AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes. I know. When I boarded the yacht and shook her hand… Whew. That scent. Cinnamon and marshmallows. I thought I’d faint. My favorite scents in the world.” A dimple flashed in her cheek, but her eyes were filled with pain as she stared back up at where Lorelei had been. “Now I need to get out of the wind, and you need some sunscreen.” She held open a door to the ship’s interior hall. “Out of curiosity, what’s your favorite scent, young omega?”
I inhaled, wishing the salt air had a hint of his aroma in it, even if I was mad at him. “Mocha. Espresso with dark chocolate and cream.”
Her quiet words followed me as I walked back to the bar. “He has no idea.”
* * *
The afternoon was perfect, not a cloud in the sky, and the choppy seas had calmed as we sailed toward the private island where the wedding was to take place the day after tomorrow. I’d slathered on sunscreen, but also pulled a huge towel over my front to keep from burning, and was sipping a lemonade when I heard a chuckle behind me.
It was Alphonse. “Mind if I join you?” he asked as he pulled a deck chair over, scraping it across the teak. “Hot day. You keeping an eye on the kid?”
I murmured agreement, and tried to ignore him as he ordered a drink and settled into his chair. It was hard to pretend an alpha wasn’t just staring at you from only a few feet away, though. Ogling.
I kept my attention on Sylvia, even if Clotilde had quietly informed me that she’d been asked to take over any official duties. Apparently, Giovanni had made sure everyone knew I wasn’t her betasitter anymore. Most of the crew had whispered apologies, and the au pairs had all drifted over to check on me and let me know they had my back.
When my ex-boss finally appeared on the pool deck, wearing navy swim trunks and a white linen button-down open in the front, no one would speak to him.
But they all gave him looks that said plenty.
“Uncle G!” Sylvia called from the pool. “You’re going to play?” They’d strung the volleyball net up again, and a game was just beginning. He walked past me without a word, but his glare at Alphonse didn’t go unnoticed.
“Doesn't like me near you, huh?” Alphonse mused as soon as Giovanni was in the pool. “Good work. I gotta tell you, I’m surprised. I’ve never seen Grumpy Grantham off his game.”
I did not like hearing that nickname from his mouth. “Excuse me,” I said quietly. “I need to go inside. Too much sun.” I stood, being careful to keep the towel over my front, and my back to the unoccupied side of the deck, as I gathered my things.
“I meant what I said before,” he told me, his voice full of false solicitude. “I’ll help you with your little heat issues—holy shit, omega. Where you been hiding all that?”
An unexpected gust of wind had caught the edge of the towel and wrapped the cloth over the top of my head. I couldn’t see, but I could hear.Alphonse wolf-whistled, and I could sense him coming closer. I backed away and tripped over what felt like a chair, landing with a jolt on my already sore ass. “Ouch.” I scrambled to get the towel away from my face, blinking into the harsh sunlight that was suddenly blotted out by a tall shadow.
“Sunshine, did he hurt you?”
I stood, keeping my balance on the deck chair, and turned just in time to freak out at the scene before me. Giovanni had his hand around Alphonse’s neck and must have grabbed him in some kind of Vulcan nerve pinch, because the larger alpha was on his knees on the deck, his hands tight around Giovanni’s wrist.
But my alpha wasn't paying his sister’s fiancé a single bit of attention. His hot gaze was on me, and I felt myself melt a little. “I’m fine.”
I hadn’t seen him for over a day, and he looked… rough. He had dark stubble on his jawline, and his eyes were bloodshot. But that same passionate fire still sparked as he took me in.I tried to remember what an asshole he’d been to me in my room, but my brain was skipping those parts and going straight back to the moment when he counted fingers, and….Soleil, stop thinking about Mr. Fingerfucker, and remember Mr. Stay in Your Room! He didn’t want you. He was glad to leave.
He rejected you.
The memory had me straightening up. “He didn’t touch me. I fell.”
“My mistake,” Giovanni said, stepping back and letting go of Alphonse. “My apologies.”
Alphonse rounded on him, and it looked like he was going to charge him, but Sylvia stepped up next to her uncle. “Why’d you leave the pool, Uncle G? We need you on our side.”
His eyes shot to me, then Alphonse. “How about Miss Soleil plays on your team? I need to have a chat with Mr. Dubois.”
Sylvia snorted. “You’re really mad at her, huh?” She winked at me. “Please don’t come on my team, Soleil. Especially right now. We’re in the deep end.”
Giovanni’s frown grew more pronounced. “Why should that matter?”
“Don’t you know she’s a sinker?” Sylvia laughed, but her eyes stayed on Alphonse the whole time. Watching for danger.
“What the hell does…” Giovanni stepped back. “Dubois, I’ll meet you in the conference room, level three.” Alphonse muttered a curse and stalked away. Giovanni exhaled, shaking his head at me. “I told you to stay in your room, Sunshine. Get back there now.”
“I’m not your betasitter. I’m just a guest,” I said, taking a deep breath. I didn’t mind the way his eyes snagged on my boobs.
“No, you’re a stowaway,” he muttered. “Do as I say.” When I shook my head, he barked the order. “Go to your cabin, now!”
