“Hey,” I manage to say, my voice slightly hoarse. “You look beautiful.”
A blush colors Rose’s cheeks, and my heart skips a beat. “Thanks,” she says softly. “You clean up pretty nice yourself.”
I offer her my hand, helping her onto the dock. The touch of her skin against mine sends a jolt of electricity through me, and I force myself to resist the urge to pull her closer.
“Ready for our sunset sail?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
Rose nods, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I can’t wait. I’ve never been on a sailboat before.”
“I think you’re going to love it. There’s something special about sailing – the quiet, the way we slice through the waves. Just us and the wind out here on the water.”
As we walk towards Captain Orin’s boat, I can’t help but marvel at how natural this feels. Rose’s hand in mine, the sound of her laughter carried on the evening breeze – it’s like she belongs here with me.
But as we near the sailboat, I feel a flutter of nervousness take flight in my stomach. I know Orin means well, but his teasing could easily veer into dangerous territory. I silently pray to whatever deities might be listening (and pointedly not to Koko) that he’ll behave himself.
“Captain Orin!” I call out as we approach. “We’re here!”
Orin appears on deck, in a white polo shirt and navy shorts. “Welcome aboard, you two!” he booms, his voice carrying across the marina. “Ready for amagicalevening?”
I catch the glint in his eye at the word ‘magical’ and shoot him a warning look. He grins wider in response.
“Here, let me help you,” I say, offering Rose my hand. She takes it, stepping carefully from the dock onto the gently rocking boat. I guide her to the cockpit, making sure she’s comfortable on one of the cushioned seats, before moving to help with the lines. As Captain Orin starts the boat’s motor, I work my way around the deck, casting off the dock lines one by one.
As we push off from the dock, I inhale deeply, savoring the crisp, salty breeze. My heart races with anticipation. Whatever happens, I’m determined to make this a night Rose will never forget.
As we motor out of the marina, the gentle hum of the engine vibrates through the deck. Rose makes her way to the bow, her hair whipping in the wind, her eyes wide with excitement as she takes in the expanding horizon. Behind us, the coastline of Lublin Harbor grows smaller, and the town’s lights begin to twinkle in the fading daylight.
Once we’re in open water, Captain Orin calls out, “Ready to sail?” At Rose’s enthusiastic nod, he kills the engine. The sudden silence is striking, broken only by the lapping of waves against the hull.
I can’t take my eyes off Rose as Orin unfurls the sails. Her gasp of delight when the wind catches the canvas, and the boat surges forward sends a warmth spreading through my chest. The sailboat heels over, and Rose lets out a gleeful laugh, gripping the railing as she leans into the tilt.
Spray from the bow mists our faces, cool and refreshing against the warmth of the setting sun. The peaceful quiet envelops us, punctuated only by the wind whistling through the rigging, the piercing cry of an osprey wheeling overhead, and the creaking of the hull as it cuts through the waves.
I join Rose at the railing, pointing out the Maine coastline to our left. The sun is sinking behind it, painting the sky inbreathtaking colors. The rugged shoreline is cast in shadow, a dark silhouette against the brilliant sky.
After showing off the boat’s speed for a while, Orin slows our pace, setting a more leisurely course parallel to the coast. He disappears below deck and returns with a bottle of champagne and a tray of appetizers.
“Some bubbly to help you stay afloat.Winedon’t you two go enjoy the sunset?” he suggests with a wink, pouring us each a glass of bubbly before retreating to the stern.
Rose laughs delightedly at the puns, and I groan. “Please don’t encourage him,” I warn her.
Rose and I settle on the cushioned seating in the cockpit, the golden light of the setting sun warming our faces. She takes a sip of champagne, her eyes closing in appreciation, and I’m struck by how beautiful she looks – wind-tousled hair, cheeks flushed pink, and a soft smile playing on her lips.
Before I can second-guess myself, I lean in and kiss her. Her lips are soft and taste of champagne, and she responds with an eagerness that makes my heart soar. Rose’s eyes flutter open as we part, meeting mine with a look of tender happiness that takes my breath away. The setting sun gilds her features, and I realize that this moment, perfect and fleeting, will be etched in my memory forever. I’m vaguely aware that Orin is probably watching and collecting prime gossip material, but with Rose in my arms and the vast ocean surrounding us, I don’t care.
CHAPTER 19
Rose
Levi moves along the deck with practiced ease, setting out the fenders as we head back to the marina while trading terrible nautical puns with Captain Orin.
“Don’t get too stern with me,” he calls out, earning a deep belly laugh from the older sailor.
I can’t help but smile, watching him work – how his hands move so surely over the ropes, how his whole body seems to flow with the gentle rock of the boat. The day at sea has softened all his edges, leaving him loose and relaxed. I should feel the same way after hours of perfect sailing. Instead, my pulse races every time he glances my way, his easy smile making my skin tingle with anticipation. All I can think about is getting him off this boat, away from the docks, and into my bedroom. Each time he leans over the rail to adjust another fender or tighten some rigging, the play of muscles under his shirt sends another wave of heat through my body. I grip the handrail tighter, trying to ground myself as desire threatens to burn me alive.
Despite the cool, gentle wind sweeping in from the water, I have a heat building inside me. This night has been one of the most romantic of my life. I can barely wait to get off this boat, to get him alone.
I glance at Levi, and the flush on his cheeks and the brightness in his eyes tells me he feels it, too. The tension between us, the magnetic pull, has been building all evening, and now it feels unbearable.
