Page 21 of As You Crave It

CHAPTER SIX

CELIASATAT the desk in her stateroom, in front of her opened laptop, uploading the audio she’d recorded when Jared had come to her room earlier. Sure, he’d said some vile things to her, but this was her one chance to get him, and unfortunately, she wasn’t sure it was enough.

In the company of others, Jared knew to put on a good show of keeping his distance—he’d flat-out ignored her at dinner. Maybe she would have to work a little harder to get some really incriminating evidence on Jared.

There was a knock on her door. She wouldn’t dare call for whoever was outside to come in lest it be Jared. There was no way she would invite him into her room. She closed her laptop and stood from the desk. She switched the recorder on, just in case it was Jared. She opened the door, only a couple of inches, with her foot against the edge, so the person on the other side couldn’t open it any farther.

But it wasn’t Jared on the other side. It was Quin.

She sighed, considered closing the door, but instead opened it all the way, letting him in.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“I’m fine.” She rolled her eyes. “Why? Are you concerned?”

“Of course I am. I was trying to get away as quickly as I could to talk to you.”

“How was the rest of your dinner?”

“Delicious, but it was all pretentious stuff meant to impress people. I would have been happy with a burger and fries, and I would have enjoyed better company.”

“Your friends up there aren’t good company?”

Quin’s laugh was bitter. “They’re no friends of mine.”

“No? People normally invite their friends on vacations like this.”

“Like I said, I’m here for business,” he told her. “Jared told you that.”

“He also called you his friend.”

“That was an exaggeration on his part. The distribution deal would be really good for the distillery. Not that I have to defend myself.” He crossed his arms.

“Of course, you don’t have to defend yourself,” she said. “I saw you guys acting all chummy.”

“There are people on this boat I’d rather spend time with than Jared. I’m just here to make a deal. That’s all I want from him. But let’s switch the topic a little—why are you here? Are you a friend?”

“You heard him. I work for him.” She affected a cool exterior.

“He has lots of employees. But why are you here?”

“He invited me.”

Quin rolled his eyes. “Come on, Celia, you know why you were invited.”

“Yeah, no kidding. He’s trying to get me into bed,” she told him bluntly.

Quin nodded. “And how do you feel about that?”

“Honestly, I’d rather cut off both of my arms.” They watched each other in silence. “I’m tired, Quin. As you recall I didn’t get much sleep last night. What can I do for you?”

He wiped his hand over the lower half of his face, a gesture she recognized as him dealing with frustration. “Um...” He trailed off, as if trying to find the words. “I don’t know. I just didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Imagine my surprise seeing you here, too.”

“What did you really do to earn an invitation here?” Whether he meant it or not, his tone was accusatory, and she could have slapped him across the face.

“What are you implying? That I’m sleeping with a man like Jared Foster?”

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