by Amy Knupp
“Are we trespassing?” Selena asked, not entirely kidding.
Evan climbed onto the boat and turned to help them. “Belongs to the fire chief,” he explained when Selena didn’t move. “He gave me permission, Miss Worrywort.”
Her mother took Evan’s hand and climbed aboard. She made herself at home, exploring the deck and the view from every side without hesitation.
“Do you know how to drive it?” Selena asked, still on the dock.
The look he gave her said the question was an insult. Finally she gave in and joined them.
Evan showed them around. The interior was bigger than Selena would’ve guessed, with three bedrooms, or staterooms as Evan informed her they were called, a galley, dining area, and living room with a big flat-screen TV and lush furniture. After seeing this, Selena couldn’t imagine the insides of the larger boats out there.
“What do you think?” Evan asked them.
Selena waited. Her mom would no doubt say exactly what she thought, good or bad.
“I’ve always wanted a boat.” Clara sat down on the sleek but comfortable-looking sofa in the living room. “I’d probably prefer a sailboat — there’s something so romantic about riding the wind.”
“Why haven’t you just bought a sailboat then?” Selena asked. Money couldn’t be what held her back, and usually when her mom wanted something, she bought it.
“It’s a large commitment. There’s just always been other things to consider. Trips. The house here. Nantucket. Cars.”
“I’ve been sailing a couple of times,” Evan said. “Could definitely see the allure.”
“This isn’t bad,” Selena’s mom said. “It should do just fine for an afternoon on the water.”
Selena restrained herself from rolling her eyes. Now that they had the queen’s blessing…
“Is the boat you wanted to buy like this one?” Selena asked, belatedly recalling what he’d said during their argument.
“Older and smaller. Just one stateroom and one head. Only thirty-five feet. But the same type. It’s called a trawler yacht. Patterned after a fishing trawler but made into a luxury boat.”
“Used for fishing?” Selena asked.
“You could fish off it but it’s best for cruising. A lot of people live on them as they go from one port to another. Kind of the RV of the ocean.”
Selena nodded, trying to imagine that kind of lifestyle. “Where are you taking us today?”
“Thought we’d go out on the gulf and have a picnic. I stocked the fridge and the bar. I’ll have you home by early evening.”
“Will you make it that long?” Selena asked her mom.
“Of course I will. I’d like to see what this trawler yacht can do. Maybe I’ll buy one myself.”
Selena snuck a glance at Evan, wondering if her mother’s cavalier attitude about throwing a large sum of money into a boat on a whim would grate on him. If so, he hid it well.
Evan busied himself prepping the boat to go out on the gulf. He directed Selena through helping him while Clara perched on the most comfortable chair on the top deck and watched.
A while later, they were way out in the water, barely able to see land. Evan had turned the engine off and they drifted. A few other boats were scattered here and there, but they were a good distance from the Hot Water. The sun beat down, but the three of them sat on the top deck under a heavy-duty awning. The breeze out here was chilly, and Selena was glad she had worn long sleeves.
She leaned her head back on the upholstered seat and breathed in the salty, damp air as the boat rocked freely.
“I’m going to get drinks,” Evan said. “I’ll be back in a few.”
“I’ll help you,” Selena said.
“No. Sit and relax. It’s a one-man job.”
Sitting in the fresh air, Selena was wonderfully sluggish, so she didn’t argue. Evan disappeared down the narrow stairs and went inside.
“This could be a problem,” her mother said.
“What could?” Selena was used to her mother’s overreactions.
“The sway of the boat. I’m feeling a little bit … green.”
Selena straightened. “Are you going to throw up?”
“I don’t think so. Not now.”
“Do you need to lie down or something?”
“I believe I’ll go see about some seltzer.”
Selena let her follow Evan and closed her eyes again, taking advantage of the solitude, no matter how temporary.
oOo
Once in the privacy of the cabin, Evan let out a long breath, relieved his idea had gone over well with Selena and especially her mom. Nothing would impress the older Jarboe as much as the largest damn boat in the marina, but she seemed okay with the idea of spending the afternoon on the water.
He wondered if he’d jumped to conclusions too soon as the door opened and Mrs. Cambridge-Jarboe entered the living room. She moved slowly and didn’t stand quite straight. Must still be getting her sea legs.
“I’d like to talk to you,” she said. “In private.”
“’Course. Have a seat.” The galley was open to the living room, so he headed in to fix their drinks. He might end up needing a hard one. For the moment, he stuck to lemonade.
Instead of sitting in a cozy chair in the living room, Selena’s mom climbed onto one of the raised stools at the counter that separated the galley and the living room.
“What are your intentions where my daughter is concerned?”
Evan was filling glasses with ice from the ice maker in the refrigerator and missed. Ice clattered to the wooden floor.
“I told you I’ve asked her to marry me.”
“Yes. Why?”
Evan set the glass down hard. “Excuse me?”
“Why would you do that? You’re young, and from what I can tell, you don’t know Selena well. I’m going to hazard a guess that it’s not because you love her.”
“I hate to ruin your rosy view but people do get married for reasons other than love, Mrs. Cambridge-Jarboe.”
“I’m all too aware of that. And I’m asking what your reason is.”
Evan turned his back to her and pulled the bottled drinks out. As he set them on the counter, he met her eyes. “Selena and I messed up. We’re having a baby together. I’m not the kind of guy to desert a woman I got pregnant.”
“I’d love some seltzer if you have it. There’s a big difference between deserting and committing to spend your whole life with someone.”
“Yes. There is. I don’t take it lightly, ma’am.” He opened the refrigerator again. “Sprite is as close as I’ve got.”
She nodded. “I’m glad to hear you don’t take it lightly, but I still want you to make me understand. What are you after?”
Evan set down the bottle he’d been pouring from, fighting to remain civil. “Why don’t you ask me whatever it is you really want to know, Mrs. Cambridge-Jarboe?”
The woman stared intently into his eyes and nodded once. “Is it her money?”
Evan dropped his shoulders and laughed, the sound hollow. “Really? You think I’m hanging around for a piece of the bank account she can’t access?”
“That’s temporary and you know it.”
“I don’t know anything about it. I can’t begin to understand your relationship with Selena and how money relates to it. I don’t want to, frankly.”
“But her money would be nice, wouldn’t it?”
Evan narrowed his eyes and felt his blood pressure rise. “I see a lot of things I like in Selena. Her money isn’t one of them. The Selena I know has two jobs and works her ass off. That’s one of the things I like about her.”
She continued to study him. “What else do you like about her?”
Evan had finished pouring the three drinks and stood there, at a loss. He liked plenty, but he didn’t figure the things Selena did to him in bed would impress her mother.
Her eyes bored into him and he tapped nervously on the counter.
“I like her guts,�
�� he finally said. “I like the way she’s determined to make it on her own after leading a sheltered life. I like when she laughs and I can see there’s so much more to her than the beauty on the outside. I like that, despite not being ready for parenthood, she does the best thing for that baby, no matter what.”
He picked up two of the glasses. “Excuse me.”
Mrs. Cambridge-Jarboe didn’t move, didn’t say a word. Until he got to the door to the deck.
“Evan.”
He stopped. Turned to look at her, ready to do battle.
She nodded slowly, thoughtfully. “I like you. I hope you can convince her.”
Evan nearly stumbled. “Thank you, ma’am.” He hesitated, not sure what else to say. “You going to join us?”
“I’m going to sip my drink and hope it settles my stomach. I’ll be up in a few minutes.”
“Take your time. Being seasick is no fun.”
“I’m glad we talked,” she said, moving to the couch. “I think we understand each other a little better.”
Evan nodded and went outside. Having her mother’s blessing was progress. He just wished convincing Selena could be half as easy.
Chapter Twenty
Selena had to admit she was impressed. Begrudgingly.
Evan had somehow kept her mother happy for the entire afternoon, in spite of her ongoing nausea. That was nothing short of monumental.
Evan had taken the boat north of San Amaro and was heading to the marina in a little burg where a fall festival was going on. The Ferris wheel had caught their attention first, and as they steered in closer, they could see a colorful bouncy castle, a kiddie roller coaster, a merry-go-round, and a strip of concession stands. The sound of banjo music and laughter reached them as Evan guided the boat into an empty slip.
“Are you going to make it, Mom?”
Clara looked positively pale green. “The driver I called will be in the parking lot. If you get me to the limo, I’ll be just fine.”
“You’ve got an hour’s drive or so,” Evan told her. “Or you could get a room here.” By the time she’d surrendered and said she couldn’t take any more, this had been the closest place for Evan to dock.
Selena’s mother looked around at the town and wrinkled her nose. “I’ll be fine. I’ll just stretch out in the back and sleep.”
Selena nodded. “If she can turn up her nose at the hotel, she’s okay.”
“Hey,” her mom said. “I didn’t turn up my nose.”
“And the Pope isn’t Catholic.”
Evan grinned and then called out orders for Selena to help him tie the boat. As soon as they had it secured, her mother was on the dock, muttering her relief. Selena was relieved, too, to be packing her mom off on her merry way. The woman had been bearable, relatively speaking, but spending long periods of time trapped on a boat with her was not Selena’s idea of a good time. The only bad part of the plan was that once they got Clara on her way, Selena would be left alone with Evan.
She found herself wanting that too much.
The limo was easy to find. It stuck out like a tomato stain on a white sweater. Selena’s mom linked elbows with her as they walked.
“Will you call us when you get back? So we know you’re okay?” she asked her mom.
“I’m not going to bother you two. I’m already feeling better, just getting off the water. You enjoy yourselves.”
Enjoying herself was exactly what Selena was afraid of. She wasn’t sure she had the willpower to resist Evan.
“Fine. Call us if you need anything.”
They reached the limo and stood a few feet away, waiting for the driver to acknowledge them.
“Evan, thank you for taking us out on the water. I apologize for being a downer.”
“You weren’t a downer. Next time we’ll get you some anti-motion-sickness pills and one of those metal bracelets that are supposed to help.”
Clara looked up at him. “Evan, honey, no offense, but there isn’t going to be a next time.”
He laughed. “What happened to buying a sailboat?”
“Those plans are off indefinitely.”
The driver got out and asked if she was Mrs. Cambridge-Jarboe. As he helped her into the car, she smiled and waved.
“I don’t get it,” Selena said.
“Get what?” They turned away from the limousine and walked toward the heart of the festival.
“What you did to her. It’s like you two became best friends all of a sudden.”
“Jealous?”
“Not in the least. You two can have each other. I’ll move to Panama.”
“You’re not running off again,” he said.
Selena ignored him.
The sun had dropped below the horizon since they’d docked. The park came alive with flashing lights, and live music filled the air. A tempting mix of aromas drifted around them — funnel cakes, cotton candy, hot dogs, tacos. It was warmer on land than it had been out on the water, even though the temperature had dropped with the sun, but Selena pulled her sweater tightly around herself.
“Hungry?” Evan asked.
“Not horribly, after the feast on the boat, but I plan to eat anyway.” She grinned, looking forward to some food on a stick or maybe more than her share of sugar. Maybe both.
“Which stand do we hit first?” he asked, taking her hand.
He wasn’t supposed to hold her hand. She wasn’t supposed to let him. But, damn, she loved the way it felt around hers. She couldn’t bring herself to pull away. She told herself holding hands was different from kissing. Especially different from getting naked.
Slippery slope, for sure, but she was weak.
She led him away from the throng of milling people to the cotton candy stand.
“I should’ve known you’re all about the sugar and fluff,” Evan said as they walked up to the counter.
“Not many people get to see my sweet side.”
He laughed and she liked the smooth, low sound of it. “Right. Such a mean girl.”
“Try to withhold my food from me and you’ll find out.”
“I learned that lesson already,” he said, his voice a growl near her ear that she was pretty sure wasn’t meant to turn her on but totally did. “We’re splitting one. This stuff has no substance whatsoever. It can’t be good for the baby.”
“You’re bossy.” But she kind of loved it, the way he cared about the baby, was already trying to take care of him or her.
Evan ordered the cotton candy and they sat on a bench, tearing it apart. By the time they were done, their fingers were sticky and blue. And before she knew what he was doing, Evan took her index finger in his mouth and gently sucked the candy off it.
Selena’s body buzzed with awareness. Just from that mouth, that tongue … on her finger.
“You … shouldn’t do that,” she said, and she couldn’t help but notice how breathless she sounded.
“You want me to stop?” His eyes were alive with undeniable mischief. And heat.
She glanced at his lips and then back at those eyes. “Y-yes.”
He nodded. “To quote your mom, when did you turn no fun?”
“I was born no fun.”
“I call bullshit. I’ve seen you doing fun.”
Selena wanted to squirm just thinking about the fun they’d had. She popped up off the bench and looked down at him. “Are you going to play games with me?”
He looked confused, then became serious. “I’m not a game player, Selena.”
She tried not to smile. “I meant carnival games. You don’t play them? Really?”
“That’s a different story.” He stood. “Which game would you like me to win first?”
“The self-esteem again,” she said dryly. “I think it’s holding you back.”
He grinned smugly and headed in the direction of Game Lane. Selena followed him, vowing to bring him down at least once or twice.
oOo
Two hours later, they walked slowly back toward the marina, Eva
n carrying an oversized stuffed penguin and holding Selena’s hand. She was beyond the point of fighting temptation and had decided she liked touching him, so why shouldn’t she? Just for tonight.
“You sure you’re okay with that?” Selena asked him, pointing at the penguin and trying to keep a straight face.
“Just fine. Thanks for your concern.”
“It’s mighty nice of you to carry my winnings, sir.”
“Careful. I might accidentally drop Pedro here in the water.”
“You know what?” Selena stopped walking and tilted her head. “I’m going to give that bird to you. He’s yours. Since you didn’t win one and all.”
Evan stopped, too, and tried but failed to look stern. “You are obnoxious.”
“I try.” She shivered and ran her hands over her upper arms.
“Getting cold. The boat has a heater.”
“Let’s hurry.”
“Don’t rush me. Pedro here is a big burden.”
“I know you’re not insulting my penguin.”
“You said he was my penguin.”
“If you’re going to insult him, you can’t have him.”
Evan looked down at her in the illumination from the marina lamppost. “Believe me, it’s not him I want.”
Her body reacted to his words with a pulsing ache down low in her abdomen. Her resolve to keep him at arm’s length was fading with every hour they spent together.
They were at the dock where the boat was moored. Evan led her down the narrow walkway, the black water splashing against the supports below. He helped her aboard and steadied her with his hands on her hips as Pedro stared at the starry sky from the floor of the main deck.
“You said something about a heater?” Selena asked.
“It’s going be a cold ride home. I have to work at seven tomorrow morning but we have time to go inside and warm up for a while before heading back.”
“I’m not going to argue,” she said.
“First time for everything.”
“Show respect for the ring toss champion, please.”
“I ran out of ones. Otherwise I would’ve dethroned you.”
