Page 151 of My Real Love Affair

“Tighter than that.”

I squeezed him as tight as I could. He laughed, then hit the throttle.

We shot forward across the water. I screamed, half terror, half exhilaration. The wind whipped my hair back, salt spray hit my face, and we were flying.

Austin navigated us through the waves with expert precision, occasionally hitting them at angles that launched us into the air for heart-stopping seconds. Every time we landed, I squealed and held on tighter. I could feel him laughing. He was absolutely loving this.

I was, too, much to my surprise.

“You okay back there?” he shouted over the engine.

“This is insane!”

“Good insane?”

“The best insane!”

He took us in wide circles, showing off a little and proving he had done this more than a few times. I laughed until my cheeks hurt. This was freedom. This was joy. This was exactly what I needed on our last day.

After a particularly impressive jump, Austin slowed down, bringing us to a gentle stop in the middle of the crystalline water. The yacht was visible in the distance, but we were essentially alone.

He turned around carefully on the seat to face me. “Hi.”

“Hi.” I was breathless and grinning like an idiot. “That was amazing.”

“You’re amazing.” He cupped my face and kissed me, soft and sweet and tasting like salt water.

When he pulled back, I was smiling so hard my face hurt.

He kissed me a few more times before he turned back around to start the jet ski again, but in the process of shifting his weight, he lost his balance. And fell right off into the water.

I watched him go over the side in slow motion, my brain taking a second to process what had just happened. Then he surfaced, sputtering and laughing. I started laughing too.

“Oh my god, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” He treaded water, grinning up at me. “Just maintaining my dignity.”

“You literally just fell off a jet ski.”

“I was distracted by your beauty.”

“Sure you were.” I looked down at the controls. “So, um, how do I drive this thing?”

“Melody, don’t you dare.”

But I’d already figured out the throttle. The jet ski shot forward, leaving Austin behind. I let out a whoop of victory.

“Melody!” I heard him shout behind me. “Come back here!”

I circled around, getting the hang of the controls, feeling powerful and free. When I came back toward him, I slowed down, pulling up beside him.

“Need a rescue?” I asked sweetly.

“You’re terrible.”

“I’m amazing. You just said so. I’m your heroine in shining armor.”

He grabbed the side of the jet ski, hauling himself up, water streaming off his body. And damn, he looked good wet.