Read Online Tiny Island Summer by Rachelle Paige - Free Book Online Page A

yearning for him to lie next to her and point out some of the stars he’d supposedly studied in college.
    “Darcy? You coming? Dinner’s ready,” Char called to her from the cockpit.
    Darcy blinked back the tears on the verge of spilling from her eyes and followed Ben. Dinner passed in a series of stilted conversations. Whenever John or Char started along one line of discussion, it quickly appeared that Ben’s date didn’t follow, no matter what the topic. Not wanting to be rude, or at least obviously so, everyone finally settled on silence. It did not go unnoticed that Ben’s date continued to drink.
    By the end of the meal, Ben’s date excused herself, and Char motioned for a word alone with Darcy.
    “Look, this is not turning out the way I wanted.”
    “I know.”
    “No, not just about that. I had been hoping for at least a moment with John. This is a disaster. I’ve been babysitting all night.”
    “I get it,” Darcy sighed. “I’ll keep them in the back. You go enjoy yourself.”
    “Thank you.” She sighed.
    They returned to the guys. Ben’s waitress was still below deck, as the sun began to set.
    “John, can we watch this from the prow?” Char asked.
    John smiled and followed her to the catwalk. Darcy pulled one of the chairs over to the edge of the boat and put her feet up on the railing. Ben did the same. They sat in silence as the sun dipped down below the horizon, setting the entire lake on fire.
    “Shouldn’t we go check on your friend?” Darcy asked after a while as the sky darkened from pink to lavender to dark inky blue.
    “I think she’s sleeping it off.”
    Darcy nodded and turned to look back at the lake. The setting was too beautiful to waste with a conversation that might turn to a squabble.
    “So, what do you know about stars?” Darcy asked.
    He obliged the change of subject by pulling his chair next to hers. They sat nearly touching, their arms mere millimeters away from one another. Darcy resisted the urge to push her chair away.
    “That,” he pointed to a cluster of stars, “is something important, I’m sure.”
    Darcy started giggling. “I’m disappointed. I thought you’d be able to at least wing it and make something creative up.”
    “Sorry to disappoint, but I’m not feeling very inventive tonight.”
    “Can’t you at least point out the North Star?”
    “Probably. But we’re facing south, and to face north we’d have to turn around and witness whatever is happening up front.”
    Darcy’s eyes grew wide. “Oh please no.”
    She didn’t need to turn her head to see his grin, she could hear it. Darcy fought hard to ignore the fluttering of butterflies in her stomach. She was sitting so close to him that his heat warmed and relaxed her. She turned to look at him, trying to think of something to say, at the same moment he turned to her. They head butted each other. Hard.
    Darcy instantly pulled back and put a hand to her head to feel for a bump. She couldn’t feel anything yet, but there might be something the next day. Ben started laughing uncontrollably. In her embarrassment, she couldn’t help but laugh nervously along with him. Ben pushed back her hand and put his own up to her forehead. His fingers lightly grazed her scalp, gently prodding.
    Lowering her hand to her lap, she remained still at his ministrations. The chill in the night air snaked over her, contrasting with his warm breath on her face. Frozen under his palm, she caught Ben’s gaze. His hand slid down from her forehead to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. If I lean forward, will he kiss me?
    “Don’t go falling in love with me, Darcy,” he whispered as he dropped his hand away from her face.
    “I should say the same thing,” she said pertly, turning away to shake her hair and tuck it back behind both ears.
    Ben winked at her playfully. “Okay, let’s go round up the crew and get back.”
    “Sounds good,” Darcy agreed taking a deep, shaky breath and glad for an excuse