Man Overboard

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Brady

Day 4

“Let’s go. Our tour guide is waiting!” I slung my backpack over my shoulder, eyes pinned on the door at the top of the spiral stairway. Gillian was taking forever. With more than 3,500 passengers disembarking for shore excursions and day trips to Grand Turk, we needed to get in line to make the most of the nine hours allotted for this port visit.

She burst through the door, dark hair pulled up into a ponytail that swung back and forth as she skipped down the stairs, a yellow bandana print swim dress hugging her hourglass curves. She clutched a straw hat in one hand and a large tote in the other. The blue nautical strips and woven handle gave off some serious tropical vacay vibes, and anticipation buzzed through me.

Once I’d lured Gillian out of the cabin yesterday, we decided to try as many of the ship’s activities and amenities as possible. We lost a thousand dollars of Lyle’s money playing the slots in the casino, she taught me how to skate backwards and showed off a few moves she remembered from the figure skating lessons she’d taken as a young teenager, we teamed up for laser tag and came in second, had dinner at the Golden Sunset Sushi Bar, and caught the final performance of the aerial performers before stumbling back to the penthouse suite, licking cones topped with huge scoops of the Infinity’s exclusive ice cream. We passed on the flavor of the day–coconut passion fruit–and went straight for vanilla.

“Everyone thinks vanilla is boring,” she’d said, “but did you know vanilla beans contain more than three hundred flavor components. You have to pay attention to appreciate its complexity.”

I carried that thought with me to bed as I savored all the subtle nuances that attracted me to Gillian. The shards of green in her big blue eyes. How her mouth quirked up on one side when an amusing thought crossed her mind. The way her boobs jiggled when she laughed out loud. How she paid attention when I was speaking, head tilted like she was given careful consideration to every word. The gorgeous way her butt and hips filled out her shorts and tankini bottoms, the perfect combination of toned and soft, enough to fill a man’s hands to overflowing.

“Sorry.” She was breathless, making me wonder what she’d been doing to get so worked up. She pulled her tote open and peered inside. “I think I have everything.”

“Passport?” I asked.

“Check.”

“Sunscreen?”

“Check.”

“Water bottle?”

“Check.”

“Sweater or long-sleeved shirt?”

She planted her fist on a hip and gave me a saucy look. “It’s 85 degrees.”

“Humor me.”

“Yes, I have both. I packed everything on the list you gave me, including water shoes and fifty U.S. dollars for tips.”

“Good girl.” I tapped my backpack. “I’ve got a first aid kit, some snacks, and antibacterial wet wipes.”

“What about a tent and flare gun in case we’re stranded on a desert island?” she teased.

“The island we’re visiting today has a population of approximately 4,500.”

“How do you know all this stuff?”

“I’m a nerd. I read everything. I like to be informed, and educating myself leads to fewer mistakes and better decisions.”

The brightness in her eyes dimmed. “I would have been better off reading Relationships for Dummies than spending time with Lyle.”

“Not all of life’s lessons are contained in the pages of a book. Most of what I know about plants and horticulture was passed down from my dad.” I crooked my finger under her chin. “Some skills can only be mastered through experience. This has been a painful lesson, but I’m sure there’s some bit of wisdom you gained out of it.”

“Definitely.” She gave me a coy look from beneath her lashes. “Like what qualities in a man really matter.”

“See? There’s always a silver lining; you just have to look for it.” I refused to read more into her words.

“I didn’t read the travel guide, so fill me in. What’s on the itinerary for today?” She led the way out of the suite, and I followed.

“We start with a private tour of popular landmarks: The Grand Turk Lighthouse, Turks and Caicos National Museum, the old H.M. Prison, and remnants of the old salt industry. Then it’s into Cockburn Town for lunch and shopping. Remember, everything goes on the charge account Lyle set up.”

“It feels wrong to shop on his dollar.”

“Consider it revenge shopping,” I suggested.

“That feels too much like lowering myself to his standards.” We watched the elevator light count down the levels. “Lyle is a liar and a cheater. That’s what makes me angry. If he’d been truthful, even if he changed his mind about marrying me at the last minute, I could still respect him.”

“I’ve seen Lyle treat people poorly, and it always bothered me. I let it go, made excuses for him, but after what he did to you, I feel guilty. Like by not saying anything, I enabled his shitty behavior.”

Her head whipped around. “None of this is your fault, Brady.”

“I know. I’m just not sure I want to spend the rest of my life working for someone like that. Lyle’s parents have plans to retire to Miami in a couple of years, and he’ll inherit the family estate.”

“You can’t quit!” Her eyes went wide. “Your father was so proud when you stepped into his position. You’re as much a part of the Gartner legacy as Lyle is.”

“Maybe it’s a heritage I no longer want to be a part of.” I reached for Gillian’s hand and squeezed. “Sometimes you find something better. Something you never dreamed of, but totally worth fighting for. Changing for.