Chapter Fifteen
I was just finishing putting on my sundress over my swimsuit when Leo came back in to my bedroom. He was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday, but he looked amazing. He held out the steaming mug of coffee for me and I took a nice long sip.
Two creams, extra sweet. Just the way I liked it.
“Do we need to stop at your place and pick you up anything?” I asked, eyeing the mashed potato mark on his shirt.
“I have a change of clothes and a swimsuit on the boat,” he told me. He grinned. “As long as you don't mind me changing in front of you.”
I put my hands to my cheeks. “Oh! The scandal!”
Leo laughed an
d held out his hand for mine. “You ready?”
I nodded, finishing off the last of my coffee and grabbing my bag.
Leo opened the door and scanned the hallway, shaking his head. “I keep thinking I'm doing something bad. That Bastian is going to jump out at any moment and demand payment for your honor.”
“Payment for my honor?” I giggled. “I knew you were charming, but I was unaware you were a knight of the round table.”
Leo rolled his eyes at me and pulled me out into the hallway. I glanced around, expecting Bastian to appear at any moment and listening for the slightest creak.
I had always been a good kid in high school. I didn't sneak out, I wasn't into parties or goofing off with boys, but now I knew the rush that it gave. I could suddenly see why it was so much fun to sneak out of the house.
“I like being bad with you,” I whispered as we paused at the bottom of the stairs before dashing to the front door. “We should be bad more often.”
Outside the air was already beginning to heat with the day. It was the perfect day for being out on the water. Here on the island it would only get more humid and hot as the sun rose overhead, but out on the water, it would be perfect. A blue sky and dark water with the wind blowing in our hair was exactly what I needed for a day off.
Murdoch silently followed behind us. The only reason I even noticed he was there was that I was specifically looking for him. My own bodyguard, Eli, was probably enjoying having Murdoch watch me. It was practically like a day off for Eli, too.
Leo took my hand as we followed the path to the beach and began the easy walk to the docks. Granted, it was a longer walk following the pretty white sand, but much more romantic. The sky was a cloudless blue that stretched out for as far as I could see. Blue water rolled steadily in toward the land, slowly growing lighter until it was clear upon the sand. Gulls called down to us as they hovered over the waves waiting for something to eat.
“Look at that sand castle.” Leo pointed to an elaborate creation not far from the beach. It was far enough inland that the tides hadn't destroyed it yet. It was definitely the work of adults rather than children playing in the sand.
“I could live in a sand castle,” I mused, looking at the shells placed carefully for decoration.
“There would be sand everywhere,” Leo remarked. “In the kitchen, in the living room, on the couch, in the bed...”
I giggled. “It's not like you ever have to clean it.”
“Yeah, but that doesn't mean I don't like it.” Leo made a face and tugged on my hand. “Maybe we'll make one of those later today. But not one you can live in.”
My steps easily matched his as we continued down to the marina where most of the island's resident billionaires kept their boats. It wasn't the biggest marina I'd ever seen, but it definitely was worth the most. Multi-million dollar yachts floated and bobbed next to speed boats that were worth a small country.
“Ahoy there, Leo,” called out a friendly voice. A handsome mane of sandy-blond hair popped up over the top of one of the beautiful sailing yachts. “Hey, Charlotte!”
Leo dropped my hand. While neither one of us was quite ready to break the news to everyone that we were a couple, I was still disappointed that he was willing to hide it so quickly. I understood, though. My older brother was rather protective and he and Leo worked together. We had to announce it carefully.
Still, I hated losing his hand. Our relationship didn't feel as real, like it could still all be in my head, without having his touch to prove it.
“Hi, Robbie,” I called back, recognizing Robbie Saunders as the man hailing us. He was Jack's younger brother and an expert sailor. He had won more races in a sailboat than I had ever heard of even existing.
“You getting on that death trap you call a boat?” Robbie asked, leaning against the railing of his boat and grinning down at us. The two Saunders boys had similar builds and coloring, but couldn't be more different. Where Jack was a businessman through and through, Robbie was wild and free. Until recently, he had been a bit of a problem for the Saunders' family.
“Hi, Robbie,” Leo greeted the man, rolling his eyes. Robbie loved sailing with sails where Leo liked going fast using an engine.
“You know, Charlotte, you can come sailing with us. You might actually live,” Robbie teased, grinning out at us from his boat like a Cheshire cat.