Still, this was Rachel. He was clearly inclined toward leniency where she was concerned. And his current easygoing nature was, without a doubt, a direct result of the mind-blowing orgasm he’d just experienced.
Collin clapped his hands together and rubbed them briskly. “What are the evening’s plans, Mr. Miller?”
He looked out over the inlet. “How’s the water tonight?”
“Calm. Wind is out of the northwest at roughly five knots. Skies are clear. If I may, sir, I’d suggest a short sail out into open waters. Ms. Stephens might enjoy the night sky absent the city’s light pollution.” Collin gave her a small smile. “The stars are magnificent when viewed from the upper deck.”
“Please, call me Rachel. And while it sounds lovely,” she murmured, “I wouldn’t want to create any unnecessary work.”
“Work is,by definition, necessary to one’s continued employment.” Collin gave Isaac a sharp nod. “I’ll have the captain point us to sea while I put together some finger foods and drinks.” He strode off with purpose, leaving Isaac and Rachel alone.
“Are you up for a short sail?”
She moved to the nearest railing and watched as the crew worked to release the moorings and push off from the dock. “It’s fine with me, though I’m not sure how my friend would reach me if I needed to call her.”
“The boat has Wi-Fi. The password ispenniesandpounds.”
She snorted rather indelicately. “Of course it is.”
Isaac stepped up behind Rachel, pressing his chest to her back and resting his hands on either side of hers on the railing. “Do you need to call her, Rachel?”
She shook her head. “Do you do this with every date?”
“I don’t date.”
Leaning her head back, she rested against his shoulder and stared out across the dark water. “What about lovers? Surely you take a lover now and then.”
“I haven’t had a lover in... Let’s just say it’s been a very long time.”
She huffed out a small sound of disbelief.
“It’s the truth. I haven’t had the time or the inclination to get involved with anyone.”
“That’s a lonely way to live.”
“I’m surroundedbypeople all day every day. Each one of them is constantly making demands of me. By the end of the day, all I want is to sit down, alone, and have a beer in silence. No one asking me for anything. No one giving me news, bad or good, that requires my action. No one expecting me to fix whatever is currently broken. No one pitching me an idea from their mother’s bunco partner’s son’s grandson in the hopes they canbypass the process and have a direct ‘in’ to the decision makers.
“I’m alone, Rachel, but that doesn’t translate to lonely. Notby any stretch of the imagination.”
“That’s fair.”
“So what about you? Boyfriend? Lover? Husband?”
She stiffened and then pointedly moved one of his hands aside to push past him. “If I was in any type of committed relationship, even if it wasn’t going well, I wouldn’t be here right now. I don’t condone cheating and won’t tolerate being cheated on. I’m worth more than that.”
“A simple ‘no’ would have sufficed.”
“Under most circumstances, I’d agree with you. But that won’t cut it with me, Isaac. Not when we’re discussing faithfulness.” She crossed her arms tightly under her breasts and turned to watch the receding city lights. “You should know that up front.”
“This is obviously a sore spot.”
She continued to stare out over the pitch-black water.
“What happened?” When she still didn’t answer, he pushed. “Who cheated on you?”
“I’d prefer to leave my history where it belongs.” Her gaze met his then, full of heat and fury and such a clear, raw pain. “Behind me.”
She’d been hurt. Badly hurt. That much was obvious. And whoever it was that had hurt her had done soby breaking promises. The extent of those promises, Isaac could only guess. The very idea insulted even his somewhat stunted sense of chivalry. There were things one just did notdowhen involved in any type of committed relationship, or any relationship for that matter. Cheating was at the top of the list, right after physical abuse. Tied with lying.