AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Our parents aren’t getting any younger, and if the yacht club had shut down the charter service, it would have been the end of an era. Our grandfather had started the charter service, and Dad gushes about how his favorite times with his father were working on the yachts with him. Dad raised us on the yachts, too, working from bow to stern. It would have been too sad to see it end, not when I could stop that from happening. My family’s history was in the back of my mind when Sawyer asked me to take the role. I couldn’t say no.
While thumbing through the checklist, my ears prick at the sound of women laughing. A cluster of them walk down the docks toward a private yacht at the end. One outshines the rest. Long black hair, longer legs, and a smile that nearly knocks me off my feet. A brunette in the group says, “Maya, look at that one,” and points to another yacht nearby. The dark-haired beauty turns her head in that direction, then says something that makes her friend laugh, before her voice turns serious, but I can’t hear the words.
Her name is Maya. I’ve always liked that name.
Subtly, I walk along the yacht, pretending I’m still going through the checklist so I can keep listening to their conversation.
“…he’s not good enough for you, Jade,” Maya tells her friend. She has one of those sexy, deep, smoky voices that I love. “That’s why we’re doing this. A girls’ trip is exactly what you need to get over the divorce.”
Her friend nods. “I know. This is going to be great. Thank you for doing this for me.”
Maya hugs Jade and smiles, and damn, her smile slays me. “And who knows? Maybe we’ll find some pirates on the high seas who will turn your frown upside down.”
Jade laughs, but shakes her head. “No guys, Maya. Just us girls, remember?”
“If you say so. You’re the boss this weekend. But if I find some pirates forme—
Jade laughs again. “Nope. You might be single, but this weekend is girls only.”
“Fine,” she teasingly pouts. “Tragic, but fine.”
The girls giggle their way onto the private yacht at the end of the dock, and I’m left in a state. She’s silly and gorgeous and, from the sound of things, single. That voice and her smile kill me. All the things I look for in a woman. It’s been a long time since I’ve been so struck by someone. Like there’s not enough air outside. It’s almost like—
“Captain, you ready?” Ewan’s thick Scottish accent asks behind me. He’s my first mate and my right-hand man. Reliable and in a perpetually good mood, Ewan Jones has been with me the longest. I couldn’t do my job without him. The man is built like a Viking, so he also does a lot of the heavy lifting for the crew. Every yacht needs Ewan.
“Uh, yeah I’m ready. Clients here?”
“Here in five.”
I nod. “Great. Everyone else set?”
“Aye.”
“The cabin is set for the clients?”
He quirks a smile at me. “And I stowed their luggage. It was the first thing on my list, Cap. Of course it’s done. You alright?”
I chuckle to myself. “Yeah. Didn’t mean to doubt you, Ewan. I’m a little distracted.”
“Look alive, here they come.” He chucks his chin toward the dock and a pair of middle-aged people come to our gangplank.
Putting Maya out of my mind, I slap on my professional smile and take a deep breath. “Welcome aboard.”
* * *
