13. Chapter 13

Chapter 13

~ Addi ~

I stood on the deck, watching the land come into view, and couldn't help but sigh. It was so gorgeous. Sure, looking at the endless water was breathtaking, and frightening, but knowing there was something else out there, other places to see, and the beauty it held, yeah, it was just something to sigh over.

"Are you going to miss him?"

"A little. He's becoming an amazing fling, but at the same time, he likes to bug the crap out of me, and I'm worried I will shove him overboard! Then I'm going to get fined, and that won't look good."

Cyndi laughed as she took my arm, finally leading us back inside after watching the ship dock. Pretty cool to see this massive vessel be treated like a car!

"We got a day to chat, and it's needed. I felt like I hadn't seen you between all the trips to land, and the time spent with James. Drinks, dancing, screwing, a bite here and there."

I shoved her but did have to smile. Sure, he bugged the crap out of me, said things to piss me off, I'm sure, but I didn't lie. I did like spending time with him.

Once we got to the spa, she checked us in. The front desk lady handed us our robes and then directed us where to start.

"Tell me something, Addi. Do you think you now have the wrong case against James?"

What did I say to that? He sure wasn't the douche that his ex made him out to be. But I wasn't one hundred percent certain that I bought his story, either. There was something missing. A woman wouldn't be that vindictive just because she didn't get the latest purse, could she?

I didn't want to think that, but the truth was that I had. I was worried about it. I mean, I really was just trying to make this a vacation fling, enjoy it while it lasted type situation. But I wasn't sure that my heart was allowing it to be just that.

Okay, he bugged me, he picked on me, he poked me, but he also made me laugh, made me think, made me see things outside the box, made me feel beautiful, and wanted, and deliciously sexy. But that also wasn't a reason to lose a case or to drop it. That also wasn't a reason to continue anything beyond this boat ride.

"You don't think it would look bad that I was dating the man my client is divorcing?"

"I think what happens outside of the courthouse isn't anyone's business. What I also think is that it shouldn't matter what anyone else says. Look, I know you're the boss in that room, that it's your domain and no one opposes you there. That you don't want outside circumstances to dictate what's going to happen. But you are a woman who has wants, needs, and feelings. And if everything is pointing to being with this man and being happy, then I say I take the chance and screw everyone else."

I chewed on that as we lay down in the sauna, the heat easing the tension in my shoulders. And where the hell did that come from? I was having amazing sex regularly now, there should be no tension. Of course, the person giving me said sex was also the person who had me questioning everything as it was.

After fifteen minutes of laying in the heat, we moved to the ice bath, allowing the cold cubes to open up the pores. And let me say, that felt amazing. I had never been to a spa that was like this, and personally, never thought of doing ice after heat. When I got back home, my ass was looking for something like this there.

Two hours later, after a soak in a warm pool and a deep massage, I couldn't move. I didn't even want to think. And throughout the relaxing morning, Cyndi hadn't brought up the topic of James and the ever after once we left this floating paradise. Which was fine by me. I needed to get all of that out of my head anyway.

"Let's go grab a bite to eat off the ship. There has to be some local food we can try?"

"I'm game."

After resting for a few more minutes, we got dressed again and then headed down to the gangway to leave the boat. I inhaled deeply, the smell of the ocean always making me grin. And in the smells of a whole other country, and it was even better.

I pulled my blonde hair back and made sure to stay close to Cyndi as we walked down the pier, eyeing little shops and finally finding a small joint.

"I just want to go on record," she started as she looked over the menu, "that I think you fighting your feelings, is more stupid and asinine than thinking people are going to judge you because of who you are dating. Don't be that kind of woman, Addi."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Yup, leave it to a shrink to say something like that. She glanced up and laughed, having caught the roll.

Good, she knew how annoying I would find it.

An hour and a half later, before the boat started the horn blowing to let their guests know they were loading up, we made our way back down the gangway. We sat our bags on the counter to be scanned as we walked through security and then waited with the loads of people to head up to the floors.

I jumped as someone shoved me and turned around to give them a piece of my mind, but then froze.

"I'm so sorry….Addi?"

"James?" I waved my hand in front of my nose. "God, you stink? Did you take a fucking bath in rum?"

"No," he laughed, shaking his head, but I could easily see how unsteady he was on his feet. It was a miracle he made it back to the boat in one piece.

"Then what?"

"My friend just…kept refilling the cup. And the guests all loved it."

He laughed again and I took a step, making sure to keep him upright if needs be.

"What is that other smell? What flowers were you around?" I sniffed again and then my eyes opened wide. "Were you with other ladies?"

"I wasn't with them, but they were on me. I tried-"

"Don't," I gritted out, quickly cutting him off. "God, I knew it! I just fucking knew it. You are a fucking womanizer. Keeping it to one woman, my ass! Well, joke is on me since we weren't dating! Mark my words, McKenzie, this was all the proof I needed to stay the hell away from you and to make sure your ex wins!