5. Harmony

CHAPTER 5

Harmony

D rake swings me away from him and then reels me back in and my head spins out of control even as I laugh at his antics.

The man that I thought was an arrogant asshole is actually funny and witty and just plain fucking gorgeous as all get out.

It didn't take long to find that out.

I screech as he reels me out again and my hand grasps at air. I spin out of control and knock into another dancer on the dance floor who turns around and glares at me as I reflexively wrap my hands around their arm to hold myself upright.

"I'm so sorry," I babble, flushing miserably as I slowly uncurl one finger at a time.

Drake grabs hold of me and smiles his charming grin at them. "I'm sorry. She got away from me. It's my fault. Can I buy you a drink?"

The girl smiles at him and the man frowns, looking back and forth between the two of them.

"Not necessary, man. Just keep a hand on your woman. I do with mine." And then he hauls her away and I smirk at Drake.

"That guy doesn't like you."

He shrugs. "Doesn't bother me. Hell, if you looked at me like that, I'd be liable to make sure that you didn't get more than about ten feet close to me."

My brow lifts. "You're very sure of yourself."

He nods his chin and then chuckles. "I've seen that look in a few women's eyes."

"You're pretty arrogant."

"We already agreed that I'm very sure of myself. I suppose that you could call that arrogant. I just call it learning. I learned the hard way that certain looks can't be trusted. That's one of them."

I huff. But my eyes are starting to flutter and my head is hanging. I'm so damn tired.

"I guess so. But I think I need to get back to my room and rest. I'm exhausted. I'll see you later."

I turn away, yanking at my hand and expecting him to let go. But he doesn't.

Instead he tugs at me harder and I stumble and fall into his broad chest.

His arms wrap around me and he says, "where do you think you're going, baby girl?"

"I'm going to bed. Alone," I say, huffing my hair out of my eyes.

He gives me a devious look and chuckles darkly. "Are you sure about that, angel?"

I roll my eyes. "I don't think we need to argue this again. I'm exhausted and I can walk back to my cabin all by my little lonesome. I don't need a bodyguard."

His dark gaze skates down my curves and sparks light up everywhere his eyes touch. "I'd light this whole world on fire to spend the rest of my life guarding those curves."

I drag in a startled breath. "I'm not ready for whatever you're thinking, Drake. I'm barely able to function since my asshole ex broke me. I'm not sure I'm ever going to be able to feel something for another man, let alone love one."

He sighs and kisses my forehead gently. "I'll let you go for this one night, baby girl. But I'm going to walk you back to your room." That reckless little smirk curls his lips and my whole body lights up like a firecracker. "After all, it's on the way to mine anyway."

"You're not gonna let this go, are you?"

"After watching you walk on the deck earlier? Hell no! I get the feeling that you're a little bit of a klutz." I glare at him and huff angrily. "A beautiful one but still a bit of a klutz."

"Fine," I growl. "But just because I'm tired of this argument and I need some sleep. I haven't been able to sleep because of this damn hellacious trip."

"Why?"

"I hate boats. They make me seasick and nervous." But as soon as I say the words I realize that since I had dinner with him I haven't felt sick at all and I never even thought about the fact that I'm still on the boat. Or ship. Whatever the hell you want to call this floating death trap!

I don't have time to figure out why because he's already dragging me outside and his hand curls around my hip. I glare at him and he smiles sheepishly.

"I just want to make sure that you don't trip and fall overboard."

I eye him skeptically. I don't believe a freaking word or that innocent smile.

But it feels so good to have somebody actually take care of me. It's been so long since someone actually worried about how I felt. Worried whether I needed something. Whether I was cold or lonely or sad.

Jeff was so non-existent in my life for the longest time and I didn't really notice until it was too late.

Even if I'd noticed and said something to him, if we'd tried to work on our marriage, I'm not sure there was that much left to work on.

And if I'd known that he was sleeping with his assistant I sure as hell wouldn't have let him touch me. Ever again.

The betrayal of that still hurts. My heart aches even though I'm not in love with him anymore. That part doesn't bother me as much as the betrayal.

He could have talked to me at any point and we could have divorced before he ever touched her. He broke his vows as easily as he left me. Pretty damn easily.

So while Drake walks me back to my cabin, I shore up my flagging arguments with memories that shred my skin and scar my heart.

The one thing that I won't do again is let another man put my feelings in a blender and whirl away until all that's left is a million different jagged pieces that fall to the ground or flutter away on the sea breeze out here.

I'm not taking a chance like that again. Not even for a man that seriously makes me question whether it's worth it or not.

I know in my soul that it's not. It hurts too much.