He started gathering the length of rope in his hand, winding it deftly around his elbow and forearm. He looked good, with his sleeves rolled up and the tendons pulsing in time with the looping of the rope. He was in his element. A flashback in her mind’s eye of those same arms clutching at her hips as he lost himself inside her. Sofia dragged herself back into the present. Turned out he was his hottest at the two extremes, completely in control and completely helpless. This was not the time for those kinds of thoughts. She looked down at her own arms and began to mimic Jack’s movements.
‘There you go. It’s easy once you get the hang of it,’ Jack said in what he must have thought was a genuinely encouraging voice.
Sofia rolled her eyes. ‘Yep, I think I can just about manage winding rope.’
‘Well, we’re pulleying her into the water next, so don’t get too cocky.’ Jack seemed to be enjoying himself. Compared to the placid, meek man she had tried to talk to at dinner last night, he was transformed. So much forhersetting the tone.
She changed the subject. She was bored of the teacher-pupil dynamic he was trying to forge with all this rope business. ‘So are you actually imagining that Milly is going to go scuba diving?’
Jack had dropped the bundle of rope and was now fiddling with something that looked like a carabiner. Sofia did the same.
‘I mean, she said she wanted to...’ he paused, and let out a loud grunt as he pulled at something that looked like a clamp ‘...try it out...’ a snap and the rope around the pulley slackened suddenly ‘...on her preference sheet.’ Jack was panting ever so slightly from the effort.
Sofia scoffed. ‘Her preference sheet? I’ve been burned that way before.’
Jack looked up at her, his eyebrow raised and a hand resting on his hip. ‘You think you’ve got it all figured out, Harlow. A couple of weeks on a boat and you’re an expert in VIP neuroses?’
‘Not neuroses, just wishful thinking. Milly is a woman who has very strong ideas of the type of person she wants to be. They just don’t necessarily match up with who she actually is, or what she actually likes doing.’ Jack seemed to be listening intently; it was a bit unnerving.
‘She likes the idea of liking seafood, she likes the idea of going scuba diving, she also likes the aesthetics of it, but I’ll bet you...’ Sofia wasn’t sure what she wanted from Jack, but she suddenly felt the need to exhibit some of what made her a good yachtie, just as he had. Suddenly it came to her. ‘I’ll bet you a morning a week of dawn.’ She smiled triumphantly and held out her hand.
‘Only one a week?’ He was hesitant, his hand firmly in his pocket.
Sofia looked away, realising too late that she had walked herself into a trap. ‘I still want you to have time with your mum,’ she said quietly. She didn’t dare look at him. She had transgressed on the very terms she was trying to establish. This was not in the remit of ‘friendly and professional’ – it was a thing shared in an intimate past, and that’s where it should have stayed. They were supposed to be moving on.
They were both silent and then Jack cleared his throat. ‘Right, OK deal,’ was all he said, thrusting out his hand. Sofia shook it, and vowed silently to be more careful in future.
‘Everything is ready, so could you go and collect the guests? They were supposed to be here about ten minutes ago.’ Jack was all business again, checking his watch with a frown on his face.
‘Of course.’ She was grateful to leave that awkward exchange behind her. She trotted across the deck and was walking down the stairs when she heard furtive whispering. She stopped before she rounded the corner. It was Brian and Milly.
Milly sounded upset. ‘I just don’t think I can do it. It doesn’t seem right to be under the water like that, and then there’s all the fish.’ Her voice was agitated.
Sofia had to really strain to hear Brian’s response. His voice was measured but sympathetic, soft and comforting.
‘Babe, I know you, and I know that it seems scary right now, but I also know how pumped you’ll feel after, how bummed you’ll be if you miss outandhow proud of yourself you’ll be.’
Milly sniffed in response. Sofia couldn’t see them but she imagined that he was holding her face in his hands, maybe stroking her cheek.
‘Will you hold my hand?’ She sounded like a little girl.
‘When I can, baby, I will always hold your hand.’ A rustle that sounded like a hug and then Brian’s voice was muffled, as if he was speaking into her hair. ‘But, like, from what I can remember with scuba, I might need my hands to control the oxygen or whatever.’
‘You mean I’m not as important to you as oxygen?’ Milly sounded petulant and then she giggled. Sofia had been taken for a ride, just as it sounded like Brian had been.
He joined in laughing. ‘I thought you were serious then.’
A light-sounding slap, most probably on the chest or arm, thought Sofia. ‘As if!’ Milly exclaimed and then after a moment of silence, maybe they were hugging again.
‘I love you,’ Brian said tenderly.
‘I love you more,’ Milly responded playfully.
‘Now we don’t have time for that game, Mills. We’re already late.’ Sofia scuttled up the stairs just in time to turn and appear as if she was just coming down as they began climbing them. Milly was wearing a Lara-Croft-esque one-piece swimsuit made of silver scuba. Her jet of red hair wound into a tight bun at the nape of her neck. Brian was at the point of recycling outfits, so it was the leather flip-flops and Speedos paired with a black mesh shirt he wore undone.
‘There you two are. Are you ready for the trip?’ She smiled, hoping that there was nothing close to guilt hiding in her expression.
‘Sorry we’re a bit late.’ Milly looked embarrassed. Brian reached out his hand and took Milly’s.
