Page 33 of Modern Romance October 2025 5-8
‘No, her father was in the navy and she learned from him,’ Ares answered. ‘She weaves masterpieces out of all kinds of things. She makes incredibly intricate props for escape rooms.’
‘That’s so cool.’
‘Yeah.’
Bethan blushed hard and her legs lost all strength so she had to lean against the wall. He was bragging about her to the trainee crew. His audible approval—pride—added to her conflicting feelings. Her regret. When she’d cooled enough to keep climbing the stairs she found him on deck demonstrating something with the anchor to four junior deckhands. Apparently he was completely at ease and not at all embarrassed that they’d spent all night up in that nook the stewards had created. Or at least Bethan had—she’d no idea what time Ares had left her. But she remembered the sensation of being held close while sleeping and he must have stopped them from disturbing her given it was well after dawn now. At least she’d been fully dressed up there. Though that fact also hurt her weak little heart.
‘We’ve been waiting for you.’ Ares broke away from the group as soon as he saw her.
‘Oh?’ She brushed her hair behind her ear and failed to settle her scurrying pulse. ‘What did you need me for?’
‘Firstly, breakfast.’ He turned to the deckhands. ‘You guys get those boats ready, okay?’
‘Boats?’ Bethan followed him to the laden table on the sun deck. Then paused when she was able to look at him properly. ‘Are you okay?’
He had shadows beneath his eyes and his clean shave had left him looking slightly pale. ‘Just hungry.’ He reached for the silver serving tongs to attack the pancake tower.
Pensive, Bethan loaded up on the fresh fruit. The fluffy pancakes were delightful, but she noticed Ares didn’t actually eat that much.
‘So, boats?’ she eventually prompted.
He leaned back in his chair, cradling the mug of tea in his hands. ‘We’re splitting the trainees into two and racing. The crew have set out a course with a couple of markers.’
‘Racing?’ A little adrenalin rippled through her. ‘You and I against each other?’
‘Two crew each.’ He smirked. ‘Knew that would pique your interest.’
‘What’s my prize when I win?’ she muttered, avoiding his eyes by reaching for more blueberries.
‘What do you want it to be?’
She drew a careful breath, failing again to settle her rising pulse. ‘I’m sure I’ll think of something.’
Half an hour later she let him fasten her life jacket for her. She couldn’t resist having him close. Then she looked at the two gleaming boats the crew had sourced from the nearby island.
Last time she and Ares had sailed together in a small sailboat, they’d done it as a team, working in sync to catch the wind. This time they were competitors and equally determined to beat each other. She kept one eye on him, one on the water, felt the breeze and made the calls to her crew. While Ares had local knowledge, Bethan was her father’s daughter. She’d spent hours sailing when he was home and was comfortable for the hours they spent beneath the sun now. Ares—inexplicably—was slightly off the pace from the start and stayed that way. Bethan chuckled as her two crew whooped as they crossed the last marker first.
‘You’re good,’ Ares called as they sailed back to the big yacht.
‘I had a good crew.’ She grinned, feeling the flush of winner’s pride.
‘It wasn’t only the crew,’ he drawled as they climbed back on the main deck.
She pressed a hand to her chest in outrage. ‘Don’t even try to suggest you let me win.’
‘Oh, I didn’t,’ he muttered, leaning against the railing. ‘I desperately wanted to beat you and I’m devastated to have failed.’
‘Too bad about your call on that last leg.’ She unfastened her jacket.
‘Yeah.’ He huffed out a heavy breath.
Bethan glanced across the water as the trainees sailed the small boats back to the harbour—clearly racing again. She grinned and ran a hand through her sea-sprayed hair.
‘You okay, sir?’
She turned, struck by both question and tone. A young second officer stood on the other side of Ares who had, in fact, lost more colour.
‘Are you sure I can’t get you something?’
