Castaways

by Lily Harlem

  She stared into his deep blue eyes. They were the color of the ocean on a starry night and sparkled with a combination of confidence and amusement. “I’m glad we’ve got that sorted,” she managed.

  A sudden clatter caused Harry to step back and their connection broke. “We are all having iced tea,” Raul said. “In honor of our English crew member.”

  “Ick, I don’t drink tea iced. I’ll have it hot.”

  “In this weather?” Raul studied her. “You are very strange.”

  She laughed. “And you’re not?” She brushed past him, then slipped around the desk holding the navigation equipment and radio and went up the steps.

  The sun was dazzling and she dropped her shades over her eyes. Mason and Lucas were at the bow. Evan was checking knots.

  “Anything you want me to do?” she asked, running her fingers over the large domed compass next to the helm.

  “Yeah.” Evan looked up. “You can lift the buffers on the starboard side. Don’t know why they’re down and we’ll be going soon.”

  “Right you are.” She set to her task.

  “Got everything you need?” Riley called from the pier.

  “Yes, I reckon so.” She nodded. “And some more. It will be a luxury sail.”

  Riley chuckled. “Rather you than me. All that open water gives me hives.”

  “We’ll be fine. See you in Sydney.” She waved.

  “You will.”

  Sydney, wow, she’d never been there. It would be great. But she wasn’t looking forward to it too much, because that would mean rushing her trip on Temptress, and she didn’t want to do that.

  Harry came on deck. He wore a white peaked cap that cast a shadow over the top half of his face. “It’s time…” He clapped. “To get this show on the road.” He bent and began to unwind a rope.

  Olivia rushed to do the same, working the rope with well-practiced movements.

  Mason and Lucas attended to the anchor and Evan started the motor. They’d need the engine until they were out of the harbor, then they could hoist the sails.

  Olivia straightened, drew in a deep breath, and took a last look at Los Angeles. She hadn’t been there long but she wasn’t sorry about that. She was sure it was a beautiful city, but it wasn’t for her. She needed space around her, which might seem odd when she was happy to sleep in such a small cabin, but the point was, the ocean would be infinite space. The wind would be their fuel. They’d eat when they were hungry, sleep when tired, and who knew what adventures they’d have along the way. She hoped for dolphins and whales. Seeing flying fish, jellyfish and sunfish would be a treat. And as they got closer to Australia she hoped they’d stop and snorkel around coral reef.

  Within minutes they were pulling away from the pier.

  Riley waved. A few lingering photographers snapped pictures for which Harry waved enthusiastically. “So long,” he called as he stood tall and holding onto a mast. “See you on the other side.”

  “I hope you mean on the other side of the ocean,” Evan called up, steering them past a sleek black motorboat. “And not the other side of life.”

  “Of course I mean Sydney.” Harry huffed. “This boat is the best money can buy, it will not fail us.”

  “That’s what they said about the Titanic,” Mason said, stepping along the narrow side of the boat then jumping to the seating area next to the helm.

  “Oh, don’t be doom and gloom.” Harry laughed.

  Lucas followed his brother and also sat.

  “So who’s doing the navigation?” Olivia asked. She was pretty sure it would be Mason. From what she’d gathered he was a whizz at it. Not that she couldn’t do it, too, but she was happy to hand over the responsibility to someone else.

  “I am,” Mason said. “Should be fairly straightforward. A few stops along the way.”

  “Where was that again?” Evan asked.

  Mason shrugged. “Fiji. Will that yank your chain?”

  “Could do.” Evan grinned.

  “And the Phoenix Islands,” Mason went on.

  “Oh, I can’t wait for the Phoenix Islands,” Olivia said. She’d seen the detailed map of their route and knew that was the plan.

  For a moment they were all quiet as Temptress left the confines of the harbor. This was it. They were truly on their way.

  As she stood, the breeze caught her hair and whisked it from her nape. Finally, a breath of coolness.

  “Shouldn’t be long till we get the sails up,” Harry said, the wind pressing his t-shirt to his broad chest.

  Evan banged his hands on the chrome wheel he was holding. “Sooner this engine goes off, the better. I hate polluting like this.”

  Harry expertly moved to the bow of the boat. He held onto the mast and slipped his shades into the v of his t-shirt.

  Olivia watched him, thinking for all the world he looked like some goddamn Armani model. No scrap that, he was a Greek god, an Adonis. The man could and did grace glossy magazines and was a frequent visitor to the red carpet.

  Sandy will die of happiness if I get her some photographs of him.

  Olivia smiled to herself and followed Mason below deck.

  He was stood over the map on the navigation table.

  “Isn’t that supposed to do the job for you?” She gestured to a wall of expensive-looking electronic implements.

  “Yeah, that’s all set up. But I prefer to use a map, or at least have both going in tandem. Means if the electrics fail we’ll still know where we are.”

  She moved next to him, the sleeve of her t-shirt brushing his.

  “The route’s plotted,” he said. “And I’m guessing like any good sailor you want to be in the loop.”

  “How did you guess that’s why I followed you down here?”

  “Ah, it could have been because you fancied me.”

  “What?” She laughed and gave him a mock punch on his upper arm, the one with the tattoo. “No.”

  “Of course not. Not with that hunk of a billionaire up there.” He rolled his eyes to the ceiling.

  “I’ll have you know I don’t fancy anyone on this boat. I’m here to have a once in a lifetime sailing experience, and help raise a ton of cash for charity, not have a holiday fling.”

  “Shame. Lucas thinks you’re very pretty.”

  “He does?” So Mason’s twin could speak.

  “Aye.” He grinned, then turned back to the map. “Here’s the charted route, I’m sure you’ve already studied it.”

  “Yes. At length.”

  He flicked on a screen set into the wall. “And this is the digital version. It’s a south-westerly route. We should have the prevailing wind. We’re predicted a six to eight week sail, I reckon that will be about right, unless we lose that wind.”

  “Which can happen this time of year.”

  “It can, but this is the best time for currents so it’s a bit of give and take.”

  “I agree.”

  Olivia turned at a creak on the stairs.

  Lucas stepped down. He glanced at her, then his brother. He walked past them and into the small bathroom, shutting the door behind him.

  “Is he okay?” Olivia asked quietly.

  “Lucas?”

  “Yeah.”

  “He’s fine. Why?” Mason frowned slightly.

  “He’s very quiet.”

  “It’s just his way. He’ll speak when he’s got something to say.”

  “He’s not one for chit chat then.”

  “Nah, not really. Apparently I more than make up for his lack of idle chatter.” He grinned.

  “It could be considered conversational chatter.”

  “I guess.”

  “Hey, get your asses up here,” Harry called. “We should have all hands on deck for this first hoisting of the sails.”

  “Oh, exciting.” Olivia rubbed her palms together, then rushed up on deck. “Where’d you want me, Captain?”

  “Start releasing the main sail, if you can manage that.”

  “Of c
ourse I can.” She frowned. Damn it. She’d released so many sails she could do it in her sleep.

  Keep calm, Olivia.

  Quickly she set to her task. The wind had picked up and flicked and flacked the heavy material as it unwound. She stayed with it, putting all her strength into it. She’d show these guys she was as good a sailor as any of them. They’d do well to remember that.

  Mason and Lucas worked on the tac.

  Evan continued to steer. Raul released the boom and held it tight.

  Harry watched over proceedings.

  Within minutes the huge white sails were stretched taut and billowing outward. The small triangular flag on the highest point of the mast flapped wildly as did the smaller orange directional one below.

  Olivia finished securing the last of the ropes then looked out at the ocean. It was calm and beautiful. The color of the most perfect Ceylon sapphire. The sunlight sparkled off the surface making it look as if diamonds had been scattered over it.

  Several other boats were dotted about, but they wouldn’t be there for long. Temptress was on a due course out to sea, not drifting on a day trip up and down the coast. Soon they’d be a speck on the horizon.

  “Yeehah!” Evan called as the engine went off and they picked up speed. “Here we go.”

  Olivia laughed as excitement buzzed through her veins. She was high on life.

  Chapter Six

  Raul set drinks down on the table by the helm. Around the table were molded seats, six of them in total, so they could all sit on deck at the same time.

  The tray slid a little and he pressed his hand over the corner. “Come and get it.”

  “I’ll have mine in a second.” Olivia wasn’t so sure she wanted a hot cup of tea now.

  “Si, okay.”

  She smiled at him, then kept her attention hovering in that direction as Evan stripped off his t-shirt and flung it onto one of the seats. Whoa. He had one hell of a body under his clothes. His broad shoulders and chest were golden, and a small patch of dark blond hair sat at his sternum. His muscular abdomen was taut and defined and more body hair led in a tantalizing trail from his navel to the waistband of his shorts.

  Realizing she was staring, Olivia quickly set her attention out at sea again. Fuck. Harry was hot—that she’d been expecting—but Evan too. And damn it, Raul hadn’t exactly fallen out of the ugly tree. She groaned. And yes, Mason and Lucas had a certain appeal with their sexy Scottish accents, inked skin, and razor-sharp blond hair.

  The reporter had accused her of being the eye candy on board. But heck, she had plenty of eye candy going on for herself to admire. Had the organizers of The Challenge purposefully chosen good looking young people? Had Harry asked for this? Or his father?

  She didn’t know the answer, but she’d bet a few people equally qualified hadn’t been picked because they didn’t check out in the looks stakes.

  That’s terrible.

  She frowned. That was so unjust. An employer wouldn’t get away with that. But of course this wasn’t a job. It was a charity event and Dante Vidal was lord and master over his son’s experience.

  Moving to the bow, she enjoyed the way the hull sliced through the water. Small splashes frothed upward, a few landed on her deck shoes and ankles. Once at the very front she gripped the v-shaped steel bar there and looked over the edge at the water being pushed out of their way.

  This is where she’d longed to be. All that time in the air and stuck in gridlocked traffic, she’d been waiting for this.

  Suddenly she was desperate to feel the sun on her shoulders, likely the way Evan had. She peeled off her t-shirt and tucked it securely in her back pocket.

  Instantly the warm breeze caressed her skin and the sun seemed to bring every last millimetre of her flesh to life. She checked all was in order with her bikini top, then closed her eyes and lifted her face to the sky.

  The rush of the passing air filled her ears. The dampness of spray caught around her legs and her soul filled with contentment.

  “Hey, will you be Kate to my Leo?”

  Harry was behind her.

  She opened her eyes, went to turn, but he’d pressed in close and placed his hands on the rail, next to hers.

  “What?” she asked.

  “You know, that scene, at the front of the ship. Titanic.”

  She laughed. “Bad enough that boat was mentioned before we sailed. So I really don’t think you’re allowed to mention the name when you’re actually out at sea.”

  “Sorry.” His mouth was by her ear, his breath warm as it spread down her neck.

  A tingle went over her scalp and she realized that, like Evan, he must have stripped his top off because warm flesh pressed against her shoulder blades.

  Damn it. What is this man trying to do to me?

  “So will you?” he asked.

  “Will I what?”

  “Be my Kate, or is it Rose?”

  “In the film it’s Rose.”

  “Okay, Rose, it’s time to be king of the world.”

  Without waiting for her to reply, he took her hands in his and stretched her arms wide.

  Feeling a little unstable perched at the bow of the speeding boat and not holding on, she rested back harder against him.

  The sensation of their bodies pressing together, with the wind circling, thrilled her.

  “How does it feel?” he asked, excitement lacing his tone.

  “Incredible.” She laughed.

  His big hands gripped hers securely, and she pulled in a deep breath.

  “We own the ocean,” he said. “All that is before us is ours to take.”

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “Everything here is beautiful.” His lips were against her ear as he threaded his fingers with hers.

  It seemed so intimate, the way they were standing, flesh on flesh. She hardly knew him. But she didn’t mind. Harry was strong and sexy and had a way of making her feel at home in his company despite his status and wealth, and the fact he was the only person in the world to have ever gotten away with calling her Liv.

  They stood like that for a whole minute, then Harry rested her hands back onto the rail. “That’s it,” he said. “I’ve had my fix.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “That was on my to-do list.”

  “Didn’t take you long to get around to it.”

  “It’s a long to-do list. Gotta get started.”

  “Why? What else is on it?”

  “Ah, that would be telling.”

  She turned to him, and with effort kept her attention on his face and not on his bare torso. She knew that was perfection—she’d seen enough photographs of it. There was no need to gawp. At least not while he knew she was. “I want to know.”

  He tapped the side of his nose and grinned. “You will, in good time.”

  What the hell does that mean?

  “Come on,” he said. “Let’s go get that drink. Gotta stay hydrated.”

  “I guess.”

  She followed him back along the port side of the boat which didn’t have the sail billowing over it, then sat at the table.

  Mason and Lucas were sitting with drinks and she spotted Lucas glance briefly at her chest then avert his eyes.

  She wondered if he’d ever had a girlfriend. Perhaps being so shy meant he hadn’t. Was he a virgin? She didn’t imagine Mason was—he was confident and charming. But his brother… Olivia couldn’t envisage him having the courage to ask a girl out, let alone take her to bed.

  She picked up her tea, pleased it had cooled, and sipped. She thought back to Darren, her last boyfriend. When he’d asked her out, she’d been so excited. He was popular among her group of friends in Portsmouth, good looking too. For a while it had been perfect—they couldn’t get enough of each other, not just in the bedroom, but in life. He didn’t share her love of sailing, got sick if he even looked at the sea, but they did share a fondness for movies and music and taking long walks on the beach. Trouble was he’d had a fondness fo
r other women as well. After six months she’d discovered he’d been messing around with not one but two girls from his place of work.

  Cheating bastard.

  “Hey, Olivia, have you got any brothers and sisters?” Mason asked.

  “Mmm…oh yes… I mean no.” She pulled herself from thoughts of Darren. “I’m an only child.”

  “And what do your parents think of this mad trip?”

  “Exactly that—I’m mad.” She laughed. “But they’ve always known that about me, and I blame my father for taking me out on his boat when I was just a toddler. He gave me the bug.”

  “I’m glad he did give you bugs for it.” Raul grinned.

  “And what about you, Raul? Brothers, sisters?” Mason asked.

  “I have one brother, but I am the handsome one.” He jabbed his thumb on his chest and his grin widened. “Carlos, he has big nose, no teeth and one eye.”

  “What?” Olivia said. “I don’t believe you.”

  Raul laughed. “I tell truth.”

  “No you don’t.”

  “Ahhh.” Raul held up his hands and shrugged. “Okay, but I find it best to tell girls that I am the handsome one, then they think they got lucky with me.”

  Olivia giggled. “I’m sure any girl would think themselves lucky to have you.”

  “You really think that?” He widened his eyes.

  “Yes, you can cook.”

  “Talking about cooking,” Evan said, looking over his shoulder. “What time are we stopping for lunch? My stomach thinks my throat has been cut.”

  Harry, who was leaning on the rail at the stern, holding his drink, looked around. “I guess we’re clear of all the other boats now. And yeah, it’s been a long time since breakfast. Let’s pull the sails in and slow right down.”

  “That is my signal.” Raul jumped up and dashed below deck.

  Mason and Lucas stood, and together they pulled in the main sail, expertly handling the ropes.

  As the wind’s strength reduced and the boat slowed, the intensity of the sun increased. Olivia was aware of her shoulders and scalp heating. She was glad she’d applied sunscreen earlier.

  “We should use this.” Harry reached upward and pulled out a dark blue Bimini that stretched over the seating area to provide shade.