Page 25 of Necessary Roughness

The exterior was shocking, but maybe the interior would be gorgeous. Plus, nothing beat sitting in a hot tub while coasting over the ocean.

“Look up!” Leonard commanded.

Suddenly, a giant, holographic projection of a fish was swimming above our heads.

“It’s my projector,” he added, waving for us to come aboard and join him.

“That’sverynormal!” Claire said with a cheeky smile as we boarded.

Leonard turned and rushed off into the distance. “Make yourselves comfortable! I’m going to push off!”

Minutes later, we left our dock and headed out toward open water. Leonard hadn’t returned for several minutes, but we had walked inside and found the open bar. Claire had given up her protests when she saw the fully stocked bar with nothing but high-end liquor. We prepared two cocktails, immediately consumed them, then prepared two more before making our way to the top deck.

We made ourselves comfortable in the lounge chairs, but it wasn’t long before the hot tub had Claire’s full attention.

“Can we?” she asked, looking over at it like a puppy eyeing a piece of bacon.

“Should we? It’s not our boat. Would it be in poor taste?”

Without responding, Claire reached down and pulled at a string that was apparently barely holding together her entire outfit because it fell to the floor immediately, revealing a classic, old-fashioned Hollywood swimsuit underneath.

“I think we should,” she said, walking over and climbing in. “Come on!”

I couldn’t protest. It was a gorgeous day, and I knew I would never get an opportunity like this again.

Well, maybe notnever.

As the ocean breeze swept across my face, I closed my eyes and dreamed about the day when I’d have the financial resources of Leonard. Or Luke.

Hard work and dedication were the necessary tools for me to build my career and establish myself in the world.

Only then could I have a boat like this.

“Hey!” Claire shouted, shaking me from my sun-soaked daydream. “You getting in or what?”

Pulling my shirt over my head, I discarded it on the deck. Luckily, I’d been hitting the treadmill lately, but I was still no match for Claire’s beach-ready bod. I swore the woman practically lived in the gym.

Warm, bubbling water caressed my aching muscles as I slowly dipped into the hot tub. I could feel the tension dissipating from my body at once.

After the past few days I’d had, I needed it. I wasn’t sure how I was going to keep my sanity living next to someone who loathed me with such vigor.

Then again, I couldn’t really blame him for hating me.

Up until recently, I hadn’t known about the loss of a potential sponsorship for him. When he exploded at the café, it shocked me.

But I couldn’t let Luke know. So, I’d steeled my face and dished out a few more scathing insults. Just to clue him in that I didn’t care about his loss.

But the truth was, I did care.

Over the past few months, I’d been blissfully ignorant of the consequences my work had on the athletes I covered.

As I attempted to relax in a perfect hot tub on a perfect boat in a perfect setting, I simply couldn’t. Not with the weight of Luke’s financial loss on my shoulders.

“What’s your issue?” Claire asked, shaking me from my thoughts. “Need another drink?”

“No…,” I said with a sigh. “Well… yes, in a minute. But that’s not the problem. I feel guilty.”

“About what babe?” she asked, pulling the cocktail glass to her lips, and sipping the rum and coke inside.

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