Chapter 5
GEORGE
“ C harlie, why is there a horde of people boarding the ship?” I asked as I stood on the bridge deck overlooking the stern.
I did my best not to make eye contact with Rafe, who was standing near the stairs in a white t-shirt and denim cut off shorts, greeting each new person that came aboard with a luminous smile and a hug.
The vision of his long body when he emerged from the hot tub— beautifully tanned, naked, and wet—was seared into my brain. Permanently, I feared.
I blinked twice to dispel the image, and the marina in front of me came back into focus.
“It’s a pre-launch kick-off party with some people Rafe knows in the fashion biz. Should be a fun time,” Charlie replied and ran a hand through his black hair.
“Just ensure that the guests don’t go too far. I don’t want the police paying us a visit in the middle of the night,” I grumbled. “And that reminds me. The harbormaster mentioned they’ve had vandalism issues. Be on the lookout. I’ll inform the rest of the crew.”
“Understood, George,” Charlie replied. “Are you joining the party?”
“Not if I can help it.” I shook my head. “Besides, I need to work on the plan for tomorrow. Rafe wants to drop anchor near Fraser Island. Plenty of nearby beaches and coves for them to explore.”
“Sounds good. We’ll be ready to assist as needed.”
“Thanks. I’ll check the weather and see what’s in store. Have a good evening.” I sauntered back to my office.
The echo of raucous laughter and the loud pop of champagne corks followed me up the stairs until I cocooned myself in my office.
Sitting at the main controls, I reviewed the maps of the nearby islands and checked the radar. The winds and swells had picked up during the day, and rain was forecast overnight. If that continued, we might have to hold off our travels for a day or two.
I was about to reach for my tea when a blast of dance music rattled the cup and everything around me. The bass thumped so loudly that I could feel the vibration move through my feet and all the way through my body. Bloody hell. Unsettled weather and ear-splitting music equaled a sleepless night.
I scowled at my laptop as I tried to focus on work, checking and responding to emails.
Until a knock at my door surprised me. Instead of looking up, I yelled “enter” and hoped that whoever was there would be quick about whatever it was they wanted.
“Captain? I hope I’m not interrupting?” A soft voice interrupted.
I turned to face Decker, leaning against the doorway in a pair of yellow shorts and a white linen blouse.
We’d met a year ago, when he and Veroush had joined another guest of Rowan’s for a long weekend on the ship.
But I’d barely interacted with him. He’d seemed like a nice enough bloke, but on this trip he was far too comfortable in my personal space.
Decker was slimmer and smaller than the other models, with an ethereal quality to his profile, almost delicate.
But the determination in his brown eyes told me he was anything but. I knew a stubborn will when I saw it.
Still, a guest was a guest.
“How can I help you, Decker?” I asked politely.
Decker slid unto the bench beside me, giving me a coy smile and placing a cool hand on my arm. “We’d like you to join us downstairs for a while. Everyone is dying to chat with the mysterious captain that Rafe can’t stop talking about.”
My face reddened and I reached for my cup as a distraction, dislodging his hand from my person. “I doubt Rafe is talking about me. Other than to use a few choice profanities.”
Decker giggled and drew closer. I slid out of my seat and stood up.
“And I’m not mysterious at all. Just quiet. Dull, really,” I confessed.
At least, that’s what my last boyfriend had called me.
Before I started working for Rowan, I chartered yachts in the Mediterranean during the summer months.
Every time I docked in Naples, I’d stop by my favorite restaurant and that’s where I met Aldo.
We struck up a friendship and, after a month, he won me over with his considerable charm.
He wanted me to stay and help him run the restaurant.
But I couldn’t. The sea was my first and only love.
Aldo was landlocked to city life and that was that.
And by the end, because I wouldn’t change my mind, he’d hated me.
Calling me ‘old, boring, and destined for a lonely life.’ Words that had power over me and hurt more than I could describe.
“I seriously doubt that, George. Can I call you George?” Decker cocked his head, and I nodded in return. “You shouldn’t sit up here all by your lonesome. Come and join us. Just for an hour. Maybe two?”
I pondered my options but conceded that I had none. I’d force down my discomforted nerves and make an appearance.
“All right. But I can only stay for an hour. Just let me change out of my uniform.”
“I’m happy to help you find something to wear,” Decker winked, and I shook my head.
“I think I can manage on my own, but thank you. I’ll see you shortly.”
“Save me a dance!” Decker yelled out as he gave a wave and sauntered out of my office.
I gave a great sigh at the thought of my almost fifty-year-old body attempting to dance with Decker and the other, much younger, crowd down below.
Walking into my bedroom, which was directly behind my office, I rummaged through the tiny closet.
I found my best pair of jeans along with a short-sleeved green polo shirt.
“Parties, dancing, small talk,” I muttered to myself as I got changed and sauntered into my bathroom. “It’s like I really am working on the fucking Love Boat.”
After brushing my teeth, I ran some water through my hair and attempted to style it. My beard needed a trim, but there was no time. They’d have to take me as I was.
Pocketing my mobile, I headed outside. With each step down to the bridge deck, my hands grew damp. Many of the guests were dancing, with a few stragglers on the side chatting away. Jana and the crew were busy serving drinks and acting as temporary DJs.
Rafe and Decker were involved in an animated conversation, until Decker noticed me, blowing a kiss and waving me over. Fuck me . Then I noticed Rafe’s smile turn into a scowl, which could only mean another argument.
I started to walk towards them, determined to put on my best face. Until Rafe grabbed a glass of champagne and let out a high-pitched whistle that silenced all the partygoers. The music followed, turned down to a decibel that was slightly less than painful.
“Welcome everyone! I’m so excited to be here in Australia to celebrate the Lazulo swimwear photoshoot.
I want to take this opportunity to introduce our second host for the evening, the man who runs this ship, Captain George Bernard.
” He raised his glass at me and smirked.
“George is in his late forties, single, and works very hard in the cockpit.”
Cheers, whistles, and claps rang out around me. I shook my head at Rafe’s bawdy joke and stifled the urge to jump overboard.
“…George is shy at first, but we’ll have him dancing in no time,” Rafe quipped and our eyes locked. Then he turned back to the crowd. “There’s plenty of food and drink, so enjoy!”
Charlie got the tunes cranked up again, and people resumed their dancing and conversations. Walking over to Rafe, I leaned in close, so he could hear me over the din of the music and chatter. He smelled like sun-warmed vanilla and amber, the edible scent enticing me to move closer.
“Can I speak with you a moment?” I asked and he nodded in return.
I pointed to the far end of the deck and made my way through the crowd to the nearest railing, where we had privacy. Rafe walked up beside me, sipping his champagne, and waiting quietly.
“I want to apologize for what I said to you this morning. Who you date or how is none of my business and I’m sorry. I was acting like a judgemental arsehole.”
His vivid blue eyes held mine, so deep and dark that I almost fell into them without caution.
“In my experience, when people have an issue with my sexuality, it’s really not about me but about them,” Rafe stated.
I looked away. He was not only a gorgeous bloke but observant.
“I know we’ve had our disagreements, but if you ever want to talk, I’m a pretty good listener,” he continued, his soft tone capturing my attention. “Speaking of judgemental, I noticed how angry you looked when you spotted us lounging naked on the sun deck earlier.”
“I wasn’t angry, just surprised. And concerned.”
“Concerned? Were you worried we were going to have an orgy right there in the hot tub?”
I turned and gave him my best glare, the one I reserved for staff cockups. He laughed out loud, and the melodious sound trickled through me like the warmest, sweetest honey.
“No,” I replied.
Yes.
“Maybe. With the crew around, I...”
Rafe shook his head, long tendrils of his hair framing his face.
“I would never do that to the crew. I do enjoy the company of my models, but that’s all they are.
I have no interest in them personally. And even if I did fancy one of them, I prefer to have my fun in private.
Or in a club with other adults that enjoy that sort of thing. ”
Thank God for the darkness of the evening because my face flushed with burning heat. “Okay. Right. Well, I’ll let you get back to your party.”
Reluctantly, I turned away from him.
“You just got here. Aren’t you going to stay? I believe Decker wants a dance.”
His sharper tone made me glance back. I must’ve misheard, since Rafe’s face was calm and his smile genuine.
“That’s not happening. I’m not interested.”
“Really? He’s a stunning bloke. Young and sexy.”
“You don’t need to play matchmaker for me, Rafe. It would be futile.”
“And why’s that?”
“Just take my word for it,” I paused, tempted, if only for a moment, to reveal my hand. “But I’ll stay and mingle for a while, if you insist.”
“Come on, then,” Rafe replied as he slipped his arm through mine and I jolted at the unexpected move.
His eyes pinned me with a mischievous sparkle that I now recognized. Oh boy.
“Let’s have fun.”
I doubted that our definitions of ‘fun’ were one and the same.