Chapter 13
CHARLIE
W hen I was done in the shower, I came out to find Kiernan gone.
I was relieved and disappointed in the same breath.
A small part of me wanted time alone to think about what we were doing. And if this was wise. But the bigger part wanted to forget about consequences and enjoy what was happening. Relish in what was turning out to be the most intense relationship I’d ever had with a man.
Friendship and lust? Who knew it was such an irresistible combination?
After changing into my usual shorts and t-shirt, I picked up my phone to check my messages.
Talked to mum and calmed her down. Thanks for listening. And for last night. And this morning. To be continued. xoxo
I told you, you don’t need to thank me. It was my pleasure. All of it. And yes, it’s a date. xoxo
I hit send before I realized what I’d written.
Then I figured, fuck it. I liked Kiernan, well, more than liked. And I wanted him, and fuck yes, I wanted a date with him.
Noah texted to tell me he was feeling better and would be reporting for duty, so I was free from the engine room. More good news.
An idea popped in my head. The plan today was to take Rowan and friends by tender to the island of Providenciales to visit Grace Bay Beach, considered one of the most beautiful in the world.
Kiernan would be accompanying the group of course.
Normally I’d drop off the guests and return to the ship, but maybe this time I’d stay with them.
Or come back and join Kiernan for dinner.
It wasn’t a private date, but it was a start.
I texted George and headed up to the wheelhouse for a quick meeting to get the day’s schedule underway.
When I first started this job, George’s door was always open, and staff would often knock and enter, coming and going without pause.
But I’d learnt from recent charters, when Rafe was around, to knock and pause.
Their suite was directly behind the wheelhouse and Rafe was a former model with no qualms about public nudity.
And the last thing I needed was to interrupt my boss and his husband.
I tapped on the wheelhouse door and heard George’s familiar voice yell out ‘enter’.
George was sitting at his desk, near the controls, glancing at his phone.
“Morning,” I greeted him.
“Morning, Charlie. Come in and have a seat. Coffee?” he asked.
“Please and thanks.”
“One more if you don’t mind, luv, two sugars!” George called out over his shoulder.
“You got it!” Rafe answered back.
“I can grab one in the kitchen afterwards?—”
“Don’t be silly.” George glanced at me, and his brows furrowed. “You alright? You look knackered.”
Heat began to creep up my neck, but I waved him off. “I’m good. I, ah, tossed and turned most of the night.”
Yeah, because I was making out with my cabinmate.
I glanced out the window and spotted Kiernan with Alex and Rowan on the sun deck.
Kiernan was dressed in tight grey shorts and a loose white tank top that showed off his powerful arms and shoulders.
God, I loved how those gorgeous arms felt around me.
I wanted to walk out there right now and lay a kiss on one of his bulging biceps, tracing the shamrock tattoos that trailed up over his shoulder with my tongue…
I didn’t even realize Rafe had appeared beside me until he spoke. “Here you go.”
“Oh,” I startled and nearly knocked over the mug of coffee he’d placed on the table in front of me. “Thanks, Rafe.”
Rafe looked out the window, then back at me and gave me a wink.
First Andrew, now Rafe.
I guess everyone knows how I feel about Kiernan.
“Today is the Kiana Beach Club. Drop off the guests around eleven. You can send Derrick to pick up the group at nine.”
“I’m going to check the tender engine. It stalled on Derrick the last time he took it out. I don’t want that to happen when we’re loaded up with passengers.”
“Good idea. Or you can send Derrick in your place.”
“Well, actually—” I started.
“Why doesn’t Charlie take the day?” Rafe interrupted as he sat down beside George. “If he’s not needed on board, he might as well stay with the group.”
Thank you, Rafe, I whispered to myself as I took my first sip of coffee.
I was building up the courage to ask George, but this saved me from triggering questions from my boss.
I was always happy to accompany guests, but only when asked.
I never did the asking, so I’m sure George would have wondered what was going on.
“I don’t see why not. Is that okay with you Charlie? You could help Alex and Kiernan,” George answered.
I nodded and took another sip of java. “Happy to.”
“Are you going to the beach club, sweetheart?” George turned to Rafe.
“No. I’m staying right here with you,” Rafe replied and leaned in to kiss his husband.
It was a quick peck, but George’s ensuing smile had me ready to be dismissed.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll get the tender ready,” I mentioned as I stood up.
“Be careful out there today, there’s no clouds.”
I stared at George, confused. What was he talking about?
“You already have sunburn on your cheeks and chin,” he explained.
It was beard burn, but sure, let’s call it that.
I cleared my throat. “I’ll be sure to slather on the SPF.”
Rafe stifled a chuckle behind his coffee cup.
I grabbed my mug and held it up. “Thanks for the coffee. Text me if anything changes and you need me to report back on ship.”
“Will do,” George replied with a nod.
Rafe smiled at me. “Have fun.”
“Thank you, Rafe. I will.”
I was gonna try my best.
Floating back downstairs, I made my way over to the stern and began the process of checking the tender. After conducting some tests on the engine, I made adjustments to ensure it was ready for our outing.
Jana brought down a cooler with water and snacks. We probably wouldn’t need it at the beach club. Still, it was always good to be prepared.
An hour later, Derrick appeared and helped me get everyone into the tender. Rowan and Andrew sat at the back with Dylan and Max, and Alex, Jared, Aiden, and Kiernan in the next row behind me. With the cooler near my feet and everyone ready, I started up the engine and steered us over to the island.
Thank God everyone, including myself, was wearing sunglasses. It was hard enough standing inches away from Kiernan but if we made eye contact, and after everything that happened between us, I didn’t know if I’d be able to keep my reaction to him a secret.
This trip today might not have been the smartest idea I’d ever had.
I wasn’t sure Kiernan and I were good enough actors.
Or that we were ready to face other people’s scrutiny.
Would I be able to act indifferent when everything felt so new and intense between us?
I’d never had a problem with this type of thing before because sex was just a release.
It was fun, and hot, and yeah, sexy, but a release. That was all. And then I was done.
Even if I had a desire to go back for seconds, I rarely did. No one ever had that kind of hold on me.
Not until Kiernan.
My longing for him kept building inside me like a rising tide.
Was I out of my depths or was this going to be the ride of my life?
Given where my mind—and every other part of me—was at, I didn’t know if it was safe for me to be operating a vessel.
A wave of sea spray hit my face, giving me a much-needed cooldown as I tried to get my head back to work mode.
As usual, when we arrived at the marina, Alex and Kiernan were out of the boat first. They helped me tie up the tender and got everyone disembarked safely.
Then it was my turn.
But I didn’t notice how slick the floor of the boat was and as I stepped up onto the dock with my right foot, my left slipped.
Rookie mistake.
The next thing I knew, I was hauled safely onto the dock by my own personal bodyguard.
Swoon.
Yes, that’s right. I fucking swooned when Kiernan caught me.
I’d never understood the meaning of that word until this very moment, but fuck me, I got it now. I was out of breath, and I’d barely moved.
“Thanks. You’d think I never stepped foot on a boat before,” I blurted out, looking up at his concerned face.
“Can’t have you getting injured,” he leaned down and whispered in my ear. “I have a great need for your body in the near future.”
Oh, baby, how the tables were turning.
My smooth confidence was rattled, and Kiernan was the one flirting with me.
Then, as suddenly as he’d caught me, he let me go. I was not a fan.
“That was impressive, Kiernan,” Rowan commented. “I’ve never seen anyone react that quickly before.”
Aiden lowered his sunglasses and gave Kiernan a long once-over. I felt my temper spark and shit, that never happened.
“Lucky Charlie,” Aiden quipped with a shit-eating grin as he looked right at me.
Alex reached for one of Aiden’s arms. “Aiden?—"
“Don’t growl, sweetheart, you know that turns me on,” Aiden snarked back.
Jared shook his head and slipped his hand around Aiden’s other bicep. Aiden gave a dramatic sigh. “Oh, I’m in trouble now. Are you two going to punish me?”
“I knew you guys were into that kind of thing,” Dylan teased.
“Us?” Aiden scoffed. “You were the one yelling ‘harder’ at the top of your lungs at one in the morning.”
Max turned beet red and put a hand over his eyes.
Dylan pushed his straw cowboy hat back. “Let us know if you need pointers. Max may be a city boy, but man, he sure knows to use that rope.”
“Dylan!” Max gasped.
“What? Aiden started it.”
“Okay, kids,” Andrew interrupted. “Let’s get to the beach club before Max faints and not from sunstroke.”
Kiernan moved to walk at the front of our group.
Despite the distance between us, I’d never been more aware of another person.
It turns out, Max wasn’t the only one in danger of overheating.