short choppy breaths. Water ran in rivulets down his body, his chest speckled with dark chest hair. I swallowed against the remnants of the flash fire that had left me aching. I’d never experienced chemistry like that. Ever. I wondered how my body hadn’t instantly vaporized into steam. With sheer force of will, I made my brain and my mouth work. “Dauphine, you are a traitor!” I called, my voice rough and transparent, and tore my eyes off him. I looked around for her but she was already paddling away as fast as she could. I glanced back at her father, and he too was backing away from me fast. He better make sure I didn’t catch him, I thought hysterically.
I couldn’t be held liable for my actions.
I might actually bite him.
Chapter Twenty-Three
By the time we got back into the small tender at the beach club jetty, it was late afternoon. I hadn’t all out burned, but my skin felt tight and uncomfortable and I was headachy, thirsty, and exhausted. Dauphine had wiped sunscreen over my back and shoulders, but I could tell I probably had streaks of angry skin.
The three of us were quiet as we rode with Evan back to the looming yacht anchored a short distance away. I imagined I could feel Xavier Pascale’s eyes on me, and his broodiness made my stomach feel tense.
“You all have fun?” Evan asked. He couldn’t be that clueless to the tension, could he? The smirk playing around his mouth said otherwise.
“Yes.” Dauphine nodded, followed by a large yawn. I followed suit.
Xavier smiled fondly at his daughter and squeezed her shoulders.
The water became a little choppy, and my knee swayed sideways and bumped up against my boss’ leg. I tried to shift, but it was no use if I needed to feel anchored in my spot. I tried to ignore the sensation as it happened again. I stared at the horizon and the approaching yacht. Our tender slowed. But all my attention was drilled down to the one spot where my skin brushed against his. I must have sunstroke. There was no other explanation for why I couldn’t shut my stupid brain off from overthinking and my body from over feeling everything.
And then we were at the yacht, and Xavier moved forward to help Evan, and then helped his daughter out.
Below deck, a quick look over my shoulder in my bathroom mirror confirmed the streaks of sunburn. I showered, moisturized, sprayed some aloe awkwardly over my shoulders, hoping I got it in the right place. Then I put on a loose-fitting t-shirt, drank a whole bottle of water, and lay down for a few minutes.
When I awoke, it was dark. Moonlight streaked in, creating a faint colorless glow. My cabin door was closed. I sat bolt upright, utterly disoriented. I fumbled for my phone and saw the time was just after midnight. I’d missed dinner.
I padded to the bathroom, holding on as the boat rocked gently. Then I went to my open door, debating if I was going to go take a breather up on the top deck. I hadn’t woken with a racing heart I suddenly realized. And I didn’t feel hungry, so I wondered what else had woken me. Just then I heard a whimper. Then Dauphine talking. I poked my head out of the cabin. I waited in the silence to hear her again. There was another louder cry and then something unintelligible. She was having a nightmare.
Across the hall Xavier Pascale’s room sat dark and silent, like he wasn’t there. Then I remembered he’d moved back upstairs.
Dauphine’s scream pierced the silence, making me jump.
I hurried into her room. “Shhh,” I crooned, seeing her whip her head from side to side. I climbed on to the bed, and she sat up with another cry. My arms went around her and she tried to struggle.