Chapter 17
KIERNAN
J ana had enlisted my help in getting the final Christmas decorations set up, including hauling out the massive tree that was stored in the underbelly of the ship.
I was surprised that the tree hadn’t been set up when we first boarded, but Jana told me that Rowan and Andrew saved it for the week of. They gave each guest and crew member a custom ornament to hang on the tree and everyone had a hand in decorating it.
I loved the idea, as I did being a part of their group.
There was holiday music playing in the lounge. Lights were strung up on every surface.
The ship had never looked more festive.
But I didn’t fully appreciate it. Because every day closer to Christmas meant I’d only have a week left with Charlie.
Grabbing the glittery star, I stepped up on the ladder and placed it at the top of the seven-foot tree. With the lights and ribbons and once the ornaments were on, it would be a showstopper. There were piles of presents stacked up and ready to be laid at the base of the tree.
Except the gift I’d bought for Charlie. That was hidden in our cabin.
We’d gone back to Providenciales yesterday, so guests could go shopping. I’d picked up a few items for my mum and Korry, as well as my gift for Charlie.
A dream catcher made of blue sea glass and tied with sailing rope.
Charlie’s sleep had improved but there were still nights when he was restless.
I knew the gift wasn’t going to alleviate insomnia, but I figured he’d appreciate the thought behind it, the glass reminding me of the color of his eyes and the ocean he loved.
And he could take it with him when he traveled.
The fact was, I wanted to leave a little part of me with him.
I wished I didn’t have to leave at all.
Shaking off my mood, I got the star firmly in place. Then I stepped down and placed all the gifts under the tree.
I still couldn’t believe I was getting paid for this gig. I’d taken to working with the deck crew every day to alleviate my guilt about not being much use in my protective capacity. And now I could add ‘yachtie’ and ‘decorator’ to my resume.
The only thing I had left to put up was the mistletoe. I went through the boxes of decorations that were left, but I didn’t see it anywhere.
“Christmas crisis, Jana. I can’t locate the mistletoe.”
“No way! It has to be in there somewhere.”
Jana finished up her preparations at the bar and helped me search through the remaining boxes.
No mistletoe.
“There’s another two boxes downstairs with New Year’s and Valentine’s day stuff. Maybe it ended up in there?”
“I’ll go look.”
After an hour of sorting more boxes, still no luck. I headed back upstairs to deliver the bad news.
“I’d call into my provisions contact in BVI but they’re closed until December 27. What are we going to do?” Jana sighed.
“Is there a crisis I need to handle?” Andrew asked as he stepped into the room. “Wow, this place looks amazing!”
“It does, thanks to Kiernan, but we’re missing something important. We can’t find the mistletoe,” Jana explained. “We’ve looked in all the décor boxes. And with our provisions contact on vacation, I can’t get hold of any.”
“Ah, well, I may be able to help you with that,” Andrew replied with a rueful smile. “Give me a moment.”
He made for the stairs.
I looked at Jana and she shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, as bemused as I was.
We closed up the empty boxes and I hauled them downstairs.
When I came back up, Andrew was standing in the lounge with a bunch of plastic mistletoe in hand. Rowan was there too, talking with Jana.
“Where was it?” I asked.
“I had it in my suitcase,” Andrew’s face flushed. “I travel with it.”
“Come on, luv, tell them why,” Rowan insisted.
Andrew glanced at his husband. “Rowan and I had our first kiss in this room, under this mistletoe. And so, I keep it with me.”
“That’s so sweet!” Jana gushed.
“Let’s put it up and see if it still works.”
Rowan winked at his husband.
I grabbed a roll of tape and dragged the ladder in place. Andrew stepped up and secured the mistletoe to the ceiling.
Once he hopped down, Rowan yanked him into his arms, bent him backwards and planted a long kiss on his lips.
“Yep,” Andrew admitted with a grin when they finally came up for air. “Still got it.”
Rowan took his husband’s hand and they headed out the patio doors to the deck.
Not for the first time, I studied the couple.
They were dedicated to each other, always affectionate, even in public, and I found myself envious.
Could that be me and Charlie someday?
“Kiernan, can I ask for one more favor?” Jana asked, interrupting my sidetrack.
“Of course.”
“We’re going to have a Christmas movie marathon tonight and I need help with setting up the screen and the A/V on deck.”
“I’m your man.”
“Really? I could’ve sworn you were Charlie’s,” Jana giggled.
She and Charlie were good mates and she clued in right quick about the two of us. While we hadn’t officially come out as a couple, there was no denying the way we looked at each other.
“You’re right,” I replied. “Now put me to work.”
Two hours later, the setup was done and while most of the guests were having dinner, I wandered up to see Charlie in the wheelhouse.
“When do you clock off?” I asked, slipping one arm around his waist and pulling him in to my chest.
“Eight.”
“An hour seems like eternity,” I whispered as I gently kissed his neck.
“Don’t start that here, baby. I’m having a hard enough time concentrating with you standing near me.”
“I can see that.”
I glanced down at his shorts which were now tenting.
“Kiernan,” Charlie warned.
I gave him one last teasing kiss and reluctantly pulled away.
“One hour,” I reminded him before I stepped out of the wheelhouse.
As I was wandering back downstairs, an idea occurred.
I reached the crew quarters and found Jana in the kitchen having a snack.
“Hey, sorry to interrupt. Is the guest suite on the main level unoccupied?”
It was the only bedroom on the main floor and kept for last minute guests.
“Yup, as usual. Why?”
I cleared my throat. “Would it be okay if Charlie and I stayed there tonight?”
Jana smiled at me. “I don’t see why not. But it’s only a double.”
“It’ll feel like a king after that bunk.”
“I won’t tell if you don’t.”
“Thanks Jana.”
I headed over to the laundry room and grabbed a new set of sheets and made my way back up to the main level and the guest suite.
I got the bed set up and popped back down to the kitchen to grab a bottle of wine and two glasses.
Once I had the room set up, I texted Charlie and told him to meet me here.
There was a soft knock at the door.
I got up and opened the door, quickly dragging Charlie inside.
“What are we doing in here?” he asked.
“Jana said we could use it tonight. I know it’s not like being out on a real date but it’s the best I can do given the circumstances.”
“You are the sweetest, sexiest man,” Charlie whispered as he locked the door.
Then he pushed me down on the bed.
Or rather, I fell willingly.
In more ways than one.
Christmas Eve
Kiernan
I was walking around the ship with a permanent grin.
Everyone on board kept asking me if I was okay.
I was so far from okay. Working with Charlie every day and being together every night? What could be better?
I’d fallen in love.
And after being together 24/7, I was so far gone for that man I didn’t know if I’d be able to step foot off this boat again without him.
Every morning, as soon as I came to, I would lie in the quiet of our room, memorizing Charlie’s face. I’d wake him up with soft kisses and he’d open his eyes and smile at me in that way that made my heart take off running.
Around eight, we’d hear a scratch at our door, followed by a gentle bark. I’d get up and let Ginger into our cabin. She’d run into our room and jump on our bunk, curling up between me and Charlie for morning cuddles.
I wanted to wake up like this every day. If only…
My Charlie knew me too well. He noticed the tension in my body. Charlie would distract me in the dirtiest way, and it worked, for a while. But my anxiety lingered. And every day that passed it got worse.
I hadn’t told Charlie how I was feeling but I didn’t want to ruin what had already been the best week of my life.
What if he didn’t feel the same?
Sometimes I caught him looking at me and I wondered, hoped, that it was more than sex. But I still wasn’t brave enough to launch that conversation. And I wouldn’t. Not until after Christmas. Once the holiday was gone, I’d face what I was feeling.
For now, I needed to distract myself.
Rowan’s family were due to arrive any moment, along with Andrew’s parents, so that would do.
I was on the bridge deck helping Jana with last minute preparations, including setting up speakers and moving furniture around to make room for an additional table.
Jana’s phone chimed. “The Carters are here. Thanks again for your help, Kiernan.”
“My pleasure.”
I enjoyed working here. Another reason why I was dreading heading back to my routine.
My work in security paid well and suited my skills, but it could be boring as fuck.
Bodyguard work wasn’t glamorous. It was long hours of waiting and watching.
At least on the ship there was always something to do.
I wandered down to the lower deck to find the rest of the crew lined up, ready to greet the Carter clan, as well as Andrew’s parents.
And there, beside George, stood my Charlie.
In his white uniform, he was so gorgeous and confident that it hit me like the most powerful punch to the solar plexus. As usual, I slipped in beside him. With our hands behind our backs, Charlie reached out and touched mine. One connection and my nerves quieted.
“How come they don’t have Christmas at Rowan’s house?” I whispered to Charlie.
“Rowan started the tradition the year he met Andrew. They like to spend Christmas on the yacht with the crew, and then they spend New Year’s at the house. We dock in the marina at Tortola.”
“Are you going to the house?”
“No, the crew will stay aboard. Except for George.”
“And after New Year’s?”
“Then we tour around the Caribbean for most of the winter.”
“You mentioned the other day that you won’t get home until April, right?”
“I’ve got a week off in February and will head home then. After that, I get a month off in April, when Rowan and Andrew return to London.”
I was about to ask Charlie to come visit me in Ireland, but Rowan and Andrew’s family had arrived.
Andrew’s parents were the first to walk aboard.
His mum and dad were both big on hugs, not handshakes, as they greeted everyone warmly.
Rowan’s father was next. Jamie Carter was an older, white haired version of Rowan, with bright blue eyes and a strong handshake. His wife, Ruby, was a petite woman, posh looking and chatty. Now I knew where Rafe got his fondness for the craic (convo).
Rebecca, Rowan’s sister, was the spitting image of her mum but half as talkative. And last, but certainly not least, was Aunt Cara, Jamie’s sister. I’d heard all about her from the crew. She was a romance writer and proud of the fact, as evidenced by her ‘I write smut’ t-shirt.
“Do you model?” Cara asked me.
“Excuse me?”
“You would make a perfect cover model for one of my books,” she exclaimed. “Rafe, lovey, do you have your camera with you?”
“Since I am a photographer by trade, yes.”
“Don’t you think Kiernan would make a splendid cover model? I’ve got a new series about mountain men coming out next year and he’d be perfect. Do you think you could take some photos?”
“Ah—” I glanced at Rafe, panicked.
“Cara, Kiernan is part of Alex’s security team. He’s not a model. And it’s Christmas Eve, that means no work.”
“But he’s so photogenic. It wouldn’t take any time at all.”
“I’ve got this,” Rafe replied as he thankfully steered her away.
“You sure you don’t want your picture taken?” Charlie looked up at me with a smirk. “You would make a gorgeous model.”
“The only person I’m modeling for is you.”