Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
PIPER
We’re so far out, there’s nothing but water around me now. Not a sign of land in sight.
I settle onto one of the cushioned benches near the middle of the deck and tuck my legs beneath me, trying not to stare at Levi too much while he moves around the boat.
It’s hard not to when he looks like a walking fantasy.
The wind pushes through his dark hair while he moves confidently, adjusting ropes and checking things I don’t understand. Every so often, he glances up toward the sails overhead like he’s reading something written in the sky.
I watch him loosen one rope slightly before securing it again before he nods to himself.
“What exactly are you doing?” I finally ask.
Levi looks over at me with a faint smile. “Trying to stop us from ending up stranded in the Atlantic.”
I snort softly. “Comforting.”
He laughs under his breath and walks toward me.
“The sails catch the wind differently depending on the direction we’re moving.
” He gestures upward toward the massive white sails above me.
“Too much tension, and they fight the wind. Too little, and they lose power. Each rope has a different function.”
I follow his gaze. There are a lot of ropes. “I never knew that.”
His mouth twitches. “You get to know them the longer you sail.”
“How long has it been for you?” He moves around like he was born out here.
“All my life.”
I wasn’t far off.
“That’s a long time.”
He tugs on the rope. “Yeah. It’s practically second nature to me. I used to do it all the time. Now it’s once a month. Sometimes twice.”
“Well, the boat is still afloat, so you must be good.”
He laughs. “The best, Butterfly.”
“Of course, you are.” I roll my eyes, smiling despite myself.
“Sailing runs in my blood. My grandfather taught my brothers and me. I took to it most, though.”
“I can see why you love it.” There is something freeing about sailing away from all your worries. Of course, you have to go back, but you choose when. “My family love camping. And by the way, Aunt says thanks for the wine collection.”
Levi glances at me and smiles. “She likes it?”
“She loves it. I’m saying thanks, too.” Knowing his taste, I don’t want to think about how much he must have spent.
“You’re welcome, Butterfly. When did you speak to your aunt?”
“Just before I saw you. The news of us has reached San Francisco. She wanted to know about my billionaire boyfriend.”
“Is that right? Hope you told her I’m taking real good care of you.”
I laugh. “I did.”
“What else did she say?”
“You’re invited to dinner.” I only say that to be playful.
“Then we should go.”
“You’d really do that?”
“Of course.” He looks up at the sails and shifts the rope in his hands.
“You’d fly to San Francisco just to have dinner with my family?”
He looks back at me. “Yeah. Just say when.”
He’s serious.
Levi steps closer and holds a hand out toward me. “Come here.”
Suspicion immediately fills me. “Why?”
“I’m teaching you.”
“That sounds dangerous. I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
“Come on, you’ll be fine.”
My pulse betrays me with a silly little skip. I slide my hand into his and let him pull me to my feet.
He keeps hold of my hand as he leads me to the helm.
“What are you going to teach me?”
“This,” he says, resting one hand on the wheel. “Go on, touch it.”
I do.
He moves behind me before I can question him again.
His body brushes lightly against my back, and heat spreads across my skin. He reaches around me, places his hand over mine on the wheel.
He leans closer. “Feel that?”
His voice so close to my ear sends awareness skittering down my spine.
“Feel what?” I try very hard to sound like I’m not affected by him.
“The pull.”
I focus long enough to notice the gentle resistance beneath my hand as the yacht moves through the water.
“When the wind changes,” he begins, “you feel it through the sails and through the helm. Everything is about the wind.”
“That sounds like it could be hard.” I think of times when I read about people being lost at sea.
“It can be. But not so much on a boat like this, unless you panic and you don’t know what you’re doing.”
The yacht tilts slightly, and I grab his forearm. Strong muscle flexes beneath my fingers.
Levi glances down at my hand before looking at me again, amusement flickering across his face. “Nervous?”
“Of course. I don’t want to make us sink or something.”
He holds my gaze. “You’re safe with me, Butterfly.”
Safe.
I don’t miss the message behind the word.
I don’t just hear it, I’m listening.
With his gaze still on me, he reaches toward one of the controls beside the wheel. “Alright, Butterfly. Keep us steady.”
My eyes widen. “What?”
“Relax. You’re not captaining an ocean liner.”
“That’s reassuring.”
He grins and steps away from me far too quickly for my liking. And suddenly, I’m standing alone at the helm with nothing but ocean surrounding us.
“Oh my God.” My heart stops. The wheel feels heavier now without Levi’s hand over mine.
“You’re doing fine,” he says easily, watching me from a few paces away.
The yacht shifts gently beneath me. I tighten my grip, panic taking over. “I’m absolutely not doing fine.”
“Yes, you are.” He folds his arms across his chest, looking far too entertained by this. “Keep her straight.”
I glance between him and the endless water ahead of us. “Straight where? There’s literally nothing out here.”
“That’s the beauty of sailing.”
I stare at him, wondering if he’s serious. He is.
I laugh despite my panic.
A stronger gust of wind catches the sails overhead, and the yacht tilts slightly again.
“Levi!”
“You’ve got it.”
“I definitely do not got it.”
He laughs outright this time, the sound carrying across the water while I glare at him.
But slowly… the panic eases.
The wheel steadies in my hands, and the movement of the yacht starts making sense little by little.
Levi looks at me again, and there’s something softer in his expression now.
“See?” he says with reflection. “Natural.”
“Okay. This isn’t too terrible.”
“Knew you’d like it.” He returns to me and steadies the wheel. “But I think that’s enough sailing lessons for now.”
I step back and watch his hands on the wheel. He makes it look so easy.
He steps back moments later and nods toward the railing. “Let’s enjoy the view for a little while.”
“Okay.”
The wind tugs through my hair as we walk over to the rail.
I hold on tight and gaze at the waves lapping against the boat.
For a while, we just stand side by side, watching the open sea. It’s the most peaceful I’ve felt in years.
Levi looks relaxed, too, in a way I don’t think I’ve seen before.
I keep stealing glances at him.
“See that?” he says, breaking the silence.
I follow his gaze, squinting against the sun as a stretch of coastline comes into view.
When we get slightly closer, I spot rocky cliffs and swaying beach grass in a secluded little cove.
“Oh, wow. Is that where we’re going?”
A smug grin tugs at his mouth. “Yup. First stop, brunch.”
“Brunch?”
“I’m cooking.”
I blink at him. “You cook?”
Levi presses a hand dramatically to his chest. “Of course. And I’m an excellent chef.”
“Really?”
“Sounds like you don’t believe me. Alright, we’ll see.”
I laugh softly. “I just can’t picture you cooking.”
“That’s fine. You’re about to see it for real.”
Levi heads back to the helm and adjusts something so the yacht slows as it glides closer to the cove. The water gradually becomes calmer.
This place is stunning. Sunlight dances across the surface in ripples while rocky cliffs curve around the little stretch of ocean.
The engine quiets, and the boat settles into a gentle rock against the water. “That’s us,” Levi says.
I look around, realizing there’s nobody else nearby. Nothing except open water, cliffs, and the two of us floating in the middle of it all.
“Do you always come out here by yourself?”
“I do. I’ll be back in a sec.” He winks and disappears below deck.
I stay near the railing, taking in the surroundings.
I have to admit this is better than what I had planned today. I was going to look at more office locations just in case I’m not successful with the building I really want.
Then there’s still the matter of Levi insisting that I stay with him.
I already know that I can fight him on it all I want; he’ll find a way to stop me from saying no.
So… maybe I could stay.
But just for a little while. It will save money I want to spend on setting up the business.
I’ll start looking tonight, though. Last time, it took forever to find a suitable apartment, and the one I got was the best I could do.
I can do better now, but I don’t want to spend too much. I also need to get my deposit back on the old apartment and this month’s rent. No way am I going to allow the landlord to keep it when I just paid. The building was never safe.
Levi reappears carrying a cooler bag over one shoulder along with a couple of wine bottles tucked beneath his arm.
“Wow.” I blink at him. “You came prepared.”
“Always. Follow me.”
I walk behind him, following him to the back deck of the yacht. There he drops the cooler onto the counter beside a sleek stainless-steel built-in grill.
He unpacks containers, drinks, and a large bowl of strawberries, which he slides toward me with a knife. “Cut those up for me.”
“Sure.” I lean against the counter and start slicing the strawberries.
Levi switches on the grill. A hiss fills the air before he places down slices of steaks.
The smell alone makes my stomach growl, and I realize I’m actually hungry.
When I’m done with the strawberries, he gets me to sit on one of the bar stools and watch him.
Levi Vale cooks with the same confidence he seems to do everything else in life. He works the grill effortlessly, flipping steaks and seasoning vegetables without ever once looking uncertain.
And there’s something ridiculously attractive about watching him like this.
Not just because he’s shirtless. I like that he just takes control.