Page 49 of A Foolish Work Flirtation

I nod and take another sip of coffee. It tastes delicious with just the right amount of cream and sugar. I wanted to speak with him last night, but we let our passion take over.

“We were distracted last night, but I wanted to speak with you about something.” I resist getting up and pacing. I need to have an open conversation with him without letting my fear take over. I want him to understand how I’m feeling about all of this.

He smiles widely. “In the best possible way.”

His humor disarms me, but I press ahead. “True. But I felt embarrassed when you kissed me in front of Sam.”

His chest and shoulders become stiff before relaxing. “I’m not one to hide the truth, Immy.”

I resist shrugging. I need to hold my ground on this and insist I’m serious. “Fair enough. But it puts me at a disadvantage. Others will think I’m only here because you’re attracted to me.”

He sips his coffee. “I am attracted to you. It is why you’re here.”

I stand up and put my coffee cup on the handrail. “I’m here because I did an amazing job organizing your mother’s wedding. If that fell apart, I’m sure you would have sent me home.”

He sits completely still. “You did a fabulous job with the wedding. But you don’t have experience as a guide or the skills to lead a tour independently.”

I lift my chin. “I passed the certification requirements for scuba diving. When you hired Kate, she worked with a more experienced guide for months.”

He put his coffee cup down on the glass table. “I wouldn’t hire someone with your lack of skills, Immy. Kate had been a competitive swimmer in college and had a few years of sailing experience. You’re here because I can’t get enough of you.”

I clutch my stomach to ward off the hurt I feel. “I’m here to learn how to be a guide. I don’t want the attraction between us to sabotage that. I have spent my adult life prioritizing a permanent relationship over trying new things. I’m ready to let go of that. I want to do this for myself, not for you.”

He stands up. “Those two things are not mutually exclusive. We can carry on, and you can try new experiences.”

He’s blurring the lines intentionally. Being transparent works for him in this case, but it doesn’t work for me. I want others to give me a chance and not assume I’m here because I’m involved with him.

“I want to keep any connection between us private. I don’t want others to wonder if I’m here because we’re hooking up.”

He puts his hand on his chest. “You wound me. I thought you were here because you can’t get enough of me.”

My eyes widen. I assumed he had thicker skin. “That’s what makes all of this so confusing. I can’t get enough of you. But I’ve lived my life for others up to this point. Being a good girl who doesn’t complain, ready to sacrifice my needs. It’s probably why my exes left me. I don’t know what I want, only how to make others happy.”

His green eyes hold mine. “I’m not comfortable hiding the truth, Immy.”

I cross my arms. “It’s good you understand what you want. But you’re the perfect setup for me. You’re independent and forceful. If I stay in the same pattern, I’ll want more from you than you’ll want to give. I’ll be emotionally invested, and you’ll walk away without a backward glance.”

He glances at the ocean. “You’re overcomplicating this. And that is not who I am.”

I lift my chin. “No, I’m telling you if you want to continue a physical relationship, it must remain private. I won’t put myself out there as your besotted lover. I have more respect for myself than that. I want to be a tour guide and stay on after Kate returns.”

He holds up his hands. “If you want to be hired, don’t expect to be coddled. And we’ll have to stop hooking up.”

I turn fully to look at him. Fear slides over me. I’m cutting off our connection, and I don’t want to do that. But I know it’s necessary. Pretending I’m fine, I ask, “You’ve been coddling me?”

His gaze burns into me. “I have been. Let’s get ready for our free dive today.”

I can feel a prickling sensation swoop over my scalp. He probably has been coddling me. I’ve felt safe with him. I need to stand fully on my own to make this work.

We set sail on his trimaran within the hour with scuba gear and a packed lunch. He’s barely said a dozen words to me.

I watch Alex maneuver the sailing vessel out of the slip. The sun is already hot. He’s wearing sunglasses and low-slung swim shorts without a shirt. His bronzed, sculpted chest draws my gaze, but I make myself look elsewhere.

I need to calm my reaction to him. I don’t want others to know how I feel about him, but it must be evident in every line of my body. The chemistry tugs at me, whether I want it to or not. It’s not as simple as pretending we are business associates in public. I want him to gather me into his arms and not let go.

While Alex motors out of the harbor, I go into the cabin and reapply sunscreen. My skin is sensitive, especially my shoulders and face. After waiting a few minutes, I pull my long-sleeved sun shirt back on over my bikini.

“Imogen, let’s get the sails up.”

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