I whipped my head around to see Hayden Wolf de-suited, though I didn’t let my eyes take in whether he was every inch as hard bodied and bronzed as I’d imagined he might be. “Sorry, sir. What can I get you?” I was all business.
“Is it possible to get some water? Tap is fine.”
In my seven years in this business, no one had ever asked me for tap water. He could probably have had perfectly pure water from an arctic glacier flown in if he’d wanted. I found I kinda liked the idea of an unfussy guest. It would make a change. “Can I get you ice and lemon with that?”
“However it comes,” he said and he turned and headed back toward the dining room. There was something compelling about him clearly having so much money but not expecting his every whim catered for. What had made him that way? Did he have a family that kept his feet on the ground or was it something else that made him . . . modest?
“Wow, he’s so good looking,” August said. “And you were flirting with your ‘yes, sir’ and ‘can I get you lemon with that,’” she said in a ridiculous voice. “So why can’t I?”
“I was not flirting. I was being polite. There’s a difference.” I reached for a highball from the cupboard above the counter. Had I been flirting? Not consciously, but I’d never had to worry about my reactions to a guest before. I’d have to watch myself with this guy. My friends had always teased me for having quirky taste in men, but I’d never liked traditionally handsome guys. I truly believed that what was on the inside shone through, which was why I couldn’t figure out why I’d found myself drawn to Hayden when he arrived. Maybe there was more to him than a pretty face and there was something deeper pulling me in.
I took a step toward the sink and ran the tap, ensuring the water was cold. The boyfriends I’d had in high school had won me over with their sense of humor or passion. Hayden Wolf had me noticing him. It didn’t make any sense. I knew nothing about him and the little I had picked up left me with more questions than answers.
After adding ice and a wedge of lemon, I took Hayden’s drink up to the sundeck where he had settled on one of the loungers with his laptop and a notepad.
“Tap water, with ice and lemon,” I announced as I set his drink on the side table and then felt ridiculous. I wasn’t serving up a three-star Michelin meal.
He pushed up his sunglasses and squinted at me, smirking. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Is there anything else you need?”
His gaze flickered down to my mouth and back up to look at me. “I’m good, thanks.” He held my gaze a little too long and I looked away and over the water, facing the May breeze, hoping it would cool the blush I could feel creeping up my face.
“It’s going to be a beautiful day. Let me or one of the deck crew know if you want a Jet Ski out or . . .” What was this guy going to do without any friends?
I glanced back at him and he was still watching me, almost as if were analyzing me.
“Thanks,” he said as he blinked and then pointed at his laptop. “I have plenty to do.”
Crap, had I been interrupting him? “Of course.” I turned and left him to his mobile office.
As I got into the main salon, Captain Moss was waiting for me. His hands in his pockets, he coaxed me over with a nod of his head.
“I want you to check out the bedrooms if you get a chance when our guest’s not in them,” he said. “I want to make sure he’s not doing anything he shouldn’t be. You know I won’t stand for anything that might put my license at risk.”
“You think we should be worried?”
Captain Moss shrugged. “Some of his requests are unusual. We just need to take precautions. I’m not going to worry until I have reason.”
I slid my hand over my key ring stored at my waist, my fingers finding the keys to his bedroom and office. “I’ll go now to do a refresh. He won’t have had the chance to get fully settled yet.”
“Come find me when you’re done.”
“Yes, sir.”
Captain Moss swept out and I headed back to the galley.
“Can you make a start in the laundry room?” I asked August. “And, Skylar, please set the table for lunch and then find Mr. Wolf in about twenty minutes to see if he needs anything. I’m going to check the bedroom floor now that the suitcases are in.” We always refreshed towels, toilets and sinks after guests had freshened themselves up on arrival, so that’s what I’d do and then if he caught me, I’d just tell him there’d been a misunderstanding about the key situation.