Read Online She Shouldnt, But She Will by Francis Drake - Free Book Online

assumed she’d be sleeping with him, although his tone and expression left no doubt as to what he’d prefer.
    Derek slipped by to deposit her bags in the forward stateroom. On the way back he stopped for a quick kiss. “Have you ever crewed on a boat?”
    She gulped. If she’d been wearing socks, his kiss would have knocked them off. “No, but I can learn.”
    “Great. You can cast off the lines when we’re ready to leave.”
    She nodded. “I don’t know what that means exactly, but it doesn’t sound too difficult.”
    “Let’s go up and get the engines started.”
    Thia followed Derek up to what he called the salon and then to the helm.
    She slid onto the bench seat next to him and watched every move he made. A tingle skittered up her spine as one powerful engine fired up, then the other, sending vibrations through her body. She watched the gauges come to life before asking, “How do you know when the engines are ready?”
    “All of the gauges have a normal operating range, so all I have to do is watch them. The engine temperature is the last to come into range.”
    “When do I cast us off?”
    “I’ll let you know.”
    “You won’t leave me will you?”
    Derek laughed, “No. I’d do it myself but if the boat were to drift away before I got on then you’d be out here by yourself.”
    She crossed her arms and arched her brows. “What do you do when you’re alone?”
    “You got me on that one.” He looked at her, grinning. “I take a flying leap.” She laughed and he added, “So far I haven’t had to swim.”
    “Okay, I’ll get the ropes, I mean lines.”
    “Fast learner!”
    While the engines were warming up Derek lifted one of the bench seats in the salon. Taking out a life belt, he put it around his waist. “Would you like a vest, a belt or these arm things? I like the belt because it doesn’t get in the way as much as the vest.”
    Derek dropped his gaze to Thia’s breasts and she knew what he didn’t want the vest to get in the way of. A blush warmed her cheeks. “I’ll take a belt, too.” He looked pleased. “Do you mind if I look around while the engines are warming?” Unlike the engines, his pants indicated Derek didn’t need to be warmed up.
    He handed her a life belt. “Help yourself. I’ll call when it’s time to go to work.”
    Thia had thoroughly investigated the lower cabin and was checking out the stern when Derek called. Still with the enthusiasm of a having a new adventure, she bounded to the upper deck.
    “Go around and release that line.” He pointed to the rope at the bow of the boat.
    She scurried onto the dock and tossed him the loose line. He secured it and then pointed to the stern. “One more.”
    He walked that direction on board and she matched him on the dock. When she released the stern line, Derek helped her back on board before securing the lines.
    Moments later he slowly moved the seventy foot cruiser out into the bay. Already, boats of all shapes and sizes criss-crossed the water. Soon most were left behind as Derek pushed his craft beyond the confines of the bay and into the open Pacific.
    Fascinated by the underside of the
Golden Gate
Bridge
, Thia’s excitement rose as they passed The Cliff House and then the west end of
Golden Gate
Park
. She had often looked out over the ocean from there, but this was the first time she’d done the reverse.
    “Shall we open the sun roof? It might feel good.”
    She spoke over the purr of the engines. “I’ll have to get my sun block if we do. I burn really fast.”
    Derek opened a compartment and handed her a plastic bottle, “This is the best stuff I’ve found to block the rays.”
    Thia took the bottle and applied a generous portion of the oily SPF30 fluid on her hands and face.
    Derek slid open the opaque outer cover of the sun roof, leaving the clear glass closed. Sunlight soon warmed the space.
    He removed his wind breaker, and Thia slipped out of her jacket and pants, revealing her