I SHOULD HAVE known that when August said boat, it would be an understatement.

But that didn't stop me from halting when he led me through the marina to a forty-some-foot yacht-looking thing. It was massive and shiny, sparkling as it sat in the water. And just by looking at the outside, I could tell the interior was likely more spacious than my NYC apartment.

"Jesus, Fletcher," I muttered as I kept walking, following August on the dock.

He grinned back at me over his shoulder. It was a natural, genuine grin that told me he liked this boat. This boat was important to him, and he was damn proud of it. But he'd never say that.

No, instead, he'd say other things that made my feet stop moving.

"She's beautiful, isn't she?" he said. "Almost as much as you."

He kept walking, unfazed by that comment. Meanwhile, I had to try to master my expression before I continued after him. Something fluttered inside me, and the last thing I wanted was for him to be able to read me even more than he already could.

"Well, that's a new one," I said. "Never had my beauty compared to a boat before."

"I didn't compare you to the boat," August called over his shoulder with a wink. "I compared the boat to you. There's a difference."

To be honest, I'd never had my beauty compared to anything before. Not to a summer's day, not to a yacht, nothing.

"She still needs a name," August continued as we both stopped at the edge of the dock. The boat's silver railings shimmered as I ran my fingers over them. "I could name her after you, if that would help."

"You really don't have to do that," I laughed, taking his hand as he helped me onto the huge vessel. He released it as soon as I'd stepped on board, but then I felt his hand return, steadying me at my hip as he followed behind me.

When he spoke, a shiver worked down my spine, his breath brushing over my skin. "Castle of the Seas? Castle of Evergreen? Quinn's Castle?"

"That last one is an awfully misleading name," I said, breathless as August's hands slid down my hips before disappearing as he boarded the boat and moved beside me. His arm grazed mine, and I hoped he wouldn't notice the goosebumps that covered my skin. "It's not my boat. It's your boat."

"Mm," August said, giving little away with his expression. He turned to look at me, though, his eyes wandering my face. I could feel a flush working over my skin, adding to the heat blasting from the sky.

It was hot today. But the sun had nothing on the feeling I got from the way this man looked at me.

"August's Castle, then?" he suggested, his lips quirking at the suggestion.

A suggestion that sounded an awful lot like I was his.

"It's an improvement," I said, my voice hoarse.

"I'll keep thinking about it," he murmured, his eyes continuing their little perusal.

I had a feeling that he could see me turning red, and he was way too fucking satisfied about it.

It had been hard to ignore the sizzling heat of August Fletcher before, but now that he'd seemed to embrace his flirtatious side...I had no idea how I was going to survive this assignment without getting totally and utterly burned.

"You do that, Fletcher."

He raised a brow. "I will. But until then, let's get moving. I think there's a storm coming in later tonight, so we shouldn't waste any time."

I felt myself tense at his comment. I wasn't particularly a fan of the ocean to begin with. Riding boats on it was definitely better than swimming in it, but the game changed when bad weather was involved. I didn't want to be anywhere near the water when a storm rolled in.

"Do we need to be concerned?" I asked, trying to keep my panic out of my voice.

August caught on anyway. "No, Castle." His words were soft. "You think I'd bring you on this boat if there was any cause for concern? Not a chance in hell. We just need to be aware of the time. Okay?"

I swallowed, nodding slowly. It still made me a little nervous, but August oozed confidence, and I found myself trusting him. "Okay."

He gave me a reassuring smile, and I tried to shake off my anxiety by teasing him again.

"But you're the one who started this conversation, so if you're in a hurry..." I put a hand out to encourage him to get a move on. "By all means."

He chuckled slightly. "Follow me."

As if I was going to go anywhere that wasn't right by his side. I was too afraid that I would ruin something or go somewhere I shouldn't or do something to mess up the pristine condition of this boat. Or even worse, somehow end up in the water and all of its deep unknowns.

August led me up to the top deck of the boat. I wasn't up on my boating terminology, but it seemed like something along the lines of the captain's quarters. There were a bunch of dials and gadgets on a dashboard–ones that I definitely wouldn't be touching. In the middle of all of it was a steering wheel. I wouldn't be touching that, either.

"There are things I need to do to prep before we can head out," he said, guiding me to a cushy bench behind the captain's chair. "Wait here, and I'll be back soon." He paused. "And don't touch anything."

I rolled my eyes. "How 'bout you let me come help you, and then I definitely won't be able to touch anything up here."

He shook his head. "I know you like to help, Castle. But I need to make fast work of this. Another time, I'll take you out and show you the ropes. I promise."

Before I could argue more about it, August took off, flying back down the stairs to prepare the boat for departure. I took in my surroundings for a few minutes, letting the sea breeze filter through my hair and the sun warm my face. But when soaking up the rays grew unbearably warm, I threw off my sundress and reclined on the bench in my swimsuit.

I wasn't sure how much time had passed before I jumped at August's rough curse as he returned.

"What?" I sat up so quickly that my head spun briefly before I steadied myself. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," August grunted, refusing to look in my direction. "Everything is good to go."

He dropped into the captain's seat, beginning to flick switches and adjust dials in a way that I found incredibly attractive. There was just something about a man who clearly knew what he was doing.

And God, did August know what he was doing. The boat hummed beneath us as August started it up, and then he expertly maneuvered out of the marina.

I never knew that boat-driving could be hot before. But now I wanted August to take me out on this boat daily. Especially when we hit open waters, and the breeze and views were divine.

"So what exactly are we going to get?" I asked as soon as it looked like the stressful part of August's job had passed, and he was sitting in a relaxed pose in the captain's chair. The boat rocked gently in the ocean's waves. You could tell that maybe the water was a little rougher than usual, so I understood why he was eager to get this errand over with.

"It's some parts that Finny needs to fix the electrical at the complex," August said. His eyes skated to me as I approached him, standing at his side. But then they flicked back to the ocean as he drove.

"Is it related to why the lights went out?" I asked. "I sort of assumed that maybe it was just Finn playing a prank on us."

I hadn't known Finny for very long, but he seemed like the type of guy who would do that.

August's husky chuckle tickled my nerve endings before he replied. "Not a bad assumption, but yeah, there's something faulty with the wiring. He needed to order some things to get it fixed up, but the company dropped it off on Emerald Isle instead." He sighed before muttering beneath his breath exactly what he thought about that mistake and the people who made it.

"Hey," I said defensively," It is a little confusing for those of us who are not from the area."

His lips twitched. "Sorry, Castle. Didn't mean to offend."

"Maybe I should finally check into my hotel when we get there," I said, turning to lean against the dashboard, careful not to sit on any important buttons. "Try out my intended accommodations."

August's eyes glittered as they looked over me. "But I thought I was so accommodating."

I cocked my head to the side. "Just because you're accommodating doesn't mean that the Emerald Isle Inn isn't even more so."

He raised a brow, letting his gaze travel back to the water. "I've never had my personality compared to a hotel before."

"It's better than a boat."

"Is it, though?"

I laughed, deciding not to dignify that with a response. Instead, I looked to the shoreline, appreciating the views of the pristine beaches, dotted occasionally by a mega-beach house or two. I wondered if we'd passed August's home or if we would. My sense of direction wasn't quite good enough to figure out exactly where we were.

When I looked back to August, he was shirtless.

Goddamnit. Of course, he was shirtless. And I couldn't even complain, considering the heat and how I'd already shed my dress because of it. But the way he looked right now, effortlessly attractive with the sun glinting off his golden skin, was straight-up unfair.

"Takin' mental notes for your article, Castle?" August said, his voice full of husk as he yanked me out of my thoughts.

Fuck.

I cleared my throat. "Mental notes, maybe," I said, not even trying to deny that I'd been staring at him. "But not for my article. I don't need to write about what people already know."

"Oh yeah?" August cocked his head to the side. "And what's that?"

"You really need me to spell out how attractive you are?"

"I did tell you you were beautiful," he said as he tried to withhold a smile. "It's the least you could do."

"I didn't realize your compliments were contingent upon getting something in return."

"Nah, Castle." He was fully grinning now. "I'd happily remind you that you're beautiful a million more times and never expect anything back. I'm just messing with you."

"You're being a flirt, is what you're being," I said, pushing off the dashboard, intent on putting a little space between us. "Who knew you could smile this much."

"Maybe you bring it out of me," he muttered, right as I took a step at the same time the boat hit a wave.

I tripped forward into an outstretched arm—an arm that tugged me straight onto a lap.

More specifically, August Fletcher's lap.

☀️

a/n:

that looks like the perfect spot to sit Quinn 🤭

xoxo amelie