“Why?”
I climbed down, and before I could steady myself, he pulled me down on top of him.
I landed half sprawled across him—my knees braced on either side of his hips, my chest pressed to his, my hands scrambling for balance as the boat rocked beneath us.
“Michelle has her binoculars out, too,” he said. “You don’t want them seeing us.”
“They’re probably about to have sex,” I said. “Are we going to listen in on that, too?”
“No, but it might be good for you.” He eyed my lips. “You might learn something useful.”
Before I could respond, Asher hit a switch and suddenly Chris and Michelle’s voices were coming through our speakers.
“Are you sure we’re not rushing things?” Michelle asked. “Like, you actually want to be with me for the rest of your life?”
“I wouldn’t have asked you to marry me if I didn’t,” Chris said. “Are you doubting things?”
Asher narrowed his eyes, waiting.
“Not at all,” Michelle said. “I’ve never been more confident about anything, and I can’t wait to marry you.”
The soft sound of them kissing came next, and Asher turned off the dial.
“It doesn’t sound like Michelle’s serious about cancelling this wedding.” Asher looked into my eyes as I lay against his chest.
“She texted me this morning about it,” I said. “She has doubts…”
“Hmmm.” He held back a sigh. “We should go with a less invasive approach to be sure then.”
“Like talking to them?”
“No, like staging something to see what happens,” he said.
“Okay, that sounds like something you would do, so go ahead.”
“You should drink before our tasks tomorrow,” he said. “You’re a bit too wound up.”
“I’m on edge because I feel like no one here is talking to me.”
“I’m talking to you.”
“People who actually like me.”
“Kelsey likes you.”
“People who like me and don’t stalk me every month.”
“Fair enough…”
We fell into an awkward silence.
The waves sloshing against the boat were the only sound between us for several minutes.
He tugged at the string of my bikini bottom, and then he sighed. “I need you to get the fuck off me, Katie. My restraint only goes so far.”
“Noted.” I tried to lift myself up, but I couldn’t.
I braced my hands against his chest, but the string of my top was caught on something solid behind me.
