Below Deck

We spend the next few hours watching the trainer have the dolphins do tricks for us, holding onto their fins and letting them pull us through the water, and ending the best day I’ve ever had with one of the dolphins coming up out of the water to kiss my cheek.

I watched Declan laugh and enjoy himself even though I’m sure he’s done this a bunch of times before, I think about what kind of strings he had to pull to make this day happen for me. I realize right in this moment that I’ve done it. I’ve finally gotten a life and it doesn’t matter how quickly it happened or that it started off as a fling. This is what I want. This is what makes me happy—being with this man who drives me crazy as much as he makes me smile, and I don’t care what kind of obstacles stand in our way, I want more of this life. I want it all.

I just have to tell that to Declan and hope he still meant what he said when he told me I made him want to change his course.

CHAPTER 23

Declan

I haven’t been able to wipe the sappy grin off my face for the last two days, ever since I surprised Mackenzie with the dolphin swim. Even knowing tonight is the last night Mackenzie and her family will be on the ship isn’t going to bring me down, because I have a plan and I’m sticking to it.

After my morning meeting with Ben and Eddie yesterday, going over everyone’s duties, the three of us walked around doing preventative maintenance on the ship. When I was finishing things up on the sundeck, Mackenzie came running up to me with a nervous smile on her face and an anxious bounce to her step. When she told me she had something important to talk to me about as soon as I could get away from work, I told her not to worry about anything and I had something to show her first. I knew the things I’d said to her that night in the wheelhouse scared her, but I didn’t want her worrying about any of that. I just wanted her to be happy, have fun, and learn a little more about me.

Grabbing her hand, I took her with me as I finished up my chores around the ship. Then, I took her on a much more in-depth tour from what she got when she first boarded. That initial tour only included a quick safety lesson and all the amenities in the guest quarters. I took her to the engine room and introduced her to the guys down there and I showed her all of the inner workings of the machinery. We walked around every inch of the ship and I explained to her what everything is used for. We sat down on the deck and I taught her all the different knots we use, completely amazed at how quickly she picked them up, tying a Figure 8 Knot faster than even Ben can.

We laughed, we talked, we had fun, and most importantly, I showed her all the reasons why I love being on a boat so much, hoping she’d understand and feel the same. At the end of the day, as we watched the sun set off in the horizon and she helped me fold up all the deck chairs, she made a comment about how she might like to work on a boat, getting away from everything and traveling the world.

And that’s why I haven’t been able to wipe the damn smile off my face since then.

“Hey there, handsome.”

My body jerks away from the palms running up my back, and the mop in my hand that I was using to wipe off the deck around the Jacuzzi drops from my hands and clatters to the floor when I turn around.

“Good morning, Mrs. Armstrong. Is there something you need?” I ask in the politest voice I can muster, smiling at Allyson who’s standing in front of me in the skimpiest bathing suit I’ve ever seen. I want to take a shower in bleach from having her hands on me.

She takes a step towards me, pressing her fake tits up against my chest and running one claw-like fingernail down the side of my cheek. I’ve had a lot of female guests hit on me over the years, and it’s always a struggle to remain professional and nice without bruising their ego by telling them they’re the last woman on earth you’d ever get mixed up with.

Aside from the fact she’s the biggest bitch I’ve ever come in contact with, she’s so disgustingly skinny that her ribs and the sharp bones of her hips stick out. All I can think about as she stands here, staring up at me with a seductive smile on her face and her rock hard, too-big-for-her-body tits smashed against my chest, are the soft curves on Mackenzie, her full and all natural breasts that feel perfect in my hands, and the gorgeous smile that lights up her entire face.

“It’s Mrs. Drake-Swanson-Armstrong,” she corrects me, her hand flattening against my chest and slowly moving down over my abs. “And there’s definitely something you can help me with.”

I grab her wrist and pull it away from me right when her hand gets to the waistband of my shorts. I have no idea what kind of shit this woman is trying to pull, but I don’t have time for it right now, and all she’s doing is making a fool of herself.

“Ma’am, I think you should probably go find your husband and let me get back to work. How about I radio down to the chef, have him set up a nice, romantic lunch just for the two of you?” I suggest with a smile, dropping her hand and moving back to bend down and pick up the mop, holding it in front of me and using it as a shield.

“Things between Mr. Armstrong and I aren’t going very well,” she says with a wave of her hand. “I heard a rumor that you’re about to become a captain. That sounds very exciting. I think the two of us should go find a quiet place to relax and you can tell me all about your boat and where you plan on taking me on it.”

I want to laugh right in her face. Does this shit really work on other men? Obviously it must, considering she landed Mackenzie’s dad. Seeing the look of complete confidence on her face as she struts closer to me again proves she thinks it will work this time as well.