“Oh, I...I think I’d rather have Remy take me out if it’s okay.”
“Whatever the guest wants, the guest gets, right, Rem?”
“Right,” I gritted out. I just knew he was going to give me so much shit when we were alone.
“Good,” she looked back at me. “I’m going to see what the girls are up to. Find out if we’re going snorkeling or not.”
My eyes stayed on her retreating form. Stella’s perky ass swayed, giving me a show she didn’t know she was giving.
“Do you want to tell me what you’re thinking?” Scout asked from beside me. When I looked over at him, I found him watching Stella walk away as well.
Scout was a good guy. He worked on the same boat as I did my first season, and I felt like I could open up to him. “I don’t know, but for the first time in my life, I feel this strange pull toward her.” He opened his mouth but closed it when I held my hand up. “I know this is the worst timing, but I can’t help it. What do I do?”
“Well, while you were out there letting one of our guests
feel you up—”
“That is not what was happening,” I interrupted him with a bark.
“Dude, don’t get your panties all up in a bunch. Just listen to me, okay?”
“Fine, what happened while I was out on the water?”
“The Captain was checking the weather, and there’s a big storm system coming in. We’re going to have to dock for at least a day, so that will give you time to spend with your lady if you want.”
It would. My work would be very little, and if the guests asked for me to do something with them, I had to comply.
“Since the weather is going to get bad, we’re going to take them snorkeling today, and then tonight during their sunset dinner, we’ll inform them of what’s going to happen tomorrow.”
I clapped him on the shoulder. “You guys got it all planned out, didn’t you?”
“What do you expect? The inside crew is freaking out about all the work they’re going to have to do. Owen and I agreed they could stay back while we take them snorkeling to give them some time off if you said it was okay.”
“Like I want to deal with the wrath of Ophelia if she doesn’t get her break,” I laughed out. She would be a horrible bitch if I didn’t agree.
“I thought you’d see it that way.”
Slapping him on the back, I pushed him toward the stairs. “Thanks, now let’s get all this put up and something to eat before we have to head out.”
“Fuck, I hate it when we have to put out the slide. We should say it’s got a hole in it, so we don’t have to deal with it for the rest of the season.”
“If anything happened to that damn slide, they’d want to know who was responsible, and then they’d take it out of our paycheck.” I, for one, wasn’t giving up that money just so I don’t have to haul that damn slide up the side of the boat.
“Ugh! Stop being reasonable.”
“Sure, when you stop being a pain in my ass. Let’s get to work. I want to make sure we have time for some lunch.”
“Dean, Dean, Remy,” I called into my walkie to our chef.
“Dean, here,” he answered.
“Can you please whip up the crew something to eat before we have to leave?”
“When do you need it?”
“In about an hour. If you can’t…”
“No, I can make you guys something. It won’t be anything grand.” He loved to make every meal the best it could be, and I knew he hated he didn’t have more time. That’s why we rarely asked him to make us any meals because we never knew when we’d have time to eat and couldn’t give him the time he needed to make something spectacular.
“That’s fine with us. Thank you, Dean.”
“Anytime,” he replied.
“Cool, let’s get to work. Can you believe we’re only halfway through the charter season?”
“Don’t remind me,” I groaned.
An hour and a half later, we’d put all the water toys away, along with the heavier than shit slide, and ate our lunch of chicken sandwiches and homemade fries Dean had made for us.
“Is everyone ready?” They all looked at me from across the table. “I have a feeling some of the women are going to be difficult, so be prepared, especially since none of the girls will be joining us to help out.”
They groaned but didn’t say anything.
“Just remember to keep your smiles on your faces at all times,” I ordered. “Do what you have to do, and I’ll see you on the aft deck in ten minutes.”
Owen smoked, and I knew he’d need a cigarette before he was stuck without his vice for the next couple of hours, if not more.
I found the ladies looking down at me over the side of the boat and giggling as I stepped outside. The small boat we’d take to the snorkeling area was ready for everyone to board once my crew arrived from their break.
Scout showed up first like I knew he would. Owen would wait until the last minute, smoking as much as possible during his break. It was annoying, but there was nothing I could do about it when there were others who smoked on the boat as well.
The ladies ooh’d and ahh’d when Scout bent over to check the gear once more. Two of us would be in the water with them while one stayed aboard to keep a lookout for any signs of distress, boats, weather, or hell, even sharks.
Scout’s lips quirked at their enjoyment as he stood up and gave them a wave. “Should we let them on while we wait for Owen?”
It would be better than all of us standing around.
“Let’s do it. It feels strange having
