Read Online Follow a Star by Christine Stovell - Free Book Online Page B

grinning at May’s frosty expression. ‘Forget about it,’ he told the woman pouting her luscious lips at him. ‘I was happy to help.’
    ‘Let me, at least, put something on those hands for you,’ his Florence Nightingale purred, with a look that suggested she might like to put something in them too.
    ‘I’ll go off for my shower, then, shall I?’ May huffed.
    Bill turned an interested gaze on her. Surely her cute little nose hadn’t been put out of joint because the lovely Paige was flirting with him?
    ‘But darling,’ he protested – and immediately got her full attention – ‘you know how prone I am to fainting when I feel pain. You’d better come with me.’ He hooked hold of her arm before she could escape and leaned forward to hiss in her ear, ‘Come on, it’ll be fun. I want to see what you get for your money inside a yacht like this. It’s an Oyster and they don’t come cheap!’
    Despite the earliness of the hour, the skipper was initially too busy pouring himself a drink to take much notice. Bill took no offence as it gave him plenty of opportunity to gawp at all the American oak joinery and blond faux suede upholstery lining the saloon. Besides, he had some sympathy for the skipper; he’d need a drink too if he’d narrowly avoided writing off such a valuable yacht.
    Cecil would love hearing the story later. He only wished his uncle could have been there to see it too as it would certainly have perked the old boy up. Though not, he thought, feeling his eyebrows raise, quite as much as the sight of Paige casually discarding her wet weather gear to reveal a tiny pair of white shorts and a hot pink polo shirt, which was at least a size too small and was unbuttoned to show a lot of tanned cleavage as she leaned over him with a first aid kit.
    Taking no notice whatsoever of this fleshfest was a young man with his head obstinately stuck in a car magazine.
    ‘Thunder’s son, Blaise,’ Paige explained, following his puzzled glance. ‘Bit of a petrolhead. Adores anything with wheels.’
    ‘Pity I don’t like you, then,’ snarled Blaise, sotto voce so that his father couldn’t hear. ‘You’re always taking Dad for a ride.’
    Reminding them of why they were assembled, the luxury yacht rocked with the impact of the next gust outside.
    ‘Blast!’ complained Thunder as most of his drink landed in his lap.
    ‘Yes, sweetie,’ said Paige, dabbing at his crotch whilst Blaise pulled a look of disgust. ‘But it should blow through soon. Let me get you another one. Anyone else?’
    Coming to at last, Thunder straightened up and suddenly noticed May who was poised for flight at the other end of the settee. ‘Sorry to cause you so much trouble, babe.’ He smiled, which made him look slightly more human than reptile. ‘I hope we haven’t held you up. When are you and your bloke hoping to get away?’
    May, who was still clutching her shower bag, gave him the ghost of a smile in return. ‘I don’t think any of us are going anywhere just yet. And he’s not my bloke.’
    ‘I see,’ he nodded.
    They fell silent. May’s gaze roamed over the spacious saloon flooded with light from twinkling ceiling lights and generous windows. It lingered on the sensuous curve of the wood, the pale blue silk cushions adorning the deep seating areas, the pop-up plasma screen TV and entertainment centre. And while May studied the boat, its skipper was studying May.
    Bill wasn’t sure he liked the way this encounter appeared to be going. Maybe his initial instincts about May were sound? Perhaps such a conspicuous display of wealth suggested a better alternative to a further voyage on
Lucille
? But then May didn’t look anything like Paige; her hair was naturally tousled in that sexy messed-up-in-bed way, her face was endearingly pink from the sun, not the colour of fake bake and, he couldn’t help but notice, as she went back to dressing his hands, the perfect bowl-shaped pertness of Paige’s breasts rather