Page 4 of Faking It at Sea

That was an easy fix. “Sutton Rafferty.” I held out my hand.

She took it in a grip that was warm and welcoming, but it was only when she looked down a second or two later that I realized I was brushing my thumb along the backside of her hand.

Instead of pulling away, she licked her lips. “June Basillisa”

“June? Like the month or like the bug?” I asked before I wrangled my idiot mouth shut. My flirting game wasn’t just weak, it was pretty much dead.

She gifted me with another smile and tugged her hand free. “Like the tree. June is short for Juniper.”

“Even better,” I said, wrapping my tingling fingers around my cold beer and taking a much-needed sip.

I had no idea what I meant by that. All I knew was that I needed something to help me recover at least some of my composure. It wasn’t her fault that my body had a visceral response to her touch or that my brain had apparently forgotten what it was like to be attracted to someone.

I used to be better at this, didn’t I?

Maybe in my former life. Of course, that was the same life that had nearly killed me. The life where almost everyone in it turned their backs on me, save for my parents and Brandon.

June and I watched each other for several silent seconds before I managed to cobble together a few more words. “Well, June, I guess this means we’re not strangers anymore.”

“I guess not.”

“How about that drink?”

She glanced toward the bar, with its sleek marble top and elegant accent lights, then back at me. “Gin and tonic.”

Classic and timeless. It seemed a fitting drink for the occasion, and the woman. I motioned to the velvet clad barstool across from me. “Don’t let anyone steal my seat?”

She nudged me out of the way and took my spot as her own. “I’ll keep it safe.”

Scents of high-end liquor mingled with hints of perfume and pheromones swirling in the air as I waited for our drinks. I kept an eye on her and replayed our whole interaction in my head twice over. I didn’t know quite what to make of her, but one thing was certain, I wanted to know more.

She watched me too, like she was studying my every move. By the time I made it back to the table, I was more nervous than I’d been in years.

“Gin and tonic, as requested,” I said, setting the glittering glass in front of her.

The drink earned me another smile, though this one was a bit tighter than the others. “Thank you.” She pulled it closer and stirred it slowly with the black straw, staring down into the swirling ice.

Was she having second thoughts about approaching me? I certainly hadn’t planned on connecting with anyone on this trip. My goals were to have a little fun, get a lot of sun, and to make sure Brandon had a chance to unwind.

I grabbed the other stool and tugged it back a few inches before sitting down. My body wanted to lean in closer to June, to inhale deeply and discover if that irresistibly musky scent I was picking up on was coming from her. It was earthy and painfully sensual. But somewhere between leaving to get drinks and returning, she’d closed herself off a little.

Which meant I needed to give her space.

I leaned back and took a sip of my Guinness. “So, June, how are you enjoying your cruise so far?”

She glanced up at me like I’d pulled her out of a deep thought, then her gaze darted out to the mingling crowd before returning to me. “Honestly? I’m not really.”

Not the answer I was expecting. “Why not?”

“Do you see the blonde bombshell out there with the three pretty boys hovering around her?”

I nodded.

“That’s my best friend, Missy. Her divorce was just finalized, and she needed to get out of town. This...” She waved a hand, encompassing everything around us. “Was all her idea.”

“And you agreed to come along to support her even though you don’t want to be here?” I asked. It sounded like a familiar tale.

“Pretty much, and when I saw you over here looking miserable, it gave me an idea.”

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