Page 17 of Totally Wrecked
Frances puts out a hand. “Frances, production manager,” she says, shaking it. “This is Killian Lonergan.” The two men shake. Captain Rex has a Ryan Phelps physique, which makes Killian look almost skinny in comparison.
“This, obviously, is Harvey Bannister,” Frances continues. “I’m sure he needs no introduction.”
Harvey gives him a bland smile. “Good morning, Captain. Are you the brother of one of our financiers, Malcolm Westhall?”
“Nah, that’s my crew member, Leander. You’ll meet him aboard.”
The whole group turn to face me. “Then last, but certainly not least, Brooke Jackson.”
When Captain Rex takes my hand, I notice he is missing a couple of fingers. It doesn’t affect his grip, which is exceedingly firm.
“Right, bring your bags…” he starts to say, but Harvey interrupts, grabbing my pack. “Here, allow me, Jackson…”
The way he takes ownership of my backpack broadcasts a message loud and clear. Captain Rex shrugs and directs his attention to Killian. “If you’d like to bring your bag and step aboard?”
I follow Killian and when it’s my turn to cross the small gangplank, the wake of a passing vessel makes everything bob around. I basically fall my way onto the deck of the boat.
Killian puts out an arm and helps me to my feet, but Harvey elbows him out of the way. “I’ve got her,” he says.
On the shore, Frances is waving and yells, “Safe travels!”
Help me, Frances! I’m not a celebrity—get me out of here!
But she turns her back and walks away. I tear my eyes away from her retreating form as the captain stops and turns to us. “Hey, people, listen up. This is not a luxury tour—we are basically just your water taxi for the day. The head is in the main cabin,” he points. “And there is water, etc, in the galley. Stay out of the way, and we’ll all get along fine.”
“Thank you,” I say, trying to give him a non-intimidated smile.
The captain takes my bag and flings it to one side, next to Harvey’s case. “You go by the name Action?”
Ugh. Here we go. I hate this, but I have to do it.
“That’s me!” Gritting my teeth, I chirp one of my sister's catch-phrases and try to get into character. “Always where the ‘action’ is!”
Behind me I can hear Killian snort.
In front of me, Rex rolls his eyes and turns away yelling, “Leander?”
A boy comes bouncing along the bulwark from the back of the boat.
Jeepers, what do they put in the water around here?
This guy, Leander, is younger than me. Twenty-three, maybe? He’s also tall, and heart-poundingly gorgeous. Angelic and wicked all wrapped up in the same package. His copper-colored eyes sparkle under unruly light brown hair that flops all over his forehead.
I watch as he jumps, loose-limbed, onto the wooden boards next to me. That’s when I notice the tee-shirt he’s wearing—it’s printed with the text ‘Sex Instructor: first lesson free.’
“Ooh, hello. You’re Brooke,” he grins. “You are even more beautiful than on TV! Do you need me to be your onboard companion? Someone like you should have an onboard companion. Don’t you think, Rex?”
“Behave yourself,” growls Rex.
“Impossible,” giggles Leander. “I’m so hungover, the only thing giving me life right now is having a babe on board.”
He spins around, seeing Harvey. “Ooh, another famous person! Nice to meet you too, sir. I like your hair, it looks very stable,” he adds, which makes me stifle a laugh. “You work with my big brother, I think—Malcolm?”
“Of course, it’s a pleasure,” replies Harvey, smoothly.
Turning back to me Leander says, “You really spent a month in that underground cavern? Fuck, that would have killed me. Though I might have managed it if you held my hand!”
Killian is standing to one side, and laughs aloud. Leander bounces over to him, like a puppy. If he truly is hungover, it’s not showing. “Hi! I’m Leander, who are you? Would you spend a month in an underground cave?”
