do,” I snapped back. “Maybe he means it.”
“It’s possible,” Tuck said, his voice and expression so controlled he could have been thinking anything. “I think it’s more likely he assumes you’re naive and wants to take advantage of that.”
“Only because that’s how you operate.” I started to turn away. The danger of standing near the side of the boat in choppy water couldn’t compete with my desire to be as far away from everyone as the boat would allow.
“Ells, wait,” Tuck said. His fingers trailed along my wrist, as if that would be enough to stop me. “Don’t be mad. I’m not saying he wouldn’t adore you if he had the chance to get to know you. Is that really what you want? For Kjell to like you? Because just now you seemed freaked—”
But the rest of what he said was drowned out by a loud, metallic grinding. It sounded like the time my mom stripped the transmission in her old station wagon—only ten million times louder. And it was coming from the engine room.
Tuck pulled me out of the way as three crewmen pushed past, running toward the source of the noise.
The boat jerked to one side at a precarious angle. Then it tipped the other way just as quickly, rocking back and forth like a Tilt-A-Whirl. The sudden shifts threw me to the deck. Before I could even wrap my mind around the possibility of what was happening, I was sliding down the deck feetfirst, scrambling to grab on to something, anything. The rain boots and rubber suit were useless on the slick surface of the deck—absolutely zero traction.
At that speed, I’d hit the water with a spectacular splash.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, bracing myself for my grand entrance into the freezing-cold water. But the toe of my boot hit the railing and I pushed off hard, buying myself a few more seconds to think.
I’d barely managed to catch my breath before strong hands slid underneath my arms and pulled me up onto my knees.
“Tuck!” Graham shouted, his voice sounding impossibly far away given how small the boat was. “Get her away from the edge!”
As Tuck helped me to my feet, the boat heaved again, violently rolling onto its other side. But Tuck stood firm and steady, as if the ground beneath our feet weren’t bucking like a rodeo bull. With one arm locked around my shoulders, he took three huge steps forward and grabbed the railing of the bridge, pulling me with him. He pinned me against the wall of the bridge with his body, wrapping his hands around the railing and wedging one foot behind a crate. We were pressed together so tight I could barely breathe.
“What’s going on?” I asked as the metallic grinding gave way to a high-pitched mechanical wail. Three more fisherman ran past at full speed—or as fast as was possible, given the waves.
“Engine broke down right as we hit a rough patch of water. It’s all part of Captain Ahab’s plan to get in those sexy rubber pants,” Tuck replied, a smile in his voice. “Danger is hot. A daring rescue is even hotter.”
Only Tuck would turn this into a joke.
“But you’re the one who rescued me.” The words were out before I realized the implication.
“Backfired,” Tuck replied. “Poor Ahab.” The screeching engine was so loud, I could barely hear him as he added, “Don’t worry—this is the safest spot on the boat. The most stable.” The words were warm against my cheek, as was the scent of reckless summer radiating from his skin. Up close, Tuck had his own gravitational pull. It tempted me forward until my nose and forehead rested against his throat. I heard his sharp intake of breath, his surprise, but I couldn’t help myself. Even if it meant I wouldn’t be able to look him in the eye when this was all over.
It seemed Tuck’s theory about danger had some merit.
The boat rocked back and forth like a teeter-totter, picking up speed each time. A wave broke over the railing, sending a spray of ice-cold water over our heads, but Tuck held on to
“It’s possible,” Tuck said, his voice and expression so controlled he could have been thinking anything. “I think it’s more likely he assumes you’re naive and wants to take advantage of that.”
“Only because that’s how you operate.” I started to turn away. The danger of standing near the side of the boat in choppy water couldn’t compete with my desire to be as far away from everyone as the boat would allow.
“Ells, wait,” Tuck said. His fingers trailed along my wrist, as if that would be enough to stop me. “Don’t be mad. I’m not saying he wouldn’t adore you if he had the chance to get to know you. Is that really what you want? For Kjell to like you? Because just now you seemed freaked—”
But the rest of what he said was drowned out by a loud, metallic grinding. It sounded like the time my mom stripped the transmission in her old station wagon—only ten million times louder. And it was coming from the engine room.
Tuck pulled me out of the way as three crewmen pushed past, running toward the source of the noise.
The boat jerked to one side at a precarious angle. Then it tipped the other way just as quickly, rocking back and forth like a Tilt-A-Whirl. The sudden shifts threw me to the deck. Before I could even wrap my mind around the possibility of what was happening, I was sliding down the deck feetfirst, scrambling to grab on to something, anything. The rain boots and rubber suit were useless on the slick surface of the deck—absolutely zero traction.
At that speed, I’d hit the water with a spectacular splash.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, bracing myself for my grand entrance into the freezing-cold water. But the toe of my boot hit the railing and I pushed off hard, buying myself a few more seconds to think.
I’d barely managed to catch my breath before strong hands slid underneath my arms and pulled me up onto my knees.
“Tuck!” Graham shouted, his voice sounding impossibly far away given how small the boat was. “Get her away from the edge!”
As Tuck helped me to my feet, the boat heaved again, violently rolling onto its other side. But Tuck stood firm and steady, as if the ground beneath our feet weren’t bucking like a rodeo bull. With one arm locked around my shoulders, he took three huge steps forward and grabbed the railing of the bridge, pulling me with him. He pinned me against the wall of the bridge with his body, wrapping his hands around the railing and wedging one foot behind a crate. We were pressed together so tight I could barely breathe.
“What’s going on?” I asked as the metallic grinding gave way to a high-pitched mechanical wail. Three more fisherman ran past at full speed—or as fast as was possible, given the waves.
“Engine broke down right as we hit a rough patch of water. It’s all part of Captain Ahab’s plan to get in those sexy rubber pants,” Tuck replied, a smile in his voice. “Danger is hot. A daring rescue is even hotter.”
Only Tuck would turn this into a joke.
“But you’re the one who rescued me.” The words were out before I realized the implication.
“Backfired,” Tuck replied. “Poor Ahab.” The screeching engine was so loud, I could barely hear him as he added, “Don’t worry—this is the safest spot on the boat. The most stable.” The words were warm against my cheek, as was the scent of reckless summer radiating from his skin. Up close, Tuck had his own gravitational pull. It tempted me forward until my nose and forehead rested against his throat. I heard his sharp intake of breath, his surprise, but I couldn’t help myself. Even if it meant I wouldn’t be able to look him in the eye when this was all over.
It seemed Tuck’s theory about danger had some merit.
The boat rocked back and forth like a teeter-totter, picking up speed each time. A wave broke over the railing, sending a spray of ice-cold water over our heads, but Tuck held on to
Similar Books
