“It was like he was showing off for us,” she continued. “That’s pretty special.”
“Do you see them much?”
“Mostly from the boat, but occasionally passengers get to swim with a manta as well as the whale shark or humpbacks.” She smiled. “I rarely get a good look, because all the passengers are jostling for position.”
He’d never considered it from her point of view. “I’m glad you got to now.”
“Me too.” She glanced over at the boat. “We should head back.”
The other passengers were already climbing on board. Damn it. He’d wanted to be back in the cabin before they finished swimming. Now he would have to parade in front of them as he got out. They’d all see he was missing part of his leg.
His mouth set in a firm line as he nodded. As he replaced his snorkel, Gretchen touched his arm. “I know it’s hard for you. I should have told you to go back earlier.”
“Not your fault.”
“I can board first and get your leg. They’ll be too busy with food to notice you putting it back on, and then you can wrap a towel around your waist.”
Her words released some of his tension. “Thanks.”
By the time they reached the boat, everyone was on board. Gretchen lifted herself onto the marlin board with practised ease, her bathers stretching over her deliciously round butt. Arthur blinked, surprised by the wave of lust shooting through him. He floated nearby while she fetched his leg and wrapped a towel around it to hide it as she moved through the passengers. Thinking of everything.
He hoisted himself up, sitting back on the step and dried what was left of his leg and slipped the liner, socks and prosthesis on. Gretchen stayed next to him, his sentinel, until he climbed to his feet and wrapped the towel around his waist. It wasn’t quite long enough to cover all of the leg, but it hid it somewhat.
No one paid him any attention. They stood in groups, holding plates of food, chatting about what they’d seen. He moved towards the cabin, eager to get his pants back on. On his way, he passed the food table where a woman was adding food to her plate. She turned and crashed into him. Fruit hit his bare chest, as did the cold liquid in her cup.
“Shit! I’m so sorry.”
Arthur steadied her and as he did so, his towel fell to the ground, his leg exposed.
Damn. Before he could grab it, the woman dumped her plate and cup on the table and snatched some napkins, dabbing at his moist chest, her face bright red. Awkward.
Arthur grabbed her hands to stop her, as across from him a man murmured, “He’s got a prosthetic leg.”
The woman next to him replied, “Who cares about the leg? My eyes are on his glorious chest.”
Arthur glanced up. The man who had mentioned his leg shot the woman an annoyed look, but the woman didn’t notice, too busy staring at Arthur, or rather Arthur’s chest. She grinned and waved. “Amazing pecs.”
His whole body flushed. He had no words. There was no derision or disgust. She was checking him out. Before he could figure out what to do, Gretchen was there, gently turning the woman who was still dabbing at his chest. “It’s fine. There’s a shower where he can clean up.” She handed Arthur his towel.
His brain still hadn’t quite kicked into gear. He scanned the deck, but those who had noticed the incident weren’t staring at his leg. In fact, several women were looking with appreciation at his chest.
Embarrassment of a different sort crept in. Usually, it was full of self-loathing and disgust, but this embarrassment held a little pride. He’d worked hard when he was in the army to keep his fitness up, but he had done little since the accident. But they didn’t care he wasn’t in as good shape as he used to be.
He hurried into the cabin, wrapping the towel around his waist as he did so. They weren’t treating him like a cripple, but like a man.
Arthur sat, trying to come to terms with the shift in realisation.
His lips quirked as he glanced outside where a few women still looked his way.
Hell.
Sam walked in. “You’re creating quite a stir with my passengers. You better put that chest away before someone gets injured.” He tossed Arthur a shirt.
“Shut up.” Arthur slipped it on.
Sam chuckled. “You’re like a tomato right now. You were never great at dealing with attention from the ladies.”
“I never thought I’d have that problem again.”
