“Of course not. But what if I had? That could’ve ruined my business.” I’m getting worked up over something I know would never happen.
I send him a sour expression and whip around, stretching my legs on the white padded bench, not wanting to hear any more about my make-believe incident.
The point to anchor approaches, and my nerves buzz again. He won’t remember. He had just woken up and by the amount of empty liquor bottles, had a hell of a hangover. And saw me for no longer than a minute.
We pull up to a couple other charter boats anchored and Dante yells back and forth in Tahitian about where they’ve spotted sea animals. I grab a pair of masks and snorkel gear.
“Be careful where you step, the coral is rough,” I say to the man. He stands and takes off his shirt. Don’t react. He eyes me for a moment. Don’t react. Rich men with abs like when women gawk. He assumes he’s the first attractive guy to come around. He’s not. I’ve seen it all. Well… maybe not as big as him, but I recognize his type. I just wish I hadn’t given in to temptation.
I don’t linger for him to take the gear. Rather, I drop it on the seat and get ready myself. My pareo slides off me and I step up to the side of the boat to jump in.
“Manu,” the man calls and I twist my body, shocked he called me that. “Is that your name?”
Dante burst out laughing, and I scowl at him before pasting on a smile for the stranger. “No. You can call me A.”
“A? Like A, B, C?”
Dante doubles over and if I could kick him, I would. “Yes. Like A, B, C. Without the B and C.”
“Nice to meet you A. I’m Ryker. Would you mind putting sunscreen on my back? I can’t reach and I’d rather not burn.”
I reluctantly nod and drop my mask, taking the two steps down into the boat. He places the spray into my stretched out hand. “Thank you, A.” I can’t help but laugh with him about how ridiculous it sounds. Couldn’t I have thought of an actual name rather than a letter?
I twirl my finger in the air, motioning for him to turn. At least, it’s spray. It’s bad enough I have to look at his broad, powerful shoulders. How his back narrows down to his waist and his board shorts hit right above his butt. I shake myself out of my fixed stare at his heavily sprayed back. “Done,” I say.
“You were very thorough,” he jests with a knowing grin.
Despite the heat on my cheeks, I shrug. “Better than getting burned out here. You’re on your stomach the whole time when snorkeling.”
Without waiting for him or Dante, I dive into the warm water, my second home engulfs me. I’m in the ocean almost as much as on land. My spirit is free when I’m swimming with sea life.
When I surface, the sound of excited voices means only one thing. There’s something below us. Diving to check it out, a giant manta ray glides a couple feet beneath me. This one is a female. She flies through the ocean, but not without boats chasing her so their passengers can get a better look.
Swimming to the top, I notice our passenger watching me just below the surface. We both come up for air and he smiles. His smile is crooked, in a sexy flawed way, yet his teeth are perfectly straight and white. Water cascades over his face as he takes his mask off and runs his hand through his sandy-colored hair, sticking it up on its ends.
“Was that a manta ray?”
I nod as I wonder how a man could be so gorgeous. “She was beautiful,” I say, slipping off my mask and then tilting back to get the hair out of my face. His eyes transfix on me.
“Have we met before?”
Panic clogs my throat. “Um… do you not remember, I’m A.”
“No, I remember.” He lets out a raspy chuckle. “It’s your eyes. They seem familiar.”
Where are my sunglasses when I need them? The curse of having the rarest colored eyes. Everyone remembers them. Even the man who caught me staring at his naked body.
I hum and try to play it off. “I’m assuming you haven’t been here long and considering I’ve been on these islands since I was one, I’m certain we’ve never met.”
His eyes widen. “You’re from here?”
“I am.” Hopefully not forever.
He ponders on that for a beat. “You speak perfect English. I mean, you have an accent, but…” His voice trails off.
“That’s because my father—”
“Is cuckoo,” Dante interrupts me, swimming up to us, he swirls his finger close to his temple. I splash him.
“I’ve told you, he’s not crazy. Just a little eccentric.” Dante’s never been a fan. My father is a private man and since he homeschooled me and is very strict, many people on the island didn’t take a liking to him. I’ve always been the link between the two worlds. “My father is American. And he was very particular that I speak proper English and French.” He continues to stare at me like he’s trying to figure me out. I’m not a puzzle. If I was, it’d have very few pieces. What you see is what you get. “I’m sure you didn’t come here to learn about the island girl.” I spread my arms out. “There are so many more interesting things to learn about here.”
He opens his mouth to say something but then snaps it shut. Rather, he follows my lead, putting his mask on. The three of us swim around, Dante and I point out sea creatures to the guy. This is our normal routine, but with a group of tourists. It’s weird having one person.
As the day unfolds, I thought the more I was around him, I’d see past the gorgeous body to the narcissist man who thinks he’s a god, which usually diffuses any attraction I’m having. Don’t get me wrong, the man has an ego the size of this island, but he seems like a genuinely likable man. And his quick glances are getting harder to ignore. To his credit, he hasn’t made an advance. Most men that want something would have accidentally brushed up against my breasts, or made some remark about how beautiful I am, or extend an invitation asking if I’d like to join them for cocktails later.
Usually after their wife goes to bed.
I’ve never understood the culture of people coming to the island to celebrate marriage, yet the stories I could tell about infidelity are astounding. The guilt in my heart for partaking in such an abomination is my punishment. I’ve worked hard to prove that I’m not that person anymore. No matter how badly I wish to leave this island, it won’t be for a man.
Especially not the one watching me from across the boat.
When the boat pulls into the hotel dock, relief fills my lungs. I need to keep as far away from him as possible.
“I hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation, Ryker,” I say to him as he passes me on the dock while I wait for Dante to check in with the hotel excursion desk.
“You’re wrong.” He throws his towel over his shoulder and picks up his bag.
Our eyes meet when he stands and I feel my brows furrow. “About what?”
“I do want to learn about the island girl.” I let out an awkward laugh. And to think I thought he wasn’t like other guys.
“So… what? You can go home and tell all your guy friends you shagged an island girl while your wife was at the hotel getting a massage?” I snort with a shake of my head, knowing his endgame. I tip my head back as I hop into the boat. “Have a nice night, Ryker.”