Page 13 of Come Sail Away

She shook her head. “That seems like such a foreign lifestyle to me.”

“I guess it is. I plan on cutting back on the travel now. My albums are doing quite well, so all the hard work is paying off.”

“I’m glad.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “Race you to the water,” she said in a sudden change of mood. God knew she needed something to break the tension building inside her.

Sully got on board with her burst of playfulness, and they both shed their outer layers of clothes. She tossed her sundress onto the quilt; he dumped his shirt, shoes, and phone on top.

Harper flew into the water before he did. Emptying the stuff from his pockets had slowed him down. “Oh, no, you don’t,” she heard him say from behind as he caught up to her and tackled her. They both fell into the water, going under.

They both came up laughing. It seemed Sully didn’t do anything halfway. Whether it was singing to an audience, enjoying a ride with the top down in a convertible, or racing her into the water. He did things with gusto.

Splashing water at him, she moved away, putting distance between her and his hard, muscular body. But he stalked her and grabbed her shoulders. She thought he might dunk her, but then she looked into his eyes. Deep-blue eyes that seemed anything but playful now. They seemed hot and full of desire.

For a long moment they froze, just staring at each other. Then he pulled her toward him, crushing her against his bare chest and wrapping his arms around her as he took her mouth in a desperate kiss.

Harper kissed him back, meeting his tongue and gently sucking his lip. It was a good thing they were in the water or else she would have been on fire.

She pulled back, breathing heavily. “Wait.” She put her hand on his wet chest—his very fine wet chest. “This is crazy. Good crazy—” she rolled her eyes and rushed on “—but let’s be clear…this isn’t going anywhere but right here, right now.”

“Sharper Harper,” he teased. “Do you have to dissect everything?”

“Yes.”

He lifted her in the buoyant water so that she had no choice but to wrap her legs around his waist. “I like that you’re smart,” he said sincerely. “And I like that you care about things.” She felt his shoulders move up and down beneath her hands as he shrugged. “Big things…like saving the world from disease.”

His grin was contagious. “I forgive you then for the name-calling.” She leaned in and kissed him. When she ended it, she rested her cheek against his. He bounced his feet in the water, jostling her. For the first time in she couldn’t recall how long, she felt playful and free.

All of a sudden, Sully jerked and jumped sharply with a yelp. His body tensed beneath her hands. “Ow,” he yelled. “Jesus!” He held her tightly. “Something bit me on the foot!” His jaw flexed, and he breathed out sharply between clenched teeth.

She scowled, hating that he was in pain. With that, her medical training kicked in. “Let’s get out, and I’ll take a look.”

He hobbled as he walked—still holding her.

“Sully,” she scolded, “put me down and let me help you.”

He obviously didn’t like doing it, but he listened to her. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Whatever it was, it’s probably gone.”

As soon as they were in the shallow surf, she noticed the blood coming from his toe. He limped on his heel until he could sit down on the blanket. She grabbed his shirt—the nearest piece of cloth that wasn’t currently wet or underneath them—and gave it a firm shake to dispel any sand. Then she grabbed a bottle of water from the cooler, opened it, and poured the clear liquid over the injury to remove the sand from his skin. He groaned and his foot twitched.

“Try to hold still. I need to see it.” She leaned in to examine the wound. “It looks like something sliced right through your big toe. But with all the blood I can’t tell. It may even need stitches.” She repeated the process of pouring water over it and trying to get a clear look again.

“My God, it hurts! Like a hot stinging, burning sensation.”

“I think we should get you back to the hotel. They probably have some medical supplies there.”

He nodded, pressing his lips together.

Harper helped him stand, gathered their things, and headed to the car. Sully tried to take something from her to carry.

“I can manage,” she said. “You just get yourself there safely.” She gave him a no-nonsense look. “Okay if I drive? Since it’s your right foot, I think it would be best.”

“Fine.” He limped to the passenger door, opened it, and folded his large frame into the seat.

She glanced sideways and noticed him gnashing his teeth.

“Still hurts that bad, huh?”