Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 89012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89012 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 445(@200wpm)___ 356(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
I cover my toothbrush with toothpaste and shove it in my mouth, sticking it in my cheek. Then I pop my head around the corner to see him sitting on the edge of the bed. “If you made that up to get me out of bed, I’m never honeymooning with you again.”
Dumb, but that’s what came to mind.
He grins. “Good thing I’m not lying then.”
I try to control myself so I don’t look like an idiot, but it doesn’t work. “Eeek!”
He chuckles. “I gotta go downstairs and make sure James got our picnic shit together.”
“And a picnic?” The words are muffled because of the toothbrush.
“I told you this would be your best honeymoon ever.” He stands and straightens his T-shirt. “Now hurry up. James will be here to get us in half an hour.”
I groan, swallowing a lump of toothpaste. “Why do you always wait until the last second to get me up?”
He comes to me, standing just out of reach. He looks down and smiles. “Because if I get you up too early, we’ll have time on our hands. And if we have time on our hands, we’ll never make the boat.”
Memories of last night—of Maddox taking me from behind on the balcony—flutter through my mind. I slurp a mouthful of spit and swallow.
“Exactly.” He grins, letting me know he’s thinking what I’m thinking. “Get dressed. I’ll be downstairs.”
He places a kiss on my forehead and then disappears down the steps.
“I’m Captain Jimmy. Welcome aboard.”
“Good morning,” I say, climbing carefully into the boat.
Maddox steps down behind me. “I’m Maddox, and this is Ashley. It’s nice to meet you.”
Captain Jimmy shakes Maddox’s hand. “Nice to meet you both. Newlyweds?”
“Yes,” I say, snuggling into Maddox’s side. My, how this has gotten easy.
“Congratulations.” Captain Jimmy smiles. “You’ve booked a private tour, so it’ll just be the three of us today. Because of the weather, we can only do one stop. If the storm holds off, we might be able to sneak a second, but if there’s one thing you’re looking to do specifically, I think we should start there.”
“My wife wants to swim with the pigs,” Maddox says.
Excitement bubbles in my stomach. I’m getting to do this after all.
“The pigs are the most popular attraction, believe it or not,” Captain Jimmy says. “Get settled. There are drinks in the cooler right here.” He kicks a red square. “We’ll take off in just a moment.”
Maddox waits for me to choose whether to sit at the front or back of the boat. Because Captain Jimmy takes up shop at the wheel in the center, I choose the back for some privacy.
“Did you put on sunscreen?” I ask.
“Yup. Want me to put some more on you? I’ll happily rub my hands all over you.”
“Not if you want to keep this rated PG.”
He chuckles and takes a seat on the bench.
Captain Jimmy shouts something that I miss, and then the engines start. I sit quickly next to Maddox as we start out to sea.
The sky is clear overhead, but the sky is dark in the distance. That’s worrying. As I look out over the water, I can’t believe how calm it is. How glasslike. And when I cast my glance to the left, I can’t believe how divine my husband is.
Green board shorts make his eyes look even more captivating. The white tee shows off the shape of his body. And the smile he’s beaming, the happiness he’s radiating while doing something for me, is my favorite thing about him.
“You’re the best if I haven’t told you that,” I say, holding on to his arm.
“You haven’t. Feel free to say it often.”
I smile up at him. “You’re the best kisser.”
He lifts a brow in appreciation.
“You’re the best in bed,” I say.
“Good news for me.”
I laugh. “You’re the best guy to shop with. You lasted all day.”
“I always last as long as necessary.”
I giggle again. “That you do.”
The boat picks up speed, racing over the water. I rest my head against Maddox’s shoulder, and he extends an arm around my waist.
Closing my eyes, I enjoy the warmth of the indirect sunlight, the slightly cooler day, and the serenity of being with my fake husband.
“I’m going to hate going home tomorrow,” he says in my ear, flexing his fingers against my side. He plays with the waistband of my bikini under my shorts. “I’ve had the best few days with you.”
My heart swells and then sinks.
I want to look at him, to see whatever emotion might be in his eyes, but I don’t. Because it doesn’t matter. We leave either way.
“Thank you for coming,” I say as he leans closer so he can hear me over the wind. I touch the side of his face. “You didn’t have to come, didn’t have to participate in Sara’s silly game, but you did.”