Page 14 of Finding Forever

As usual, the kids greeted each other and quickly forgot about our existence. Which left me ample time to take in Gina, who was wearing a yellow sundress that hugged her body in all the right places. The color suited her complexion perfectly.

“You’re here earlier than usual,” Gina noted, and I was cut off from my lusty thoughts.

“That’s because I have a surprise.”

Curiosity made her tilt her head to the side as she regarded me. “What are you up to?”

Instead of verbally answering, I held up my phone, knowing that the picture would do all the talking.

“A boat?” she asked, frowning.

“No, a yacht.”

She smiled and said, “It’s pretty. But Maverick, why are you showing me a picture of a water vessel?”

It was my turn to grin. “Because it’s ours for the day.” I grinned, unprepared for her reaction.

Gina practically threw herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck and jumping up and down.

The warmth of her body against mine was enough to send my senses into overdrive. Just as fast as she hugged me, she pulled away and looked up at me cautiously.

“I’m sorry. I got just a little carried away.” She took a step as if to put distance between herself and the invisible line she thought she’d crossed.

“Please don’t apologize for touching me.” My voice was harder than I intended, so I cleared my throat and offered a crooked smile.

When she mirrored my expression, I could see the childlike excitement return to her eyes.

That look.That one right there was what I wanted to see more of. And knowing that I had put it on her face inflated my ego.

“Let me get Mycah ready. We just need a few minutes.”

I watched her disappear down the hall, the whole time wondering what I had just gotten myself into.

∞∞∞

We started off with breakfast on the yacht. An innocent meal, yet it had gotten my blood boiling. From the second we stepped on the boat, one of the male servers had latched onto Gina and was making it his mission to seek her out for every little thing.

He showed up with extra fruit when she didn’t ask for it. He refilled her coffee every time she took a sip and now he was hovering. Probably waiting for Gina to sneeze so that he could personally blow her nose for her. Gina was a beautiful woman. Beyond beautiful. Anyone with eyes could see that. I didn’t know why this waiter in particular was pushing me to my limit.

“There’s no way this child is yours biologically,” he told her with an annoying grin. “You don’t look old enough to have gone through a pregnancy and then raised for years.”

Gina smiled at him and the show of her perfect teeth could have brought any man to his knees. No wonder this man wouldn’t leave her alone.

“Thanks for the compliment, but I’m afraid he’s all mine,” she said proudly.

When she stopped talking, I was finally able to name the emotion coursing through me.

Envy.

I was jealous that she was engaging him in conversation, even though she was only being companionable. There was nothing wrong with being friendly and polite. But I didn’t want in to share her attention with another man. There was something sketchy about this slicked-back-haired waiter, and I wanted him out of our company. As I predicted, he stepped forward to refill her coffee the instant she took a small sip.

“More coffee for the beautiful lady,” he sang, irritating me as he brought the carafe back up.

Now, he’d gone too far. He was blatantly flirting with her in my presence. Why was he so sure we weren’t together? Or did he just not care? That thought pissed me off even more. I drained the rest of my coffee and, not surprisingly, he didn’t budge to refill it.

That part didn’t matter because I no longer wanted his services. He was staring wantonly at Gina when I fixed him with a glare.

“Your services are no longer needed on this part of the ship. Thanks,” I said, dismissively.

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