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She kept her face stoic, but her voice failed at sounding nonchalant when she asked, “Where is he anyway?”
“Shopping in Vannes.”
“Shopping?”
“Our food has to come from somewhere.”
Bono came up from the lower deck. Stretching, he strolled to them. “I’m not made for water. I tried to lift some weights in the gym, but what I really need is a nice, long run on solid ground.”
“Missing your big, bad flying machine?” Maya asked, smiling up at him.
He cracked his knuckles. “You know me. I’m happiest in the air.”
“In case Joss hasn’t properly introduced you,” Maya said to Clelia, “Bono is our pilot.” She turned back to Bono. “You could join us. Water’s nice.”
Bono chuckled. “And risk having my neck broken by her boyfriend?”
“He’s not claiming her, so…” Maya batted her eyelashes.
“No thanks.” To Clelia, he said, “No offence.”
Maya smirked. “In that case, be a sweetheart and fetch us some cocktails.”
“You know how Cain feels about drinking on duty.”
Maya snorted. “Make it a booze-free one, for God’s sake, but if I can’t have the alcohol, I want the umbrella, the cherry, and all the trimmings.”
“You drive a hard bargain,” Bono said with a grin.
“I drive a lot of things hard.”
“Two virgin strawberry daiquiris coming up,” he said, laughing as he walked off.
“I don’t get the lot of you,” Clelia said.
Maya closed her eyes and tilted her face to the sun. “What’s there to get?”
“You kidnap me, and now you serve me cocktails in a jacuzzi. Is that how you treat all your hostages?”
“Depends on the hostage.”
“What gives me special privileges?”
Maya opened her eyes. “Joss seems to be fond of you.”
“Will fondness prevent him from killing?”
“No,” Maya said without missing a beat. “Not if you’re fencing for the wrong side. Joss will kill anything that’s evil.”
She swallowed. “Has he killed a lot?”
“Only when necessary,” Maya said. “He’s a pain in the ass, but he’s not bad. A bit tormented, but that adds to his charm, don’t you think?”
She wasn’t in the mood to discuss Joss’s charm. She wanted to fill in the gaps since the time he’d left town.
Bono reappeared carrying two tall glasses decorated with all the edible accessories a bar could stock. He walked like a tightrope artist, concentrating not to spill a drop. Despite the situation, Clelia smiled. The designation of daiquiri mixer definitely didn’t fit the big, muscular man. He looked out of his depth, whereas she could imagine him completely at ease with a helicopter’s cyclic in his hands.
Maya took her drink and blew him a kiss. “Thanks, Bo.”
He went down onto his haunches and handed Clelia a glass. “I’m no good at this. I think it may need some more crushed ice.”
She was about to thank him when she caught sight of Joss. He stood next to the steps with shopping bags at his feet, wearing his signature dark pants and black T-shirt. He didn’t look happy. She had the ridiculous notion that he’d caught her red-handed. With the noise of the speedboat, she hadn’t heard his motorboat arriving.
Joss fixed her with a broody look as he made his way over the ropes and necessary clutter on the deck. His movement was lithe, a stark contrast to Bono’s earlier performance.
She blinked up at him as his shadow fell over her.
Taking the drink from her hand, he left it on the side before grabbing a towel from a deckchair. “Get out.”
“Joss, give her a break,” Maya said.
He didn’t look at Maya. His gaze was burning on Clelia’s body, his expression promising nothing good.
The speedboat cruised past again, the skier making an impressive jump over the wake. She cringed inwardly as the man blew another kiss in her direction.
Joss’s face darkened. “Maya, do something about that fucking boat.”
Even Maya, who didn’t seem easily affected by Joss’s anger, looked tense. She flicked her palm sideways. A small wave lifted from the water and ran toward the boat, tossing the man out of his skis. As Maya flicked her hand the other way, another wave hit them from the other side.
The boat turned, engine idling, and the skier climbed onboard. Clelia exhaled with relief when they took off. She was so distracted by the trick Maya had played she’d ignored Joss who was now watching her with narrowed eyes.
“Get out,” he said again.
“It was my idea,” Maya said. “We were just cooling off.”
Joss extended his hand.
Not daring to glance at either Maya or Bono, Clelia got to her feet and took the hand he offered to help her over the edge. She stepped into the towel he held open.
“Bring the bags in, Bono.” He fixed his angry gaze on Maya. “Put the frozen stuff in the freezer.”
Without another word, he took Clelia’s arm and guided her below deck.Joss gritted his teeth as he led Clelia back to her cabin. Seeing her almost naked with Bono, who was undressing what wasn’t already exposed of her body with his eyes, had made him want to ground Bono for a year. After breaking his jaw. And his nose. And all his fingers. He didn’t dare to think of the idiot who’d blown Clelia a kiss.
