Chapter Five

CHAPTER FIVE

I woke the next morning to Joel wrapped around me like a bear, his arms and legs tangled with mine, a thin sheen of sweat forming where our skin met. I didn’t mind the warmth, though, and I snuggled into him until he groaned and peeled himself out of bed far too early for my taste. But he had work to do, and he was out of the cabin before the sun had fully risen.

I took my time, showering and trying to tame my hair before dressing for the day and making my way up to the main deck. Bagel in hand, I snuck up to the sun deck while it was still vacant and took some stunning photos of the sunrise. I played with the aperture and shutter speed, varying the focus from the yacht to the water to the shoreline in the distance.

“Enjoy the peace while you can.”

I jumped, breathing a sigh of relief when I saw Wayland. He smiled and leaned his elbows on the railing next to me, sunglasses-covered eyes cast toward the shore.

“We’re landing in Saint-Tropez a little earlier than we thought,” he said. “And Theo just informed me we’ll have our first guests onboard.”

“Oh?” I asked. I liked that Wayland was talking to me. He didn’t seem to talk much to anyone other than Captain Chuck, and he had a thick, unique Jamaican accent that I could listen to all day.

He nodded. “Don’t get me wrong, Theo is a wonderful owner and we’re all lucky to work for him. It’s much better than a charter,” he added with a shake of his head. “That said, he has some… interesting friends and business partners. So, just be prepared.”

I chuckled. “Well, I can just disappear into my cabin.”

Wayland smiled my way, clucking his tongue. “Ah, no such luck, I’m afraid.”

I arched a brow.

“Captain asked me to inform you that you’ll have your first assignment onboard this evening,” he said, tapping the railing in front of me as he stood straight again. “Theo has requested you join him and his guests for dinner, drinks, and entertainment.”

“To take pictures,” I realized.

“Indeed.” Wayland took a deep breath, eyeing the shore again. “Are you feeling sick still?”

I frowned.

“Joel mentioned you’d felt a little seasick the first day.”

“Oh,” I said with a flush. “I think it was just nerves. I’m fine.”

“Good,” Wayland said decidedly. We stood quietly next to each other for a few moments before he added, “If you really want a lifestyle worth capturing, you need to come to Jamaica.”

I smiled. “Oh yeah?”

Wayland pressed his lips together with an affirmative nod, like I had no idea how amazing the island was and there was no way for him to truly convey it. “The food, the music, the people — one of a kind.”

“You’ll have to show me someday.”

“It would be my pleasure,” he said, knocking on the railing. “But first, let’s see if you survive the day.”

He said it as a joke, but all the humor left me with my next breath, one that made me grimace at the thought of what I was about to be thrown into.

Wayland chuckled. “Just remember to smile, do as they ask, and stay out of the way. Oh, and don’t take anything too personally.” He shrugged, already walking backward toward the stairs. “Remember, these people are so rich they never needed manners.”

He tipped an imaginary hat in my direction, and I hummed a little laugh, shaking my head as I turned back to the shoreline with the pink sky slowly turning blue above it. And though I’d only been awake a couple of hours, I found myself thinking of a nap.

It seemed I would need all the energy I could muster.

***

The sand-colored buildings that sprawled the Saint-Tropez shoreline looked almost pink as we pulled into the port. Emma informed me that there weren’t many ports the yacht could dock at, and that usually we would anchor a ways out and take one of the two small tenders stored in the lowest deck to shore.

As it was, we pulled up to the dock and I took photos as Joel and the other deckhands rushed about, tying lines and using what looked like giant, oversized yoga bolsters that were bigger than me to keep the yacht from scraping the dock when we fully pulled in.

There was a small group of people waiting on the dock, and when Theo made his appearance on the main deck, they all cheered in unison, hollering out various greetings and jokes as Theo smiled and held his hands out as if to say yes, it is I, your King.

Eric gave me a flat look, one that told me he was about as excited about having guests aboard as Wayland was. I thought I heard him whisper something like good luck as he passed me on his way to help Joel at the front of the boat. And I swallowed, holding tight to my camera as Ace held out his hand and helped each of the guests onboard.

There were three women and two men, and the women rushed forward first, one of them running toward Theo and flinging herself into his arms. He caught her easily and spun her around, kissing her cheek, and I snapped a photo of the moment while ignoring the pinch in my stomach at the sight.

The woman chattered on excitedly as the other two girls slipped into Theo’s arms, close and familiar, sharing kisses and warm greetings. Two of the women looked like they could be twins, with long, thick blonde hair and dazzling white smiles outlined by lips painted pink. The other one had auburn hair that glowed a fiery red in the setting light of the sun. Every single one of them was dressed opulently in form-fitting dresses, oversized hats and sunglasses, high heels and designer handbags.

I guessed the no shoes rule didn’t apply to them.

I continued taking photos from a distance as Theo greeted the men next, who were decidedly quieter and calmer, though they seemed to poke fun at each other as they shook hands. Once everyone was onboard, Theo squeezed the shoulder of the taller of the two men, as if to exert his dominance over the group with just that one gesture.

“Welcome aboard the Philautia, ” he said with a wide grin. And right on cue, Ivy and Celeste appeared with trays of champagne, their uniforms pressed and neat, hair pulled back into tight buns.

Our new guests all clapped gleefully, and once everyone had a glass of champagne in hand, they clinked the expensive crystal together in celebration.

Click.

I’d successfully stayed hidden until the moment they each took a sip and I snapped a picture. The sound had heads turning in my direction, and one of the blonde women — the one who had thrown herself into Theo’s arms — arched a perfect eyebrow over her bedazzled Gucci sunglasses. “I didn’t realize we had paparazzi, Theo,” she said in a thick French accent.

I flushed, holding my camera right below my chest. I opened my mouth to assure her I was far from that, but then remembered Wayland’s warning to keep quiet and stay out of the way.

“This is Aspen,” Theo said, crossing the deck until he was standing next to me. He seemed to suck up all the oxygen as his Tom Ford dress shoes tapped their way across the teak. He wore an all-black suit, tailored to perfection, the only pop of color being an icy-blue neck tie that made the steel gray of his eyes glow even more fiercely. His hair was gelled and styled in a Hollywood swoop, and yet a thick patch of stubble still graced his jaw, as if he looked that rich and decadent without trying at all.

I watched the women as they visibly swooned when he passed, saw how the men smiled in admiration as much as they sneered in jealousy. And then, he was beside me, and in a gesture I never could have prepared myself for, his hand met the small of my back.

I inhaled a stiff breath at the contact, at how warm and massive his palm was over the thin fabric of my tank top. He had to have felt it, the way I jolted at the touch, but he held me steady and sure, smiling wide and standing tall and confident at my side.

“Aspen is a travel photographer specializing in lifestyle and street photography,” he said, and I frowned, glancing up at him. He didn’t return my gaze, though, and I had no option but to roll with the elaboration of who and what I was. “She’s joining us for the summer, capturing photos of the yacht, the crew, and all the guests I’ll have aboard over the next few months.” He tipped his glass of champagne then. “Including you lovely rascals.”

A soft chorus of laughter rang out then, and much to my dismay, all eyes were on me.

I smiled at the group uncomfortably. “It’s very nice to meet you all,” I said softly. “I assure you, I’ll be as close to invisible as I can manage.”

Theo made a noise under his breath, and his hand curled where it rested on my back, as if he were biting his tongue against something he wished to say.

Just as suddenly as I’d felt it, though, his hand disappeared altogether, and he stepped closer to his guests. “Audrey,” he said to the blonde who had thrown herself at him. “I’m sure you’d love some photos on the top deck before the sun sets.”

“Oh, we must!” the other blonde chimed in. And then they linked arms, the redheaded woman taking up the other side, and they led the way for the rest of the group up to the top deck.

The evening passed like a desert storm from that moment on, a whirlwind of take a photo of me here! and oh, let me see, let me see, no, I don’t like that one, let’s take another, get my good side! and Theo, take a picture with me!

I snapped posed pictures and candid pictures alike, cringing more and more as the night progressed and the guests got further inebriated. It seemed the longer the champagne flowed, the more provocative the poses became — smiles turning to pouty lips, eyes glazing over with lust and booze, dresses being hiked up higher and higher.

I really didn’t mind, for the most part. I wanted to work. I wanted to earn my stay on this incredible yacht. It felt good to have something to do, the way the rest of the crew did.

But at the same time, my soul wrinkled its nose at my memory card being filled with vanity and illustrious glamour where I usually pointed my lens at humility and quiet grace.

I learned over the course of the evening that the men were clients of Theo’s — big shot bankers for the largest bank in France. It didn’t surprise me that they were Envizion customers, provided that a quick Google search had shown me that Envizion worked with every large bank in America, as well as the Department of Defense, among other impressive names. If my assumptions were correct, these men were likely the heads of his largest account in France, so it was no surprise they were onboard for an evening of entertainment.

The redheaded woman was wife to the taller of the two men, and I caught their names to be Bernard and Camille. Camille was the nicest of the group. She didn’t talk to me, per se, but she did offer apologetic eyes when the other women asked for me by a snap of their fingers.

The other man, who had nearly drunk himself into a stupor before dinner was even served, was named Gilbert. He seemed to believe he and Audrey were an item, but Audrey and the other blonde, Nicolette, were anything but shy about their interest in Theo.

It was fascinating, listening to Theo and Bernard talking business while the women gossiped about their friends and compared their latest shopping trips and exotic travel. For them, a night on a super yacht was just another day in the life. They drank four-thousand-dollar bottles of champagne like it was Bud Light at a frat party, kicked their expensive shoes off their feet without a care in the world, and soaked up the evening like only the rich could.

I also got a glimpse of the crew on their best behavior. I watched Ivy and Celeste serve dinner with cheerful, accommodating smiles and flirtatious jokes aimed at Bernard and Gilbert. Joel and Ace manned the bar, flirting with Audrey and Nicolette like it was part of their job — and by the way the women reacted, it seemed like it really was. Captain Chuck joined the guests for dessert, smiling and answering the questions they peppered him with.

I’d been on the boat for forty-eight hours now, but this seemed like my first real experience onboard.

My memory card was nearly full, and my back ached from standing all day by the time the guests finally started to call it a night. Celeste was still behind the bar, mostly keeping an eye on the guests to make sure no one got so drunk they fell overboard. The rest of the crew had been dismissed hours ago.

I didn’t have to look at the clock to know it was well after midnight.

Bernard and his wife helped Gilbert walk inside where the staterooms were, as he couldn’t do it on his own, and Celeste went with them as a courtesy.

That left Audrey and Nicolette, who were running their fingers through Theo’s hair, over the buttons of his dress shirt, along the inside seam of his pants. I tore my eyes from the sight, holding tight to my camera and waiting to be dismissed.

When I glanced back up again, I was met by a pair of heated blue-gray eyes.

Theo watched me like I was the next expensive bottle of champagne he would crack open, like all my efforts to be invisible throughout the night had failed miserably. I’d caught his eyes on me more than a few times throughout the night, though he never said one word to me, not since the introduction on the main deck.

Now, with the men retired inside, and two women hanging on him unabashedly, his gaze was more bold, severe in its unwavering intensity. His fingers held loosely to a half-empty glass of champagne, the other hand gripping the arm of the deck chair he sat in, his jaw ticking incessantly like he was equal parts annoyed and intrigued. Audrey and Nicolette were both piled in his lap, giggling and touching, oblivious to his lack of attention.

He cleared his throat, breaking our eye contact long enough to excuse himself and slither out from the pile of women. They tittered on in his absence, touching each other’s hair and smiling tipsily as Theo crossed the deck to where I stood.

For a long moment, he just stood there in front of me, sliding his hands into his pockets. Then, his eyes scanned the shoreline behind me, and the corners of his mouth tilted up just a notch.

“Thank you,” he said to the night air and to me and to no one in particular. “I know this is far from the kind of photography you wish to capture in your time abroad.”

His eyes found me then, pinning me to where I stood.

I managed a shrug, tucking my hair behind my ear. “Hey, this is part of the deal, right?” I offered what little smile I had energy left to give.

“We’ll get you off this boat soon,” he promised, nodding toward the shore. “There are far more beautiful things waiting for you on shore.”

“I captured some pretty beautiful things tonight.”

The words came from me in a rushed whisper, and as soon as I’d said them, I couldn’t believe I had. Theo’s eyes snapped to mine, and I clamped my mouth shut for fear of saying something else equally as stupid.

Theo tilted his head, frowning, his eyes glazed a bit from the alcohol. He smirked as he took a step toward me, and then another, until he was so close the lapels of his jacket touched my chest. His eyes cast down on me like I was there for no other purpose than for him to stare at, and he took his time, gaze roaming over every inch of me until I heated like a boiling pot of water.

His body jolted suddenly, crashing into mine as Audrey threw her arms around him from behind. I was pinned between the railing and his warm body for no longer than a split second, but it was enough to scar me, to brand me like a hot iron against fresh, bare skin. He stepped away just as quickly, holding out his hands as if to steady me.

“Theo,” Audrey said, dragging out the vowels of his name as she hung on his arm. “Nicolette and I want to see the owner’s suite.”

Nicolette giggled as she slid up on his other side, wrapping her arms around his middle. “Yes, show us the view from your bed, Theo.”

They cackled in unison, hands groping, longing moans slipping from between their lips. Theo’s eyes were still on me, and I let him hold my gaze until Nicolette dragged her tongue up his neck and sucked the lobe of his ear between her teeth.

I tore my eyes away then, swallowing and looking down at my camera as I waited for them to leave. And they did, by way of the women dragging Theo backward, and him watching me the entire way, until they stumbled into one of the deck chairs. That seemed to shock him back to reality, and he shook his head, turning and throwing his arms around each of the women with a comment that made them both laugh and lean into his sides. He guided them inside and up the stairs, and I stood in the same spot against the railing until the lights flicked on in the owner’s suite above.

That silhouette of a man that I’d seen the night before was different tonight — his arms being stretched over head, shirt peeled off, his lips colliding with one woman and then the other. I watched the scene unfold like a voyeur until Theo stumbled backward and hit what I assumed was a button, because in the next second, the curtains suddenly began to draw, hiding the suite from prying eyes.

I hadn’t even caught my breath, hadn’t had time to question what the hell was wrong with me or what the hell had just happened before Joel stumbled out onto the deck, rushing to me and pinning me against the railing much like Theo had just moments before.

“Babyyy,” he said, his breath sour and beer-drenched on my neck. His hands were groping me in the next instant and I pushed them away, squirming out from his touch.

“You’re drunk.”

For a moment, Joel seemed upset at the comment, but then he smiled lazily, pulling me into his arms and pressing a long kiss to my tightly closed lips. “I am. We went below deck once we were relieved for the night. Eric had some goooood stuff,” he said, drawing out the word. He frowned then, framing my face with his hands. “I missed you.”

His dark eyes searched mine, and I blew out a long breath, relieving the tension that had my muscles tied in knots. I had no reason to snap at him. I didn’t mind that he’d had some drinks after working for so long. If I were the drinking kind, I was sure I’d want to do the same.

“It’s been a long day,” I finally said.

Joel nodded in understanding. Only he knew the way a full evening of being around strangers drained me, and with another kiss — one I accepted more willingly this time — he tucked me under his arm. “Nothing a good cuddle sesh can’t fix.”

I smiled, letting him guide me inside, my breath finally evening out the farther we got from Theo and his guests. When we were safely inside our own cabin, we both undressed, took a quick shower together, and climbed into bed. I was relieved yet again when Joel didn’t try to have sex with me. I just wasn’t in the mood — not after all that had happened. And he must have sensed it, because he just pulled my back to his chest, curling his legs with mine and wrapping his arms tightly around me.

He was snoring softly in my ear less than two minutes later.

But as exhausted as I was, I didn’t sleep a wink.