talk to her, so Mom can start drilling me on it too. They both can read me like a book, so if I had stayed on the phone with my sister too long, she would have had me spilling my guts. She would have known every detail, including her name and what has gone on between us as of now. She’s that good.
Though when the time is right and I know what this is that is going on between us, I’ll call her back. She and Mom will be the first to know if I do care for someone for more than a few good nights. But I don’t want to give them false hope, so until I know for sure, nothing will be said. For now, this is a desire I can’t have, one that might kill me in the end. I’ve never not gotten what I’ve craved, so this is new for me.
I call Mom and talk to her for just a short time as well. They both know I can’t sit and talk on the phone long, but I don’t want them worrying about me out here on the open seas either. I give her the lowdown on the guests we’ve had on already and who we are picking up next. It’s something my dad always did too, so I know she enjoys hearing it. We’re only on for about fifteen to twenty minutes before we say our goodbyes.
* * *
“Let’s get ready to tie off, guys. I need one of you giving me the distance to the dock and one giving me the same on the other side, as we are squeezing this big boy in a tight space. Are we all ready, gentlemen?” I ask over the walkie-talkie to the deck crew.
“You got me on starboard, Captain,” Rob says.
“I’m on the port quarter, Captain,” Eric replies.
“I’m on the stern,” Derek states.
“I’m with Derek for tie off,” Scott follows last.
“Thanks for the call out, guys.”
I start backing into a space that might be a little too tight for my liking; though we’ll fit, I need all eyes on deck and paying attention to everything. As I kill the engines, I’m impressed by the way we worked together as a team. It went as smoothly as I’d hoped.
“Great job team, that’s what I call working together,” I announce to them over the walkie-talkie.
Now that we are settled into our spot for the next several hours, I’m ready to relax myself. I know the crew has some time off and it means I do too. I look forward to it. But before everyone departs for a little bit, there are things that need to be handled.
“Marco, Marie, and Rob, please make your way to the flybridge for the preference meeting,” I announce on my handheld.
“On my way,” Rob says, the other two following right behind him.
I’m looking over the sheets as they all walk in. Gathering around one of the tables, we dive into who’s coming and what is going to happen during the charter.
“This charter is going to be a little different from any cruise we’ve ever done; hell, it’s not what I’m used to either. It’s a one-night cruise, a dinner cruise to be exact. Dr. Simon Hogue came to me a couple of months ago to see if I’d do a special favor for him. I’ve known him for a while, and he was hoping I’d help him out by hosting a dinner party for a doctor who was leaving. Dr. Ethan Stewart is the guest of honor. There will be a total of about twenty-five guests, mostly all doctors or nurses and their spouses. I’ll need the entire crew on staff that night for serving. We’ll head out to sail down the coast for a couple hours before turning around and tying off again until morning.
“Great, a bunch of stuffy doctors, this should be fun,” Marie grumbles, as she flips through the papers of each one of them.
“They aren’t, that’s the nice part about them. I’ve met most of them at different functions for the hospital and for the most part, they are all down-to-earth, good guys.”
Knowing Dr. Simon Hogue, and several of the others, through the charities my family supports since my father’s passing, made the decision to do this easy. My mom sits on a couple different boards there now and we are at almost all events the hospital holds. Their Chocolate Ball is huge in the spring; it is in honor of my father. The minute my father could afford it, he used to send over baskets of chocolate goodies once a month to the children’s cancer ward. The nurses would know who could or couldn’t have the special treats, so they’d dispense them. He just wanted them to feel special through all the treatments, pokes from needles, and days of lying in bed, then once he got sick himself, it took on a whole new meaning. He then knew exactly what it felt like and what they were all going through. Dad told us on several occasions, “If I can put a smile on one little face then it was all worth it.” The baskets were filled with anything chocolate, from plain chocolate bars to Rice Krispie bars mixed with chocolate chips, but he’d sneak in some gummies or something extra for the kids who didn’t really like the yummy goodness he loved.
“So, what should I plan for the meal? It says it’s my call. I’m already thinking a several course meal,” Marco inquires, as he looks over the preference sheet, making sure no one has any allergies he needs to be concerned with.
“It looks like they want a great night out with friends,” Rob states.
“And I want to give them just that. I’ve had firsthand experience dealing with doctors; seeing what they go through all day long must be exhausting, so let’s give them the experience of a lifetime. Let’s show them what they’d experience if they ever decide to rent the boat for themselves.”
“This could be a moving advertisement for SS Yachts,” Marie says.
“For sure,” Rob responds to her, while I nod my head in agreement; it’s an idea I already had thought of.
“Marco, what are your thoughts on it; can you handle it?”
“I’ll be ready, Captain. I’ve done several parties bigger than this, so no worries.” He talks with such confidence, that it makes any concerns I may have had leave my mind.
“All right then, provisions will be here tomorrow at noon, guests arrive at six, and the boat looks great, so the rest of tonight is yours and your crews to enjoy. With that being said, I want everyone being responsible tonight. Tomorrow we start bright and early at nine; I want the entire boat gone through top to bottom one more time, before our provisions get here. Even though we won’t be using the bedrooms, I want them looking as if we would be; you never know when someone would want to see them. Plus, we will need to set up for a dinner party, it’s something we aren't used to. Along with food provisions, we have additional tables and chairs coming. We’ll figure out the best way to set them up, so we look like we’ve done this before,” I chuckle slightly, and the others join me. Continuing on I say, “I’ve made reservations at a nice restaurant not too far from here for you all. 22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille will give you all a chance to sit back and have someone wait on you for a change. The tab has already been covered, so please let everyone order whatever they want. But remind your staff what I expect. I don’t want to see anyone hammered when they come back.”
“Why don’t you join us tonight, Captain?” Marie asks.
“You don’t want me going and hanging out with you guys tonight; i
t’s your time.”
“Come, Cap, get off the boat for five minutes and join us,” Rob agrees.
“I’ll think about it. But for now, go let the crew know what the plan is.”
We all disperse to our jobs. I don’t foresee any problems as we go into tomorrow night; everyone has been on their game during the cruises we’ve already done. Now to stay away from the beautiful little distraction on the boat so I can concentrate on my job. The pictures of her in my mind have clouded my thoughts and I know what I must do.
* * *
I gave in and went to dinner with everyone after the crew harassed me for over an hour about going with them. We’ve just walked into the restaurant, it’s nice. I asked for a table outside as it’s a gorgeous night out, the good mix of breeze and heat, and with the sun setting to our right, we’ll have a picture-perfect view too.
Since I had to watch her dance around, arm and arm, with Brittany all the way here as she walked in front of me, I need to be away from her. My dick is ready to stand at attention; it wants her attention to be exact.
I watch as everyone takes their seats and of course the only one left is next to her at the far-right side of the table. Great, now we’ll be forced to talk to each other and watch the sunset together. Yep, I’m screwed.
Chapter Eight
Maci
Damn it, I’m screwed…I have to sit next to him. I tried to avoid him all the way here; he’s been kind of a jerk since our last close encounter. He’s been dodging me every chance he gets so he doesn’t have to talk to or see me. It’s fine, really but I didn’t do anything, it was his hands on me in his room. I mean I’m not complaining, but I didn’t ask for it or throw myself at him. My skin felt cold the minute his fingers pulled away from my hips; I miss that feeling of heat, it was something that has never happened to me before.
I’m going to ignore him…that’s what I’ll do.
“Brittany, what are you having?”
“The same thing I always have…chicken. I figure they can’t screw that up.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised what chefs can do if they don’t know what they are doing,” Marco says from across the table. He then looks over at me. “What’s your pleasure, Miss Maci?” he winks and says in his Italian accent.
I tease back, looking at the menu and not at him, not wanting to give him the wrong intention. I am just trying to be funny.
“We’re talking about food, right?” I giggle.
“Oh, girl, you’re bad. But I love it.” Brittany joins my smile and bumps her arm with mine.
I hear a grumble next to me; it’s low enough that only I catch it.
We both order; for me, the chicken alfredo and for him, the New York strip steak. And once everyone is distracted with the waitress, I lean in a little closer to him. “What was that, Captain?”
“Nothing,” again he grumbles, but this time it is directly at me.
“You know what, forget I asked.” I look away from him.
If he wants to be an ass, he can do it to someone else. I just won’t talk to him. I’ll enjoy my wine and talk to my coworkers and not him. Fuck him…what an asshole.
I joked and talked to everyone throughout the entire meal. He talked to Rob and Marie, who were across from him and I was fine with that. I kept the back of my head pointed in his direction, only giving him a side profile when I would answer a question that came from across the table. There take that.
It is time to get up and I don’t quite realize how much I’ve had to drink over the last two hours. I guess I figured the food I ate would soak it up. Clearly, I drank more wine than I ate food, as I stand up and wobble a bit toward him.
Before I can get my footing, I shift toward him and his hands are on me faster than I can grab the edge of the table. Damn it, damn it, damn it…I heat up just like last time. The alcohol isn’t helping. I am loving it; in fact, I want more of it. I might have let a little low moan slip from my throat.
Thank goodness everyone else is chatting with each other and not paying any attention to me or our captain.
His fingers are digging into my hips as my hands reach back, gripping his forearms. My eyes may have closed to relish in the touch. I can’t really think straight due to my brain swimming right now in my head. I want him, I know this, but I can’t have him. I don’t remember the last time this has ever happened to me.
“I think you drank too much, Maci.”
“No shit, Sherlock. You should be a detective.” Yeah, I said it, I’m pissed.
“And you should be spanked for that mouth of yours.”
“Promises, promises.” It comes out exactly like I want it to, very sarcastically.
I am both turned on and more pissed at him. He can’t talk to me like that, nope he can’t, especially if he isn’t going to act on his words. What am I even thinking? I’ve never been spanked in my life, but suddenly I want him to do it. Who knows if I’ll even like it, but I am willing to find out with him. I smile a little just thinking about it.
“Maci.” My name comes out very stern and his fingers dig in a little more.
Since I can’t see his face, as my back was still to his front, I can only imagine he is straight-faced with his jaw clenched tightly. I figure I can push him a little more; what could it hurt…right?
“Captain,” I return his deep low voice. My giggle after probably pissed him off but I don’t really care. It was funny.
“You’re pushing your luck.”
“Oh, am I getting lucky? I didn’t think you wanted to do that, Captain.” Then I may have shoved him with my ass, as I bend over to get my purse. Haha, that’ll get him. Instead it gets me…right in the ass…his hardness. Damn it, damn it, damn it…it only makes my want surface higher.
Once I stand straight up again, I figure he’ll still continue our little banter back and forth, but instead he says something I don’t see coming.
“Brittany…”
Brittany…what…the…fuck.
“Yeah, Captain,” she says, as she turns back toward us.
“Can you please help your friend, she seems to have drank a bit too much tonight? Can you see that she makes it back to the boat safely?”
“Girl, are you hammered?”
“No, the captain is a stuffy ass. And his boat is ugly so maybe I don’t want to go back to that boat. Maybe I’ll find another boat.” It is all his fault, if he had just sat somewhere else.
“Oh, you must be. You just called the captain an ass and said that million-dollar yacht is ugly.” She’s giggling at me as she links her arm with mine.
I snatch up my purse from the chair I set it in, and I push away from him and the table.
“Well, he is, and it is. God, do you not see all the gold on it? It’s tacky. But whatever, if he wants to have an ugly boat, it’s his problem, let’s go,” I say while giving him a snotty look.
“Let’s go get you in bed, you can sleep it off.”
“I thought we were going back to get in the hot tub,” I say as I also pout.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” comes from behind me.
“Mind your own business, Captain, who cares what you think?” I respond back.
“Okay, girl, let’s get out of here.”
“Thanks, Brittany,” comes out of his mouth.
“Oh, yes thank you, Brittany,” I mock his words.
She pulls me away before I can continue having any more of a conversation with him. We are walking arm in arm as we make our way from the restaurant, and I’m ready for this night to be over with.
As we make our way down the hallway to our room, I make sure Brittany knows I appreciate her.
“Thanks for helping me get away from him and back here.”
“Girl, I love you like this, but the captain looks like he’s going to strangle you, when you’re sober that is.”
“It’s his fault I had to drink wine. If he would have just sat somewhere else, I wouldn’t have had to have so much.”
; “I know he’s so hot and our boss…it sucks you can’t jump his bones, huh?” She smiles at me as she opens our door.
“It is what it is.”
And that’s the last thing I say before my head hits the pillow.
* * *
My head is pounding, fuck, what the hell did I do last night? I barely remember anything after my plate was set in front of me. Bits and pieces of my conversation with the captain are rumbling around in my brain but not in its entirety. From what I remember, I think it’s best if I stay a far distance from him.
I need coffee and Tylenol; they are all I want right now. I’m up two hours before we are supposed to be ready for work, so I need to get my act together before then.
Walking out of my cabin, I look one way; all is quiet. It seems I’m up before all the others. I turn to go toward the crew kitchen and I walk straight into the man I need to avoid. Fuck…his body is hard. Yep, without even thinking, my hands rake down his chest to his abs before I pull them back, remembering what I’m doing and to whom. Damn it, he constantly has my mind scrambling.
“Maci, I was about to make coffee but since you're up…”
Without even looking up at him, I cut him off before he can finish his sentence, “I was headed to make some.” I try to walk by him, but his body doesn’t move. “Excuse me.”
His hand comes forward, and with one finger he lifts my chin. “When it’s done, please join me at the flybridge. I think we need to discuss last night.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“We’re back to Sir, I see.”
I’m sure my face is red because I can feel it heat up. Shit!
“No, Captain. Sorry, yes, I’ll bring it up as soon as it’s done.” Okay, now can you leave me alone and get away from me before I start sweating more than I already am…is what I really want to finish my sentence with.
“Thank you.” His finger is still touching me, our eyes are locked together. I can’t look anywhere else even though I need to.
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