Just as I’m about to start to panic that we are lost, I see a huge white yacht in the distance. This massive thing has three levels and a helipad on the backend of the second level with the word Darling written on the side in bold black lettering. There is a little prop boat on the lower level just past a deck with two captain’s chairs for fishing.
What the hell? This crazy pilot is going to try to land on that tiny circle on the boat. I think I’ll just keep my eyes closed and wait to see if I get to ever open them again.
I hear the thump before I feel the shake to my seat bringing us to a stop. My eyes are still glued shut with the rocking of the boat making the chopper sway. I’m not sure how long I sit here silently praying that I get to see Betty’s sassy face again.
“Doctor,” a male’s deep voice says in a soft caring tone. “You’re alright.” The sound comes from really close. I feel his presence, and it relaxes me a little. “Open your eyes; you can do it. You are safe. Nothing is going to happen to you.”
One more deep breath in, an exhale out and words of courage and power to my inner self, I pop them open with furious determination, channeling the fighter in me. The first thing I see is bright blue eyes the same color as the endless water I was just staring out at. Those very eyes are fixed on mine as well. I wonder what he’s thinking. I could get lost in those dreamy eyes as I run my fingers through that thick brown hair while he’s holding me close.
Thoughts of this handsome man pull me out of my profound state of momentary weakness, that I guarantee you will not happen again. I berate myself and lock that in a vault to keep the strong woman at the forefront.
“That’s it. Welcome to Darling. I’m Grant, and you are on my boat.”
“Hi, I’m sorry, and I’m all good now. Thank you. I’m Doctor Hard. Where is the patient?” He pauses a second as he stares at me and clears his throat with a little shake of his head.
“Yes, right this way. Here, let me help you down, it’s quite a large step.” My hand slides into his, and heat radiates through the touch. It’s probably just my nerves from the flight. I pull my hand back when both feet are firmly on the landing, confused as to whether that was a good comforting heat or a nervous heat and overactive senses at the moment. “Bryce is in the lounge. He’s the one who, um, needs your attention.”
“Point the way.” I follow him, and I swear I am watching my feet to make sure I don’t trip on anything, but my eyes keep roaming a little north to see the side-to-side motion of his hips move that perfectly fine-shaped ass that fills out his boardshorts just right. Problem is, mesmerized by the steps, I didn’t notice him stop, and I smash into his back with a humph.
“Whoa, there. Are you okay?” He turns to check on me and roams his eyes over my body from head to toe. The heated sensation returns, and it’s definitely the good kind, sending tingles to the apex between my thighs.
Chapter 3
Grant
She just bumped into me. Is she okay? I’m concerned about this doctor and her working on my best friend’s most valuable asset, so he calls it. Why the hell am I concerned about his junk? Besides, Gale would have not sent her if she wasn’t the best in her field. She doesn’t ever play around with the team’s safety, wellbeing, or reputation. She has been the public relations director for Texas Tornados since I bought the team five years ago.
“Bryce, your doctor is here.” He looks up at us from his head resting back on the couch, holding his arm across his face to shield his eyes, but as soon as he sees the lady doctor, his eyes fill with terror. What is wrong with him?
“Yeah, no,” his words come out sharp and loud. “Umm, Grant, I need to have a word with you a moment.” He looks at the doctor again and then says, “Alone.”
“Come on, man. Doc here will have you fixed up in no time,” I insist. She moves closer to him, and he shifts his weight in the opposite direction, yelling out in pain from the movement.
“Fuck! I’m serious. Grant, I need to talk to you. Right now.”
“Alright,” I turn to the doctor, apologize, and ask her to wait out in the hall so I can talk to my nitwit of a friend. “Now, what could possibly be the problem? She is here to get the hook out. Or would you rather act like it is a piercing, and you can hook your next victim? But, then again, you would have to be stuck to a woman, and we both know you don’t want to be shackled to anyone.”
“No, I don’t want this hook to stay in me, you moron. My issue is that she is hot as fuck, and what if I get hard while she’s, umm, you know... working on me.” Of course, that would be his dilemma. I try to hold in my laughter.
“I can’t help you there, sorry. Try not to think about her like that. I guess, try to think of her as a guy or some old lady.”
“You know that ain’t going to happen. You saw what I just saw. Golden tan legs for days that could wrap around my waist, and she could ride... Fuck! Ouch! Oh God, as soon as it starts to get hard with just a thought, pain shoots up my dick. I can’t. It’s too much.”
“Calm down and stop thinking of her that way. The pain alone should warn you away.”
“I don’t know, man. One look at her, and she might be the one. She’s so fucking gorgeous. I could fuck that every day and not get tired of it.”
“That also includes her being the only one you fuck from here until death do you part. Are you okay with that thought also?”
“Semantics, man. You know all that shit doesn’t matter in the long run. I could still do what and who I want when I want. No woman can tame me and make me be with just them for a lifetime.”
“And there is the proof, the doctor is not the one. Now, come on, stop this crazy talk and let her do her job and take that hook out of your ball sack.” With my firm directive, I turn on my heels and open the door to let her back in.
Is she pretty? Yes, without question. Could she possibly be Bryce’s soul mate and him have found insta love? Hell no. He is my best friend, and I love him like a brother, but he is shit to women. I wouldn’t let that man within ten miles of my sister, or my sister’s female dog for that matter. Why does him even thinking about getting hard for the lady doctor make me want to rip his eyes out of their sockets and shove them down his throat? I have no claim to this woman, and he can do what he wants with her. But, dammit, that makes me mad. His balls are already going to be all in her face with her hands touching all the nice, feel-good areas. I saw those hands earlier as I was checking for a wedding ring to make sure she was single, and they looked like a good size to fit around my... “Urgh.” I got to get some air.
“He’s all yours, Doc,” I mumble as I walk past her. She turns around to study me. The feel of her eyes staring at my back has me looking over my shoulder to meet her amber eyes for a beat. Then I reprimand myself yet another time and swiftly return facing forward to continue on my journey down the hall. Where am I going? I haven’t got a clue. Yeah, this boat is huge, but it’s still not big enough for me to escape like a teenage boy throwing a temper-tantrum who just lost the girl to the jack-ass bully.
An hour slowly and mentally painful inches by, and she’s still not out and done yet. I can’t take my wondering thoughts any longer, so I’m going to go check it out. What could possibly be going on in there that would take so long? Yeah, he has a fishing hook in his sack, but really, how long would it take to yank the little thing out.