“Yeah.” I take her hand in mine. For the first time today, I’m able to relax a little. Somehow, being with her just makes everything right. “I thought we could sail to Turtle Rock.”
“Sounds good. I haven’t been there in ages.”
At the marina, I lead Shell onto the sailboat. I’ve already prepped everything beforehand, so we just need to use the motor to manoeuvre out of the marina before I can harness the wind.
While I’m busying myself getting underway, Shelly looks around, opening the hatch to the cabin.
She looks back at me as if asking permission to snoop.
“Go ahead. It’s fine.”
She dips her head and steps down into the cabin. “This is really nice.” She pokes her head out. “There’s a little sofa in here and a toilet.”
I get the boat moving and steer us out of the marina. “It converts to a bed, too.”
Her mouth parts before she disappears back inside the cabin. I groan inwardly at having her just where I want her, but right now, I need to focus on manoeuvring us into the open ocean. But nothing’s gonna stop me when I get her all alone.
Chapter Thirteen
SHELLY
Ilean back, admiring Finn at the helm of the boat. His rugged, unshaven jaw suits him. With his white shirt rolled up to his elbows, exposing the ink on his forearms, he just needs a hat and would look the part of a captain. My captain.
Wind blows my hair as the boat picks up speed, powered by Mother Nature alone. At this rate, we’ll be at Turtle Rock in no time at all. A school of fish swim in my belly, anticipation making me nauseous.
Finn smiles at me as if he knows I need reassurance. But it’s his smile that’s making my stomach flip. “You all right, Shell? You’re looking a little pale.”
I cling to the side of the boat, hanging on as the speed increases by another knot. “All good,” I shout as the wind flaps my hair around. I knew I shouldn’t have bothered curling it this morning.
Finn slows the boat by reefing the sails, and my griploosens on the rail. “We’ll find a suitable spot for anchorage. I don’t want to get too close to the rock.”
“Okay.” I twist my body to look over the side as we gently sway in the crystal blue waters. Below is a world of colour dancing under the sun’s rays like one of Finn’s paintings, sublime yet tranquil. Wild yet calming.
“You can let go of the railing now.” He drops the anchor. The chain disrupting the peace of the ocean. Finn lifts one of the seats and pulls out a picnic basket. “You hungry?”
The cork popping on the champagne startles me.
“You’re very jumpy today.” He pours me a glass of bubbly and hands it to me. “Don’t be nervous. It’s just me.”
“That’s what’s making me nervous.” I sip the champagne, hoping it will help me relax. The bubbles froth on my tongue.
“If it makes you feel any better, you make me nervous, too.”
I wouldn’t have guessed, but now I catch the slight tremble in his hand as he pours his glass of champagne.
“Why?” I can’t believe anyone would ever feel nervous around me.
He clinks our glasses together. “Because I like you. And you like me and I want this date to go well.”
I take a strawberry from the basket. “It’s going well, captain.”
Finn seems to relax, letting out a breath. “I picked up some vegan snacks. I wasn’t sure what you’d like.” He sets an array of tapas before me and I pick up an olive.
“This is delicious. I eat dairy, by the way.” I pick up a cube of feta cheese and pop it in my mouth along with the olive.
“Good to know. Here, try this Halloumi.” He feeds mea strip and I moan. His blue eyes sparkle like the sun on the ocean at hearing my appreciation.
Tingles cascade down my spine when he looks at me like that, full of heat and want. “So now you have me all alone, what are you going to do with me?”
