Page 5 of Faking It at Sea

“Is that so?”

She fiddled with her straw, obviously having an internal debate of some kind. “Are you looking to hook up with someone on this cruise?” she finally asked.

I admired a woman who didn’t pull punches, and such a direct question deserved an honest response. I shook my head and pointed out Brandon amongst the growing crowd. “Nope. I’m here strictly to play wingman.” Though, if June wanted tostick around and get to know me better, I was definitely open to the idea.

“Does he know that?”

“No,” I laughed. Then I realized what I’d just said. “And he cannot find out.”

I loved him like a brother, but he was the guy who would do anything for a friend, including sacrificing his own desire to let loose for a few days just to make sure I didn’t feel left out. If he figured out that I had no interest in sleeping with anyone on this ship, he would make it his personal mission to keep me entertained.

June nodded like she was expecting my response. “I’m in the same boat with Missy.”

I pressed my lips together to stop myself from pointing out the pun.

“What?”

I couldn’t leave it hanging, could I? I motioned to our surroundings. “In the same boat?”

She rolled her eyes. “Metaphorically.”

Obviously. The joke was low-hanging fruit, but damned if she wasn’t adorable even when she was irritated. “Apologies.” I offered her a weak shrug. “You looked like the kind of woman with a sense of humor.”

She flinched. “I am, just not for sophomoric puns.”

It took me a second to realize just how backhanded my statement must have sounded. Yeah, I deserved the dig.

I laid my hand over my heart. “I’m sorry. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a real conversation with a beautiful woman, and I’m afraid I’ve forgotten how to talk like a civilized person.”

June studied me as she nibbled on the inside of her lip. “It’s fine. I’m pretty sure this was a mistake anyway.” She pushed back from the table and stood. “It was nice to meet you, Sutton.”

She turned away, but I caught her by the wrist. “Wait.” It was a reflexive move, and I knew the minute her glare sliced through me that I’d fucked up. “Please?” I asked, releasing her gingerly.

At least she didn’t yank free of my grip. That was something, right?

If she was experiencing the same intense pins and needles sensation radiating up her arm from where I touched her, she didn’t let it show.

“Look, you seem like a nice enough guy, but I’m not here to hook up. All I want is to survive the next four nights without having to fend off every single guy Missy tries to throw at me.”

“I’m confused. If you’re not interested, why would you approach me?”

June’s lips twisted before she lifted her drink and drained half the glass in one go. Then she let out a heavy breath. “This might sound a little crazy, but I actually came over to see if you might be open to a proposition.”

I straightened. “What kind of proposition?” I asked, praying she wasn’t a paid escort of some kind. She was the first woman I’d met in years who caught my attention, and not just because of the way my body responded to her proximity.

Also, if she wasn’t careful, she was going to nibble her bottom lip raw.

The image of me leaning across the polished wood table and kissing her, tangling my hands in her gorgeous brown hair as I gave her my lip to nip and nibble on, filled my mind. It was a momentary daydream that lasted all of three seconds, but it was a rallying call for my already half-hard cock.

Shut it down, hotshot.The woman just said she’s not on this cruise to find love. Or lust.

She swirled the ice in her glass, weighing her next words carefully. “What if we fake it?”

I blinked. I was missing something. “Fake what, exactly?”

June licked those irresistible lips. “Dating. We can tell our friends that you and I are interested in getting to know each other better during the cruise. That should keep them off our backs, right?” Her gaze wandered out toward the crowd. “It means we’ll have to do things together, like dinner on at least a couple of nights. And introduce each other to Missy and Brandon...”

Her words faded, and I couldn’t tell if she was talking to me or talking herself through her proposed ruse.

---