Diving into Love (The Armstrongs Book 11)

by Jessica Gray

  River… Pippa had made it a game to guess people’s occupations and she’d become rather good at it. Her new boss surely didn’t look like someone who owned a bar. His strong muscles and broad shoulders implied he did a lot of sports. And his bronze tan indicated that he spent his time outside…on the water, in the waves. A surfing instructor. Or someone who took the tourists on a day tour with a sailing boat. He definitely had the boyish charms of a surfer boy and years ago, she might have fallen for him.

  But that was a long time ago, when she still liked being in the water. Pippa shook her head to dispel the frightening thoughts of open water. She had to focus on the present, not dwell on the fears locked deep down in her soul. She couldn’t deal with the trauma of her memories on top of everything else going on in her life.

  Her first priority was to find a safe place to stay the night. She hefted the backpack up, slipped her arms through the straps and began a slow walk down the street.

  The island was full of tourists who stayed for a week or two, some locals who didn’t mingle much with foreigners and a small crowd of expats working at several temp jobs. She’d try her luck with a girl she’d met a few weeks back.

  At the end of the block, she turned right and headed toward a small apartment complex a few blocks away from the beach. Pippa quickened her step as she neared the apartment, her heart hammering against her ribs.

  As luck would have it, she spotted her friend riding a bike right toward her. Pippa gave a wave. “Hello, Rosie.”

  “Hi! How did it go at the temp agency?” Rosie had been the one to direct her to the employment agency in the first place.

  “I’m starting as a barmaid on the beach tomorrow.”

  “Wow. Good.” Rosie eyed Pippa’s backpack and then took a guess. “Did you lose your lodging?”

  “Unfortunately, yes. It was rather unexpected.”

  “Wow. That old scarecrow kicked you out. Do you have someplace to crash tonight?”

  “Not really. I can’t afford one of the hotels in town…I thought, if you might…it would be just for tonight,” Pippa stammered, the embarrassment making her ears burn. She had been born into one of the richest families in the States; her father was friends with the President and most everyone in the top ten thousand. And yet, here she was, begging a girl she’d meet two weeks ago to crash on her couch.

  “Sure. No problem. Come one in.” Rosie locked her bike and together they walked toward the entrance to the apartment complex.

  “Are you sure it won’t be too much trouble?” Pippa asked.

  “Nah. Come on up. I’ve never slept on my couch, so I can’t attest to how comfortable it is.”

  “I’m sure it will be fine,” Pippa said, following Rosie up the stairs and promised herself that she wouldn’t impose on Rosie for more than one night. Hopefully, she’d make enough tips at the beach bar to afford a room at one of the cheap hostels downtown.

  Chapter 5

  Joe returned to Crazy Drinks the moment Pippa left. He sauntered up to the bar and whistled low. “That’s just what I need to get over being screamed at for the last hour. Nothing like a nice piece of American ass, down here looking for a good time.”

  “Leave that one alone.” River got in Joe’s face as his temper flared.

  Joe gave him an apologetic look and held both hands up. “Wow! Okay, then. Didn’t realize you’d already staked a claim.”

  “I just hired her, so stay away.” River usually could care less with whom his employees slept – as long as it wasn’t with him. But Pippa had awakened the full juggernaut of protective feelings in him. Joe was a hound dog and there was no way he was going to let him put the moves on Pippa.

  “Fine. She’s all yours. Some pretty hot nights with that bombshell on your yacht,” Joe said, pumping his hips back and forth.

  “She’s my employee, shithead. I do have a hard and fast rule about sex and business, no matter how incredibly hot she is,” River growled out.

  “Don’t be a spoilsport. If you don’t want to bang her, where’s the problem if I do?”

  “Because she’s much too good for you. Keep away from Pippa. Understood?” River spat out. He had no idea why he was so upset at Joe. It wasn’t like they didn’t hook up with random women all the time.

  “Sure.” Joe cast him a glance, but knew better than to utter a word. Instead he handed River another bottle of beer. Then he grabbed another bottle for himself and leaned on the bar, watching the beach fill with sun-hungry tourists.

  Several minutes later two platinum blonde girls dressed in skimpy bikinis giggled their way into the bar surround, making no secret of the fact that they were looking for a good time. Joe waggled his eyebrows and then poured on the charm.

  “Ladies, you’re looking like trouble. What can I get for you?”

  “A screaming orgasm,” the busty blonde said.

  “Sure, sweetheart, as many as you want.” Joe expertly made the ordered cocktails and put them in front of the two girls. “These are on the house.”

  River looked at the two girls. He knew that Joe expected him to join the party. Half-heartedly he joined the conversation, his mind still occupied with thoughts of Pippa.

  After finishing her cocktail the taller girl leaned across the bar, showing off her considerable assets and batting her eyelashes at Joe. “That was a nice orgasm. But what we’re really looking for is some company. You game?”

  “With a hot girl like you anytime. Lemme just get someone to cover at the bar, sweetie.” Joe stared at her boobs while he pulled out his phone and called his employee to come in early. Then he rose to his full height of six feet, the same as River, and flashed a smile at the blonde. “All set. What if you and your friend get warmed up with my friend River here and I’ll fetch you as soon as I’m free.”

  The girls didn’t seem to mind his suggestion and turned all of their attention toward River.

  “River, what a funny name,” the smaller one said, sidling up to him and running her fingers along the edge of his t-shirt. “Wow. A whole lot of muscles there.”

  River tipped his beer to his mouth, he wasn’t actually in a mood to hook up with her, but since the woman he lusted after was off limits for him, he reconsidered. This is just what I need. A night of wild, unabandoned sex to take my thoughts off of Pippa.

  “I’ll let you see all of my muscles, if that turns you on.” River winked at the blonde and pushed off the bar. The two girls linked their arms with his own, pressing their ample, barely covered, breasts against his arms. For some strange reason he felt like he was being taken to the scaffold. It had been a rough day. And it would be a rough week, caged on his boat for an entire week with gorgeous Pippa, not allowed to touch, feel, or kiss her. Yes, shooting off one last time before exposing himself to that torture was the reasonable thing to do.

  But River didn’t want to be reasonable. Never had. Never would. Having two women plastering their all but naked bodies against him didn’t turn him on. His body stubbornly refused to get aroused, even as the three of them stumbled down the hallway to the girl’s hotel room.

  The door closed behind River and before he could even blink, the two blondes stood naked in front of him, pressing their full lips all over his exposed skin, tugging at the hem of his shirt and ripping it apart. While he usually liked the wild streak in his women, today it felt oddly like – betrayal.

  He rubbed his beard wondering whatever had happened in his life in the last twelve hours, oblivious to the efforts of the two women trying to seduce him. His thoughts and heart remained with a blue eyed, pert-nosed brunette beauty, who’d captured him from the first time he’d seen her. And despite how hard he’d been for her the entire day, for the first time in his twenty-four years, his cock stubbornly remained limp at the prospect of having wild sex.

  I gotta stop this.

  River took a step back, from the two confused looking women and pushed a strand of hair from his forehead.

  “Sorry, girls, I can’t do this. No
t today…I totally forgot I have to be at the marina in ten.”

  “Really? We can come with you…” They both gave him a pouty look.

  “No. I’m afraid not. Don’t wait for me. This is going to take a while to straighten out. I’m really sorry. You both are fabulous. Have a great rest of your vacation.” He grabbed his torn shirt and let himself out of the room, eager to make a clean escape.

  During the short walk to the marina, where he lived on his yacht Moana, his head whirled with confusion. He hadn’t done more than talk to Pippa – and employ her – and yet, she had crawled under his skin and occupied every single one of his thoughts, emotions and reactions.

  In the course of a few hours he’d almost punched a friend and partner-in-crime, and let down two attractive women. What the hell was happening to him?

  He reached the marina and walked down the pier, his eyes lighting up like always when his gorgeous boat came into view. He’d bought her with the help of his older brother Preston who’d loaned him the money. She had previously been used for drug trafficking and he’d been able to snag her up at roughly half the normal price during a customs auction.

  It had taken him almost a year of hard work to clean, restore and adapt everything until the Moana had become a stunning beauty, perfect for receiving up to ten paying guests and taking them on a cruise to the most stunning diving spots in the Caribbean.

  God, I love this boat. He never regretted for one second that he’d exchanged his place in Los Angeles with the boat. She was his home, his love, and his sanctuary. His soulmate even, because she seemed to understand when he was talking to her. She could divine his moods and acted accordingly.

  River made sure she was in the best possible condition and in return she provided him with a safe place to live.

  “Looks like I’ve found us an assistant for the next cruise,” he said and crossed the gangway to jump onboard the Moana.

  He stored everything for the night and then went to the upper deck and grabbed a bottle of water from the mini fridge there. He sank onto a cushioned chair and stared out across the marina.

  Chapter 6

  Pippa left Rosie’s apartment early, with all of her belongings in the backpack slung on her back. Her hostess for the evening, had been very gracious, but Pippa couldn’t impose upon her again.

  On her way to Crazy Drinks she wondered why River had told her to come this early. The bars on the beach didn’t usually open before ten or eleven in the morning. But maybe he wanted to train her before the first customer arrived.

  He hadn’t even asked whether she had any experience serving or tending a bar. Strange. But that’s probably the way those expat nomads were. And how hard could serving a beach bar be? It’s not that people expected fancy service and exquisite preparation like in the restaurants she used to go with Daniel…

  A shiver rolled down her spine despite the warm tropical air. Daniel had drug her name through the mud during their divorce, so much so, that Pippa had fled the United States the same day she’d signed on the dotted line.

  That awful time in her life was over. For good. Even if it meant being penniless. Everything was better than being constantly cheated on and ridiculed. She knew now that Daniel Larue had never loved her. He’d only used her for her name and connections.

  Not for her money, because her father had disowned her the moment she’d eloped with Daniel. I told you so. That’s what her father said when she made an attempt to reconcile after filing for divorce. Get out of this mess on your own. I’m not ruining my reputation to help you. You’re not my daughter anymore.

  Deep in thought, she shuffled her feet across the sand, still cool from the previous night, until she saw the first of the palmleaf-roofed huts appear further down. Then she remembered. River said to meet him at the entrance marina. Why on earth would that be?

  Pippa shrugged and changed direction. Thankfully nothing was far away on Aruba. The marina was still closed, but a guard sat in a shack at the entrance gate. She tapped on his window, getting his attention. “I’m looking for a man called River?” I don’t even know his last name.

  “River’s down there. White motorboat called Moana.” The guard indicated the direction and opened the gate for her.

  “Does he live on a boat?”

  “Sure does.” The guard gave a friendly nod and closed the gate behind her again.

  But Pippa didn’t notice. The boats bobbing up and down on the swell blurred and a slight tremble took over her body. She inhaled deeply and counted to ten, telling herself she was fine and this was the pier, not an actual boat.

  Under the scrutiny of the guard, she walked down the road until she reached the pier where River’s ship lay. She took a hesitant step onto the pier. Her heart tripped and her breathing became erratic, but she forced herself to take another step, and then another one. You need this job. You can walk on a pier. Just pretend it’s solid ground.

  Pippa used all of her courage to continue. Since her mother’s death six years ago, she had avoided stepping inside a marina, let alone on an actual boat. Her palms became sweaty, but she trained her eyes on the ground and took step after step. See? It’s not that difficult. You can do it.

  River’s boat was the third one on the pier and she recognized it even before she could read the name on the stern, because he hung off the side, with a screwdriver in his hands.

  Her mouth went dry as she admired him in all his glory, wearing nothing more than swim trunks and white sneakers. A few of his sun-bleached strands of otherwise dark hair hung into his forehead. He moved to the side and her dried up mouth gaped open as she watched the spectacle of his muscles jumping beneath his tan skin.

  He moved like a cat alongside the rail, doing whatever damn sexy thing he did with the screwdriver. She’d never seen a more gorgeous man in her life. Shivers wracked her body, but this time it wasn’t from anxiety.

  She stood frozen in place, until River turned and spied her. “Hey! Right on time.”

  “I try to be.”

  “Great! Come on aboard.” He swung himself back onto the deck and dropped the screwdriver in a toolbox sitting close by.

  Pippa followed his pointing finger to the small gangway leading from the pier aboard. The shivering increased. No way she could step onto his boat. For a moment she considered bolting, but then she’d be out of her new job before she’d even started.

  If her new boss wanted to speak to her on his boat, she’d do it. She blew out a breath and then placed one foot on the gangway, grabbing the handles for support. If she didn’t look down into the brooding, dark water, she’d be okay.

  River had moved to the stern of the boat and sent her a panty-melting smile that captivated her and took her attention off of the dangerously swaying gangway.

  “Looks like you’re all packed. Hand me your bag and follow me. Then we’ll finish the paperwork,” he said, eyeing her huge backpack.

  His voice was deep, soft, and warm. It enveloped her like a woolen blanket. Pippa nodded and slipped the heavy backpack from her shoulders. River reached out and took it from her hand. Their fingers touched and energy passed between them. She glanced up into his sky blue eyes, warm and welcoming.

  But then his words registered in her brain. I’ll show you your cabin. Memories of her mother’s death assailed her. Pippa desperately tried to pull in a breath, but her lungs wouldn’t work. Help! I’m drowning. Black spots appeared in her vision, and her head spun…she tried to steady herself by taking a step forward, and then she fell. Fully expecting her face to hit the hard wooden deck, or worse, the soft blackness of the water, she couldn’t comprehend why she was still upright, her fear dissipating within seconds.

  A clean woodsy scent mixed with salty sweat and pure sex overpowered her senses as she inhaled. Strong arms wrapped around her. She opened her eyes to find her face pressed against River’s bare chest. She nestled her cheek against his warm and soft skin covering the hard muscle beneath. For several moments she stayed motionless, so
aking up the confidence River’s presence provided.

  This was the way she had yearned to feel since her mother had died. Protected. Loved. Valued. Daniel had never made her feel like this in their four years together. In hindsight she knew that she’d only fallen in love with him because her mind had been so clouded with grief over her mother’s death. So desperate for someone to guide her out of the black hole she’d fallen into.

  Anger surged to the surface and she shoved River away. She would not fall for another guy out of neediness. The time for male comfort had passed. Forever. But the moment she didn’t feel his arms wrapped around her, the fear returned.

  “Are you okay?” Confusion was written all over his face, but his voice conveyed sincere concern.

  Pippa nodded. Now that she was no longer in the safety of his arms, her breathing came erratically again.

  “Let me show you around.” He gave her an encouraging smile and then stepped back.

  “No.”

  “No?” He narrowed his eyes at her, looking even more confused.

  Pippa shook her head, trying to keep the fear at bay. She wanted to run as fast as she could back to the safety of the land, but the desperate need for a job kept her rooted to the spot while an internal war raged.

  River crossed his arms over his sculpted chest, a welcome distraction from her fears. As soon as she focused on his chiseled muscles, his mere presence managed to calm her.

  “Don’t you want to see where your cabin is?” he asked.

  Pippa stared at him and she felt her eyes widen in abject horror. “My cabin?” That was the second time he’d said something similar. Did he actually expect her to stay on this…death trap? No way! No freaking way!

  Chapter 7

  River stared at the hottest woman he’d ever met, torn between wanting to shake some sense into her and needing to hold her again to calm the fear he could see swimming in her eyes. She couldn’t be afraid of him, could she? That didn’t make any sense.