A Wild Ride (Jessica Brodie Diaries #3) (23 page)

“If it counts, he thinks you are a God send. He wants to promote you to his right hand man.”

“That would be a ridiculous amount of work.”

“Less than you are doing now, and for a lot more money.”

“Well, when he says something, I’ll see what he is talking about. I don’t think I have the schooling for it, though. Or the knowledge.”

William laughed. “Neither does he, but he seems to be doing all right.”

Thomas was a lawyer by school and trade, which meant some aspects of the company he knew very well. Those aspects they generally hired lawyers for, though.

What the company needed was a C.E.O., and Thomas was trying desperately to step up to the plate. William had thrown everything off when he decided to go in a different direction. But being that his family might as well have been rich Leave it to Beavers’, they all understood and supported him. He got a huge amount of leeway since the accident, and he was using it.

I let it go.

The next evening was a different scene entirely. With our rest and leisurely brunch, we were ready for San Francisco! We went down to Pier 39, which, being one of the tourist hot spots, and being summer, was crowded to the gills with wide-eyed, camera toting families and couples. We were bumped and jostled, saw the stinky Sea Lions, dodged a million street performers—some looking so much like statues that I couldn’t understand what people were gathered around looking at—and bought a ton of crap that we did not need. In other words, we were ultimate tourists, and it was fun!

We hit the hotel before dinner so we could change. The cruise was formal so I put on a new dress that cost too much, but that I looked dynamite in! I had on the earrings William had gotten me for my birthday with a few other things I picked up along the way, probably from him. He showered me with so many gifts that I was a treasure trove. It never got old, though, which was probably why he kept giving me presents. And definitely why I would keep being excited to receive them!

After I finished dressing and doing my hair and make-up I went to meet William in the bar—he wanted to give me a chance to make an entrance. He probably also wanted something else to do besides wait.

He was wearing a blazer, with a blue button down shirt underneath, that made his eyes pop. The shirt was nice and snug, showing off his amazing shoulders and arms. I knew he’d soon tire of his jacket, revealing the goods. I also knew he put up with his shirts being a little tighter than he would like to please me. And it did. He looked positively debonair, though still wild enough to be unpredictable.

I was turned on.

Again.

After the first sexual fail when we arrived, William came back swinging. He recharged, regrouped, and brought me out of my stupor for some serious orgasms. He’d woken me up twice last night needing it! I had no idea where all this gusto was coming from—maybe the fact that he was actually relaxed without a million things to do the next day—but I had my game face on. I was relaxed as well, revved up, and now all I wanted was him. Lots and lots of him.

I loved vacations!

I walked through the swanky hotel, easily fitting in amongst those wanting an upscale night, but not getting stared at by the tourists or locals wanting to tone it down. It was San Francisco, after all, anything goes. I spotted William, leaning against the bar elegantly, oozing self-assurance and charisma. His beer was half-way to his mouth when he noticed me. Eyes slightly widened, he did a full look, starting at my eyes, and helplessly dipping down my body, taking it all in. When his eyes once again settled on mine, they were soft and warm, the lust I was expecting on the back-burner.

He tipped the bar and stood up to greet me. I could feel the draw of his eyes from across the room. As I got closer he had a small smile, and swept me away into the liquid pools that had claimed my soul so long ago.

“Hi,” I said breathily.

His smile got bigger. He leaned close to me, his scent wafting into my nose sending shivers through my body and into my toes.

“You look like a goddess,” he said softly into my ear.

He licked my ear lobe, then nibbled it. I ran my hand up his chest as he moved down to lightly tickle my neck with his lips, tongue and breath. Arms of electricity were firing from my nerve endings as liquid magma pooled in my groin.

He backed off just enough for his face to be inches from mine. “Down girl,” he said with a smile in his voice.

He stepped away with sparkling eyes, leading me toward the front of the hotel. I couldn’t help but notice people watching us as we walked through the lobby. William with is confident gait, his hand entwined in mine. I felt like I won the boyfriend lottery!

Out front a black town car was waiting for us. I did actually splurge on this because I didn’t want to climb in a cab all dressed up. William probably would have gone for a limo, but with just the two of us, I figured that was a bit much.

We got to the pier where we would catch the bay cruiser. I spotted our nightly transportation immediately. It was hard not to. It was a giant, three-decker block of fading white paint and dried, cracked and yellowing bird poop. Obviously it was a ferry in the daytime, probably going back and forth to Alcatraz, but while the outside looked a wreck, I had heard, and read reviews, that the inside would be done up with decent fair. Plus, we’d be going under the Golden Gate bridge, so the scenery would be phenomenal.

As we walked up the creaking dock, William stopped. “I want to get a picture.”

I immediately looked around for someone to pass the camera off to.

“No, with you and the cruise ship.” His lips were curved into a handsome smile.

Sensing a joke, but not the punchline, I struck a post next to the cleanest spot I could find. It wasn’t saying much. The picture probably had my face next to a speckle of poop.

“Okay,” he said, stepping away.

“You want one?” I asked as I reached for the camera.

“Oh, no. That’s good enough. Okay, now step over here to the other side.”

I stepped confusedly to the other side of the dock, dodging nicely dressed couples as I did so. Here I stood in front of a beautiful, and much smaller, sleeker, and sexier yacht.

“Why do you want a picture of the yacht? Next purchase?” I asked teasingly, turning around to look at it when he stowed the camera.

“Because I want to show everyone the difference between your planning and mine.”

“Huh?”

“Jessica, we aren’t getting on that bird cage. C’mon.” He held out his hand.

“But…we have tickets...”

Utterly confused, I let him lead me away from the line waiting to get on the bay cruiser. Up ahead on the other side of the dock was the ramp to board the yacht. He led me straight to it.

“What are we—“

“Mr. Davies, Miss Brodie, welcome.” The man was medium height and wearing a nondescript white jacket. He held out his hand to me, probably intending to guide me into the floating Rolls Royce.

“William! What...?”

“I looked over the plans for the evening and decided your decision had to be overturned,” he said with a smiling playing around those kissable lips. “I am not planning on apologizing so I hope you aren’t planning to raise a fuss.”

“This is way too much, William!”

It was a nautical Gladis’s house. The dining room where we would be eating was an actual dining room. The table was big enough to fit eight comfortably, but only set for two, with lit candles, china and crystal. The ceiling was wood paneling, the windows all presently closed and covered with what looked like velvet curtains. To the side of the table was a cushy love seat that matched the curtains.

It was unreal!

I sat down and noticed William looking at me funny. If I had to put a name to it, it would have been intense love mixed with nervousness mixed with something else I couldn’t put my finger on. He probably thought I was going to fly off the handle.

Instead, I smiled in elation. “It’s beautiful.”

He smiled back. “I thought you would like it. How often do you get to do a bay cruise, after all?”

The waiter came in wearing a tux! He set out champagne immediately followed by salads. I assumed William already worked out the menu in advance, so I wasn’t going to question what I put in my mouth. William was always careful of things I hated.

Probably because I made such a scene when I had to go hungry.

“So” he said through his nervousness. Apparently he’d forgotten that I acclimated to the finer things in life pretty quickly. “We are still going to do the same cruise. When we are on the water they’ll open up the curtains so we can see out. I thought they should all be drawn now since we’re docked.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Just then the boat started moving. William gave a tiny jump, small traces of fear flashing through his eyes.

“Do I make you nervous?” I laughed.

“What?” He looked at me with surprise. “Of course not. No, I’m just in a new city, so it takes me a second to get my bearings.”

Sounded reasonable. I probably would have asked more questions if I wasn’t stuffing salad and bread into my face. I was starving!

“What other plans did you change?” I asked in between mouthfuls.

He smiled sheepishly. “I left L.A. completely to you.”

“So, what else did you change in San Francisco?” I demanded.

He laughed and leaned back in his chair. No sooner did he put down his fork then his dish was cleared away by Tux Man.

“I didn’t change much. I just wasn’t in the mood to spend my time on that cruiser. I saw the picture you emailed me and decided you were half cracked.”

Soup arrived. It was some type of carrot. Though I didn’t love carrot soup, it was absolutely delicious.

“They do up the inside, though,” I said, tearing my mind away from wondering what the next course would be. “It wouldn’t have been as bad as you’re thinking.”

He looked at me askew. I let it drop.

We chatted about random things through the five course meal, each entree coming out better than the first. It was excellent. All of it! Better than most of the restaurants I had been to in Houston. Better than Gladis’s cooks. All were original in some way, and the tastes were nothing I had tasted before.

It was shaping up to be a fantastic evening.

For the dessert course the windows were opened and lights dimmed. We had had red wine with dinner, but now the champagne was brought out again. We toasted to the good life, and I wondered how soon we could get closer.

“Speaking of,” I said, forgetting I hadn’t actually spoken that last thought out loud, “can we dance on this boat?”

“Yacht, Jess. And yes. After we get a peek of the Golden Gate bridge we can dance.”

There was that strange expression again. He’d definitely relaxed through dinner, but now the fear encrusted nervousness was back. I suddenly had a terrible fear that he was afraid of the open water. I’d never actually asked him. He swam well, but some people got nervous when they went out on boats. Maybe that was why he opted for the small yacht rather than an old, limping water beast.

“Sir. We are under the bridge,” the waiter said with a bow.

William shot me a look of trepidation and covered it with a smile.

Uneasy that this would turn into a man trying to act strong though he was scared silly, I let him lead me through the yacht onto a back deck. We were greeted with another bottle of champagne and a freezing, gale force wind.

“Nippy,” I said easily, snuggling closer.

Through watering eyes I could make out the glimmering lights of the Golden Gate Bridge, looming over us with a certain quiet majesty.

“Oh William, it’s beautiful!”

“Jessica.” His voice sounded strange, but still full of love. If he had said, “Rose” I would think he was ready to sink with the Titanic.

I turned to him...and met air. I looked down.

“William, what...?”

He was on one knee.

Chapter Twelve

My breath caught in my throat. My heart started racing.

“Jessica Brodie, I love you more than my own life.” He opened a box with a glittering ring remarkably similar to the one I picked out that day with Candace and Lump. “Will you marry me?”

“Oh my God, William! Oh my God. William, of course I will!” I knelt with him, wanting to touch him. Wanting to get inside his clothes and feel skin.

“No Jess,” he chuckled as he stood up, bringing me with him, “you aren’t supposed to kneel, you ninny.”

“Oh my God,” I said in wonder as the diamond neared my finger. “I thought you were afraid of open water.”

“What are you talking about?” His eyes were focused on mine, his hands holding my hands.

This man wanted to marry me. This remarkable man, who had it all, wanted to share his life with me forever. It was a dream. It was more than I could ever hope for in a partner. I was so lucky that tears began to fall.

“I thought you were nervous because you were afraid of water,” I heard myself say in a whisper, watching his fingers gently slide
forever
up my finger.

He laughed and hugged me, squeezing me for all he was worth, more tears falling out of my eyes. The man knew all my faults, all my quirks, all my twisted ideals and stubborn issues, and he still wanted me. He wanted to share his soul with me. I really couldn’t believe it.

“No, my love. I was nervous you would say no.”

“Idiot.” I laughed through my tears. As if I would be the one to say no. I still wasn’t sure if he was half-cracked to even ask me. Poor guy.

He held up his glass to salute. “To forever, my darling girl.”

I laughed like a fool, cried a little more, and kissed him. He pulled me to him in a tight embrace and kissed me back so passionately it curled my toes. When he let me go I was breathless and dizzy.

“Shall we go inside? It is a bit chilly,” he said with his lips against mine.

My teeth were chattering at this point so I nodded and wiped my eyes.

We went into a different room that was set up for dancing and relaxing. There were white couches along the sides with a few low tables to place drinks. There was room for a band that currently held a string quartet. I figured it would be slow dancing for us tonight, which was perfect.