Freshwater Kisses: A Billionaire Love Story (7 page)

I killed the motor once we were far enough from shore, and together Robbie and I prepped the sails. We faced into the wind, and on Robbie's command, I raised the mainsail. Robbie shouted encouragement as I winched the sail to the proper tension, making it tight and tall into the sky.

The smaller, triangular jib went up next, unfurling and ready to catch the wind. Robbie flashed me a grin, turning the boat so that the sails filled with wind. The boat surged with power, coming alive and dancing across the water.

It felt wonderful to be working with him, the two of us shouting out what we were doing and what needed done. The two of us worked together seamlessly as if we had never been apart, urging the boat faster and faster.

The boat handled like a dream, increasing in speed and almost seeming to guide the wind into her sails. She cut through the ocean, the water dancing with life around her bow. Spray rose up and glittered through the air, catching the sun like falling jewels. It was a dream come true to sail such a perfect boat and know that she was all mine.

After a time, Robbie steered back into the wind, and the boat slowed to a stop. I pulled the sails down, tossing the sea anchor into the water. The blue sea sparkled like a giant sapphire as we stopped in the middle of the ocean, the shore line barely visible in the distance. It was something we used to do when we were kids, stopping to talk where no one could hear us, and I was glad he remembered it.

Once everything was secure, we both sat on the deck and Robbie pulled out a Snickers for the two of us to share. I kicked off my shoes, feeling the warm deck on my bare feet. Robbie's face concentrated as he carefully tore the bar into two fairly equal halves and let me pick. The sweet chocolate and caramel tasted fantastic as we sat in the sun.

"So, why aren't you out sailing professionally? I saw you were scheduled for some Olympic qualifying events, but that you didn't race," Robbie asked, his mouth full of chocolatey goodness.

"Have you been following my racing career, Robbie Saunders?" I asked. He blushed slightly.

"Maybe a little."

"My teammate had a back injury and couldn't race. Then when everything happened with Avery's grandmother and I needed to move out to be with Grace, I just took the season off." I shrugged as if it weren't a big deal.

Robbie examined me, his green eyes seeing right through my nonchalance. "I see."

"It sucks, but I didn't really have much of a choice. No partner, and Avery needed me," I tried to explain, but his expression didn't change.

"So why don't you sail single-handed? I remember you used to be pretty good at it. If you need a sponsor, I'll do it. I sponsor other racers all the time." He licked the last of the chocolate off his fingers, and I had a hard time not focusing on his perfectly shaped mouth.

"I don't sail single-handed. It's just not something I enjoy anymore. And Grace needs me to watch Avery now. I just don't have the availability."

"I could throw in a nanny as part of your sponsorship," he said.

"You do that for all your racers?" I teased, hoping he would drop it. I didn't like sailing single-handed. Despite everyone's insistence, I knew my parents died because I was out sailing by myself. It was sailing single-handed that led to their deaths.

"Just the ones I like. I'm serious, though. You should be sailing, Sam." Robbie leaned back, stretching his legs out in front of him. The sun caught his sandy hair, and he looked like an angel. But despite the fact that in that moment he was a gorgeous specimen of a man, I wasn't going to let him pressure me into sailing by myself.

"No, Robbie. Thank you, but I won't do it. Please don't push. I sail double-handed. Two people. That's it."

"Okay." A smile crossed his face, and I knew he wasn't going to try anymore. Robbie was stubborn, but he knew I could out-stubborn him. "So what do you want to name your boat?

I thought about it for a moment, frowning slightly as I went over names. It needed to be something special; something to do with family and the chance at making things better. "Let me think for a bit."

Robbie nodded. "You got it."

"Hey," I said, pointing to the distance. "Dolphins!"

"There's a pod that lives around here. They've always brought me good luck whenever I see them before a race." Robbie shielded his eyes and looked out across the water. The acrobatic creatures leapt through the waves, twisting and turning like dancers. I envied their grace through the water, the ability to sail without needing a mast.

I followed the dance of the dolphins as they disappeared into the ocean behind us. A sassy grin spread across my face as I stepped to the aft, looking down into the water.

"Hey, Robbie! Come look at this fish! I've never seen anything like it," I called out. There was no fish. There never was a fish, but Robbie used to fall for it every time. I hoped he would fall for it again.

"What? Coming," he answered. I heard him stand and pad softly across the deck to the stern. He came up beside me and peered into the blue sparkling water. "I don't see it..."

I pushed his shoulders, toppling him into the water. He landed with an ungraceful splash, spluttering and spitting out saltwater as he surfaced.

"Oh, it's a Robbie fish!" I bit my lip for a moment, hoping he wasn't angry, but his laughter soon filled my ears.

"Ha, ha. Very funny." He stuck is tongue out at me as he treaded water. His shirt had gone transparent, and I could very clearly see every one of his deliciously defined muscles.

"Come help me up," he said, motioning me toward the water. I went to my knees, laughing that he had fallen for my joke yet again, and offered him my hand. His wet fingers clasped strongly around mine, and I suddenly realized what I had just done. I couldn't believe I had forgotten this part. He flashed me an evil grin and pulled down hard, toppling me into the ocean.

The water was cold and incredibly salty. I was very glad I had kicked off my shoes and was wearing light clothing, but even though I was a strong swimmer, it was still hard to stay afloat. I surfaced, and Robbie was laughing, his head bobbing gently above the dark water.

"You fall for it every time," he snickered. I splashed a handful of water at him.

"You fell for it first." I ducked as he returned fire with a splash of his own. I couldn't stop giggling as we attempted to splash one another, darting around the water like dolphins ourselves.

My watch started to beep. I gave it an evil glare, but it didn't stop its high-pitched chirps. Robbie's expression went quizzical, and I sighed.

"I have to get home. Avery gets out of school in an hour and I have to pick her up." I wished I could just stay out on the boat for the rest of the day. That I could sit in the sunshine with the cool breeze on my face and enjoying Robbie's company forever. Instead, I needed to go brave the traffic of a million soccer moms and their rebellious progeny.

"All right, let's get those sails back up," Robbie said, reaching for the boat. He lifted himself easily out of the water, offering me a hand back up on deck. His hand was warm and strong against mine as he hauled me up. There was no way I would have been able to pull him into the water.

I stumbled up onto the deck, and he caught me in his arms. He was so close, his body warm even after being in the ocean. I looked up into his green eyes and my body pressed into him of its own volition.

My watch beeped again, reminding me that I had someplace I needed to be. The moment was broken, and he turned away. I silently cursed myself for wanting to kiss him. He was Robbie, my best friend. But he was also so much more now than he was eleven years ago.

He walked effortlessly across the boat, moving as though he had been born on the water. He hauled the sea-anchor up, his muscles flexing under his shirt. My mouth watered a little at the sight of him. Robbie was no longer the boy I had sailed with. He was a man and a good looking one at that.

I hoisted the sails and we hurried back to the docks, making good time. The wind had shifted, and it made our trip back easy. The wind was cold against my wet skin, but between the breeze and the sunshine, I'd dried out enough not to be worried about the cold. I was suddenly very glad the day had been almost unseasonably warm. As the dock came into view, Robbie switched on the engine, and I took down the sails. Robbie steered us easily into the slip, and I had the boat-hook and ropes ready to tie the boat down.

It only took us a moment to secure the boat, the knots flowing from our fingers as we tied and secured everything. Robbie did a quick double-check before we jumped from the boat and onto the dock.

"You are covered in salt," Robbie said, laughing as he brushed white grains from my cheek. "There's a freshwater bucket over there."

He took my hand and guided me toward an old-fashioned water spigot and turned it on. Crystal clear water sloshed out, and I put my hand under the flow. The water was warm, and I smiled. Robbie lifted a bucket and slid it under the spout. Memories of the last time the two of us had rinsed off under a bucket like this flooded my mind. I found myself aching to kiss him.

Robbie raised the bucket over my head, his strong arms steady as he prepared to pour it. I stepped in close to him, and he let the water fall over us. I stood on tiptoe and found his lips with mine, the water cascading around us.

This kiss wasn't the innocent first taste of love between two friends. Robbie didn't freeze this time, no longer a boy unsure of oncoming masculinity. This time, he let the bucket fall, his fingers tangling in my hair as he pressed his lips against mine. His body met mine, his heat seeping through wet clothes and filling me with a fire of want. Our tongues met, the taste of freshwater mixing in with the kiss. It was sweet and clean and everything I had ever expected in a kiss.

My watch beeped again, giving me one final warning. Breathless, I pulled away, our foreheads still touching as our lips separated.

"Go pick up your niece. I'll finish up here." Robbie's voice was low and full of want. Our eyes connected, and I lost myself in his sea of green for a moment.

"Okay," I replied. My head was spinning. I wondered if I had forgotten how to breathe. I stepped back, and Robbie's hands went to my shoulders. He looked me up and down and smiled.

"Thank you for the boat," I whispered. I leaned forward and kissed him again, not ready to leave him just yet. His mouth caressed mine, and time stopped for a moment. Then he pushed me back gently.

"You better go or you'll be late," he said. His green eyes held a fire that said he didn't want me to go, that he wanted so much more. I fought inwardly with myself, but I knew I had to leave.

"
Avery's Hope
," I said, taking a step back. His brows came together in a question. "I want to name the boat,
Avery's Hope
."

Robbie nodded. "That's a perfect name; and I think Avery will approve."

I took another step backward, making the distance between us grow and hoping that the extra space would make it easier to leave him. It didn't, but I knew I couldn't stay. I turned and started to walk back down the pier, my fingers going to my lips to feel the passion still surging within them.

"Hey, Sam?" Robbie called out. I turned, ready to run back down and into his arms if he asked. "I'd like to see you again. Can I take you out to dinner tomorrow?"

I beamed at him. "Yes. I get off of work at four."

"Excellent. I'll be at your house at five then. Dress fancy." His smile lit up the dock brighter than the sun. I nodded enthusiastically and then forced myself to hurry away so I could get to Avery by the time school got out.

T
he coastal town of Winchester was not that big. It was a really nice tourist town, with a big, beautiful marina, three restaurants, and a bar that is more local than tourist. Technically, Grace and I didn't even live within the town's limits, but the sheriff still looked after us like we did.

New York City was about an hour away by train, so if any of the small town's inhabitants wanted to treat someone or have a night out, most of them usually hopped on the train. Unless, of course, they happen to be the son of a billionaire.

It was just before five, and Robbie was right on time. I peeked out the window and nearly didn't recognize the man walking up. I still saw him in my mind as the gangly, awkward twelve-year-old boy who liked wearing basketball shorts and t-shirts. I had only ever seen him in sailing gear or khakis since we became adults, and I was surprised to find he even owned a suit.

Where I was expecting a sailor, a prince stood on my front porch. He had tamed his wild sandy hair into something that could grace the cover of a men's magazine, and his normally scruffy chin was clean-shaven. A black suit jacket hung perfectly across his broad shoulders, and a dark green shirt underneath it made his green eyes pop. A tie was never his style, so I wasn't surprised not to see one, but even without it, he looked ready to go to dinner with a movie star.

I gulped and let the curtain fall. I felt almost too casual in my dark blue dress, but it was the nicest thing I had. I knew it looked good, but it was my go-to dress for weddings, banquets, award ceremonies, and anything that needed me to wear something fancier than jeans. Seeing Robbie looking like the billionaire he was, my dress suddenly felt a little shabby. I smoothed the front and made sure my hair was still pulled back. Grace and Avery had enjoyed teasing it into curls and doing my makeup. Even if my dress was a little plain, my hair and face more than made up for it.

"I GOT IT!" screamed Avery as the doorbell chimed. She tore down the hallway, her princess dress flowing behind her, and threw open the door before I even had a chance to move. She loved answering the door.

"Hi," Robbie greeted her, bending down and resting on his heels to be at her eye level. "I am supposed to take a princess to dinner tonight. You look ready to go."

Avery beamed up at him, twirling her iridescent princess skirt at her feet. It was supposed to be her Halloween costume, but she refused to wear anything else. It was a struggle in the mornings to convince her to wear her school uniform, and she only changed when Grace promised she could wear her princess costume as soon as she got home. Halloween was still over a month away, but she wasn't showing any signs of getting bored with it.