Garrett gave her a boyish grin. “Pretty cool, right?”
“Uh, no. Not cool. Suicidal, maybe, but definitely not cool.”
With a low chuckle, he shook his handsome head. “Stingrays are very docile creatures. As long as you don’t try to hurt them or go after them in a threatening manner, they’ll swim right up to you.”
The merethoughtsent a shiver down her spine. “Well, you two have fun with that.”
“We will,” Colt piped up with an excited grin. “Which is why I’m saying, if you two want to have a romantic dinner tonight, go for it. ‘Cause I’ve got this guy all day tomorrow.”
Excited at the thought of an honest-to-goodness date with Garrett, Avery forced her eyes to remain on Colt’s. “What about you? What are you going tonight?”
“Probably search the ship for his first ex-wife,” Garrett quipped.
Avery snickered, but Colt ignored his brother’s dig and kept their conversation going.
“Don’t worry about me, sweet pea. The ship is packed with places to eat and people to meet. I can handle bein’ on my own. Trust me.”
Several seconds passed before Garrett brushed his fingers along her shoulder once more. “What do you say? Want to have a fancy schmancy dinner with me tonight?”
Hell, yes!“I’d like that.”
His lips stretched into a smile that sent her pulse racing. “Give me your phone.”
“My phone?”
“I’ll put my number in it. That way you can text me when you’re ready.”
Digging her phone from her purse, Avery handed him the device and waited. When he was done entering his contact information, he sent himself a text before returning the phone.
“There. Now we have each other’s numbers.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and typed something out. A half a second later, her phone dinged with an incoming text.
Glancing at the screen, Avery saw the numbers 3563. Confused, she lifted her focus back to him.
“That’s my stateroom,” he explained. “If the ship’s WiFi gets spotty, you can come grab me, and we’ll walk there together. Figured you’d be more comfortable doing it that way, rather than telling some guy you just met where your room is.”
Avery studied him closely before leaning forward to look across him at Colt. “Okay, spill it.”
“It?”
“The reason your brother’s still single. There has to be something, because no guy I know is this good lookingandthis considerate. So what is it? Sociopathic tendencies? Bodies hidden in his basement…there has to be something.”
“You’re preachin’ to the choir, sister.” Colt smirked. “Why do you think our dad rides his ass so hard about settling down? Hell, half the family has a bet on when he’s gonna come out of the closet.”
“Hey!” Garrett turned to his brother. “I’m not gay.” His head swiveled back toward Avery. “And I’m not a sociopath who keeps bodies in my basement.”
“Not even one?” Avery teased.
“Not a one.”
“So what is it? You afraid of commitment?”
Seemed like every other guy she’d dated had that same problem. They all wanted one thing, and when they realized she wasn’t the type to give it up after a mediocre meal and an evening of dry conversation, they split.
“More like I don’t have the time for commitment.”
“Your job?”
Garrett nodded. “It’s a big company with a lot of clients all over the country. I’m not gone as much as Colt, here, but my job does require me to travel. Sometimes out of the country. Most women I meet want a man who can be at their beck and call.” He lifted a shoulder. “I can’t promise that.”