“I was hoping we’d cook together in the galley. I’ve ensured that we have state-of-the-art appliances. Then we’ll eat on the deck under the moonlight, maybe dance to some Cajun rock and then I’ll seduce you again before we go back to the house.”
“I can see you’ve given this some thought.”
“I have,” he said. “I wanted...I still want to get to know the woman behind all these defenses, Staci. I care about you. I can’t make myself stop thinking about you.”
She understood what he was saying; he was verbalizing what she felt. She knew if she kept her guard down then she could enjoy the rest of her time with him. And to be fair it would probably be easier on him; he could stop worrying that he wasn’t living up to her needs.
“Okay but I’m in charge in the kitchen.”
“Like you were the first time,” he said.
“Ha. This time you take orders and act as my sous chef,” she said, standing up and reaching for her bikini bottoms.
“As you wish,” he said.
“As if. You’ll let me think I’m in charge, won’t you?”
“You bet,” he said with a grin. “Let’s shower and I took the liberty of stocking some clothing for you.”
“You did?” she asked. “Who does that?”
“A man who wants to impress his woman.”
His woman. Was she really Remy Stephens’s woman? Did she want to be? She knew she did. That was why she was laboring over everything he said and did. She wanted this to be real. More real than she’d wanted her father to show up when she was a kid. It was wrong in a way that a man still held the key to her happiness and she was afraid to let him see how much he meant to her.
“Well, I’m impressed,” she said. “Are we showering together?”
“No, I’ll let you have the facilities first. I need to check with the captain and tell him we won’t be fishing,” he said.
“I doubt you ever really intended for us to do that,” she said.
“Why?”
“I think you said it so I wouldn’t be wondering if you were going to make a play for me.”
“You’re right. I wanted you to relax. And I think I succeeded.”
He had done that all right. “Thank you, Remy.”
“For what?”
“The massage, the understanding. I know it’s been difficult?—”
“Nothing worth having comes easily,” he said, before he pulled on his swim trunks and walked out of the stateroom.
STACI REGAINEDHERequilibrium in the kitchen while Remy showered. She chopped vegetables, lettingthe sounds of her knife on the cutting board sooth her. The captain and crew were still staying out of sight, which Staci truly appreciated. She felt raw and exposed after making love with Remy and needed to put herself back together.
She was used to always being the strong one, the one who was tough and made everyone else feel better. Even Alysse let her be the tough one. It was Staci who always dealt with difficult small business loan officers, over-zealous customers and one time a would-be burglar.
At this moment she felt entirely incapable of doing anything but working in the kitchen.
“What can I do?” Remy asked as he came and stood beside her.
He wore a pair of jeans and a white linen shirt that he’d left unbuttoned at the neck. His hair was still damp from the shower and the white linen made his skin tone seem even deeper. Seeing him now she wondered how a man as together and successful as Remy could be out of work. He seemed more like a wealthy restaurant owner.
“I wasn’t sure what we were making so I’m just chopping vegetables,” she said. “I already made some cupcakes for dessert...they’re baking in the oven.”
“Cupcake girl, I’m flattered,” he said, and dropped a kiss on her neck. “Face me so I can see if the dress I ordered looks as lovely on you as it did on the model.”
