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“I mean,you two could sail the boat by yourselves. My dad is somewhat of an expert when it comes to sailing and with someone like you who is a fast learner on board, what could go wrong?”
At first,I start to decline her suggestion, but the more I think about it, the more it makes perfect sense to me. Ava’s idea seems even more plausible when Chris, no longer on his phone, approaches me with a downcast expression.
“Ava,you’re a genius. I’ll talk to you later.” I laugh. Then, I turn to Chris just in time. “I have an idea.” I tell him with a grin.
10
CHRISTOPHER
Charlotte never fails to surprise me at every turn. Any other person would have insisted we return to the hotel and wait for the crew to arrive, no matter how long it takes. However, she’s nothing like that. Her green eyes shimmer with excitement and anticipation as she waves her hands erratically before me, spilling her idea.
“I mean, what could go wrong?” She spreads her hands between us and shrugs.
I eye her carefully, looking for any sign of distress or apprehension, but I’m met with nothing but her eagerness to get started. “Are you sure you want to do this? Because once we start, there’s no going back.”
“Yes,” she nods, causing her braided ponytail to bounce wildly behind her. “I’m a hundred percent sure.”
“I am going to need all the help I can get which means it’s going to be really tiring. Are you sure you’re okay with that?” I continue to give her the option and time to opt out.
She glares at me, her impatience running thin. “Yes, Chris, I’m sure.” She replies with annoyance and then crosses her arms over her chest as she stares at me with challenge in her eyes. “Why, you don’t think I can handle it?”
Slowly, a smile forms on my lips. “I wouldn’t dare,” I reply. Then, I offer her my hand after sending a quick text to Sheila to get me a new crew. “Come on then, let’s do this.”
Charlotte takes my hand and I’m immediately transported back to the hotel room and the slight brush of her lips against mine. I had been ready to risk it all in that moment and I would have if that alarm clock hadn’t rung. I briefly wonder if I would have regretted risking it all, but it takes me a second to crush that thought. Nothing about Charlotte can fill me with regret. It’s because of my lack of trust in women and not because of Charlotte that I’m trying my best to hold back as much as I can.
I take her hand and lead her towards my boat as we follow after George. In no time, we arrive at the fifty foot long yacht and I watch Charlotte’s mouth drop open in pure admiration.
She points at the massive boat with shaky fingers as her head swivels to me with widened eyes. “This is what you call a boat, Chris?” She exclaims with disbelief and I almost laugh at her. “Oh, what it must feel like to be insanely rich,” she says as she eyes me with feigned jealousy.
If it was another woman, that statement would have rubbed me wrong, but there isn’t any form of malice in Charlotte’s tone when she talks. Moreso, I don’t mind spending that same money on her that has her in awe.
My hand holding hers firmly, I pull her towards the steps leading to the entrance of my yacht. “Come on,” I urge her. “I have a feeling you’ll want to see what is inside.”
The moment we step in, Charlotte literally squeals much to mine and George’s amusement. She trails her fingers along the dark brown walls, plopping down onto the white, leather furniture before going further down the steps and into the cabins. “This place has everything,” she exclaims as she takes it all in.
Eventually, it’s time to leave and George bids us farewell. When it’s just Charlotte and I left, we both head on board to get prepared. We divide and conquer, checking to make sure the sails are in order and the hull hasn’t been cracked or damaged. Then we make sure the rig is ready, putting on a coat of wax and polishing all the metal.
We make sure everything is working perfectly fine in the fuel system before finally giving everything a good once over and ensuring that the safety equipment is still in order.
Before we finally set out, I ensure that Charlotte and I have on life jackets and safety harnesses. We have breakfast in the cabin, with me whipping up a classic English meal, then we set out.
“Where did you learn how to sail?” Charlotte asks me hours later while keeping me company in the sailor’s compartment. Her eyes rest on my hands as they steer the boat in the direction I want.
I smile slightly. “My father used to have a boat he named after my mother. Every weekend, he would take me out on it and show me how everything worked. Then he’d give me a chance to steer the boat for short periods of time before I was able to sail without much supervision. He called it our father-son bonding time.”
“The only father-daughter bonding time I got was learning how to shoot at wild animals.”
Intrigued, I briefly stare at her. “You can handle a rifle?”
She smirks. “You sound so shocked, Chris.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “By now, you’d think I wouldn’t be. Everything about you is…” I trail off, searching for the right words to use. “…astonishing.” I finally say.
I watch her blush from the compliment before she deflates with a sigh. “My mother may have yearned for a daughter, but my father always wanted a son and he never hid it. He tried so hard to teach me things like shooting a rifle, but I hated killing those poor animals. Eventually, my mom found out and I no longer had to endure any of that.”
“It looks like even back then, you knew what you wanted, Charlotte Wilson.”
Suddenly, her gaze becomes intense and her eyes hold mine. “I’ve always known what I wanted, Chris.”
