Waiting for their party on the wooden jetty next to the smart white motorboat were three men, all under thirty. One wore a white shirt with gold epaulets, two wore white chef’s jackets. But only the tall one drew her focus. Only he made her heart skip a beat when his ocean-blue eyes found hers.
Connor began to stroll toward them with the loose-limbed understated swagger of a model walking the catwalk.
Beside her, Chloe sighed. “That there is BDE if ever I saw it.”
Olivia glanced sideways at her. “Sorry?”
“Big-dick energy. You know, the natural, easy confidence of a man who’s got a really big—”
“Yep, think I’ve got it. Thanks, Chloe,” she muttered, hating the way her heart raced as Connor sauntered toward them.
“Ladies.” He flashed his smile, eyes resting on each of them in turn, yet when he came to hers, he lingered a few beats. Long enough for a flush of heat to creep up her neck. “Luca and I will be catering for you today, and we have Ned as our captain. We’re here to make sure you have a fabulous day, so if you need anything, don’t be shy in asking.”
“Anything?” Chloe grinned.
He laughed, low and sexy. “We’ll do our best to accommodate your requests.” Yet again his eyes found hers. “Anything you want, you let me know.”
She could feel the blush scald her face. She didn’t react like this, ever. What was wrong with her?
He waved toward the boat. “Let’s get this boat party started, yes?”
Letting out a series of whoops, Sophie and her friends scampered toward the boat. Ashley threaded her arm through Jessica’s and marched on ahead, leaving Olivia to bring up the rear. With Connor.
“My sisters are nothing if not determined,” she grumbled.
Connor dipped his head so she was forced to look into his eyes. “Morning, Livvy.”
“I should refuse to talk to you unless you use my proper name.”
“Feeling a bit tetchy today, are we?” He grinned. “We’ll soon take care of that.”
She had a sharp response ready on her tongue—something along the lines of being in charge of her own mood—but he took hold of her hand and the words got stuck.
Involuntarily her eyes fell to where his tanned fingers clasped hers and then drifted up along his forearm to where a pair of veins twisted around the muscle. For the first time she spotted a tattoo on the inside of his arm, the nameElliewritten inside a heart. Old girlfriend? It should have put her off, but her eyes greedily continued their path up toward the biceps that bulged beneath his rolled-up sleeve.God, stop ogling.
She snapped her head back up, only to meet his amused blue gaze. “Anythingyou want, Livvy,” he repeated in a voice that sounded like dark, sultry evenings and dirty secrets. “You just let me know.”
She swallowed, fixed her eyes straight ahead. “What I’d like is a cup of coffee. Black, no sugar.”
Laughter shot out of him. “If you think that aloof crap is going to put me off, you’ve no idea how determined I can be when I see something I want.”
They reached the boat and he helped her board, the feel of his hand warm and strong as it wrapped around hers.
She didn’t know what to make of his interest or her body’s strong reaction to him. He was a million miles away from the previous two age-appropriate men she’d dated. Ashley’s words from yesterday floated back to her.It’s time you went out with someone you don’t want to like.A man you’re drawn to despite what your brain is telling you.
Deliberately she removed her hand and made her way over to the rest of the party.
Conversation bubbled around her as the boat set off across the harbor. A few minutes later, a cup of coffee was pressed into her hands from behind. “To help smooth out the tetchy.”
She looked over her shoulder, and her gaze clashed with a pair of amused blue eyes.
“Thanks.” Quickly she turned back before she made the mistake of smiling. It was wrong to encourage him when she had no intention of taking him up on his offer.
Nicole looked longingly at Connor’s taut back as he walked away. “If you won’t, I will!”
“Yeah, he’s stupid-hot,” Chloe added wistfully. “Wish he’d smile at me like that.”
“I wish he were smiling at you too,” Olivia muttered under her breath.
