“I think it’s the Diet Coke I get with it, honestly, but yeah,” Lauren agreed with a smile. “I mean, the Tylenol is helping but…”
“We have to be functioning adults for the rest of the day.” Grey grinned and started the car. “There’s a McD’s on the way to the farmer’s market. We can stop there first, and then try and hurry through the rest of the things we need to do.”
Lauren adjusted her sunglasses and nodded, resigned to officially starting their day. “Sounds good to me,” she murmured as she looked out the windshield.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
LAUREN LOOKED OUT the galley window at Grey, who was leaning against the deck railing at the stern and chatting amiably with their guests. The sun was setting behind Grey, painting a golden stripe across the indigo waters of Saint Frances Bay, and Lauren idly wondered where in the world the day had gone. It seemed like only a couple of hours had passed since she and Grey had showered together, and yet the sun sinking toward the horizon was proof enough that the day had indeed passed them by.
She frowned and turned her attention back to the appetizer she was plating, wishing that she could turn back time to when it was just the two of them cocooned in the serenity of Hawksnest Bay. At the time, she had been too engrossed in living every moment to really recognize how special that time was, but now, looking back on it all, she knew that those few days were ones she would never forget. She blew out a frustrated breath as she arranged the last few pieces of coconut shrimp around a small ceramic bowl filled with a tangy orange dipping sauce.
Despite the fact that Lauren wished she and Grey could magically go back in time to when it was just the two of them aboard the boat, she had to admit that she was enjoying the company of their latest guests. David Yi, Harrison Coppes, and Rob Schwartz had been fraternity brothers at Yale, and they andtheir wives Julie, Mia, and Lily got together once a year to catch up and cut loose, free from the responsibilities of their careers and their children. They were an outgoing group that talked loudly and laughed raucously, and Lauren smiled in spite of herself as she remembered the way they had gathered around the peninsula in the galley to knock back two rounds of tequila shots before theVeritashad even left its slip in Charlotte Amalie.
Once she was pleased with the presentation of the appetizer, Lauren gathered herself with a deep breath, picked up the plate of shrimp, and carried it out to the deck. David and Julie were seated at the port-side table, while Harrison and Mia were seated at the other with Rob and Lily, and Lauren looked between the two tables before deciding to set the platter down on the table with more people. “Coconut crusted shrimp. Enjoy.”
Mia smiled at Lauren as she picked up a shrimp and dipped it in the sauce, and she moaned appreciatively at her first bite. “This is amazing.”
“I’m glad you like it.” Lauren smiled and tipped her head in thanks even as her gaze locked onto Grey’s. After days of being able to touch and kiss Grey whenever the urge struck, it felt strange to have to hold herself back, and she sighed when she saw a similar emotion flickering in Grey’s eyes.
“Don’t eat it all,” Mia’s husband, Harrison, teased as he and the rest of the group all reached for the shrimp. “Save some for the rest of us.”
“Move faster next time.” Mia waved him off with a smirk and reached for a second shrimp, playfully batting her husband’s hand away and stealing the one he had been going for.
Lauren laughed and turned to head back to the galley. No matter how amusing the mini-slap-fight the group was now engaged in was, she still had to finish preparing the evening’s main course. “Dinner will be ready in about half an hour.”
With the group happily converged on the appetizer Lauren had brought out, Grey pushed herself off the railing she had been perched on and started toward the salon. The minutiae of running a floating bed and breakfast had kept her occupied for most of the day, and she had not had one minute alone with Lauren from the moment their newest guests had set foot aboard theVeritas. “Anybody need another drink?”
Julie chuckled and shook her head. “Not until I get a little more food in me.”
“Yeah. Me too,” David chimed in, glancing at the others, who all nodded their agreement. “You mix a strong margarita, Grey.”
Grey nodded and started toward the salon. “Just let us know if you guys need anything else.” Her eyes flicked briefly over the group one last time and, once she was convinced that they would be fine for a while, she disappeared inside. Her gaze immediately landed on Lauren, who was leaning against the edge of the counter waiting for her, and she smiled as she closed the distance between them in four long strides.
“Took you long enough,” Lauren murmured as she looped her arms around Grey’s neck.
“Sorry.” Grey wrapped her arms around Lauren’s waist and pulled her in close. She held Lauren’s gaze as she leaned in until their lips were almost touching, and sighed as she nuzzled Lauren’s cheek with her nose. “I had to make sure they were good for a while so that I could do this.”
“Is this really all you want to do?” Lauren smirked and pulled back to arch a playful brow at Grey.
“God, no.” Grey surged forward and captured Lauren’s lips with her own. She smiled at the way Lauren whimpered into the kiss, and she tightened her hold on Lauren’s waist as she ran the tip of her tongue along the seam of Lauren’s lips.
Lauren opened her mouth to Grey, tilting her head to the side to take Grey deeper as the firm press of the brunette’s body urged her backwards. She gasped softly when her back came into contact with the cool steel door of the refrigerator, but the small sound of surprise quickly became a rumbling moan when Grey’s body molded to her own, pinning her to the door as strong hands wrapped possessively around her hips.
The sound of laughter filtering through the open galley window reminded Grey that they were not alone, and she lifted her hands to cup Lauren’s face as she gentled her kisses until they were nothing more than a lazy string of tender pecks. “I missed that,” she whispered as she leaned her forehead against Lauren’s.
“Me too.” Lauren lifted her chin and kissed Grey softly. After a day spent apart, filled with hours that seemed to fly by in mere seconds, this connection that made her breath light and her heart beat heavily in her throat was all that she wanted. She threaded the fingers of her right hand through the short hairs at the back of Grey’s neck, scratching lightly as she brushed their lips together, drawing the moment out for a few seconds longer.
Grey smoothed her thumbs over Lauren’s cheeks and smiled at the soft sigh the gentle touch coaxed from her lips. “Did today seem to go way too fast?”
“Yes.” Lauren nodded. “Way too fast.” She blinked her eyes open and sighed. “I need to make dinner.”
“Yeah.” Grey leaned in and kissed Lauren softly. “Do you need any help?”
“Nah, that’s all right. I got it. You can stay and keep me company, though.”
“You don’t trust me with the rice, do you?”
“Not at all.” Lauren laughed and stole one last kiss before patting Grey on the shoulders. She smiled at the way Grey huffed dramatically as she took a step back, and shook her head as she turned to open the fridge.
