Page 29 of Gideon
I toss him my tube of sun cream. He catches it and raises his eyebrow. “For protection,” I mutter. “For your face,” I add quickly. “Not your penis.”
He pauses to consider. “I wonder what factor you’d need for that.”
“Total sun block,” I say grimly and he looks at me.
“You’ve gone nude, then?”
Jacinta immediately snorts. “Darling, when hasn’t he?”
“Every day,” I say glibly. “Usually before I go in the shower.” I relent. “I have. I’ve done a lot of things that Frankie would have a coronary over, but I’m variable in my wildness. Depends on what day you caught me. Some days my career means a lot to me. Others I’d walk naked down the street if it meant I was myself.” There was a lot more bitterness in my voice than I’d intended, and from the look on his face more than he was expecting. I smile quickly. “However, that is why I can say with experience that it’s not wise to get sunburn on your cock.”
Jacinta shudders. “And I can say the same thing for your tits. I couldn’t wear a bra for a month.”
I grin at her. “Sweetie, you don’t need one anyway.”
“Bitch.” She chuckles.
I look up and find Eli staring at the two of us, his expression clouded. There’s a knock at the main door of the suite, but he hesitates. “Will you be okay?” he says cautiously.
I nod quickly. “Of course I will. Jacinta’s here for the whole afternoon with me. What trouble could we possibly get into?”
Jacinta snorts. “I think it’s more appropriate to ask what troublecan’twe get into.”
Eli looks even more worried. “How do you feel?”
“I feel like a grown man who’s telling my employee to take some time off,” I say sharply, but as normal, it’s like water off a duck’s back as he makes a dismissive face.
“I’m sure that sounds very good, but it actually doesn’t cover the reality that I’m in charge.”
I grin unwillingly. “Let me have my illusions.”
He waves a graceful hand. “Go ahead.”
The knock comes again, and I watch his back as he paces to open the door. I can feel Jacinta’s gaze on the side of my face like a fucking heat-seeking missile.
Oliver trails behind Eli as he comes back onto the deck. Dressed in tight red shorts, a white t-shirt, and expensive deck shoes, he looks bright and very good-looking. “Good morning,” he says and then twitches as he undoubtedly recognises Jacinta. As a supermodel, she’s well used to it and just smiles vaguely at him.
“How are we?” he asks brightly.
I open my mouth, but Eli forestalls me. “I’m not sure about this,” he says slightly desperately. “I don’t think I should leave Mr Ramsay alone all day. He’s only just getting back on his feet.”
I open my mouth, but this time it’s Oliver’s turn to speak over me. “I think we’ll be alright without Eli for an hour, won’t we, Mr Ramsay?” he says in the same overloud voice that people talk to small babies with.
I raise my eyebrow. “I’ll obviously try to contain my abject sorrow, but I’m sure I’ll cope.”
He pats me on the arm rather familiarly, and I see Eli repress a smirk. “Oh, we are a card aren’t we, Mr Ramsay.”
“What is thiswebusiness with everyone in the medical profession?” I ask in a bewildered voice. “I might be a card, whatever that means, but I’m quite sure you haven’t joined me.”
“Oh dear, I think Mr Ramsay needs a little sleep,” he coos loudly as if I’m hard of hearing.
Eli bites his lip, laughter in his eyes as I brush Oliver’s hand off my arm. “I don’t need a sleep. I need a new pair of eardrums now. Why are you talking to me at that decibel level?” He starts to say something but I shake my head and look at Eli. “Go on,” I say quickly. “Get off and have a nice day. Don’t forget you have to be back at the ship by …” I falter.
“Six thirty,” he says, his eyes twinkling before he shakes his head. “And you were doing so well with your adulting.”
I smile at him, hearing Jacinta suck in her breath for some bloody reason. “Fuck off.”
Oliver stares at us, and Eli shifts, looking suddenly awkward in the face of his unhidden curiosity. He squints at me. “Remember, though, no alcohol,” he says quickly.
