Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 86068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“I feel like I’m being watched,” he declares as he rolls up the electrical wire.
I chuckle. “You are. I’m also judging you on your techniques,” I joke with him.
“You’re a trip.” He walks past me and onto the boat.
“I’ve been called worse,” I admit to him, and he stops walking to throw his head back and laugh.
“Okay, I’m going to start the boat,” he informs me, walking into the cabin. The sound of the boat starting makes me bounce on the tips of my feet. The water starts to swirl around the back of the boat.
“You untie the front line first,” he directs me as he opens up the two back doors. “Then you go to the back and throw it in and then jump in.” He looks at me. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I say, laughing as I walk to the front of the boat and untie the line, leaning in and putting it on the side of the boat. “Are you okay?”
He smirks at me and walks inside to the captain’s chair. “I’ll wait until you tell me you’re untied!” he shouts, and I walk to the back of the boat and untie the rope, tossing it on the back of the boat before stepping onto the deck.
I look at him as he watches me over his shoulder. “Didn’t die.” I hold up my hands.
“Starting off on the right foot,” he praises, turning now to face the front of the boat. “You going to come up here and watch?” I walk inside, seeing Beatrice sleeping on her bed, not even fazed that the boat is moving.
I walk to the captain’s chair and look out at the horizon as he takes us slowly out of the dock space. “Try not to hit my boat,” I joke. He just smiles at me, and my stomach flips.
Turning away from looking at him, I watch the water, wondering if maybe the eggs were bad. Were they expired? I think to myself as he finally clears the last dock and enters the open water.
“Come on.” He motions with his head. “Let’s get you driving.”
I open my eyes wide. “Um, negative,” I say, but his hand reaches out and grabs my hand.
His touch makes my arm tingle as he pulls me to him. “You’ll be fine,” he assures me as he puts me in front of him. My hands grip the stainless-steel steering wheel as I look ahead.
If I thought my stomach was a mess before, it’s nothing compared to now. His front is pressed into my back. It’s almost as if he’s hugging me from behind. I focus on the water in front of me. I make the mistake of looking up at him and seeing him looking at me. “Xavier,” I say softly, and I can almost feel his head coming down, his face coming closer and closer to mine. I can feel his breath on my face, my throat feeling like it’s closing in. My heart’s beating so fast, my breathing is coming out in pants. “I’m out of my comfort zone,” I confess, waiting for his lips to fall on mine, but instead, he just throws his head back and laughs.
CHAPTER 18
XAVIER
What the fuck are you doing? my head screams as I reach out and pull her to me. “You’ll be fine,” I assure her, putting her in front of me. I place her hands on the steering wheel. Once her hands grip the steering wheel, I can drop my hands, but I don’t.
Instead, I push my chest closer to her back, suddenly wanting to be even nearer to her. What the fuck are you doing? my head screams again. My heart is beating so fast it’s a wonder she doesn’t feel it in her back. My chest starts to get just a bit of pressure and then she looks up at me. “Xavier.” She says my name softly. It’s the opposite of what I need right now. I need her to tell me to back the fuck up. I need her to tell me to get away from her. What I don’t need is her to say my name softly. I don’t need to get lost in the green of her eyes. I don’t need to bend my head slowly, invading her space. I can almost taste her lips. “I’m out of my comfort zone,” she says, her eyes looking at mine. I stare at the smile on her face, and all I can do is throw my head back and laugh.
“What do you feel uncomfortable about?” I ask her, my hands now moving off hers. I should step away from her, but I’m going to pretend I need to be close in case I have to take over the wheel. Even though there are two captain’s chairs and I could easily swing into action.