Page 29 of Faking It at Sea

Between the blanket of stars overhead, the elegance of the plush seating cast in deep blue with glittering silver accents, and the warmth of the flickering fire pits, it was like something out of a very expensive dream. Instrumental music drifted on the sea breeze, provided by a small ensemble on stage. Even they seemed to play their part in the opulence, dressed to the nines in tuxedos and silky gowns, all in shades of blue and silver that blended perfectly with the decor.

“There are more people here than I expected,” I said. And yet, for all the people mingling with crystal flutes and rocks glasses in hand, the deck wasn’t crowded or obnoxiously loud.

“How about a drink?” Missy asked.

I followed her gaze to the server carrying a tray of sparkling champagne. It seemed like a fitting choice given the atmosphere.

Before I could discreetly wave the server down, Sutton stepped into view, and damn, the man knew how to wear a suit. The tailored black jacket hung from his muscled shoulders aseffortlessly as any well-worn t-shirt, drawing the eye in all the right places.

When he plucked two glasses from the mirrored tray, a dull pang of longing rang through me. We had a connection. I wouldn’t pretend that we didn’t, but it wasn’t like I had any claim on him.

I shook my head and turned to Missy only to find the space beside me empty. After a quick scan, I spotted her making her way across the deck toward the bar, her hips swaying with her confident saunter.

What is she doing?There were at least three more servers working the crowd with trays full of champagne.

Awareness tickled my nerve endings a half second before Sutton’s familiar timbre sent a shiver through me. “You look...”

I pulled in a breath and turned to face him as his statement faded. “Stunning? Breathtaking?” I taunted. Which cliche would he throw at me?

And why was I being bitchy? He’d done nothing wrong, aside from getting under my skin.

“You look like a vision I would chase for miles just to keep you in sight for a little while longer.”

I blinked. That wasn’t at all what I was expecting.

I was still processing the compliment when he held up the bubbling nectar with a smoldering expression that would have put a few A-List actors to shame. “Champagne?”

Reaching out, I hesitated for a beat before taking the delicate glass by the stem. “Thank you?” I didn’t know whether I was thanking him for the drink or the compliment, or just for his willingness to talk to me after the way I ran from him.

“It’s my pleasure, June. I’m just glad I got the chance to see you again.”

Words were not my friends at that moment. Between my name rolling off his lips like it belonged there, and the untamedheat coiling inside me, I was at a loss. If I’d known my body would react like this to seeing him again?—

I cut off the thought. I knew exactly what would happen if—when—I saw him again. That was precisely the reason I’d decided to keep my distance.

“I do appreciate the drink,” I said, finding my voice. “But I came here with Missy, and I really should spend the evening with her.” Except, when I turned, she was at the bar and she looked to be deep in conversation with none other than Brandon, Sutton’s best friend.

Understanding dawned a second later, and I let out a sigh. “This is a set-up, isn’t it?”

Sutton was studying our friends with narrowed eyes. “If it is, I promise, I had nothing to do with it.”

“So, you didn’t get all dressed up just to see me, huh?” It was meant as a harmless tease, but the moment the words were out in the world, I realized how much I wanted to be his reason for showing up tonight.

“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping to run into you here,” he admitted.

Missy and Brandon chose that moment to look our way, laughing conspiratorially. Yeah, we’d definitely been played. “When did they even have a chance to talk?”

“In Bimini, I would imagine.”

There was a stretch there where Missy went to the bar for more drinks, but it wasn’t like I tracked her every move. Not when it had taken all my willpower not to look back over my shoulder to catch a glimpse of Sutton.

“Did you sit in that little bar and watch me the whole time?” I asked.

He pinned me with a heated look. “Did you know I was there when you laid out your towel twenty yards from where I was sitting?”

Touche. And being that close, knowing he was there, had filled my mind with all kinds of inappropriate thoughts.

We stared at each other for a few brutally silent seconds. Golden flames reflected in his dark eyes, and the way he licked his lips...

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