“Honey…” I wrap my arms around her, hoping I get to do this for the rest of my life. “I promise. I’m going to keep you safe. I jumped into the scary world of makeup for you. Reciprocate just a little?”
“That’s not the same! You can’t drown in highlighter.”
“Says you,” I quip. “You also can’t drown while you’re wearing protective gear and you’re with me. I swear.”
She bites her lip. “I’m terrified.”
“I know. But water is such an important part of my life, and I want to share it with you. Three hours. If you’re still not enjoying it after that, I’ll stop torturing you.”
“All right.”
“Thank you. You think I’d ever let you get hurt? I love you.” It’s getting easier to tell Masey how I feel, mostly because I’m convinced she’s fallen, too. I just wish like hell she’d say the words and admit it. Once she does, I’m hoping she’ll commit.
“Not on purpose.”
“The water isn’t going to jump up, pull you under, and swallow you whole.”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
I don’t mean to laugh at her, but I can’t help it. “Yes, I do. Let me put it to you this way. I’ve brought Ranger out here many times, and he loves it.”
“He doesn’t know any better yet.”
“But he’s still alive not to know any better.”
She sighs and tries to relax. “I’m being a wimp, aren’t I?”
“This is a new experience.”
“And I’m not handling it well.” Masey drags in a calming breath. “It’s fine. Fine. Everything is going to be fine.”
“It will. Did I mention you look adorable?”
She nods. “You did. I still think you’re lying. Panic is not charming.”
I laugh again. “You and your family never did things like this growing up?”
“We never had time. My dad was a pediatric cardiovascular surgeon. He saw the cases most everyone else had given up on. We didn’t have a lot of free weekends, and he never wanted to be out of the range of his phone or pager. Since my mom was a nurse, she kept weird hours, too. And my brother had a bunch of guy friends he did stuff with.”
“They never invited you?”
“No. We’re four years apart. Chase—sorry, everyone calls him Zyron now—used to go camping a lot in his last few years of high school. When you were seventeen, would you have wanted to take your thirteen-year-old sister with all your buddies?”
“Fuck no.” The idea horrifies me. “They would all have tried to mack on you.”
“I was thirteen!”
“Which tells me that you don’t understand how horny teenage boys are. Besides, I’ll bet you were hot even then.”
“Gawky,” she assures me. “Braces and freckles and not a curve anywhere on my body.”
I turn her to face me, then look her up and down with a whistle. “Then things changed because you look amazing now. And I love your bikini. Nothing says Hawaii like a big plumeria over your pussy.”
She swats my arm. “That’s the first thing you notice about this suit?”
“Most of the rest of it is covered but…” I spin her around and stare. Yes, I love Masey, and she’s an amazing woman, but I’m a guy and…wow. “The way these bikini bottoms show off your luscious ass ought to be illegal. Did I mention this catamaran has four bedrooms?”
She grabs my hands and leads me toward the interior. “Okay. Let’s go.”
I plant my feet. I’m hoping we’ll get to enjoy that soon. But I’ve got other plans first. “Who’s going to navigate the boat if I do?”
“Damn it.”
Wrapping my arms around Masey, I bring her close again. “Really, it’s all good. We’re going to have fun.”
She looks close to hyperventilating, but nods.
“Good.” I press a soft kiss to her mouth and let her know I’m here for her. “I’ve looked at the charts, the wind, and the current. We’re almost to the spot I’d like to put the anchor down. We’ll be just over a sandy patch. I’m going to walk you to the anchor gear. When I give you the signal, you’re going to release it—”
“I don’t know how.”
“I’ll show you.” And if I have my way, she’ll have the hang of this in no time. “I’ll be up at the helm, taking care of the positioning, okay?”
“If you’re sure…”
I am. “When I give the signal, just release this lever. The hatch below should open. Because this ship has two engines, the anchor has a bridle and…” When I see confusion cross Masey’s face, I