He makes his way toward me like a beautiful, grinning sea monster, and I instinctively stand, my heart thudding in full fight-or-flight mode. But there’s nowhere to take flight to except the water, and as for fighting? I’m not delusional enough to believe I’d leave victorious when I’m up against that physique.
“Think about it,” I hurry to say as he approaches, his boat shoes squelching with each step. “If you throw me in, my hatred of Palmers and Sunset Harbor will be solidified forever.”
He doesn’t stop, though. Apparently, his island pride has climbed into the backseat, content for vengeance to take the wheel.
My back hits the glass of the side windshield, and I retreat as far into it as possible as Beau looms over me enough that I have to tip my chin up to meet his gaze.
He stares down at me, his eyes sparkling with playfulness.
I consider pleading with him, but if I’m going down, I’m not doing it shrieking or begging. I will be stiff as a board, making it as difficultas possible for him to get me to the side to throw me over.
His gaze locks on mine as he reaches his right arm behind me, mischief in his eyes.
“I will never forgiveyou if you throw me in,” I hiss, even as I realize this is all a natural consequence of my spur-of-the-moment choice to make him go overboard.
His chest presses against mine, and I wait for him to scoop me up, trying to force my muscles to stay rigid when some of them—my heart, namely—are on the verge of collapse.
His arm suddenly retracts from behind me, and he pulls back. My gaze darts to the bright spot that enters my peripheral vision: a flowery red beach towel.
“Just needed this,” he says, laughter written in every line of his face as he holds it up. “I think I’ll take over driving from here if you don’t mind.”
My cheeks burn, and a hundred options run through my mind of what I could do right now: slap him, strangle him with that towel, throw his keys in the water, refuse to move, drive this boat into a reef, kiss him.
My gaze flits down to his lips for a second.What is wrong with you, Gemma!?
I move out of his way without executing any of the options I considered.
I sit on the passenger seat as Beau uses the towel to dry off his hair, then runs it over his body. He could’ve spared himself the trouble for all the good it does. Now I’m stuck with the view of his clothes plastered to his body until they dry out. At least that loose weave will make that happen more quickly.
“Shall we be on our way?” He takes his seat at the wheel and removes his shoes. “I tried to order food that would keep for a bit, but it won’t stay good forever.”
“Lead the way, Magellan,” I say, still rattled by the fact that kissing him was anywhere in my subconscious. Is there a cayenne pepper and lemon juice cleanse for the brain? “How was your meeting with the city council person?” I ask, desperate to have something new to occupy my thoughts.
He shoots a quick glance at me. The sun is to our backs, dipping lower on the horizon as it prepares for sunset. It casts a long, bright path on the water as we run parallel to Sunset Harbor’s east coast. “Why? Did you hear something?”
“Should I have?”
“No. I just didn’t expect you to ask.”
I sit with that for a second. Is that code foryou’re a jerk, so even the mildest display of curiosity about my life comes as a surprise? It might shock Beau to know that I’m generally well-liked. In fact, I’m a downright pleasant person, usually. Sunset Harbor just brings out the worst in me. “So, how was it?”
“Not quite what I’d hoped for.”
“And whatwereyou hoping for?”
He takes a second before responding. “I was asking if the city would hire me on full-time.”
My brows shoot up. That wasn’t what I was expecting. “And they said no?”
“They can’t justify the expense given the low crime rates on the island. I tried to explain how a law enforcement officer functions in more capacities than just responding to crime, but to make a change like that, the council has to be unanimous, and there are a couple…” He hesitates.
“Sawyerites?”
He chuckles. “If you wanna put it that way. Hey, look.” He points to the left of the boat, and I hurry over in time to see a manatee gliding beneath the water.
Manatees are top five on my list of animals that are hideously cute, and it brings a big smile to my face. Beau slows the boat, and we watch as the manatee swims alongside us for a few seconds, then disappears.
I move back to my seat and sit with my legs tucked under me as we speed up again. The wind whips my face, keeping away the humidity. “There are other police departments that need cops, you know.”
