Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
EPISODE 25
NOT-SO-SMOOTH SAILING
Emily
The dock for the catamaran is within walking distance from the mansion, so Ariel and I go together after a light buffet breakfast on the deck. I purposely refrain from asking her how she and Brett got on last night after they left the hot tub. Better to let her tell me if she wants to, though admittedly I’m curious.
The men are nowhere to be found this morning. Strange.
Ariel’s pretty light-brown eyes widen nearly into circles when she spies the catamaran. “I’ve never seen anything like that!”
“Never been on a catamaran?”
“Never been on any boat, really. Just my uncle’s fishing boat on Lake Guntersville.”
“You fish?”
She giggles. “Heck, no. Fishing’s the most boring thing ever, but he’s my mama’s brother and I loved spending time with him when I was little.”
“Never got seasick, did you?”
“Not once.”
“That’s good. I’m wondering how some of these other women will do. A catamaran can be a bumpy ride if the captain doesn’t lean into corners correctly. That can create crashing waves at the bow.”
“Will you be okay?”
“I’ve crossed the English Channel on a ferry, love. The bumpiest waters in the world, and I managed to stave off nausea even when everyone else was tossing. I’ll be fine.”
I spy Ginger and Rachel near the dock, chatting. They both look beautiful, of course—Ginger in a bright-green bikini with a sarong tied around her waist, and Rachel in a black one-piece that plunges nearly to her crotch. Her breasts are the perfect size for such a garment.
Shy little Rachel no longer seems so shy.
“Come on.” I glance at Ariel and begin walking toward them.
Ariel may not know what Sienna witnessed between Rachel and Ginger last night. I’m no gossip, but I’m curious about how much farther what happened in the hallway may have gone.
“Good morning,” I say as we approach.
“Morning.” Ginger smiles and grabs Ariel’s hand. “How did you and Brett make out after you left us?”
Ariel’s cheeks go pink.
“That great, huh?” Ginger laughs. She doesn’t seem the least put-out that Brett chose Ariel over her. Interesting.
“We took a walk,” Ariel says.
“And…?” Ginger’s eyebrows rise.
“It was…nice.” Ariel looks down at her sparkly flip-flops. “He’s a really nice guy.”
“I think that’s all you’re going to get out of her.” I turn my gaze to Rachel. “I love that suit. I have a similar one in my collection, but none of my tiny-titted models fill it out like that.”
Rachel’s cheeks blush. “Thank you. I wasn’t going to wear it. It’s so revealing and all.”
“Let me guess.” I wink. “Ginger talked you into it?”
Rachel’s lips part. “How did you know?”
“I’m clairvoyant.”
“You are?” Rachel’s eyes go wide.
This woman is a scientist. Surely she doesn’t think I’m being serious. More likely she’s trying to cover up whatever happened between her and Rachel, if indeed anything did. Though her reaction has me thinking they engaged in something. “Kidding, love. The two of you seemed like you were friends in the hot tub last night, so I just assumed.”
Rachel smiles weakly. “Yes. The two of you”—she nods to Ariel—“seem friendly as well.”
“Seems we’re pairing up,” I agree. “June and Heather too.”
“What about Misty and Sienna?”
“I don’t know anything about Misty,” I say, “other than she’s blowing a lot of smoke out her arse about knowing who someone has chosen, but Sienna is lovely.”
Ariel stares at the catamaran. “It looks so different from any boat I’ve seen.”
“That’s because it has two hulls.”
Ariel continues gawking, and clearly she has no idea what a hull is. I open my mouth to explain, when—
All four men—all in loose-fitting trunks—emerge from below deck.
Brett, with his blond surfer beauty accentuated by blue trunks the same hue as his searing eyes.
Alex, his perfectly muscled arse clad in dark green.
River, his dark broodiness perfectly highlighted by basic black trunks.
And Sebastian…
Damn him for being so hot! His brown hair is pulled up in a messy manbun. I don’t normally like that look on men, but on Sebastian Tate? It works. It works like a fucking charm. His white trunks show off his tan, and he’s the only one whose suit sports a pattern—and it’s not guitars or microphones or anything else befitting a rock star.
The pattern is puppies.
Puppies! Golden retriever puppies, to be exact.
Keep your cool, Emily. I don’t need to start wanting him again. It’s still early in this game.
“Welcome, ladies!” Brett holds out his arms. “Come aboard!”
Ginger and Rachel scurry onboard, while Ariel and I follow. I glance quickly over my shoulder and see the other four arriving.
Brett takes Ariel’s hand to help her, while Alex takes mine. His hand is warm and strong, and a soft spark flutters through me.
Hmm. The writer? He definitely has potential, but I do like Sienna quite a bit, and she spent the better part of last evening with him.
Odd, really. I didn’t expect to find friendships here. I figured we’d all be in competition, which of course we are. I need to remember that if I want to end up with one of these billionaires. I adore Ariel and Sienna, though. We were all friendly before the men arrived. It was difficult not to become fond of one another.