Perhaps. But nothing’s happened.
Hence the word emotional.
But Joanna couldn't deny that she was attracted to Nick, and when the question ‘what about Peter’ returned to her active, little brain, she didn’t have an answer.
All she knew was that being with him felt like the most natural thing in the world.
He went into the cabin and came back with a speargun that was about five feet long. “OK,” he said, holding it out to her. “First we should practice on something.” He looked around, visibly at a loss and then abruptly grabbed a life vest off the rails and flicked it into the water.
“I guess we’re not going to need that then?” Joanna said dryly.
He grinned. “I hope not.”
He handed her the speargun and got behind her, his hard body firm against hers. “OK, pick it up and aim as you would a rifle. It does have a little bit of kick, so put the stock into your shoulder.” He put his chest into her back and helped her position her elbows correctly.
“What if I miss?” Joanna asked, turning back to him. His face was getting stubbly. He hadn’t shaved in a day or so and it was tickling her shoulder. Not unpleasantly.
“That’s why there is a rope attached to the spear,” he pointed out.
“Oh, right.” Joanna blushed at her own stupidity.
Nick stepped to the side and said, “Match up your sights and pull the trigger. Now in the water it’s unnecessary to put the butt in your shoulder, but it does have a kick even when submerged, so it’s up to you. We’ll practice a few times.”
He got closer to her again, and repositioned her elbows once more before she took the shot. She could smell him. He wasn’t wearing cologne or deodorant, but he didn’t have to. His natural fragrance was sweet and manly. She liked how he smelled.
Joanna pulled the trigger and the speargun kicked a little bit, stinging the flesh in her armpit. Instantly the spear struck the life vest with a loud pop and jostled the water.
“Well done, Annie Oakley!” Nick exclaimed.
Joanna rolled her eyes at him, but grinned.
A little while later he went into the cabin and came back with snorkeling equipment.
“Ever snorkeled?” he asked.
“Yes, that Icando.”
Nick handed her two fins, a scuba mask, and a snorkel. As she was putting everything on and tightening straps, he casually geared up and sat on the side of the boat and waited.
“Ready?” he asked. She nodded and he took a deep breath and fell backwards into the water with the unloaded speargun in his hand.
Show off,she thought.
She climbed down the ladder and shrieked the deeper she got into the water.
Gah, it was cold!
She gasped and shivered while Nick pulled the spear out of the life vest and loaded it back up.
“There are two fish abundant in this area worth hunting,” he said while wading towards her. “The tuna and the red snapper. Catch one tuna and we’re all set for lunch.”
Joanna’s shivers abated and she nodded. Her nipples had become two rock-solid little buds that he was definitely going to notice underwater.
Nick kicked his feet up and plunged beneath the waves.
That was OK, she was going to steal a few glances at him, too.
She kicked her feet up and dived after him.
