Oh wow.My entire body reacted to that. My nipples tightened, and I barely resisted the urge to press my thighs together. I felt as if something had awoken inside me.
I focused on the table again. “To me it does.” I desperately needed to change the subject. “I’ve been trying to think about what to drink.”
“Champagne?” he tempted.
I shook my head. “I don’t want anything with bubbles, but I’ll have some white wine. It feels so decadent to drink at this time of the day.”
He laughed. “It is, but why the hell not? It’s Saturday. I have to give it to Emma and Jude: owning a boat is a brilliant idea. It never even occurred to me, but it gives you a lot of privacy and flexibility.”
“That’s true,” I said. “And being out at sea gives you a sense of freedom.”
“You know what I like most? That no one can see you. If Emma and Jude weren’t here, I would—” He stopped abruptly, and I turned to look at him. His nostrils flared, and his eyes were fixed on me.
What was he about to say? What would he do if Emma and Jude weren’t here? I was pathetically desperate to know. Because if they weren’t here, we wouldn’t even have to pretend we were an item.
I swallowed hard but didn’t have the guts to ask him tofinish that thought. He poured a glass of white wine for himself and also one for me. We clinked them together and then went down to sit in the shade of an umbrella between the lounge chairs. I was amazed that it was holding steady despite the strong breeze.
I ate a handful of canapés before taking a sip of wine; otherwise, I’d be drunk as a skunk in no time, and that wouldn’t do. I needed to be on my best behavior.
“This is so relaxing,” I said, keeping the grapes in one hand and my glass in the other. “This is one of the best days I’ve had in a long time.”
“I’m glad, Phoebe. You deserve good things,” Griffin said. He was sitting on the chaise lounge right next to mine.
I smiled, eating another grape. “I am fully confident that good things are coming my way.”
“I love your optimism.”
“I try. That’s what keeps me going. I can’t let the bad things get me down. If I did, I don’t think I’d ever get up.”
“Most people in your position probably wouldn’t have the strength to go on, at least not at the rate that you are,” he said. “I admire you for that—a lot.”
“Thank you.” His words truly touched me.
I was proud of myself for pulling through these past few weeks, but hearing someone else say it was entirely different.
The boat stopped after a while, and I knew Emma and Jude would be joining us soon. Sure enough, a few minutes later, they came over to where we were sitting.
“How are the canapés?” Jude asked. “Which are your favorites?”
Griffin spoke first. “I haven’t even touched them. I went straight for the wine.”
“Attaboy,” Emma said with a wink.
“Oh, I’ve had one of each. The ones with cheese are my favorite, but all of them are delicious. Thank you for setting everything up,” I gushed.
“Of course,” Jude said, sounding distracted. “Emma took care of everything.”
She beamed. I loved how he always praised her. He wasn’t trying to claim credit, nor was he afraid to put the spotlight on his wife.
“Well, when I spoke to the cleaning company in charge of this, I mentioned that we were going out to sea, and they advised that we should always have food on board. They recommended this catering company, and I’m going to keep them in mind.”
“How long are we staying here?” Griffin asked.
“Not long,” Jude said. “Emma and I just wanted to grab a bite because we didn’t have breakfast. Afterward, I’ll keep driving for another hour and a half or so, and then we’ll reach our destination.”
“This day is shaping up to be lovely,” Emma said. “We’re so happy you could join us.”
“So am I,” I said truthfully.
