Page 4 of Voyage with Dad's Best Friend
“No, I’m fine,” I say. “I’ll go out to read on the deck.”
“Okay.” Dan smiles. “You can take the side deck, the foredeck, or the cockpit lounge. Help yourself.”
“Sure, thanks.”
Chapter 4
Elle
I lie comfortably on the side-deck of the yacht. I’m trying to to read my paperback romance, but most of the time my eyes wander to the surrounding scenery instead. Silvery clouds billow in the cerulean sky, and white sails dot the calm, blue sea.
This is the first time I’ve ever been on a sailboat, and it’s hard to focus on reading. Besides, my mind keeps drifting to Dan, who is sitting on a lounge chair close to me. I can steal glances at him from time to time while pretending to read.
I can’t help it, because he’s so incredibly handsome. He’s tall and lean, and he looks so hot in his salt and pepper beard. His bulging biceps flex each time he runs his hand through his hair casually, and his hairy legs are evidence of his abundant testosterone. Just remembering being held in those muscular arms not long ago makes my belly tight with desire.
I blush. What’s wrong with me? Why am I having such unspeakable feelings for my dad’s friend? He’s more than twenty years older than I. He’s an old man, like my dad—except he isn’t. He’s more attractive than any guy I know, and I know a lot of hot guys from school. I feel so embarrassed. This is so wrong. Maybe it has something to do with me turning eighteen last month. My body chemistry must’ve changed. I might have more female hormones now.
I’m still pretending to read while watching his move when Dan turns to me and asks, “Elle, have your characters kissed yet?
Shit. How does he know I’m reading a romance? I blush, remembering he caught me reading teen romance a couple times before when he visited us.
“No,” I answer, putting down the book. “I’m only beginning chapter two.”
“What? You take an entire morning just to read one chapter?”
Well, I haven’t really been reading, but I can’t tell him that. “I’m not a fast reader, Dan.”
“Then I suppose you’ll be burying your nose in it all the way to Santa Barbara?” he says.
“Maybe,” I say, giggling. I don’t tell him the book is supposed to be steamy, and it’s heating up. It’s still building up the sexual tension, but I’m sure it’ll get to a yummy scene by bedtime. And I’ll be enjoying it when I’m alone in my cabin. The thought sends tingles to my thighs.
I hold up the book again, not reading but to hide my flushed cheeks. A shadow towering over me and a whiff of fresh citrus pine cologne startles me a second later. But before I even gasp, I hear Dan chuckle. “Taken by the Billionaire! Really? Elle? Are you old enough to read this?”
I cover my face with the book. “I’m eighteen!” I say, embarrassed even though I have no reason to. It’s not like I’m reading anything taboo. It isn’t even dirty. It’s just hot.
“Eighteen is young,” he grumbles. “The legal age for reading adult books should be twenty-one, same as alcohol consumption.”
“Thank God you aren’t the governor, otherwise—” I stop short. I was going to say life would be less fun, but I don’t want to sound like a slut.
“Otherwise what?” he presses me on, sitting down now, right next to me.
His proximity causes a flutter in my stomach. I put down the book again and sit up. He’s taken off his sunglasses and his blue eyes are the same color of the sea. I can feel his piercing eyes caressing my body. I’m wearing a loose fit t-shirt over baggy shorts, and I regret not wearing anything sexier.
“Otherwise, I wouldn’t have anything else to do…on a cruise,” I whisper.
He chuckles. “You can always talk to me. But I’m only kidding. I don’t have the right to criticize what you read. Is it a good story?”
“Yes,” I whisper as he glances at the cover of the book that shows the characters kissing.
“What’s it about?” he seems interested.
My eyes widen. “Are you serious?” This is embarrassing. As much as I enjoy the story, I can’t share it with a guy.
“I am. I want to know what interests you nowadays.” He wriggles his eyebrows.
I see. He’s teasing me. I grit my teeth and go on, “Err, a striper girl has a client, a rich, older guy. And they have a, err, one-night stand.” My voice trails off. This is harder than I thought. I feel so warm I want to take off my shirt.
“And then?” he smiles at me mischievously, looking as if he’s amused.
