The Skipper & the Billionaire Playboy (3 page)

To her surprise, a pang of regret shot through her. No, it was more possessiveness. She had been the
Quixote’s
first captain, and while she had never owned the ship, a niggle of territorialism swept through her.

That didn’t mean she was willing to give up her own dreams to return as the skipper, and it was a passing flash of upset. As soon as their margaritas arrived, she was able to push it aside and focus on the delicious alcohol, having missed a perfect margarita. One of the stewards acted as bartender aboard the superyacht, but he always put too much tequila in his margaritas, where she preferred a stronger hint of lime. This one was just perfect.

They chatted over lunch, both making an effort to get better acquainted and seem at ease as a couple. For dessert, she was briefly resistant when he took her hand in a casual hold.

Holding her hand in his, he stretched out her fingers gently, loosening her fist and preventing her from pulling away. “We’re going to have to touch sometimes this next week. You might as will get used to it now.”

She wanted to argue, but remembered her current bank balance. She still worked for him, and he had a point. It was better to work out the kinks now, rather than in front of his family. “Yes, I suppose you’re right.”

After they had finished their meal, she didn’t pull away when he took her hand again as they walked from the restaurant and across the parking lot. Having his fingers twined through hers, warm skin pressed together, made her hand tingle and her stomach jolt slightly. She didn’t want to label the reaction, so she shoved it aside and focused on getting back to the boat so they could sail on to San Francisco.

They arrived within ten minutes of when she had projected the next afternoon, docking at the marina where the yacht would receive maintenance. Her belongings were packed neatly in the new set of luggage they had acquired yesterday in San Diego, including everything she owned. She wouldn’t be coming back to the yacht, and she parted ways with her crew with a hint of sadness.

None of them knew she wouldn’t be returning, and they had no inkling of the pretense she and Sawyer were constructing. She hated not being able to give a more formal goodbye, but she would send emails to everyone on the staff after the week was over, and they knew she was gone for good.

It was a cold way to say goodbye to people with whom she had spent the last three years, but she had no other choice in the matter. Everyone on the ship would find it highly unlikely to learn she and Sawyer were supposedly a couple, and any of them could have blown the charade. It made sense to be discreet, even if it meant leaving a sense of ill will toward her because of her quick, brusque, and brief parting.

The customary limousine was waiting, slightly different from yesterday’s, but basically the same. Today, she passed on the glass of champagne he offered, needing her head clear and her nerves calm as she prepared herself to face the enemy. That was a melodramatic word, but she certainly wasn’t expecting a warm welcome. No, she was bracing herself for icy politeness and barely veiled intolerance.

Once settled, with the window down to enjoy the fresh breeze, she watched the passing scenery as the limousine climbed ever higher up the hills of San Francisco. After a life spent on the water, and on a ship, the car felt too confining, so the view and the air were welcome distractions.

After what seemed like at least an hour, they left behind the main part of the city and climbed higher into the hills. She didn’t know exactly where he lived, but it obviously had to be somewhere around here. They were entering a section of luxurious homes behind fancy gates or huge brick walls that protected the owners’ privacy.

From what she observed, this was clearly an affluent area. As the limousine drove upward, they passed a succession of expensive cars going down the hill, everything from a Rolls-Royce to a Lamborghini. Even the plainer cars were still expensive models, like Volvos or Audis.

The limousine finally pulled up to a huge gate, which opened on its own—either via remote from the driver, or perhaps from live security guards viewing them on the cameras—and the car wound upward over a cobblestone driveway that seemed to stretch forever before it drew to a halt in front of a sprawling estate.

It was white, and she didn’t know the architectural style, but it must have cost an obscene amount of money. It was a beautiful home and about the only place that could ever entice her to even entertain the idea of living on land. Not that she would or wanted to, but she could see the appeal in a place like this.

The driver opened the back door, and Sawyer stepped out. He held out a hand to her, and she stared at it for half a second, almost overwhelmed by her own nerves. She wanted to tell him to close the door and send her back to San Francisco, but she couldn’t do that.

She’d been pursuing her dreams for too long, determined to win where her father hadn’t been able to, to give up so easily. With a deep breath, she scooted across the seat and took his hand. A moment later, she stepped out of the elegant car and onto the gray-white cobblestone path leading to the door. The marble steps gleamed in the afternoon sunshine, and the whole house looked like a pristine new beginning.

She was being fanciful, but in a way it was true. After she got through this week, it would start her whole new beginning. To her surprise almost as much as his, she took his hand as they began climbing the stairs, squeezing it gently. Nadia wasn’t sure if she was receiving reassurance from him, offering her own, or simply trying to reinforce the pretense of their relationship.

She was surprised when the door opened before they had even reached the landing. It wasn’t a maid or butler manning the door either. Instead, a middle-aged woman came running out with an excited squeal. Not far behind her was a younger woman who looked a great deal like Sawyer, and bringing up the rear, an old man in a scooter rolled behind them. She hadn’t expected that. Shouldn’t there have been an army of servants between them and the family?

Seconds later, the woman she assumed to be his mother was beside them. She swept Sawyer into a fierce hug and uttered his name as she kissed his cheek. She hadn’t expected wealthy people to be so exuberant, or to disdain typical etiquette for their class. Of course, she had never actually mingled with their class, so maybe she had made some assumptions of her own that were pretty dumb. Maybe not all wealthy white people were pretentious snobs who stood behind emotional barriers.

Apparently not, she discovered a moment later when his mother’s attention switched to her. She held out her hand, but it was disregarded as his mother sucked her into a hug. Nadia’s eyes widened, but she somehow managed to make her brain work enough to hug the other woman limply. She wasn’t a hugger, but clearly his mother was. Finally, the smaller woman let go, and she was able to step back slightly.

Only she ended up stepping right into the proximity of his sister, and another set of arms enfolded her. Nadia gritted her teeth and hugged his sister as well, wondering why people felt the need to put their arms around strangers. Finally, his sister released her too, and she turned to the old man.

Fortunately, he didn’t seem like the hugging type. He was more reserved and nodded to her, and she preferred that reaction. He eyed her for a moment, and his gaze was shrewd. A second later, he looked at his grandson, saying, “It looks like you finally found someone worth bringing home, Sawyer.”

Nadia was rendered speechless. It was amazing, but she could feel the acceptance from each of the three people that had emerged from the home. Where she had expected to meet resistance and veiled disapproval, instead she was greeted with hospitality and welcome.

She followed the family into the house, her hand wrapped tightly in Sawyer’s, but only because he had taken it again. Nadia mused about it and decided she would have preferred the other reaction instead. It would have been a lot easier to fool people who didn’t like her, not just because they wouldn’t have interacted as much with her, but because it wouldn’t feel so uncomfortable or dishonest.

Following Sawyer into the home, which was as marvelous on the outside as the inside, she felt her first twinge of guilt. They were deceiving people who cared about Sawyer, and it suddenly felt wrong. Even bringing to mind the catamaran she had plans to buy at the end of the week couldn’t completely banish that twinge of conscience as the women chattered at her and Sawyer, while the grandfather gave them a brusque parting, along with the explanation of, “Work to do. Always work to do.”

She learned his mother was Caitlin, and his sister was Kiersten. The two women led them up the stairs to the third floor, accompanying them to a room. Caitlin opened the door for this flourish. “It’s all aired out and just like you left it last time, Sawyer.”

There was a hint of reproof in her tone. “I did consider refreshing the paint and changing the bedding, as it’s been almost two years since you’ve used it, but Kiersten persuaded me to wait.” Caitlin’s eyes turned to Nadia. “My daughter thought you might want to have some input on redecorating too.”

Nadia’s eyes widened, and she had no response. She gave Sawyer a helpless look, and he just shrugged, though there was a hint of a groan in his voice when he said, “We’re only here for the week.”

“For now,” said Kiersten, looking enigmatic, but the trace of excitement in her voice betrayed her. Clearly, she and her mother hoped Sawyer was coming home for a longer visit, and apparently, they didn’t mind if Nadia stuck around as well. It would have been heartwarming if she’d actually been involved with her employer.

As soon as she looked around the suite, she realized they had made another assumption too, and that was she was sharing a bed with Sawyer. It was a king-size, but there was no trace of another bed anywhere. “Which room will be mine?” she asked.

Kiersten laughed. “Please, Nadia, we’re all adults here. No one’s going to make you sleep in a separate room and sneak down the hall or anything.”

Caitlin nodded. “Of course not, dear. We want you to feel at home here, just like you do on the ship.”

“It’s actually a boat, Mrs. Sinclair. A ship is a different kind of vessel entirely.”

Caitlin laughed, but there wasn’t any mockery. “I can see why he likes you. You’ll have to tell me all about the difference sometime soon, but first you must call me Caitlin. Mrs. Sinclair is so stuffy and informal, and you’re practically family.”

There was that god-awful ping of guilt again, make it difficult to catch her breath for a moment. These people were insanely open to her, and she didn’t think it was because Sawyer had never brought home anyone before. Then again, maybe they would have embraced a rabid alligator just as eagerly, but they seemed to be genuinely warm, open people. It was disconcerting either way, especially for someone as reserved as herself.

“Thank you.” She hoped the words weren’t too abrupt, and she definitely hoped she had hidden her reluctance to share a room with Sawyer Sinclair. She hadn’t anticipated this part, having naturally assumed they would provide her a separate room, either because of stuffy old values, or perhaps because they would have wanted to see the two of them separated as much as possible to reduce the risk of her joining the family.

The bitter assumption surprised her, because Nadia had never been one to make snap judgments about people. There was just something about Sawyer that naturally made her think horrible thoughts, and apparently it spilled over to his family as well.

Vowing she would work on that throughout the week, or at least attempt to be warm and charming to the women who were being so nice to her, she forced a smile, finding it not as difficult as she might have expected, even with her chest aching from guilt. Their warm smiles made it easier to reciprocate. “I appreciate you’re welcome.”

Oh, lord, the woman had to hug her again. Caitlin enfolded her in another motherly hug, and Nadia tried not to hold herself stiffly. It was surprisingly easy to surrender to the embrace, and she wondered if her own mother would have given hugs like this, if she were still alive. Unfortunately, in addition to making her feel all warm and cuddly inside, it also increased her guilt. Damn, it was going to be a long week.

Sawyer was thrilled by how well his family had accepted Nadia’s presence. He just hoped it would buy him some time and get them to leave him alone about settling down. He couldn’t be too upset about his grandfather’s meddling, since it had given him the perfect opportunity to seduce his skipper. It was the perfect setup. They could have an affair, and then she would be gone at the end of the week. No strings, no commitments, and no expectations. It was a business deal wrapped in a multitude of pleasure, as soon as he got a moment alone with her. Yes, he was highly satisfied with his plan and how things were turning out.

He was also highly appreciative of the fact his mother hadn’t tried to stick them in separate rooms. Clearly, his
girlfriend
had been disconcerted by the knowledge they would be sharing a room, but Sawyer greeted it as one more chance to grow closer to her. Not too close, at least emotionally, but as close as physically possible.

He dressed for dinner in the walk-in closet, since Nadia had taken over the bathroom, including taking in clothing to wear. Apparently, she intended to live in there, and he couldn’t help a quirk of his lips as he imagined her dark skin as a beautiful contrast against the honey-gold marble tub. It was comfortable, but not as comfortable as sleeping in a bed, especially his bed.

An uncomfortable bulge in his pants reminded him of why he didn’t want to think about Nadia too much that way at the moment with dinner ahead of him. He didn’t want to spend the next two hours with an uncomfortable hard-on, though it seemed like a futile battle when she emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later.

Sawyer caught his breath at the brick-red dress that skimmed her knees, but fell around her in a flirty fashion, though it was demure and covered far more for assets than it showed. It revealed enough of her legs that he couldn’t help imagining starting at her ankle and running his tongue up along the calf, behind her knee, and over her thigh until he reached the wet heat between her legs.

Clearing his throat, as he shifted the fit of his pants at the crotch, he walked toward her with a big smile. “You look gorgeous, honey.”

She rolled her eyes, but didn’t comment on the endearment. Clearly, his skipper assumed he was just in the role. She had a lot to learn.

“You look pretty nice yourself, Sawyer.”

How he loved the sound of her name on his lips. It was drawn out, with a hint of smoke. The funniest thing was, he didn’t think she was deliberately making her voice sensual. That was just Nadia, and he was quickly coming to realize beneath her cool reserve and aloof exterior, there was a passionate woman just waiting to escape. He was more than happy to help with that, and he consoled his hard cock with the thought of sinking into her later as he took her arm and led her from the suite.

Though the family dressed formally for dinner, he could see she was surprised by how informal everyone was. There were no servants in sight, and the cook would have left the food on a tray in the serving room between the kitchen and the dining room. Martha always took off the same time each night, because Caitlin insisted she join her own family for dinner too.

It was amusing to see Nadia regard his mother with surprise as she retrieved the tray and pushed it into the dining room. Caitlin didn’t serve everyone, but she did pass the trays around, taking time to remove the salvers first.

He sniffed appreciatively at the grilled tilapia, rice pilaf, and perfectly steamed baby vegetables. His chef aboard the
Quixote
was probably more skilled than Martha, but there was something different about the older woman’s food that he loved and appreciated. It made him nostalgic. He often forgot that part of living here when he was out on his adventures and finding excuses not to come visit.

After everyone had a serving, they began eating. From the corner of his eye, he watched as she precisely selected silverware and ate daintily. There was exaggerated care in her motions, and he knew she was making a real effort to be what she thought his family would expect. He appreciated the enthusiasm for her role, but he hated her to think they were all stuffy. It was the farthest thing from the truth.

“Nadia, Sawyer tells me you run his boat?” said his mother.

Nodding, she dabbed at her mouth with the linen napkin before smoothing it over her lap and answering. “Yes, Mrs. Sinclair, I’m his skipper—captain of the yacht.”

“Call me Caitlin,” reminded his mother. She smiled, her manner coaxing. “How did you come to be in that position, my dear?”

Sawyer noted her relaxation as spoke of the sea, and he realized it was the way to get through to her whenever she was tense. He listened as she spoke raptly of sailing with her father, whose dream had been to race in the America’s Cup. Apparently, she had been on the water since the time she was a little girl and had never considered another career that wasn’t nautical.

“Still, you’re awfully young to be a captain, aren’t you?” asked Kiersten.

Again, Nadia shrugged, and one strap of her dress slipped down slightly to reveal the creamy curve of her shoulder. He had the almost irresistible urge to dip his head and press a kiss there. Only imagining the look of death she would send him, coupled with the reminder they had an audience, held his impulse in check.

“I suppose, and I didn’t have a lot of formal training. I didn’t even go into the Navy. I just picked it all up from my father when he ran a charter business in Florida. Working various jobs of the sea over the years honed my skills.”

His breath hitched when she turned to give him a genuine smile. She was always beautiful, but the expression on her face made her seem open and approachable, and he could imagine just what she would look like in the throes of orgasm.

“I have to thank Sawyer for taking a chance on me, based solely on my interview with him and my résumé. He could’ve held out for a captain with a lot more experience and a formal education.”

He couldn’t help the impulse this time as he reached forward to take her hand from the table, holding it in his, and bringing it to his lips. When he brushed his mouth lightly against her knuckles, he heard her sharp intake of breath, and he didn’t think he was imagining the flare of heat in her eyes. “I’m a smart man, and I know what I want.” If they had been alone, that list of wants would have been short, and entailed mainly stripping her and spreading her across the table.

Kiersten giggled, and it was an incongruous sound from his poised and polished sister. “I can see that. I never thought there’d be a woman who would get Sawyer to settle down for more than five minutes. How long have you been together?”

Panic invaded her features, and it was clear she was floundering for an answer. Smoothly, he said, “Officially, we haven’t been dating very long, but I think she’s had my heart since the moment she stepped aboard the yacht three years ago.”

Her eyes twitched, and it was obvious she was having a difficult time not rolling them in response to his cheesy answer. His lips twitched too, and he wanted to laugh along with her, though he had a feeling he wasn’t completely snowing his family. If he’d realized just what she had under those regulation uniforms, there was no way he would have been able to hold out for three years in his pursuit of her.

Of course, his heart was a completely separate part of his anatomy, and not the predominant part that was interested in her. He wouldn’t have fallen for her, as he had no intention of ever falling in love with anyone, but he certainly would have tumbled her more than once.

It was for the best though, because she had been a good skipper, and the timing had aligned perfectly for this little charade. It was only when she started to pull her hand from his that he realized he was still holding it. With a little dart of reluctance, he forced his hand open and released so she could return hers to her lap.

He was disconcerted by the jolt that shot through him at the separation, and for the first time, Sawyer wondered if he was in dangerous territory. He rarely spent a week with any woman, and especially not in close quarters under the guise of being romantically involved. If he wasn’t careful, he might end up feeling more than desire for his pretend-girlfriend.