Free Overboard by Delilah Fawkes Page B

though we were still thick as thieves. She was the one to bring laughter to my lips again after what felt like a long time alone in the dark.
    I remembered the way she’d closed her eyes for that shoot in the jungle, like she was putting all of her doubt and insecurity far, far away, steeling herself to do the best possible job even if she was afraid. How fucking brave she was about all of this, when she’d revealed how vulnerable she could be to me that night on the yacht.
    The night when I’d opened her robe up and shown her how goddamn beautiful she is, when I made her see herself the way I see her. Then the way her hesitation had been replaced by a wildness only matched by my own. The way she lost herself when I was inside of her, totally unfettered, a wanton, uninhibited tigress that made my body ache just thinking about her.
    The way she’d run her nails down my back and arched beneath me, taking all I had to give her, and holding nothing back…
    “What are you doing out here so late?”
    Sandra’s voice startled me out of my thoughts. I swigged the Scotch I held in my hand, my elbows draped over the edge of the spa.
    “I don’t know,” Aolani said.
    I sat up, the tub water splashing. I swore under my breath, hoping the women below hadn’t heard me.
    “I just needed to get some air.”
    From the sound of their voices, they were on deck right below me.
    “You’ve seemed a little preoccupied. Want to talk about it? Warning, though. I’m a little drunk, so you may have to speak slowly.”
    The sound of Aolani’s laugh made my dick stir automatically. God, dammit , but I couldn’t get my head on straight when it came to this woman.
    “The boss doesn’t scrimp on the bar, does he?”
    They both laughed easily then, for a moment, silence fell.
    “I guess… It’s… I’m just wondering, really. Do you know why Gavin doesn’t wear his ring?”
    I swallowed hard, and then tipped the Scotch to my lips and drank deeply. I shouldn’t be listening to this, but then again… it was my yacht. I wasn’t violating anyone’s sacred space to spy. I was just sitting here, enjoying the night air like anyone else. If I happened to overhear something, then so be it.
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well, I mean, you know. He’s married, right? I just can’t figure out why he doesn’t wear the ring, you know? It’s not like he’s a construction worker worried about catching it on a saw blade.”
    I heard the slurp of what I assumed was Sandra downing some more wine.
    “What are you even talking about?”
    There was a confused-sounding noise. “What do you mean?”
    “Gavin Fletcher’s not married. Never has been.”
    Another silence fell, this one heavier. Pregnant with possibilities.
    “Oh,” Aolani said.
    A moment stretched between them, and I wished I was a fly on the wall, so I could see her expression.
    “I just assumed, I guess.”
    Aolani laughed, but it sounded strained. Unnatural. Not her usual, easy laughter that made my heart squeeze in my chest.
    “Weird,” Sandra said, and joined her laughter. “Well, my head is freaking spinning. I think I should probably just pass out for the night. Anyway, take care, girlie.”
    “You too,” Aolani said, her voice quiet. “Hey, Sandra, wait…”
    I perked up, waiting on pins and needles to hear what would come next.
    “Don’t forget to drink some water and take some aspirin. Eat a banana if you can find it, too,” she said. “Hangovers suck.”
    “Yes, Ma’am,” Sandra said, giggling. “’Night.”
    She left, the cabin door slamming shut behind her. Aolani stayed behind, the silence heavy on the deck below. I sat back into the warm water, my mind going a mile a minute.
    What must she think about me? What’s going through her mind right now?
    We both sat, sharing the darkness, only feet away, although at the moment, it felt like miles.
     
    ***
     
     
    Aolani
     
     
    The next morning, I vowed to talk to Gavin.
    I’d spent another hour on