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“Of course.”
“Andrew and I would like everyone on board to have dinner together tonight. Or as many as possible. I hope you can join us.”
“Sounds great. We’re docking near Turks and Caicos this evening so it should be a beautiful sunset.”
“Also, I was wondering if you and Jana could come up with something fun for afterwards. A Christmas party game or maybe a dancing contest?”
I smiled at him. “Jana’s already on it. And it’s our pleasure.”
My radio beeped and crackled. “Charlie, it’s Flynn. Do you copy?”
“Sorry, Rowan, I have to take this.”
“I’ll let you get back to work,” he responded and walked away.
I tapped on my earpiece. “Yes, Flynn. What’s up?”
“Can you cover my break in fifteen?”
“Copy, I’ll be down in a bit.”
I noticed most of the guests sitting in and around the hot tub. I waved at everyone, including my colleague Jana, who was serving drinks and snacks. I spotted Kiernan and Alex deep in conversation. They were sitting opposite Aiden and Jared, both of whom were in the tub and were encouraging Alex to get in with them.
Finally, Alex relented, and Kiernan sat alone.
Not for long.
Ginger trotted up to the lounger and nudged Kiernan with her nose. Kiernan picked her up and placed the terrier gently in his lap.
Lucky girl…
Kiernan was still wearing those sunglasses, so I couldn’t see his eyes, but I could tell the moment he spotted me. His whole body tensed, like he was on high alert for danger. Before, I would have assumed that my staring at him was making him uncomfortable. Now, instead of letting it discourage me, I gave him my dirtiest grin. The one I reserved only for the men I wanted to get naked with.
Did I know what I was doing? No.
Was my filthy imagination curious about what it would be like to step outside of the friend zone with him? Fuck, yes.
Then I remembered his confession that his sex life had been less than satisfactory. I had an inkling as to why, or at least, there were assumptions rattling around in my brain. On the outside, Kiernan came off as an alpha—he looked hard, demanding, dominant. And I had a hunch that his partners expected the same of him in bed.
But that wasn’t the way he came off to me.
I saw his vulnerability, the softness underneath his hard exterior.
And I wanted to be the one to show him that his tender side was the most attractive thing about him. He didn’t need to match his inside to his outside. Because he was perfect just the way he was. And he deserved a partner that would worship everything about him.
The longer I stared at him, the more I began to sweat and the more he fidgeted. Kiernan tugged on the neckline of his t-shirt, and his left knee began to bounce.
The effect I had on him only fuelled my desire. Until I remembered where I was standing.
Please God, don’t let me get a boner right now.
Thankfully Dylan sat down beside him, distracting him. Distracting me too, thank fuck.
Dylan always had interesting stories to tell about his Hollywood life. He said something that made Kiernan laugh and the husky sound echoed on the wind. I took a moment to truly appreciate the sight of his rare smile.
“It’s getting hot up here.”
I turned to find Andrew standing behind me with a book in hand.
