“This looks great,” I said when we reached the deck.
“We took the liberty of preparing some drinks.”
They’d gone all out. Orange juice, waters, champagne. I looked at Phoebe, who seemed awed by everything.
“This is amazing,” she gushed. “But you really didn’t have to.”
“Nonsense,” Emma said. “It’s our pleasure, and honestly, I didn’t really have to do much. This one here decided to spoil all of us today and had a concierge arrange everything.” She squeezed Jude’s arm, and he smiled at her.
I had a good feeling about this. Jude was putting a lot of effort into accommodating us. I couldn’t see him turning down my investment offer after this.
Jude clapped his hands together. “All right, I’ll be going to the captain’s cabin.” He sounded extremely proud as he said it. “You three make yourselves comfortable.”
“Actually, I’ll come with you,” Emma said. “I want us to be together when we sail out of the harbor.”
“Sure, let’s go, darling.”
He took her hand, and they both disappeared into the captain’s cabin.
Phoebe sighed. “I didn’t even know a relationship could ever be like that, let alone after so many years.”
“That makes two of us,” I admitted. “But wait, I thought you said your parents are still together.”
“They are, and they have a happy marriage. But they aren’tthatclose.” She laughed nervously before adding, “I’m going to change into my bathing suit.”
“Sure.”
Thank fuck she was taking off that sinful dress. It was completely appropriate for the occasion, yet it drove me crazy.
When she returned several minutes later, I realized I was in a world of trouble. She’d taken off the dress all right, but this wasn’t any better. In fact, it was so much worse. Her bikini was black and tiny. In my mind, she was simply walking around in lingerie. It barely covered her breasts, and her ass cheeks were completely on display. And Phoebe wore it damn well.
Marshall was a stupid asshole.
She tiptoed toward me and said, “I feel a bit embarrassed about this bikini, but I didn’t have another one.”
“You look fucking gorgeous.”
“Oh, okay. Thanks.” Her cheeks turned red again.
“Your problem isn’t going to be Emma and Jude. It’s going to be fighting me off.”
She grinned. “That’s good. It’ll give us more credibility. Aren’t you going to change?”
“I’ve got my swimming trunks on underneath my shorts.”
I took off my T-shirt and then pushed down my pants. Phoebe swallowed audibly. When I straightened up, she looked like she might drool any second.
“Seems I’m not the only who’s got a huge problem, am I?” I questioned.
She looked up slowly, then shook herself as if realizing she was checking me out in plain sight. I held her gaze stubbornly until she looked away.
“Umm, I’m thirsty,” she said.
I decided not to put her on the spot. “What do you want to drink?”
“Orange juice.”
She licked her lips as I poured her a glass, which she downed right away. The yacht was moving ahead at a pleasant speed. I glanced in the captain’s cabin. Emma and Jude were concentrating on the wheel, or perhaps the screen in front of them.
