Page 25 of Grant’s Flame

“It is. It’s a beautiful night to enjoy the stars. Do you want to shower and change?” I ducked my head to try to read her expression while explaining, “So I can have an idea of timing for the chef.” Every question or comment felt like I was walking the plank. One wrong comment, and I’d be swimming for the safety of the shore. This time, maybe literally.

“Yeah, okay.” She was thoughtful for a moment and then added, “Actually, that sounds like a great idea. I’d like to wash this day off me.”

There was definitely a dig buried in that remark, but I refused to take the bait. We would have a lovely night under the stars if it killed me.

But there was a niggling feeling in the back of my mind that this woman had the power to do just that. If not physically, then emotionally. I wanted to rediscover the connection we had when we first became friends. Before Sean Gibson died and left this girl’s amazing, fiery spirit and lust for life snuffed out like one of the fires she was so fond of starting.

I also knew I couldn’t be the only one who wanted to fix things between us. She had to want it too. We both had to make an effort. Just as she reached for the doorknob, I spoke up. “Rio?”

Her shoulders dropped as she let out a sufferable sigh. “What?” she responded tersely but didn’t turn to face me.

“Turn and look at me.” Unwittingly, my tone shifted into the familiar Dominant timbre I used to ensure I got my way with a woman. It fit like a glove for me, and I had forced myself to forget what it did to the woman standing in front of me. The same woman who now dropped her hand from the latch and slowly turned toward me.

Goddammit, she was breathtaking. Even in her shabby state, she robbed the air right out of my chest, and an unwelcomed pain took its place instead. Shit, what was the right approach with her? I’d never been so turned around where a female was concerned, but she straight up perplexed me.

And thoroughly captivated me.

So I just let whatever I was thinking flow out of my stupid mouth. “Baby.” Pain from the depths of my chest changed my tone again. “Can we stop all this? Please.”

While I wasn’t as stingy with the word as my self-important best friend, Sebastian, I didn’t use the term very often.

“All of what, exactly?” Rio volleyed back while looking up to meet my imploring stare with her narrowed, suspicious one.

“Arguing, for starters. I want to enjoy our time away from everyone and everything. Not be at each other’s throats the entire trip. Doesn’t that sound better? A truce, I guess you could call it.”

What I really wanted was to pull her into my chest and bury my nose in her hair. Wanted to feel the warmth of her body pressed against mine and stop denying the attraction we shared.

Rio, on the other hand, looked like she was marching to the gallows. Her face held a full scowl, and I braced for an acidic response. But in the usual fashion, she turned on a dime, relaxed her features, and said, “Sure. That sounds good.”

Although I was bewildered—again—I exhaled and tried to let the knot of tension in my gut loosen. “Okay,” I sighed, feeling how afraid I was to release the full breath. “Good. I’m glad.”

“I’ll shower so we don’t keep the crew in the galley all night.” When she went into our cabin, I continued up to the deck to speak to the chef.

The sun was starting to make its descent on the horizon, and the Pacific was quiet and serene. I pulled in a long breath while leaning on the rail and welcomed the strange sense of comfort that came from staring across the deep amber sunlight that sparkled on the rich cobalt waters.

I was so lost in that personal Zen, the sound of the sliding glass door between the cabin and deck startled me. I pivoted as Rio stepped out and joined me at the rail. Her white cotton sundress picked up the breeze and billowed out like the mainsail of a tall ship.

“Wow, this is really beautiful. Where are we?” she asked.

Nature has nothin’ on you, baby.

Completely losing my train of thought watching her tuck her short hair behind her ear, I finally answered, “I have no idea, and I kind of like it. My mind needs a break from worrying, thinking, and tracking details nonstop.”

“Understandable.” She gave a perfunctory nod. “So, is dinner ready? I’m starving. If nothing else, this trip has taught me how much of a grazer I am.”

I twisted my mouth in disapproval but held my tongue. I was the one who just pledged not to argue and knew for sure that anytime her eating habits came up for discussion, she got defensive. Of course, my observant woman instantly noticed the internal struggle I was waging.

“Grant.” She put her delicate hand on my arm. “Not everyone needs four full meals a day the way you do.” Then she gave me a little smile and said, “Look at the difference in our sizes.” She pointedly looked at her hand, resting on my muscular forearm, before continuing. “If I ate the same amount of food you did? Oh my God.” She rubbed her forehead in distress. “I’d be as wide as you are tall.”

“You’re right, you’re right.” I held my hands up in surrender.

Playfully, she tilted her head and cupped a hand to her ear as though trying to hear a distant sound. “Wait. What did you just say?”

Without thinking, I snatched her by the waist and pulled her close to me. She smelled heavenly and felt even better. In the shower, I’d peered at the label on her body wash and had been intrigued. Was the combination of bitter blood orange and pomegranate that invigorating? Now, inhaling them on her soft skin, I couldn’t agree more with the label’s promise. Christ, I was the poster child for invigorated at the moment.

I ran the tip of my nose back and forth along the length of her neck until she finally let out a sigh and relaxed in my arms. I had her hoisted off the ground in my embrace like my favorite doll. I wouldn’t mind holding her to my chest all night. If only she’d just give in and let me.

“You smell so good. I love that orange on your skin,” I growled just below her ear.