My mouth had barely opened to scream when I hit the water. Warmth surrounded me as I tried to use my arms and legs to surface, but no matter how hard I struggled to the surface, the light kept getting further and further away, making me panic.
I couldn’t believe I was going to die when I’d been on the boat for less than an hour. It served me right for doing something so extravagant when I could have just gone to the spa for a day to celebrate my divorce.
Just when I started to run out of breath and things were starting to become dark, strong arms wrapped around me and started to move me back toward the light.
Coming to the surface, I coughed and spluttered as I was dragged toward a smaller boat where two of the crew were pulling us by a rope. I tried to turn in the arms of my savior but was held too tightly to move. Instead, I lay back and let them do their job. I was never going to live down falling over the edge of the boat. I was already embarrassed enough I didn’t want to see the girls when I got on board or face the crew, all because a guy took off his shirt. It wasn’t like he was taking off his pants and let me see the graciousness that hung between his legs.
Now that would be a dream, wouldn’t it?
Maybe I could hide in my room until we docked, and I wouldn’t have to face anyone. Yeah, I was delusional. Maybe I drank more ocean water than I thought.
One of the guys picked me up from under the arms and dragged me onto the boat. Wrapping a towel around my shoulders, he stepped out of the way as the person who saved me, and the reason why I fell in the water, pulled himself out of the water.
“Her lips are blue. Give her your damn shirt,” my savior barked out as he squatted down in front of me. “Are you okay?” When I only nodded as my teeth chattered, he grabbed another towel from the seat next to me and wrapped it around me. “We’ll be back on board in a few minutes, and we’ll get you warm, I promise.”
“Thank you…” Fuck, I still didn’t know his name.
“Remy, ma’am. I’m just doing my job.”
“Do you often have to save women who fall overboard?” I asked with my teeth still chattering. When did the wind pick up?
Remy shook his head and gave a signal that seemed to mean to hurry up. The wind picked up, and the water misted my face. Moving to sit beside me, he looked toward the boat as we quickly came upon it.
“I have to say you’re the first, and hopefully the last person I have to save from going overboard.” His jaw ticked as he looked straight ahead.
Was that a reprimand? It wasn’t like I meant to fall over. Maybe Mister Body of a God should keep his clothes on while on deck, so no accidents would happen.
In a matter of minutes, I was helped off the little dinghy and back aboard the yacht, where I was met by the waiting crew and my friends. Penelope immediately wrapped me in her arms. “I’m so glad you’re okay. One minute we were sipping our Champs, and the next, you were gone.”
I didn’t need my best friend to remind me of my folly. I would have done anything in that moment for none of them to know what happened to me and to be able to hide it from them. They’d likely keep an extra set of eyes on me for the rest of the trip since I was now a liability.
Leaning into Pen as we walked to my cabin, I asked. “How many people saw that catastrophe?”
“Do you want the truth or—”
It was bad, I knew it, but I still interrupted her. “The whole truth.”
“Everyone but one of the stewardesses.” Penelope’s face was a hopeful grimace as she looked at me.
Kill me now.
2
Remy
“Remy, Remy, Ophelia, can you come to the galley?” I hear through my earpiece.
I groaned as I helped Scout and Owen load the boat they’d taken out earlier when we had to save one of the guests.
“What’s that about?” Scout asked on a grunt.
“No idea,” I answered back as we finished. “Are you guys good from here?”
“We’re always good.” Owen smiled and pulled out a cigarette. “Especially if we can take a ten-minute break.”
“Take a break, but then be ready if the ladies need any help serving dinner.” The wind had picked up, and it was a little choppy. Not enough to cause us to dock, but enough to knock you off your balance if you weren’t careful. And climbing stairs with multiple plates in your hands while the boat sways could be difficult.
“Roger that,” Owen saluted me.
I looked heavenward. I’d told him multiple times I was no longer a Marine, but he continued. Maybe if I told him why I was no longer in the military, he’d understand and stop, but I couldn’t talk about that time in my life. If I did, my mind went to bad places, and I couldn’t let myself go there and be in charge of this boat. I wouldn’t—couldn’t put anyone’s life in danger ever again.
Heading inside, I made my way down to the galley to find all the stewardesses’ eyes on me along with Dean, our chef. “You need me?”
Ophelia gave me the once-over and smirked. We’d hooked up once a couple of years ago when I got trashed. Since then, she’d been looking for our next hookup and hadn’t caught on that it wasn’t going to happen, much to her dismay.
“The primary has requested that you eat dinner with them.” I went to object, but she held her hand up and smirked. “You have to since you saved her friend’s life.” Ophelia finished the last like it was the funniest thing she’d ever heard.
“You can’t say no,” Kylie, the second stew, said as she sat plates down for Dean to start plating.
I knew I couldn’t say no since we were required to do anything the guests and especially the primary asked of us, but I’d still try to talk my way out of it.
“I’ll go change,” I murmured as I turned on my heel and headed to the room I shared with Dean. We had the only room that didn’t have a bunk bed. Our beds were on each side of the tiny room with a walkway between that was about a foot wide.
After pulling my formal black uniform out of the closet and slipping it on, I sat down on my bed and took in a deep breath. It was hard to find private time when everyone shared a room, so I took it when I could. I had a feeling it would do me good to help center myself before I had dinner with the guests.
Since I didn’t have time for a shower and knowing I didn’t have long before someone would come looking for me if I didn’t get to the aft deck soon, I slicked my black hair back and applied another layer of deodorant and a splash of cologne.
“Scout, Scout, Remy,” I called through the walkie-talkie.
“Scout here,” he said.
“I’ve been asked to have dinner with the guest, so you’re in charge until I relieve you.”
“I won’t let you down,” Scout said.
I knew he wouldn’t. He was a great senior deckhand, and Owen would listen to him. They were a dream crew.
Heading upstairs, I squared my shoulders and put a smile on my face as I stepped through the door to outside, where all the ladies were laughing loudly. The moment their eyes landed on me, they quieted—all except the primary whose eyes were glassy from drinking all day.
“There’s the man of the hour,” she stood and clapped. The rest of the ladies followed. Stella blushed as she stood and lightly clapped. “Please have a seat.” Zelda motioned to the chair that was across from Stella.