"Band boy's the last one. Time to set sail," Jack said, drawing her attention as he moved up to the helm and started the engine. Glancing her way, he grinned and asked, "You want to steer us out of here?"
She snorted. "You looking to get a new boat or something?"
Jack chuckled and gestured to the crew to do their thing.
They were both silent as he concentrated on steering them out of the busy bay. Carolyn took that opportunity to glance around to see where Christian had settled himself.
She found him standing alone under the canvas shading the center seats, and frowned at how alone he looked. But when he met her gaze, she quickly turned away and took a gulp of her drink.
"I hope you brought your swimsuit," Jack said as they passed out of the harbor into open water. "We stop for a dip at Anse Cochon on the way back."
"Yes. Genie warned me. I'm wearing it under my T-shirt and shorts."
"Really?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows. "Feel free to strip down then. We're always happy to allow ladies to sun themselves onboard. I even have suntan lotion if you need it. And I've been told I'm excellent at applying it."
"Excellent, huh?" she asked with amusement.
Jack nodded. "I am meticulous about ensuring that every inch of na**d flesh is slathered with the slippery stuff."
Carolyn smiled and shook her head at his teasing, but she was tempted to take off her T-shirt at least. It was midafternoon and super-hot. Most of the men were already bare-chested, and several of the women were even now stripping off their T-shirts to reveal bathing suits beneath.
"Come on, where's your good old Canadian courage?"
Jack taunted. "Take it off. I know you want to."
Carolyn met his teasing gaze, then quickly swallowed the last of her drink and handed him the empty cup. She then removed the lei and handed him that as well. The moment he took it, she grabbed the hem of her T-shirt and quickly tugged it up and over her head.
"That a girl," he chuckled. "A couple more of these and we'll have you dancing on deck."
Carolyn turned from laying her shirt across the back of her chair to find him holding out a fresh glass of firewater.
"How did you get that so fast?" she asked with amazement, ignoring the prickling along her side that was Christian's gaze sliding over her body.
"Tristan headed over with it the moment he saw you down the first one," he said, gesturing to the big guy who had brought her drinks on the way out.
Carolyn raised her eyebrows. "Trying to get me drunk to ensure I dance on deck?"
Jack chuckled. "The boys have orders to keep the drinks topped up on the way back. It helps everyone relax enough to join in the contests, which in turn makes it more fun, and that's what they're here for."
"What exactly are these contests?" she asked suspiciously.
Grinning, he wagged a finger beneath her nose. "Uh-uh-uh. Can't spoil the surprise."
"Hmm... well, they can't be good if you have to get people drunk to participate."
"Not drunk, relaxed," he corrected and when she looked dubious, chuckled and admitted, "Well, one or two will get drunk, but most people are sensible enough to take it easy. Besides, there's only so much punch. Once it runs out, they're out of luck. It's not enough to get everyone drunk." His gaze drifted over her bare shoulders briefly, and then he stepped back from the helm and released one hand. "Come take the wheel."
Carolyn slid off her seat and moved to take the wheel.
The moment she did, he let go and pointed past her to a compass on the dash. "Keep the needle between those two points."
She nodded. It was an instruction he'd given her on the way out, and she'd been impressed with how well she'd managed it.
Jack leaned around her to dig through his shelf of goodies beside her hip, but soon straightened to stand behind her. When his hands then settled on her shoulders and began to smooth warm lotion across them, Carolyn stiffened and glanced back at him with surprise.
"Your skin's too pale for this sun, you need lotion or you'll be a boiled lobster," he said seriously. When she hesitated, he smiled. "Relax. We're going steady. It's allowed."
Carolyn gave a nervous laugh and turned back to peer at the compass. She was damned uncomfortable though as his hands slid across her skin. He was perfectly professional about it, if you could be professional about applying lotion. His hands moved smartly over her shoulders and up and down her arms, not dallying or drifting. Still she grew tenser by the minute as they then moved to her back, and sides.