Chapter 7
ROWAN
T his was a terrible idea. Frightfully bad.
Dylan was ecstatic to leave the yacht and spend the day with Andrew, but I was second-guessing my decision.
Should I have sent that text? It was undoubtedly stupid and yet I didn’t want to refuse Andrew’s kind offer, so here I was at ten in the morning, waiting on the tender for them to join me.
A day with my best friend and my… new friend?
Assistant slash friend? Dear God, what have I done? I paced back and forth on the deck.
“Stop scowling and relax,” Dylan said to me as he stepped onto the tender.
“I’m not scowling, I’m thinking.”
“About?”
“This is most definitely a bad idea. Andrew meant well, but perhaps we’re intruding. And I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to befriend him. I should stay and work.”
Dylan pushed his straw cowboy hat back and placed his hands on his hips.
“He wouldn’t have asked if he didn’t want us to join him, so chill,” Dylan replied as he looked up at me. “You’re popping blood pressure pills like candy, so it’s time to take a day off. Work can wait. And there’s nothing wrong with hanging out with a friend.”
“He’s my assistant, not my friend.”
“Alright then, he’s my friend, and you’re allowed to tag along with us.”
“Cute.” I shook my head at Dylan and stepped into the tender to join him.
“Andrew’s a laid-back guy, and today’s going to be great. Your other guests are occupied, praise the lord Jesus. Plus, I’m here to chaperone. I won’t let anything naughty happen, so don’t worry.” Dylan winked, and I rolled my eyes.
“Funny. Maybe you could try stand-up comedy instead of acting.”
“Maybe you could try letting go of that stick in your ass,” Dylan countered.
“Dylan’s right. There are much better things you can stick up your ass.”
Andrew’s sudden, sarcastic retort startled me and caused me to pitch forward in the rocking tender.
A strong hand gripped my arm, saving me from face-planting on the sole of the boat.
Andrew to the rescue again. I ignored Dylan’s cackle and Andrew’s warm touch as I stood up and smoothed out my shirt.
Andrew was right, there were lots of things I could stick up my ass, and his cock was first on my wish list. Yes, that was one of the wishes I’d made last night.
I tried to picture the last time I had sex, with a business acquaintance named Leo Dunbar, but that had been six months ago and barely registered in my memory.
I pointed between my friends… oops, best friend and assistant. “You two should go on tour with your comedy routine: Dumb and Dumber.”
“Hey now, that’s unfair.” Dylan chuckled as he turned to Andrew. “I was thinking Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.”
“Cool, as long as I get to be Tina,” Andrew replied.
Dylan smirked. “I’m happy to be Amy.”
“Are you both done with this fascinating conversation? We’re wasting valuable time.” I sat down and motioned to Charlie, who was keeping a respectful distance, waiting as we got settled.
Andrew’s low chuckle made me finally turn my head to face him. Dressed in tight black shorts and a matching tank top, his wraparound sunglasses framing his face, Andrew looked casual, relaxed, and sexy as hell. This was going to be an excruciatingly long day.
“It’s a day off, so there’s no such thing as wasting time.
Today is all about forgetting our jobs and immersing ourselves in the moment,” Andrew replied as he sat down on the bench seat beside me and stretched out his long, tanned legs.
Legs that would look and feel amazing wrapped around my waist. Or over my shoulders. Fuuuuck...
“Thank you for the self-help pep talk,” I growled as I ignored the fluttery sensation in my chest. “Charlie, let’s go,” I yelled out.
The deckhand untied the tender, and Charlie started up the engine. Within a minute, we were cruising at a fast clip, the wind whipping through my hair. Being out on the open water was so liberating. I should do it more often and spend half my year on the yacht moving forward.
Andrew and Dylan chatted away while I took the opportunity to check my mobile one last time for any work emergencies.
Twenty minutes later, we reached Crown Bay, a tiny but bustling marina packed with sailboats, yachts, and boats of all shapes and sizes.
Tourists and locals alike walked along the pier and gathered at the nearby beach.
“I booked a car rental so we can take a scenic drive before we head to Corazon Beach Club,” Andrew said as we walked through the marina toward Charlotte Amalie, the capital city of the island.
“I’m glad we came back today,” Dylan replied. “We didn’t see much except the restaurant last night, and the island is even more stunning in the daylight.”
I couldn’t agree more. There was something about the rugged beauty of the island that called to me.
The rolling hills were covered in lush greenery, and the air was sweet with the smell of flowers and fruit as we walked by the local market.
Birdsong and the rhythmic sound of the lapping waves melted away some of my anxiety.
Maybe Andrew was right, I should relax and take in the moment.
Bloody hell, I sound like one of those dreaded infomercials people watch at two o’clock in the morning.
The rental company turned out to be a tiny pink shack in the middle of main street.
I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that they’d provided us with an open-air jeep.
It wasn’t pretty, but it was solid ride for navigating the more rural type of inroads on the island.
After much arguing, I insisted upon taking the wheel since they drove on the left-hand side here, like in the UK.
“I’m perfectly capable of driving on the wrong side of the road, Rowan,” Andrew grumbled from the back seat as we cruised along a winding road to the eastern section of the island.
“You mean the correct side,” I replied. “What did you tell me earlier? Immerse yourself in the moment. Take your own advice, Andrew. Sit back and enjoy the ride.”
“I’ve heard that before, but I still prefer to be ridden. I mean, drive,” Andrew mumbled in return.
My breath caught as I instinctively tightened my grip on the steering wheel.
“Then I guess you haven’t had the right driver yet,” I returned as I glanced at Andrew in the rearview mirror.
Intense brown eyes met mine, and my body jolted with the force of Andrew’s stare, my pulse pounding out a wild beat in my chest. Thank God I’d remembered to take my blood pressure meds this morning.
Andrew leaned forward between the two front seats, his hot breath on my ear causing a shiver to run through my body. “I guess not. It’s not easy to find someone who’s skillful and confident. And that’s the best kind of driver there is.”
The softly spoken words reverberated in my mind. I had a mind to pull over to the side of the road, push Andrew down on the back seat, and show him just how good a driver I really was.
Dylan reached over and turned on the radio. Shite. I’d completely forgotten my best friend was sitting in the passenger seat beside me.
“How far are we from the beach club?” Dylan asked.
A change in topic was welcome.
Beads of sweat rolled down my body, and I shifted in my seat.
I needed to calm down or the guests and staff at the beach club were going to get more than an eyeful of my excited junk.
Flirting with an employee in a public space was a risky game with real consequences.
One photograph, one second in time, could send the tabloids into a frenzy, but the repercussions for my health and my business could endure for months.
Andrew was adept at lobbing back my flirty retorts, but that didn’t mean I should continue to rally with him.
“According to GPS, we’re about twenty minutes away.”
I dared one last glance in the mirror. Andrew’s face was flushed, and he bit his full bottom lip, looking out the window to the view beyond.
I followed suit, and what a view it was.
Now outside the city limits, we passed several organic farms as well as a horse ranch and fruit stalls on the side of the road.
The scenery was breathtaking, with dense green forests leading down to sandy coves and the turquoise waters below.
“This is one of the most beautiful islands I’ve ever visited,” Andrew said. “I’ll have to come back and stay for a week or two to explore it.”
“Agreed.” Dylan turned and smiled. “Hey, maybe we can book a beachfront villa and have a group of friends down here. What do you say, Ro?”
“That’s wonderful idea, but I won’t be able to take a week off until March.”
Dylan scoffed at him. “Can’t you just assign stuff to your staff? What’s the point in having all this wealth if you don’t take time to have fun?”
“Work is fun,” I replied. Andrew and Dylan both groaned in unison.
“What? It’s the truth, I love what I do,” Or, I used to. I wasn’t sure anymore. I wasn’t sure about anything in my life. Lately, I was stressed and tired. “If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
“Yeah, but what do you do in your spare time? Besides heading to an island with your best friend and your assistant.” Andrew’s smirk added fuel to his comment.
“I read voraciously. I’m on the board of several UK and global charities. I stay active with sports.” I paused. “I’m also a Gemini, and I love dirty martinis, classic movies, and foot rubs.”
Andrew chuckled and tapped Dylan’s shoulder. “Let’s put that on a dating profile and get Rowan here matched up.”
I shook my head as I tried to concentrate on the road. “Hilarious.”
“That might be difficult since Rowan’s dating track record isn’t pretty.
Let’s see, there was Jojo, who strung him along and was cold as ice.
Leo Dunbar, who was only after him for his money and then that guy from last night.
How did that work out, Ro? You don’t seem relaxed this morning,” Dylan quipped.
“No comment,” I muttered under my breath.
“Maybe there’s a dating site specifically for billionaires,” Andrew joked. “You know, RichDaddySeeksSugarBaby.”
“They can match Ro with some guy based on how many yachts, private planes, and mansions he owns.” Dylan snorted.
“Are you two finished?” I replied with a glare, but it had no effect on either of them.
They continued to joke around, and I couldn’t help but shake my head.
A smile graced my lips without effort. I was secretly pleased that Dylan and Andrew got along so well.
It rarely happened with the men in my life.
As they talked, I noticed that we were traveling near the highest point on the island. While the views were spectacular from up here, the road grew windier and steeper, and all my attention was now firmly fixed on my driving.
Of the jeep.
Dylan pointed out a sign indicating a national park viewpoint. “Let’s stop and have a look, Ro.”
I pulled into a cul-de-sac at the top of the road and parked.
The area had been cleared of vegetation to provide unobstructed views of nearby islands and the sea beyond.
We rushed out of the jeep and wandered over to the railing at the edge of the cliff.
A sweet and salty breeze greeted us, the ocean mist and perfumed blossoms a heady scent that could only be described as paradise found.
“Extraordinary. You can see St. Croix, St. John, and the British Virgin Islands.” I pointed out. “The air up here is so clear and fresh.”
I pulled out my mobile and took a picture of Andrew and Dylan and then we snapped a group selfie. I glanced around, but no one passed by on the road. Up here it felt like we were the only people in the world.
“I’m going to send this panorama pic to Hunter. He’ll be so envious.”
“Hunter?” I asked. Was this his boyfriend? An unfamiliar feeling of irrational jealousy gripped me. I shook it off and turned my attention back to the tropical landscape in front of me.
“He’s my best friend. We grew up together.
Now he’s a lawyer, married and living in South Carolina, but we keep in touch and visit in person when we can.
We’d often go hiking and camping together.
He’d love this place.” He paused to take more pictures.
“I hate to rush away, but we should get going. We don’t want to lose our spot at the beach club. ”
The rest of the drive was completely downhill, and not just because of the terrain.
Dylan attempted to sing along to his favorite country tunes, and Andrew joined in.
I was traveling with the Shania Twain twins, minus the talent.
Dylan’s horrific attempt at harmonizing with Andrew caused me to loudly declare that car karaoke was officially over. Forever.
Fifteen minutes later and with sore ears, I pulled into the parking lot adjacent to the beach club. We grabbed our bags and walked along the wooden boardwalk to the clubhouse, the waft of coconut-infused suntan lotion and salt air welcoming us.
The private club was already brimming with activity, and people crowded around tables with bright yellow umbrellas while many others spread out on loungers.
There were also several beachfront cabanas covered on three sides that offered privacy.
A group of guests played volleyball on the far end of the beach, but most were relaxing on loungers or swimming in the calm waters of the shallow bay.
“Welcome to Corazon Beach Club. Do you have a reservation?” the young hostess asked.
“Yes, under Slater,” Andrew replied smoothly.
The hostess didn’t appear to recognize me, which I was thankful for. I looked around, but no one appeared to be paying us any particular attention and I hadn’t spotted any paps. For now.
She tapped her tablet and nodded. “We have your private cabana ready. Follow me, gentlemen.”
I turned to him. “Andrew, you must let me pay for…”
“I was planning on coming here anyway, so leave it. I emailed them early this morning to add two more loungers.” His brown eyes were fiercely determined, so I let it go.
We had an excellent spot at the end of the beach, and the cabana had three padded loungers and tables set up.
There was another group of four men in the cabana next to us, listening to music and laughing away.
I felt my body slowly relaxing and motioned for the server to order some beverages.
I was not going to allow Andrew to pay for that as well.
A hand touched my shoulder, and I turned quickly, expecting to see Dylan or Andrew.
“Hey, baby, fancy seeing you here.”
I turned to find none other than Leo Dunbar standing there.
Fuck.