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This had to be one of my favorite sunsets.
“Declan, do you remember telling me all about the constellations?”
“I do.” It was something I had done just to make her feel more at ease because I didn’t know what else to talk about.
“They look so different this time. Why is that?” She asked.
Maybe because you don’t have a crying baby in the background.
“Not sure, but if you want, I’d be happy to tell you all about them again,” I offered.
I couldn’t see her smile, but I swore I could feel it. “I’d love that.”
Tonight, we might not make it below to sleep in bed, but I was no longer tired. Holding Venus in my arms as we looked at the stars was stronger than any caffeine.
This was going to be a long week because my body tingled having her so close. I might have stolen a kiss, but I wasn’t going to do so again without her asking. Whatever happens between us is going to be because she asked.
Yup, a long, hard week.
CHAPTER10
Venus
This wasn’t how I remembered it all. Maybe because I was young, or maybe inexperienced with travel, or better yet because I had a baby that took up so much of my time. Now there was nothing for me to do except sunbathe. That was nice. I normally loved doing it on a beach. But I’d usually bring a book or two and that helped pass the time.
Declan at least had things to do on the boat to keep him busy, but I had a feeling that some of them weren’t really necessary. It was as though after that brief kiss last night, he needed to put some distance. Even though he sat behind me with his arms around me, he didn’t try to kiss me again. I didn’t think he regretted doing so, but I had no idea what he was thinking. To me, it was the beginning of what I had hoped to be a romantic relationship.
And here I go, overthinking it again.
He’d tried to warn me not to do so, but how the hell could I not when my entire body tingled from even the briefest contact with his lips? Maybe he sensed my desire and that was why he slept up on deck instead of coming to the bedroom. It was going to be a long week if he was planning on avoiding me. I mean, he was the one who borrowed the boat. He had to know there was only one bedroom when he did so. If I read the situation wrong, it was his doing, not mine. What else could a woman think besides this being a romantic setting?
This was just ridiculous. Lying in the bed all by myself trying to figure out exactly what he was thinking was getting me nowhere. I should be confident and just ask him. But that seemed...awkward. Maybe I could try something else. Maybe he needed to know that I liked his kiss and wanted more.
Getting off the bed, I slipped back into my one-piece bathing suit, grabbed my suntan lotion, and headed back up on deck. Declan was sitting on the bow looking out over the ocean. I looked around and there wasn’t anything to see in any direction. He’d definitely brought me to a place I had asked for. Since he was in the mood for obliging my requests, I had another for him.
I walked over and sat beside him. “It’s a beautiful day.”
“It is. The seas are very calm,” he replied, not looking in my direction.
I can fix that.
“My plan is to do a little sunbathing, but I don’t want to burn. Would you be willing to put lotion on me?” I asked, so very innocently, knowing I wasn’t. I held the bottle up to him and he stared at it. “The trip would be totally ruined if I turned lobster red.”
He finally took the bottle from my hand but looked hesitant to apply it. I spun around to give him my back. A moment later I felt the cool lotion dripping onto my skin.
“Don’t they make this stuff in a spray now?” he asked.
“They do, but I like the one you have to rub in. I think it protects better. And besides, I get a back massage at the same time,” I joked. I moved so I was lying on my stomach and added, “This will make it easier for you.”
He huffed. “Easy might not be the word I use, but okay.”
Declan didn’t argue and soon his hands were smoothing the lotion over my shoulders and what was bare on my back.
“Hmm. That feels so good,” I moaned. Which caused a groan to escape his lips. This actually was a lot more fun than I had anticipated. “I think you missed a spot on my side.” My bathing suit might be a one-piece, but there was a lot open in the back and sides. Who said you couldn’t wear something a little sexy at forty-five?
“You can’t reach that yourself?” he asked.
“Is there a reason you can’t do it for me?” I pushed, burying my face in my towel so he couldn’t see my grin.
