Chapter 7
KIERNAN
I stood on the deck with the rest of the crew, waiting for the Carters to arrive.
There was Christmas music playing, and the outside of the ship had been decorated with red and gold streamers.
And I don’t know if it was me or the festive atmosphere, but I started thinking about Christmas wishes. I was pretty sure I was standing beside one of them.
I couldn’t stop thinking about what Charlie felt like in my arms when I’d caught him. And how amazing it felt when I hugged him today.
Or how he looked at me. That most of all.
He made me feel seen. Special. That probably sounded corny, but I couldn’t explain it any other way.
Even though we could be nothing more than friends, I’d take what I could get. I’d faced bigger fights.
My feelings least of all.
“Hey,” Charlie whispered to me. “Guess what?”
I looked down at him, and the smile that was on his face was brighter than the sun shining down on us. I was never so thankful I had my shades on.
“What?”
“I’m going to steer us out of port today.”
“No way!” I blurted out.
Six pairs of eyes stared at me, and I gave a quick grin. “Sorry, I was excited about Charlie’s news.”
“What news?” Jana asked, stepping around me.
“I’m steering us out of port this morning,” Charlie announced, his cheeks bright red.
Everyone crowded around him, offering hugs and congratulations.
“Don’t tell me the party started without us?” A voice yelled out.
We turned to find the owner of the ship, Rowan Carter, standing on the plank, with a big grin on his face.
George stepped forward and greeted his brother-in-law with a hug.
“Not likely. We were congratulating Charlie. He’ll be your captain this morning, leading us out of port,” George explained.
“Moving up the ranks. Congratulations!” Rowan leaned forward and gave Charlie a hug.
Rowan was a real estate billionaire from London, but surprisingly laid back. So was his American husband, Andrew, who was as kind and welcoming as Rowan. I’d heard all about how the couple met when Andrew came to work for him on this ship.
Funny enough, they weren’t the only ones who’d found love on this yacht.
There was George and Rafe, of course. And Rowan’s best friend, Dylan, and his fiancé, Max. And finally, my boss Alex, and his boyfriends, Aiden, and Jared. Their relationship began on that infamous trip to Thailand.
According to Andrew, the ship had a love spell on it. Anyone who boarded was destined to meet their match, or in Alex’s case, matches. It was a cute tale, but I didn’t believe in such things. Despite my Irish upbringing, I wasn’t a superstitious man (sorry, Ma).
Still, it was kind of romantic when I thought about it.
Then I remembered that I had no business thinking that way.
I turned to Rowan, who, like the rest of us, was dressed in casual shorts and a t-shirt, his wavy blond hair windblown. Andrew stood beside him, his arm around Rowan’s waist.
“Rowan, Andrew,” I greeted them and nodded. “I’m happy to serve as your primary for the next two weeks. Any issues or concerns, please let me know.”
Rowan smiled at me and removed his sunglasses.
“Thanks Kiernan. I think Alex is being overprotective in this case, but I’ll concede to him when it comes to the safety of my family and friends.
We didn’t spot any paparazzi following our group when we departed London, but you know how these things go. ”
“I’ll be on the lookout.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Rafe. Running past the other guests on the dock, he vaulted over the plank, and launched himself at George, wrapping his legs around his husband like an octopus, nearly toppling him over.
After a rather lengthy kiss, George pulled back with a pink face and a bemused expression.
“God, you two. Get a room already!” Aiden called out.
Rafe turned and gave him a middle finger. “Admit it, Aiden. You’re jealous.”
“I have two boyfriends, Rafe. Two,” Aiden laughed in return. “Whatever fun you have, I double it. If anyone’s going to be jealous, it’s you.”
“They’ve already started,” Dylan muttered as he shook his head, his straw cowboy hat pushed back.
Dylan Aylmer was a Hollywood actor and Rowan’s best mate. Like Andrew, he was a humble guy, with a genuine smile and a soothing Texas drawl. His husband, Max, was a college professor and writer. Max looked the part with dark-rimmed glasses and a button-down shirt.
“How y’all doing?” Dylan asked as he greeted us in turn. “Charlie, did I hear George say you’re gonna steer this floating mansion?”
“That’s right.”
“Better you than me.”
“Quite right,” Aiden commented as greeted me with a nod, his booming British accent echoing on the wind. “Dylan had a difficult enough time parking a mini cooper at the airport, never mind a ship.”
“Play nice,” Andrew teased and Aiden rolled his eyes.
“Yes, Aiden, what he said.”
That comment came from Jared Elwood.
The Hollywood director was smaller in stature than his partners, but he was no less commanding. Jared had a wide smile and an intense charisma that drew your attention. I could see why Alex and Aiden fell hard. Both men looked at Jared with a possessive intensity that couldn’t be denied.
In short, we’d onboarded three couples and one throuple.
And judging by the banter already, the party was just getting started.
My boss, Alex Sheffield, was the last one to board. This was supposed to be a vacation for him, but I knew my boss, he never took a day off. Once you were trained to monitor and protect, you didn’t let that go because you were off the clock. With Alex, the safety of others always came first.
Alex, like Aiden, was from London and bore the same stern expression as me. He was seriously intense about everything. When Alex gave an order, people listened.
All in all, he was a fair boss, and I enjoyed working for him.
I couldn’t imagine how he balanced his hectic security business, including protection for Jared, and living with two boyfriends. But given the number of times I’d seen him smile in the past three months—more than I ever saw in a year and a half— he appeared happy.
“Boss.” I acknowledged him and held out my hand.
Alex’s grip was damn near painful. Something was making the boss man tense.
“Kiernan, how’s it going?”
“Everything’s good.”
He nodded. “This is going to be an easy two weeks.”
“I figured that already. I mean, who’s going to get to us on this ship?”
“I agree. Still, we can never be too careful. We were followed by a photog when we left the hotel this morning, but they got as far at the marina’s security and turned back.”
Alex’s pale blue gaze surveyed our surroundings. The marina was packed today. But we’d be on our own soon, and far away from the chaos of the city.
“I got it covered, boss. You relax and enjoy your vacation.”
“Easier said than done. I didn’t bring a secondary. Or rather, I’m it.”
“Understood.” I looked around the deck. Then I realized what was missing. “I guess we’re still waiting for our most important passengers to arrive?”
Everyone quieted and turned to look at me. I felt my face heat.
“The dogs,” I explained.
“Our babies are on the way.” Rafe pointed to the golf cart that was headed down the dock in our direction. “I had to keep them in their crates for the travel down here so they’re going to be wild once they get on board.”
“Can’t wait,” I replied as I watched the golf cart come to a full stop.
Rafe turned to me. “Do you mind helping me with the crates?”
“Not at all. In fact, you stay here, and I’ll get them.”
I headed down the plank and stepped onto the dock, greeting the driver with a nod.
Stella and Luna, the chihuahua mixes, were in one crate, curled up together fast asleep.
Ginger, on the other hand, was awake and trying to chew her way out of hers. I crouched down and put my hand against the crate, speaking to her softly. “There’s my Ginger. Such a sweet girl.”
She whined and yipped, licking my fingers, her tail wagging so hard her bum was moving right along with it.
When I stood up and turned around, Charlie was standing behind me. I couldn’t read the expression on his face, but he looked confused, like he was trying to work something out.
I was about to ask if he was okay when he stepped forward.
“I’ll take Luna and Stella,” he offered and grabbed their crate. The dogs woke up and began to whine.
I carried Ginger and followed him.
As soon as we set the crates on board, we let the dogs loose.
They greeted everyone with excited barks and licks.
Luna and Stella peeled off down the deck and ran around with the zoomies until they calmed.
Ginger, on the other hand, stayed close to Rafe and George, covering them with welcoming licks and sniffles. Then she ambled back to me, sat at my feet, and pawed at my leg. I finally gave in to her charms and picked her up.
Who could resist that adorable face?
I cradled her to my chest with one hand and felt her tiny body snuggle against mine. I told her that she was beautiful and such a good girl, and I got a few approving licks to the face in response. When I finally looked away from her big brown eyes, I caught Charlie staring at me again.
“You all right?” I asked, concerned that he might be out of sorts.
“Fine,” he replied and nodded quickly.
He didn’t look it. Matter of fact, he looked like he was going to puke.
“You nervous about leaving port?” I lowered my voice so no one could overhear.
Charlie shook his head. “Not at all. I’m ready.”
“Good. I thought you were going to yack there for a moment. Never seen you so pale.”
Running a hand through his thick hair, he let out a nervous laugh. “I’m fine. It’s been a trip full of… unexpected surprises.”
“But we haven’t even left the dock yet.”
I pushed my sunglasses to rest on top of my head. When Charlie’s blue gaze locked with mine, I knew.
His comment had nothing to do with work.