I laugh as I slip my hand out of his grip, wondering how long he planned to hold on to me. “Yes. Compared to an aircraft carrier it’s awee little thing.”
Simone overhears me and laughs.
While everyone’s distracted, I chance a peek at Cristiano. He’s wearing a simple black shirt and black swim trunks. He looks so fit and foreboding. I only manage to peel my gaze away from him in time to see Juan Carlos step forward alongside a bikini-clad Daniella.
I should have realized she would be here. I pulled my tricks—bringing Ethan and Felix—and apparently Cristiano couldn’t resist some of his own. I look to him for confirmation, but his brow is furrowed and he shakes his head at me, just once. It’s a silent communication I’m not quite sure I can trust.Did he not invite her?
Juan Carlos introduces himself to the guys, gifting me a warm smile, another attempt at an apology for last night, I think. Then he introduces Daniella to everyone.
When our eyes lock, she laughs. “Oh, you’re the server from Aura. The martini girl! God, you couldn’t get that drink right, could you?”
Annika stiffens beside me, offended on my behalf, but Daniella’s comment doesn’t bother me. It’s clear she wants to shrink me down to nothing, but being a server at Aura this summer is a dream come true for me. It’s a privilege to be here, working asthe martini girlinstead of where Winnie is.
I ignore her and look back at Cristiano. “Where should we stow our stuff?”
A crew member hears my question and hurries forward, taking our things and offering up two options: We can join a tour of the boat, or we can go straight to enjoying the light bites and cocktails up on the aft deck.
Felix and Ethan want the tour, but Simone, Annika, and I opt for food and drinks. I haven’t had breakfast yet and I’m starving. Juan Carlos and Cristiano join the guys, which means Daniellaalsojoins the guys, her bikini showing off every inch of her curvy figure as she hurries behind them.
Simone eyes her with frigid annoyance.
“She’s awful,” she says with a hiss as the three of us follow the crew member leading us to the deck. “What was the point of making a comment like that about you? In front of everyone?”
“It didn’t bother me. She’s just after Cristiano.”
“Oh.” Simone laughs. “Of course.And he wants you, so she’s miffed.”
My eyes widen and I nudge my head toward the person ahead of us to remind her there are others listening in on this conversation. I lower my voice when I reply, “He does notwantme.”
“Oh, he wants you,” Annika confirms casually as she scopes out our surroundings. “You two are dancing around each other, but you will absolutely make out with that man before the day is done, mark my words. Jeez, this boat is nice.”
I’m barely registering it.
Does Cristiano want me?
He’s made it clear he’s hovering around me as a favor to our grandmothers, and though I’ve enjoyed our banter, it couldeasily be written off as harmless fun, not flirting. I wish I had an objective opinion outside of Annika’s and Simone’s. There’s no way I’m trusting them in this situation; they’re seeing what they want to see.
Unfortunately, considering Cristiano’s feelings for me has the unintended effect of putting my own feelings under a microscope. Cristiano is my type on every level, but that doesn’t make me special—it just means I have a pulse. What a shock that the tall, dark, handsomegazillionairehas caught my attention! With the way my heart raced when I saw him standing on his yacht, I worry I might be encroaching on Cristiano fangirl territory, and after seeing Daniella fling herself at him, I would safely bet I’m one of a million.
Once our group takes an elevator up to the second floor, we’re led to a large circular table covered in trays of food. Nearby, a crew member stands at attention behind a sleek bar, ready to whip up cocktails. I decide to start small with a cucumber water and a plate of appetizers. It’s going to be a long day and we all work tonight. I don’t want to go too hard too early.
With our food and drinks in hand, we set up at a group of loungers in a sunny area of the aft deck. Annika and Simone make quick work of their cover-ups, but I hesitate for a second, feeling weird about undressing, though I’m not sure why.
Simone looks amazing, her dark skin set off by her metallic-silver one-piece. Large cutouts on the sides make itfarfrom modest. Her body is insane. Annika’s too. Her bikini is pale blue, the same shade as her eyes.
Feeling courageous this morning, I put on the bright turquoise string bikini.Thebikini. Now I’m deeply regretting it.
Annika and Simone notice my hesitation.
“Take it off! Take it off!” Simone starts to chant, and I laugh and quickly peel off my cover-up. I drape it on the back of my chair and adjust my bikini top without looking down. I’m too scared I’ll regret my swimsuit choice.
A crew member comes by with big fluffy towels for each of us.
“You ladies look stunning,” the woman says in a thick Australian accent. The name Beth is embossed on the badge pinned to her shirt. “Seriouslylovethe suits. Brought around some towels. Can I get you lot anything else?”
“Would you mind terribly taking our photo?” Simone asks. “I need something to post, and I can’t resist this backdrop.”
Annika claps in agreement, and though I would rather be the one behind the camera than the one posing in front of it, I relent. I let Annika place me how she wants, the three of us draped on the railing like Charlie’s Angels. They instruct me to arch my back and play up my sex appeal, but I would die before I offered the camera a playful pout, so while they’re exudingcome hithervibes, I’m just smiling like a dope and praying this will end soon.
