Page 36 of Flyboy

“’Cause I won’t be doing too much else besides kissing that beautiful mouth.”

She laughed. “I wouldn’t complain.”

His gaze intensified, and he pulled her close. “Neither would I.” His mouth found hers before she could respond, and it was as if they picked up right where they left off last night. But he stopped too early, kissed her again, and again, quick, meant-to-be-short moments, but he couldn’t seem to stop. “Wow, you’re addicting, you know that?”

She reached for his hand. “I never thought it would be like this.”

“With me?”

“Right. I’ve always wanted to give us a try but this . . .” She shook her head.

“Okay, wait right there. Two things I want to unpack a little bit there, but let’s get out on the deck and watch the boat move out across the water, and you can tell me how hot you’ve always thought me.”

She laughed and followed him back up top to the front of the boat. “Here we go!”

Tiago had the sailboat off the dock leaving all the boats behind. Ivy stood at the very front and spread her arms out to her sides. “This is amazing! It has been way too long.”

He stood behind her and rested his hands on her hips. So she leaned back into him, and his arms went around her. His chin in the small of her neck made her smile.

“Do this with me again.”

She nodded. “Absolutely.”

“When we’re finished with this assignment down here, let’s stay, get a boat, sail back home?”

She turned to face him. “What? Seriously?” A wild hope filled her. Dare she?

“I’ve never been more serious.”

She nodded. “How about we see how things go.”

“Fair enough. I don’t want you getting all seasick on me.”

She laughed, then she studied him. “I can’t believe this. Is it really happening?”

“What happening? Our boat ride? It’s definitely happening, as you can probably tell by the wind in your hair, the spray of the water, the gentle rise and fall . . . Oh, not the boat? Perhaps you mean the fact that I’m holding you in my arms and have already kissed you twice today? That part?”

“Yes, that part.” She melted closer, resting her hands on his forearms. “You and I. Are we really happening?”

“Looks like it to me.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “As far as we know, right? No one knows anything for sure, but so far, so good, how’s that?”

She rested a hand at the side of his face. “Perfect.”

He rotated his shoulders, and she turned away to watch the water. Was it her imagination, or did something not sit well with him just now? She let the thought fly away on the gorgeous breeze that tickled her neck. He would have to come to grips with whatever commitment demons he was feeling. She asked nothing more of him at the moment. She didn’t know where this was going any more than he did.

“Look at that.” His warm breath in her ear made her smile. His strong arm pointed off to their right.

“Is that . . .” She squinted her eyes. “A whale?”

“Not yet. But I bet we see some. That looks like a dolphin to me.”

“Really? That was a big spout.”

They clipped along through the water, and then right in front of them, a huge killer whale leaped up out of the water.

Ivy held her breath. Then she leaned out over the side railing, looking for any more signs of the beautiful creature.

“Wow! Would you look at that?” He pointed down at shadows in the water.

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