Redeeming Her SEAL (ASSIGNMENT Caribbean Nights #9) - Kat Cantrell Page 0,33

more than he should.

He dug around in the cargo hold until he found the tandem harness and attached it to the parachute. Normally, he would have done this back on the dock before the guests arrived so he could check the lines ahead of time, but he hadn’t been expecting the request. His guys kept their gear in tip-top shape though, so it all checked out. One of the many benefits of running an op with former SEALs: no one ever missed details.

In moments, they were both strapped in and seated at the rear of the boat, Audra between Charlie’s legs, which was growing more and more uncomfortable the longer her butt rubbed up against his groin. Every bob of the boat put a little more wood on the pile until he was nearly cross-eyed. Evan took his sweet time checking the straps with a thoroughness that Charlie would applaud at any other given time, but not with a luscious redhead’s rear pressed up tight against him. After a million years, Evan shot them the thumbs-up.

The boat roared to life, cutting through the turquoise water at a brisk clip, and the wind caught the parachute, jerking them aloft. Audra cried out, and it sounded like the good kind, but just in case, he snaked an arm around her waist to remind her that he was back here—hard-on and all—and wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

She threaded her fingers through his and held on. That was so nice, he looped the other arm around as well. Her hair blew into his face, but he didn’t bat it away. His fingers were occupied tracing a little pattern on her stomach. Audra’s skin felt like silk under his fingertips, and he wanted more.

If the harness wasn’t in his way, he’d drift a little further south and really liven up the party with a foray into that bikini bottom that covered way too much of her lower half. Oh well. Someone owed him some favors around here, and his erection had been devising a whole list of ways Audra could pay up.

When they hit the zenith, the earth below them opened up with a breathtaking panoramic view of Duchess Island and the small land masses to the north: Countess Cay with the coral reef off the coast that he used to spend his days restoring. Baroness Cay, the nondescript outcropping of rock that no one cared about.

Ilhota Rosa put them all to shame, blooming out of the water with its amazing explosion of green growth and pink sand. Now a wildlife sanctuary to the pod of dolphins that frequented the small cove on the north shore, the jewel of this chain shimmered off the northwest tip of Duchess Island.

Audra’s eyes stayed locked on it too, and her fingers tightened against his. Likely remembering the time they’d swum with the dolphins and one had let Charlie rub its head. Afterward, he’d stretched Audra out on the shore and acquainted himself with her body. If she wasn’t thinking about that day, he’d eat his own shorts.

All of the reasons he’d left the military and returned to this corner of the world lay within his sights. The woman had eluded him thus far. But for the first time, he had a small spurt of hope that maybe things weren’t as impossible to reconcile between them as he’d convinced himself.

Not impossible… but also not probable. He’d told her they weren’t going to happen for a reason. But as far as he was concerned, no promises was still in effect.

Eventually, they drifted back to the boat and Evan unlatched all the straps. Audra’s eyes shone, and she was so beautiful, Charlie almost couldn’t stand to look at her. So he stuck his sunglasses on his face and pretended that Evan needed help… navigating. Or something.

At the dock, Hannah and Carly exited the boat, still chattering to each other about how great parasailing was. Charlie snagged Audra’s arm before she could follow them. She glanced up at him with those bright blue eyes, and he almost lost his train of thought.

“Instead of sexual favors, ditch your sisters and have dinner with me,” he murmured.

The stupidest idea in the history of ideas. But better than come home with me, which was what he’d almost blurted out. That was an even worse idea, largely because he didn’t want to parade Audra through the middle of Town where every ex-SEAL in a two-house radius would clue in that he’d brought a woman home.