by Lexy Timms
“Bring it,” she said.
The pasta dish was massive. Easily three pounds of it. The decadent butter and cheese sauce coated the noodles and it was piled high with all kinds of seafood. Shrimp and clams. Oysters and scallops. There were chunks of lobster and a few crab claws they could dig into. And the cheesy garlic bread?
It was an entire half loaf of thickly sliced bread.
“Oh my gosh, this is incredible,” Kallie said.
“You know what makes it so good?”
“What?” she asked.
“They make the noodles in the back.”
“No they don’t.”
“They do. Scout’s honor.”
“Were you a Scout?” she asked.
“Not even close. But I’m dead serious. They make most of what they serve in-house. And the seafood? Caught from their personal dock out back. They have their own fisherman and everything.”
“Oh yeah. None of this is making it back to the villa,” she said.
The sound of Ash’s laughter made her heart flutter in her chest.
“So, I have a question.”
“The fact that your preempting it isn’t good in my world,” Kallie said.
“Okay. Then I’ll simply ask. Do you want to spend the weekend with me on a boat?”
Kallie looked up from her plate as a noodle hung from her lips.
“You, uh ... you got something there,” Ash said.
She slurped the noodle into her mouth and swallowed it all whole.
“A boat?” she asked.
“Yes. You know, one of those things that floats on the water?”
“You’re a sarcastic little shit, you know that?” she asked with a grin.
“My momma told me I could be anything I wanted to be,” he said with a smile.
“And whose boat would we be cruising on for the weekend?”
“Does it matter? I have access to it. We could use it for the weekend. It’s very nice. Top of the line.”
“A weekend on a boat,” she said.
“With lots of food and drinks.”
“Do you know how to operate a boat? It’s not like surfing.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha.”
Kallie smiled as she took another bite of her food. She figured it was probably a friend’s boat. There was no way a bartender could own any of the boats she’d seen docked in the marinas around the island. But the idea of being cocooned with Ash in the middle of the ocean with nothing but a bed and food to keep them entertained sounded like a recipe for adventure.
The kind that would enable her to explore his lush body more.
“Sure,” she said. “Sounds like fun.”
“Perfect. All you’ll need is an outfit or two and some toiletries. I could pick you up tomorrow around lunchtime, if you’d like,” he said.
“Then I look forward to the next leg of our adventure.”
Chapter 19
Ash
“This is the boat?” Kallie asked.
“Do you like it?”
“It’s massive, Ash.”
“I’ll let the appropriate parties know you appreciate the size of their assets,” he said with a grin.
“No, really. This isn’t a boat, Ash. It’s a yacht.”
“And that’s technically a boat, right?”
“Really? You’re arguing the semantics and differences between a boat and a yacht?”
“What did you think I was going to take you out to sea in?” he asked. “A rowboat?”
“No, but not a yacht.”
“Do you not want to go out on it?” he asked.
“Oh no. This will be fun. Just ... let’s not downplay it next time? It’s a bit of a shock to take in.”
“I get that all the time,” he said with a sigh.
Kallie playfully slapped his arm and he smiled. He watched as she hopped onto the boat, her hair flying in the breeze. He’d checked the weather for the weekend and it was supposed to be sunny and in the nineties the entire time they were out on the ocean. And he couldn't wait. The idea of cruising the open waters with Kallie at his side seemed spectacular. Her hands stuffed down his pants while he was at the helm navigating. His cock buried between her legs as they rocked with the motion of the waves against the side of the boat.
At least, it was a boat to him.
This yacht had nothing on the size of his father’s that he kept in various harbors around the globe. But he could tell Kallie had never been on one. Her widened eyes as she took in the size of it was entertaining to him. She really had no idea what money could get her. It made him wonder what kind of man she had been about to marry. If he had a wife, he’d spoil her with things like this on a whim. For no reason other than to see the light in her eyes when she realized it was hers.
His father’s yacht was a miniature cruise ship. The yacht they were about to sail on? It was more like a party yacht. The kind college students would go in together and rent out so they could drink booze, get drunk, and jump off the side and into the ocean.
He enjoyed watching Kallie’s eyes as they lit up with every aspect on the boat.
“No one’s going to be hunting for a missing yacht, right?” she asked.
He laughed as he stepped on board and began untying them from the dock.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I might be an international jewel thief, but I’d never steal another man’s boat. A man’s boat is a precious thing.”
“Hardy har har. So full of jokes.”
“Yet you’re still here,” he said with a grin. “Let me give you the grand tour while the waves slowly carry us out of the marina.”
He took her hand and began showing her around. The two of them ventured down the stairs into the bedroom located on the lower deck. Ash escorted her into the kitchen and began opening the refrigerator and wine chiller, telling her she could help herself to anything while she was on board. It was packed to get them through more than the weekend, so she could eat all she wanted. He led her to the back of the yacht and showed her all the good places to sit, watching her eyes light up as she looked out in the endless stretch of the ocean.
Then, he guided her to the helm so he could kick-start the yacht and get it out to sea.
“And this is where I’ll be stationed until we can get out into the ocean,” Ash said.
“Ah, the steering wheel.”
“Yep. This is where I drive. I’ll be taking us out into the channel between the islands. Not out into the endless expanse of the ocean. I’m good, but I’m not that good.”
“Wow. And you can admit a fault. How humble of you,” she said.
“There’s a coral reef out there that’s wonderful for snorkeling,” he said with a chuckle. “There’s gear we can use in one of the closets below the main deck. I figured it would be a nice thing for us to do while we relaxed on the open waters.”
“I’ve never been snorkeling before. It sounds like fun.”
“Then get ready for the time of your life.”
Ash cranked up the yacht, and Kallie grabbed onto his waist. He felt her press her cheek against his back as she clung to him tightly. He pulled them away from the marina and headed for the channel in front of him, but his mind was unfocused.
Kallie’s arms felt spectacular around him, and he wanted to keep cruising so she wouldn’t stop.
He diverted at the last second and decided to take the long way around. The rode in silence, and he took in the way she pressed deeper into his back. Her hands pressed into his tightened abs to keep himself upright and her lips slid along the fabric of his shirt. It felt good to him. Too good.
And he wondered what kind of water he was getting himself into.
Ash had never spent this long of a time with one of his holiday hookups. The women he indulged in always moved on. Flew back home. Went back to their lives. And the ones that did linger? That jaded one percent? They never held any interest in him. Only his family. His money. What he owned and what he would take control of once his fath
er finally died. Some women were stuffy and traditional, like his family. Some were gold diggers the instant they figured out who he was. Most were looking for a good time and only wanted to ride his cock before they left for home, and he didn’t mind those.
But Kallie was nothing like any of those other women.
“Look over there. Kallie, look.”
“Hmm?” she asked.
“There’s a pod of dolphins cresting the water.”
Ash heard her gasp as she turned her head to look out. But her arms never untangled from him and her cheek never left his back. He pointed out whale spouts and schools of jumping fish. The dolphins that were brave enough to come and swim alongside the boat. Ash kept the wheel as sturdy as he could as Kallie finally untangled from him, venturing toward the side of the boat and reaching for the dolphins.
She laughed heartily as her hand skimmed their skin, and he loved the way the sunlight looked upon her face.
She smiled, and it lit him up inside. She laughed, and it clenched his gut. She said his name, and everything around him stopped moving. When she was around, nothing else mattered.
And even if he didn’t want to admit it, he was falling for her.
Falling for his holiday fuck.
Chapter 20
Kallie
The dolphins felt good against her skin. They were playful and soft. Slick with water. The texture reminded her of Ash’s wet suit. She sat back and watched the island pass her by as the wind raked through her hair. She closed her eyes and took in the salted air flowing around her skin, and all in the presence of Ash.
She looked back at him, watching as he stood there. Tall. Strong. With the sun beating down on his features. Kallie felt like she was on top of the world. Like her life was magical. Never had she had a perfect time like this with James. She never could’ve imagined that something like this was possible.
But the thought of her ex brought her to an abrupt halt. Ash was her rebound guy. Things weren’t supposed to be magical. She wasn’t supposed to be hanging around him and waking up in his arms. She wasn’t supposed to be spending weekends with him on a boat and snorkeling on a coral reef and imagining some sort of a life on some island with him. Deeper feelings weren’t part of the bargain. That was what Eris had told her. It was a quick lay that was supposed to help her shake James from her system
And she had done that.
But the more time she spent around Ash, the more she felt she’d need a rebound from her rebound guy.
Every time she looked at him, her heart stopped. Every time he said her name, her toes curled. Every time his lips pressed against her body—anywhere on her body—she shivered in delight. This was supposed to be all about the sex. Nothing more, nothing less. And the sex with Ash was fantastic. Never had she felt so beautiful in a man’s arms. Never had she felt so lusted after in a man’s presence. Even a simple glance from him as he licked his lips drove her wild. Insatiable with desire.
It was by far the best sex of her life.
But it was supposed to end there. It wasn’t supposed to follow her around like it was. Sex was where it was supposed to end. No waking up with each other. No dinner dates. No naps in hammocks or weekend excursions.
And certainly, no dreaming of a life with him.
Which was what she did the night she was tangled in his arms.
Kallie gazed out over the water as they finally approached the channel. The lush green islands zoomed by as the channel dumped them near the coral reef. She tried to shake everything from her mind so she could enjoy the sights around her. Enjoy this new experience she was going to get a chance at. He was showing her things James would’ve never exposed her to. Never allowed her to do. Never wanted to do. And she always told herself it was because she and James were homebodies. They enjoyed hunkering down and watching movies and spending nights in instead of out.
But the more she got out with Ash, the more she wanted to stay out. Travel. Experience the world and all its wonders.
She was nothing like James.
Maybe that was why they didn’t work in the end.
“We’re here.”
Ash’s voice pulled her from her trance and her gaze whipped over to his.
“I’m going to go get the snorkeling gear, then I’ll show you how to use it.”
“Okay,” she said. “Mind if I stay here?”
“You do whatever you want, Petty Kallie.”
She giggled at his nickname for her and watched as he disappeared below deck.
That was the thing with Ash. He was charming. Funny. Talented in a lot of areas. But more than that, there was this bond between us. It was easy to be around him. It was easy to talk with him. Kallie didn’t feel pressured to dress up or get regular manicures or talk with a certain type of language. She clicked with Ash, and she liked that. She thought back to the first time she met him. Bartending at that small beachside cabana. Never in her wildest dreams would she have ever thought such a perfect man would’ve been bartending at a beachside anything in St. Barts.
But maybe that was how the universe worked, she thought. Maybe it was more disorganized than she liked. Maybe it wasn’t supposed to be figured out and jammed into boxes and schedules on a timetable that outlined the entire year. Maybe the universe didn’t work on a plan, or a schedule, or a timetable like she wanted things to. Needed things to.
Maybe this was the universe’s way of telling her to lighten up and allow it to take control.
“Ready?” Ash asked.
Kallie smiled up at him as she stood to her feet.
“Okay, what do I do?” she asked.
“Well, these are your goggles and this is your snorkel. The concept is easy. You place the snorkel in your mouth and bite down onto these clear rubbery tongs. You breathe through your mouth and stay close enough to the surface, so that seawater doesn’t breach the top of the pipe.”
“Sounds complicated,” she said.
“Come here. We can practice before we get into the water,” he said.
“I’m a city girl, so you’ll have to go slowly.”
“People never give city girls enough credit. It’s not about where you come from. It’s about how eager you are to learn something new. Do you want to learn something new?”
“Is there a choice with you?” she asked coyly.
“We don’t have to do this at all if you don’t want to.”
“I do want to,” she said. “Teach me how this works.”
Ash helped her position the snorkel between her lips before she bit down onto it. He placed the goggles on her face, then adjusted the tension so it suctioned against her face. The tension wouldn’t only keep the goggles from leaking, but it would keep her snorkel upright, so it wouldn’t dip into the water. That way, she could go three feet under and still be able to breathe.
“Now, practice breathing solely through your mouth,” Ash said.
And immediately, Kallie breathed through her nose.
“See? This is why we practice. A dead Kallie is no good.”
She giggled into the snorkel and the sound made her laugh even harder. Ash smiled along with her as they sat on the edge of the boat. He grabbed her feet and continued to coach her on her breathing while he slipped her feet into flippers. His touch was gentle and his hand was guiding. Kallie enjoyed how patient he was with her. He didn’t get upset or frustrated at how many times he had to readjust the flippers to get them comfortable on her feet.
James would have.
“Okay, how do those feel?” he asked.
Kallie nodded and drew in a deep breath through her mouth.
“Perfect!” Ash exclaimed. “Keep practicing your breathing while I get my gear on.”
Kallie’s eyes followed him as he went to go slip on his fins. She cocked her head and studied his form as he bent over and adjusted the tabs. He was phenomenal. A beautiful body surrounding a patient, loving soul. Her heart slammed against her chest and she drew in a deep breath through her mouth, realizing
she wasn’t breathing as she studied him.
What was this man doing to her?
After a little more practicing, Kallie felt comfortable enough to get into the ocean. Ash held tightly onto her waist, and she melted into his presence. He coached her through placing her head under the water and practicing her breathing, telling her he’d be there the entire time to help her. She dipped down a few times, each time going a little lower. Until she was three feet below the top of the ocean and could still breathe okay.
She resurfaced with a smile on her face and two thumbs-up for the beautiful man in front of her.
“Perfect. Ready to go see the reef?” he asked.
“Oh yes. Lead the way.”
“Okay. Follow me. And let the fins do all the work. Don’t kick with your ankles, kick with your thighs. Like a mermaid.”
“Got it.”
Kallie dipped underwater behind Ash and soon she was gliding like a sea creature underneath the water. The coral reef boasted all kinds of colors and magnificently exotic fish. Every once in a while, Ash would tap her on the shoulder and point out a sea creature moving from its camouflaged state. The entire world below the water was colorful and filled with delight. Kallie got brave and held her breath, then sank lower into the coral reef, and started swimming around it.
She emerged and spit the seawater out of her mouth, then dumped it out of her snorkel.
She went back under several times, each time getting a little deeper and a little farther than the last. She took Ash’s hand and they swam together, watching all the angelfish, rainbow fish, and the small octopuses. She rolled with the waves and felt Ash wrap his arms around her more than once, and the entire time was filled with a magic she’d never experienced before.
She emerged, tangled in Ash’s arms, and their lips crashed together as the sun started to sink below the horizon.
“Care for some dinner?” he asked.
“I think I’ve worked up an appetite,” Kallie said.
“Me too. How does a nice crab salad sound?”
“You can make a crab salad?”
“You can’t?” he asked.
“Fine. Yes. A crab salad. With some fresh lemonade.”
