Chapter 17

River seethed with righteous indignation. On the surface he engaged in a lively conversation with some of his guests, but his insides were strung tight. Since that Jeremy dude had wandered over to the bar and started flirting with Pippa, he’d forced himself not to rush after the man and beat the shit out of him.

Every time Pippa laughed at something the young man said, River clenched his fists tighter. It wouldn’t take much until he lost his control. Fuck being friends. He wanted to bend her over and hear her screams of pleasure as he pounded into her. Hard. Fast. Passionate.

“Hey, Jeremy,” he called out, mustering as much calmness as he could summon.

“Yeah, man?” Jeremy looked over at him, but stayed put.

“Don’t you want to watch the footage of our afternoon dive?”

“Nah. Thanks, though.”

River clenched his teeth as jealousy speared his heart. Unattached guy that he was, he’d never even known jealousy existed, had discarded it as an emotion only needy girls could feel.

Hating himself for being such a desperate loser, he tried several more times to lure Jeremy back with the others, to no avail. Reluctantly, he stopped his attempts because he didn’t want Pippa to notice. She’ll think you’re pathetic. And she would be right.

As the film footage ended, River suggested that everyone get a good night’s sleep, because they would dive early the next morning. Thankfully, that stupid dipshit Jeremy finally took the hint and bid Pippa goodnight.

River felt as if someone had lifted a tonnage from his chest. But Pippa left the salon wearing a frowny face, before he could talk to her. Great. She does think you’re pathetic.

In a foul mood, he cleared the salon and then went to his office, hoping she might be there. But it was empty. He sat on the chair and leaned back. She had worked wonders on the tiny space. All papers neatly stored away, marked with stickers in different colors that said reservations, customs, etc.

Wow. If only he could convince her to work wonders on him as well. He could still feel her presence lingering in the room as he started plotting the route for the next day, checking the weather forecast, and getting ticker news over the radio.

As soon as he’d finished work, his mind drifted off to the kiss he’d shared with the most desirable woman on earth. Damn her!

He’d perfected his skills of sweet-talking women into bed over the years up to a point that none had ever resisted. And when he finally found the one he wanted more than he wanted to take his next breath, she didn’t succumb to his calculated moves.

Damn her. Fuck being friends. 

It was time to raise his game.

 

***

 

The next day passed in a flurry of activities. Two dives, some swimming and sunbathing, and three meals later, all his guests seemed to feel at home on the boat. River pulled up the anchor and motored all the way up to Bonaire.

“Will we get there in time to go ashore?” Both of the couples asked the same question in unison.

“Yes. In fact, you might want to get cleaned up while we travel, because we’ll plan on eating ashore this evening.”

Everyone seemed thrilled at the idea of leaving the boat for an evening out and disappeared to their cabins to put on some more formal clothes than the ubiquitous swimming suits.

River went in search of Pippa to ask her if she wanted to join him for dinner, but Jeremy found her first. Again, jealousy coiled in his stomach. He sauntered across the salon, just in time to hear Jeremy stealing his thunder.

“Come on, Pippa. We can have dinner with the others and then I’ll take you dancing.”

River saw red. He couldn’t let her agree to this. No way.

“Jeremy, while that’s a very nice offer, I’m afraid Pippa is needed elsewhere this evening,” he said in a slightly aggressive tone, he wouldn’t normally use with one of his paying guests.

Jeremy looked surprise at his harsh tone, but then he shrugged. “Maybe next time, then.”

“I do need you to come to the customs office with me,” River said gruffly to Pippa after Jeremy had left.

“Do you need anything else? Otherwise I’ll go to the office and prepare the customs forms.” Pippa squinted her eyes at him and he suspected she didn’t believe a single word. Of course she knows you’re jealous, meathead.

“No, thank you. Take your time. We still have an hour of travel time left.”

“I’ll go get started then,” Pippa said.

This wasn’t going the way he’d intended. He didn’t want to command her to spend time with him. “Wait…”

Pippa turned around, an annoyed glance in her eyes.

“I’m sorry about messing up your plans for the evening.” No, I’m not. The thought of you off with another man makes me want to hit something.

“Don’t worry. I’m your employee after all. Is there anything else you need done before we get to Bonaire?” Pippa emphasized the word employee.

No, this definitely wasn’t going the way he wanted.

 “Not at the moment. Would you let me know when you’re finished, please?” River watched her walk away and then returned to steering the boat. He wasn’t surprised when Pippa showed up with the completed paperwork in less than fifteen minutes.

“All finished?” he asked as she joined him.

“Yes.” She gave him a small smile, which he took as a good sign.

“Since I’m the reason you don’t have a dinner date, how about I take you out for dinner after we finish at the customs office?”

“It’s the least you can do.”

What the hell? Of course she had seen through his antics. River made a contrite face, but he was actually quite pleased and mentally gave himself a high-five. She wouldn’t be able to resist him any longer. After dinner she just had to see they were made for each other. Fuck being friends. And his own no sleeping with employees rule.