“Right this way,” Keith said.
Rita clutched her bag to her side as she followed Keith down the dock. She was already wearing her bathing suit beneath her sundress, but now she wasn’t sure she would go in the water. She had her towel in the bag and the undergarments she would need to get dressed afterward, but she’d been open to taking a dip when she thought that there would be other people on board. Now that it was just her and Keith, maybe not.
Keith approached a polished white boat with at least two levels. The name Chantelle was written on the side in cursive black font. The upper level was covered with a black awning, and Rita could see that there was space there for a handful of people to sit. The main level was larger, with an open space at the back and an indoor cabin. There was a metal railing surrounding most of the first level, from the edges of where the indoor cabin began on both sides to the hull. While most of the boat was gleaming white, the bottom half that went into the water was black.
The boat could certainly hold a good number of people, and right now Rita wished that she had a crew of friends to accompany her for this ride. She especially didn’t want to be alone with Keith.
“What kind of boat is this?” she asked him.
“It’s a trawler,” he answered. “The perfect boat for a day of leisure on the water. It doesn’t go too fast so most people find the ride comfortable. It’s got a couple of beds so you can sleep, if you want to stay out on the water for the night.”
“Oh, I definitely don’t want to stay out here all day.”
“I didn’t mean you. I was speaking generally.” He paused. “Of course, I’d be happy to take you out for a night sail.”
Rita didn’t doubt he would... Had he taken other women out? Perhaps wined and dined them. Then seduced them...
She wondered if Chantelle had been a lover, or his wife.
The boat swayed as Keith stepped onto it. He turned to Rita and offered her his hand. “Here, let me help you aboard.”
She took his hand, and gasped slightly when the boat moved as she started to step on it. She quickly got her footing and hurried up the couple of steps.
“You want to sit up top?” Keith asked. “The view’s amazing.”
Rita moved to the nearest part of the boat where she could sit and quickly sat. “I’m fine right here.”
“All right. You can move about the boat as you like. But first, New York law requires us to put on life jackets.” He walked the short distance to where the life jackets were hung on the wall. He assessed a few, then walked back and handed her one. “This should fit.”
Rita put the life jacket on over her dress, while Keith put one on as well. “It fits,” she told him.
He nodded. “Good. Are you a strong swimmer? Because you can take it off when we get in the water, if you like.”
“I’m a pretty good swimmer,” she told him. “My mom made sure I took lessons.”
“Can I get you something to drink before we set sail?”
“What do you have?”
“Beer, wine, wine coolers, vodka coolers.”
“I’ll take a vodka cooler,” she said. “Lemon-flavored, if you have it.”
Keith disappeared inside the cabin, and less than a minute later reappeared with a vodka cooler for her. “Thanks,” she said, taking it from him.
Keith began to uncoil the rope that connected the boat to the dock, and once he was finished, he went into the cabin again. Music began to play, a popular Bruno Mars song.
More shocking was when Keith’s voice came over the loud speaker. “Thank you for boarding the Chantelle today. The weather is perfect for this tour.”
He looked over his shoulder at her, and Rita gave him a thumbs-up.
The boat began to move through the water, and although the speed wasn’t especially fast, they were soon a good distance from the shore.
“Remember the movie Jaws?” Keith asked. “When I was a kid, someone terrified a group of tourists here on the lake. People were sunning on the beach and the kid yelled, ‘Jaws!’ I never heard so many screams as people scrambled to get out of the water.”
Rita laughed. Then she got up and quickly moved to the seating inside the cabin where Keith was so he could hear her better. “Is that a true story?” she asked.
“Swear to God,” he told her.
“But this is a lake.”
“And people often don’t think. They heard the word ‘jaws’ and freaked out. It had recently played on television at the time, so it was fresh in people’s minds. Even I remember being a bit scared for a moment. Until I realized that the kid screaming ‘jaws!’ was Frankie DeLuca, the troublemaker at school.”
Rita glanced out at the lake, chuckling. This water was calm, the view scenic.
“Now that we’re past the vacation condos, you can see some of the homes here that are on the water.”
“Wow,” Rita said, spying one that was massive. It was ultra-modern, with sharp edges and lots of windows.
“That owner of that one is an architect. He has a very successful business.”
“No wonder,” Rita said. “That’s a spectacular house. Actually, they’re all incredible looking.”
“These waterfront houses are high-end real estate. You see that one in the distance? The white one on the right?”
“The big one?” Rita asked as the house came into better view. Situated atop a sloped landscape, it was easily one of the biggest on the waterfront, if not the biggest.
“That’s my parents’ house.”
Though she was wearing sunglasses, Rita held a hand over her eyes to provide more shade so that she could better check out the house. The lawn was pristine, leading to a house that had at least three levels. The bottom was a walk-out basement with a large wall of windows. There was a large deck on the second level that spanned the entire width of the house. On the far left side of the house was a pool enclosed by a gate.
“That’s some house,” Rita said. “Wow.”
“It’s where I grew up. Lots of great memories. And...”
His voice trailed off, and Rita averted her gaze from the house to look at him. “And what?”
“This boat is named after my little sister. I think I told you... She drowned in the pool.”
“Yes, you did. I’m so sorry. What a tragic loss.”
“Thanks. So almost all the memories were good.” Unexpectedly he raised his hand and waved. “There’s my dad sitting on the deck.” A woman came through the patio doors carrying a pitcher. “And my mom.”
He blew the horn, and his parents waved. Rita waved as well. Their bright smiles were evident despite the distance.
Rita had had just one glimpse of them, but she could tell that they were a loving, happy couple. “Together a long time?”
“High school sweethearts. Married thirty-seven years.”
“That’s rare,” Rita commented. They were a living example of what she’d never witnessed of her own parents.
“Speaking of parents—”
Rita’s phone began to ring. She searched for it in her bag and pulled it out. Her eyes widened when she saw Rashad’s number flashing on her screen. She swiped to reject the call.
“Everything okay?” Keith asked.
Rita dropped her phone back into her bag. “Yep.”
“How did it go with your parents today?”
“Ugh.”
“That bad?”
“It wasn’t good.”
“Did you bring up the bankruptcy?”
“My mother deserved to know,” Rita said.
Keith sighed. “I told you not to say anything. I explained to you that I shared that information with you so you could understand your father a bit more. Not for you to use it against him.”
Rita was silent for a moment. Then she said, “How could I not tell my mother
something so vitally important? Would you stay silent?”
Keith said nothing as he navigated the boat. After about a minute, he killed the engine. Rita got up and walked to the back of the boat and looked out at the thicket in the distance. There were no waterfront homes on that section of the lake. But people were frolicking in the water and on the sandy beach. Behind them were cabins.
“That’s a camp.”
At the sound of Keith’s voice, Rita whirled around and looked up at him.
“We all went there as kids, and my brothers and I even worked there when we got older.” Keith paused. “Okay, so you told your mother about the bankruptcy. How did it go?”
Rita stood. “I can go to the upper level?”
But even as she asked the question, she was walking past him.
* * *
Keith watched Rita go, shaking his head slightly. They were out on the lake, and it was a beautiful day, but he got the feeling that if he pressed the issue, things would go sour. And that was the last thing he wanted.
So instead of following her, he merely looked up at her. She took a seat at the top of the boat and gazed out, as if fascinated by what she was seeing.
Not that the view of Sheridan Lake and the properties and nature surrounding it weren’t stunning, but he suspected she was feigning more interest as a way to avoid him.
He had hoped for a different vibe between them, but she had that darn wall up. The truth was, she owed him some answers. He hadn’t wanted his words to cause any extra conflict between her parents. Having known Lance most of his life, Keith knew him to be a good man. Maybe one who had made horrible decisions, but he didn’t doubt the sincerity of his feelings for Rita’s mother.
After a few minutes, Keith made his way up to the top level. Rita didn’t look in his direction. Slowly, he blew out a breath. She was a beautiful woman. With her eyes directed off in the distance, he allowed himself the time to take in the sight of her bare shoulders beneath the sundress. Her dark skin was smooth. Her curly hair kissed the top of her back, and he found himself wanting to brush her hair aside and push it over one shoulder.
What would it be like if he planted his lips on her shoulder blades? She was so tightly wound now, back to the closed-off version of herself she’d been when they’d first met. Could he melt her frosty exterior like he had when she’d been at his place? Would she come alive if he touched her?
Why were his thoughts even going in this direction? He should be upset with Rita for doing the exact opposite of what he’d told her. And now she wouldn’t talk to him about it.
Keith wandered over to her and took a seat beside her.
“All right,” he began slowly, “I understand that you felt the need to tell your mother about the bankruptcy. Did you talk to your father as well? You don’t want to tell me how it went?”
Finally, Rita faced him. “Are you going to hold me hostage in the middle of the lake until I do?”
Her lips curled in a little smile, and he knew she wasn’t being serious. Well, perhaps she was being half serious.
“Actually, this is where we can go for a swim,” Keith answered. “If you want.”
“I want.”
And just like that, she started down the steps to the lower level.
She was shucking the life jacket by the time Keith joined her, and she then pulled her sundress over her head. “You said I don’t need to go in with my life vest, but you know what? I guess I will. That way I can relax.”
Keith’s eyes drank in the sight of her gold bikini, which looked amazing on her perfect body. Narrow waist, full hips, large breasts. The bikini top had straps, which crisscrossed over her cleavage, drawing his eyes to that area of her body.
She was gorgeous.
As she swung the life vest around her body again, Rita’s eyes met his. Held.
“I’ll just...” Keith’s voice sounded like a croak, so he cleared his throat. “I’ll go in the water. Then I can help you down.”
Keith went to the back of the boat, climbed up onto the edge and jumped into the lake. The cold water was a shock to his system, and also exactly what he needed to halt the rising temperature of his body.
His head burst through the surface of the lake. He swam to the boat and grabbed hold of the ladder. Rita walked to the edge of the boat, and the effects of the cold water on his body immediately faded when she turned her backside toward him and started down the ladder. The view of her plump, luscious behind had him biting down on his bottom lip.
Oh, how he would like to get her naked.
He cleared his throat, then spoke, “You okay to get down? Or do you want to take my hand?”
“I’m okay.” She dipped a foot in the water, then quickly pulled it back up, shrieking. “Oh, my goodness, that is cold!”
“You’re better off to jump right in. That way you get it over with instead of torturing your body inch by inch.”
Selfishly, he wouldn’t have minded if she stood right there. Her body was so perfect. He could look at her all day.
He could do more than just look at her. He could be with her all day. He wanted to talk to her more, get to know her more. He wanted to know what made her tick. He wanted her to share her frustrations with him. For some reason, he was drawn to her. Even though it didn’t make sense. She certainly wasn’t opening up to him, which should have had him pulling back, not wanting to get closer to her. But he sensed that she needed someone. And he wanted to be that someone.
Rita dipped her foot with her red-painted toenails into the water again. “Oh, goodness.” She let her foot sit there. Let it get acclimatized to the water. Then she looked over her shoulder at him and said, “I’m going to jump. Catch me.”
And then she pushed herself backward and plunged into the water, and Keith quickly wrapped his arms around her body as she fell. He slipped into the water with her, and a moment later, they both bobbed upward. Rita giggled even as she squealed.
“How can this water be so cold?” she asked.
“You good?” he asked her. He was still holding her body, though the life jacket was certain to keep her afloat.
She slipped free of his grip and swam a little bit away from the boat. “Yeah, I’m good.” She treaded water, making a 360-degree turn. “It really is refreshing. And it’s not so bad now.”
“I told you,” Keith said. “The sooner you immerse yourself, the sooner you get used to the water.”
Another boat in the distance was moving in their direction, going at a faster clip. Instinctively, Keith moved closer to Rita. Just in case, he wanted to be able to slip an arm around her and pull her out of the way.
As the boat neared them, he heard the happy screams. A couple of kids were holding onto a tube at the back of the boat and bouncing on the waves the water was creating.
“That looks like fun,” Rita commented. “This seems like it would have been a nice town to grow up in.”
Keith merely nodded, wondering if she was feeling she had missed out. Was that something she’d wanted? To be here, closer to her father?
“Small town life growing on you?” he asked.
She brushed her hair backward off her face. “It has its appeal. The lakefront in St. Louis... It’d be way too crowded to enjoy. This... It’s almost like the lake is our private playground.”
Keith swam toward her. “You see why I choose to live here.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I can.”
“You know what’s growing on me?” Keith asked, his voice suddenly raspy. Perhaps she sensed the direction of his thoughts, because her beautiful eyes widened ever so slightly. And in that moment, Keith couldn’t stop himself. He snared an arm around Rita’s waist and her body easily glided toward his. “You,” he finished.
And then he planted a soft kiss on her lips.
She didn’t react at first, but even though her body was
stiff beneath his hand, he heard her soft exhalation of breath. That soft breath told him what he needed to know. That she was nervous, but interested.
Placing his free hand on her cheek, Keith deepened the kiss. Slowly, Rita’s hand crept up his arm as she opened her mouth wider, allowing him more access. He swept his tongue over hers, enjoying the sweet taste of her.
The faint sound of Rita’s ringing cell phone was like an alarm going off. Abruptly, she broke the kiss and forced herself out of his arms. She treaded her arms back and forth in the water. “I shouldn’t be doing this.”
Keith’s heart was pounding. Something about Rita made him come alive in a way he hadn’t expected and one he didn’t understand.
“Why not?”
“Because.”
That wasn’t an answer. “You’re not interested? Or there’s someone else?” he asked.
“I didn’t come out on a boat tour to end up making out in the water,” she said tersely. “Maybe that was your plan, but it wasn’t mine.”
“You think I’m playing games?”
“I don’t know what you’re doing. I just know... I need to leave.”
“Leave?” Keith’s eyebrows shot up. “Let me at least finish the tour and take you to the waterfall. I’ll just have to bring the boat to shore near the camp, then we’ll walk up along the river to get there.”
Rita didn’t answer, and instead began swimming toward the boat. She took hold of the ladder and quickly started to climb aboard.
Keith followed her. Was she that upset by him kissing her? She certainly seemed to have enjoyed it.
Rita withdrew her towel from the bag and began to dry her skin. Her phone began to ring again, and Keith glanced down at her bag. “Someone’s really trying to reach you.”
She groaned. “I don’t want to talk to him.”
“Your father?”
Rita unfastened her life jacket. “Can you get the boat started, please? I need to get back.”
It was a lovely day, and here Rita was, frowning. The cordial mood had soured.
“I don’t know what’s going on with you, but whatever it may be, it is clearly upsetting you. My advice... Don’t keep it all in.”
The CEO's Dilemma ; Undeniable Passion Page 27
