Page 164 of Just This Once

Hope only laughed. “Oops,” she said. “Looks like you’re going to have to lose the shorts.”

Sending her an arch glance, I shot back, “If I lose these shorts, you’re losing that bikini.”

“Hey,” she huffed in offense. “I thought you liked this bikini.”

“I do,” I agreed, reaching out to grab her hand and haul her to her feet so I could lead her down the steps into the lower hull. “I just think it’d look better on the floor of my cabin.”

It wasdark out by the time we returned to the pier and docked Grumpy Buoy. Hope had started to look a little green around the gills, so I decided to get us as close to land as possible.

“You sure you want to stay?” I asked, cringing over at her as she wrapped a hand around her stomach and sat near the edge of the boat in case she had to heave. “We can come out here literallyanynight you want to.”

“I’m good,” she swore. “This will pass.”

Then she grabbed the railing and dry heaved.

I laughed as I watched. “I had no idea you got seasick so easily.”

“I don’t,” she muttered, scowling at me. “It was probably just something I ate.”

I lifted my brows, not buying it. “You took your pills tonight, right?”

She huffed out an impatient sigh and rolled her eyes. “Yes, father. I took—oh God.” Leaning out into the water, she emptied her stomach.

I laughed again and went to fetch her a bottle of water. By the time she finished, I was sitting beside her with a waiting drink, rubbing her back.

She looked worn and ragged as she glanced over at me, exhaustion lining her features. “You look like shit,” I told her bluntly as she gulped greedily, swishing the first mouthful around and spitting before swallowing the rest. “How about we pack it in and call it a night?”

“No,” she moaned. “It’ll pass. Just give me a damn minute.”

“Well, you look as if you’re going to conk out any second. Let’s at least get you tucked into the bed below. Okay?”

“But I wanted to sit out here and stargaze for a while.”

I glanced up briefly. “Oh, look. Stars. Great. Let’s go.”

“You are such a bully,” she grumbled but followed my prodding as I pulled her to her feet and helped her down into the cabin.

“We’ll stargaze all you like when you’re feeling better.”

“Promise?”

“Nope. I’m lying. I’m never going to let you look at another star again. Jesus, Trouble. Get in the damn bed.”

Hope didn’t even try to smart anything back; she merely whimpered when she saw the mattress. She was crawling under the covers in the next second and closing her eyes a moment later, already fast asleep.

I sat next to her for a while, stroking her hair and hoping I hadn’t pushed too much on her in one day. But she had seemed so happy for most of it. It felt worth it.

When I was sure she was out for the rest of the night, I went back above deck and cleaned up before finishing my drink. Then I stargazed a little myself because it was such a nice night, and I felt so at peace with the world. I couldn’t remember feeling this content in—fuck—maybe ever.

And it was all because of the feisty, curly-headed brunette I had tucked peacefully below.

Smiling at the thought of her, I tossed the ice from my cup overboard and stood, ready to join her when I heard a thump.

Her voice slurred up the steps, saying something I didn’t catch.

“On my way,” I called and jogged down to check on her.

She was trying to sit up but seemed to be having problems with her motor function. Her eyes were glassy and unfocused, and her face was a bright red as she swayed.

---