I grinned when his reply came through.
I have no idea what sneakers are but I’m wearing trainers. I’m just going ashore now. I’ll meet you somewhere. Send me the details.
My stomach somersaulted. We were doing this. We were going to spend the day together.
I typed out a meeting place near a taxi rank and stuffed everything into August’s bag.
“You seem excited,” August said. “It suits you.”
“It’s just because we’re going to one of my favorite spots around here. I’d be just as excited if I was going with you.”
“So you don’t mind if I join you then?” she asked.
I glanced at August and her face gave nothing away. “What do I need?” She got off her bed and rummaged around in her wardrobe. “Bikini, sunscreen?”
Shit. Was she serious? I could hardly turn up to spend the day with Landon with August in tow. Landon wouldn’t be expecting anyone to join us, and however much I wanted to deny it, I’d been looking forward to spending the day with Landon. Alone.
“August?” I winced. I was going to have to bite the bullet and just tell her straight. “Would you mind if Landon and I went alone?”
She turned and grinned at me as if she’d just won the lottery. “I’m messing with you. I’m not going to interrupt your romantic date. I just wanted you to admit this was more than a day out.”
“I suppose it is. I just don’t want—” I didn’t want to admit to August or myself how much I was looking forward to spending time with Landon. I just wanted to enjoy the time I was with him and forget about the consequences. For a summer. “I just don’t want to get in too deep. You know?”
“Just go with it. It’s a day off, not a honeymoon.”
I nodded. “Exactly. Are you going to be okay? Am I abandoning you?”
“Nope. I’m going to hit up Camille, see if she’ll go shopping with me. Then I’m going to call Harvey, nap, and enjoy my freedom. I want you to enjoy yourself.”
“Thanks,” I said, pulling on my favorite, white, off-the-shoulder t-shirt and cropped pants over my bikini.
“Hair up or down?”
“You’re beautiful either way.” August shrugged. “Wear it down and take a clip.”
I nodded, pulling a clip from under my pillow. “Okay, I’m off.”
“Have fun.” August blew me a kiss and I flew out of the door.
I hadn’t wanted to do the obvious thing and take food from the galley, so I’d ordered a lunch from one of the shops on shore. I’d drop by to pick up our food and drinks and then meet Landon at the taxi rank, ready for our day together.
I’d never spent the day with a man before, not one I found attractive. Not ever someone I’d slept with. Landon would be the first. And last.
This summer, I was having a time-out from running from my past.
When I saw Landon waiting on the sidewalk, his back to me, facing the row of cabs, I stifled a grin. Even his back was sexy.
“Hey.” I tapped him on the shoulder.
“Hey,” he replied. “You look very pretty,” he said, trailing a finger from my neck to my shoulder before he bent and pressed a kiss against my lips.
“Thank you. You look . . . handsome.” Somehow, Landon always seemed to look stylish. Maybe it was because he was older than other deckhands, but he even wore his uniform differently. He filled it out and made it look as if it had been custom made to stretch over his biceps and across his broad torso. Today he wore a similar uniform of shorts and a polo shirt, but without any of the ship’s logos. His dark hair and skin looked perfect against the navy and white—as if he was one of the billionaire playboys who made their home here in Monaco.
“So, you ready for our day out?” I asked.
“Can’t wait,” he replied, his smile wide and genuine.
“Okay, well it starts with a cab.” I spoke to one of the drivers in my best French and we settled into the back of the taxi. “The views along the coast are spectacular. Do you like to travel?” I asked.