Free Sinfully Summer by Aimee Duffy Page B

looked thoughtful, though. He wished the men hadn’t mentioned his speedboat racing stint.
    The boat was bigger than it looked from the shore. Justin had boasted an ability to host almost two hundred guests on this level alone. There was a glass room in the centre, sporting a huge bar and toward the back was a stage that would be perfect for the band they’d booked.
    Ric had a good feeling about the place. Raising money for the charity was important, there weren’t enough Marias and Antonios to save all the children without homes, and having the ball here would attract the rich and curious.
    ‘What do you think?’ he asked.
    ‘Honestly, I can’t picture you racing a boat. I’d thought that would be too much fun.’ The corners of her lips tilted, but her face looked too pale.
    ‘I meant the boat, Alexa.’ Curiosity shone from her eyes, but he wasn’t going into his crazy adolescent behaviour with her.
    She looked around again. ‘There’s enough room for a decent sized party.’ The boat swayed on the waves and she grabbed the railing for support.
    ‘Are you okay?’ Her face had taken on a shade of green and sweat beaded on her brow.
    ‘I think I need to visit the bathroom.’
    She had motion sickness, either that or the effects of the alcohol she’d drunk the night before were catching up with her. Ric sighed heavily and darted a glance around the deck. There was no bathroom in sight.
    ‘Let’s try a level down.’
    She sucked in a breath and held it. Ric cursed silently and took hold of her hand. Urging her away from the rail, he pulled her towards the staircase which Justin had said led to the galley. Surely there would be a bathroom close.
    Her hand was cold in his and he hoped she could hold on until they found somewhere. Once down the stairs, he passed the galley and tried random doors along the corridor. One was slightly ajar and led to a double bedroom, but it was the en suite inside that caught his eye. He pointed and she hurried in, slamming the bathroom door behind her.
    He hovered at the doorway, not wanting to interrupt the private space or hear Alexa, but the boat rocked again and the door to the room creaked as it swayed. He pushed it shut to avoid the irritating grate of rust.
    He heard the taps run, but as she cleaned up his gaze drifted to the double bed covered in black silk sheets. Before he could stop it, an image filled his mind of Alexa in her underwear, spread over the mattress with the same desire he’d seen darkening her eyes to a stormy grey when she was beneath him on his desk.
    Closing his eyes, he cursed himself. She was sick, and he had just mentally undressed her.
    Working with Alexa was risky enough, taking her to bed would be a minefield. He had to keep her off his mind. She was there to help with the party, nothing else.
    The bathroom door opened. ‘I feel better now.’
    His irritation at his wayward thoughts sharpened his tone. ‘If you hadn’t gone out last night, you’d be fine today.’
    He didn’t believe for a second Alexa would choose a boat as the venue if she suffered from motion sickness.
    She glowered at him and stomped toward the door. ‘I haven’t eaten anything today, that’s all. I’m fine after that glass of water.’
    She turned the handle and pulled, but nothing happened. Ric grabbed the knob and twisted, but there was no purchase, like the knob wasn’t connected to the other side. He cursed.
    ‘Why did you shut the door?’ She folded her arms across her chest.
    A jolt of irritation burned through him at her accusing tone. ‘Because it creaked and I didn’t know how long you’d be.’
    He tried pressing the knob in tighter but it was useless.
    ‘This is the worst holiday ever.’
    ‘Perhaps if you’d foregone the partying, we wouldn’t be stuck in this predicament,’ Ric snapped, returning her glare with one of his own.
    ‘Don’t put this on me. The door was obviously left open for a reason. You’re the one who closed it.’ She