Chapter 13

River checked the weather forecast one last time, made sure the oxygen tanks were full and stowed correctly, and then did a quick perusal of the dive equipment. It never paid to be careless and since opening his own company and being responsible for strangers, he had become extremely safety conscious.

He prided himself that he’d never had an emergency dive with a guest, and he intend it to stay that way. In River’s opinion most diving emergencies were a long time coming, usually due to reckless or careless behavior.

His last task before retiring to bed was to plot the route for tomorrow and mark the place of several great diving locations where he wanted to drop anchor during the coming days. He’d done similar trips hundreds of times and knew this part of the Caribbean like his back of his hand.

But despite his experience every cruise was unique. Wind, weather, ocean currents, even a huge cruise ship, all of this could alter the circumstances and force him to change his plans.

River was still tired and wide-awake at once when he finally flopped onto the king-sized bed in the master suite. As soon as his mind was freed from the mundane tasks that had occupied it, thoughts of a certain blue-eyed brunette attacked him and sent heat rushing to his groin.

It didn’t help to know that she was sleeping in the cabin next door. He tried to imagine how her face looked when she was asleep. The air conditioner hummed in his cabin, but the warmth of the Caribbean night lingered on his skin and he wondered what Pippa wore to bed.

Would she sleep naked like he did? The image of her naked atop the white linens made him painfully erect. Why on earth did he have such a crush on the one woman he couldn’t have? Shouldn’t have.

Restless, River sat up on the side of his bed and gazed out the window for a while. The master suite was at least triple the size of the other cabins and included a small sitting area, a desk, dresser, and wardrobe closet.

His eyes caressed the rich walnut wood paneling, which he’d spent days mounting with the help of a cabinetmaker friend. It was a luxury, but since River lived on his boat all year round, he considered it a justified expense, even back then when he was scraping for every cent.

Since sleep proved elusive, he stuck his nose into the latest diving magazine, but beside every gorgeous underwater photo Pippa’s flawless curves appeared. I’d love to take her diving one day. That thought didn’t help him to focus and he finally tossed the magazine onto the desk and decided to go to the sundeck, lay down in one of the loungers, and let the lapping sound of waves lull him into sleep.

As soon as he stepped foot on the sundeck, he realized he wasn’t alone. In the dark night lit only by Willemstad in the back and the bright stars above, he sensed her presence before he saw her.

He was about to retreat without disturbing her when she let out a deep sigh that resonated across the deck and tugged at his heart strings. It was like the lure of a siren that he couldn’t resist. Almost involuntarily River crossed the deck and sat on a lounge chair beside her.

“You okay?” he asked after a long silence during which she didn’t show a sign whether she’d noticed his arrival or not.

“I’m fine.” Her beautiful blue eyes, that seemed almost black now, looked up at him and he noticed a moist shimmer on her cheeks.

“Mind if I sit here?” he asked.

“It’s your boat,” she said with a grand gesture.

“I couldn’t sleep.” River leaned back to gaze at the star scattered night sky. “How long have you been up here?”

“A while,” she murmured and leaned back. Light from the town hit her face.

River’s heart broke as he saw the telltale sign of tears on her cheeks. If there was anything he was worse at than organization, it was emotional stuff. So he decided his best course of action was to keep his mouth shut and not risk putting his foot in it. A long time went by in silence.

He almost enjoyed it, just almost, because there was such a sadness rolling off of her.

“This is probably all a big mistake.” Pippa gave a loud sigh from the depths of her body.

A mistake? What? Taking on a job on my boat? “What would life be without mistakes?”

Pippa laughed softly. “Some mistakes are more costly than others, though.”

“You speak as if from experience.” He searched her dimly light face for clues.

“I guess I do.”

“Pippa?” He waited until she turned her head and looked at him before he continued, “What are you so afraid of?”

She shook her head. “I’m not…”

“Yes, you are.” He put a hand on her arm and sensed the slight tremble. “That’s why you ran away when you first got here. I can see it in your eyes. What is it?”

She pursed her lips and turned back to look at the sky. “No, you’re imagining things.”

“Is it me?” he asked, his chest constricting.

Please, God. Don’t let her be afraid of me.

She shook her head. River wanted nothing more than to cup her chin and kiss her fears away, whatever they were. But he couldn’t well force her to tell him.

They sat in silence, her light scent reaching his nostrils, making him hard again. Citrusy with hint of lime. He needed to leave immediately if he didn’t want to risk ravaging her.

River warred with himself for a moment and then stood up. “Good night.”

“Thank you.” Pippa reached out and grabbed his hand.

“For what?” He waited, sensing she wanted to say more, but no words left her mouth. After a while he raised his voice again, “Will you talk to me, please?”