Going Overboard Read Online Free PDF Page A

suits her.” Daphne watched Griff and his girlfriend disappear around the corridor. “Good riddance to both of them. Meanwhile, I figured you could use some good news. The computers are all set and the system is purring. Lucky for you I used the same system back in Santa Marina. Now all you need is digital feed, and you'll be in business.”
    Carly blew out a breath. “Wish me luck. I'm off to charm Adonis.”
    Daphne straightened Carly's blouse, then nodded. “You look good. Go bag him.”
    “You bet I will,” Carly said weakly as she straightened her shoulders and headed to the Crystal Deck.
    By the time she reached McKay's room, she felt marginally better. She gave her hair a quick swipe and smoothed her skirt, about to knock when the door opened. The biggest man she'd ever seen came out carrying a stack of folded towels.
    He gave her a measuring look, his rugged dark features sliding into a grin. “Room steward ma'am. You looking for Mr. McKay?”
    Carly nodded, feeling dwarfed. Where had all these big men come from? Room steward or not, the man reminded her of McKay—watchful, quiet, and very controlled. “Yes, I am. Is he busy?”
    “I'm sure he'll make time for you.” He slid the towels to his other arm and moved past, holding open the door for her to enter. “He's just shaving, but maybe you want to wait.”
    No, she didn't want to wait, but she had no choice. Every minute counted, and every minute she wasn't on deck shooting made her sick with dread. Carly nodded coolly. “I'll wait.”
    “I'll tell him you're here.” Smiling faintly, the steward knocked at the closed door to the bathroom, then opened it. After a few words, he turned. “He'll be right out. Make yourself at home.”
    After he'd left, Carly surveyed the floor-to-ceiling windows and the calm, azure sea dotted by trade-wind clouds. Apparently Mr. McKay could afford the luxury of a suite with a private veranda, which meant he wouldn't need the small change she could offer him. That meant she had to think of some overwhelming inducement.
    The water was still running behind her, and she fought an inclination to bolt. Failure was not an option.
    She prowled the sunny stateroom, toying with a pair of mirrored sunglasses and high-tech binoculars. The bed was made, the pillows neat. No dirty clothes in sight. The man was organized as well as spectacularly photogenic.
    Determined to make the best impression, Carly shrugged her shoulders to release a knot of tension. “Okay, here goes.” She forced a bright smile. “I want to apologize for this morning, Mr. McKay. My outburst was unfortunate.” She practiced batting her lashes. “Actually, it was unforgivable, considering that you protected me from a possible broken nose. It's hardly your fault that I've been under a little stress lately.
    “Who am I kidding?” Carly sighed, tunneling her fingers through her hair. “If I don't get someone for this shoot, I'll be sunk. We're talking raw desperation here.” She closed her eyes. “Oh, why am I even bothering? The jerk probably won't listen to me.”
    Hearing a sound, she lurched away from the window. Her right arm was snagged seconds before it collided with a freshly shaved male jaw.
    Steam billowed from the bathroom as McKay stared at
    her. “It's me. The jerk,” he added dryly. “The room steward said you wanted to talk to me.”
    Carly flushed. “That's right, I did. I do.” She cleared her throat, unable to pull her eyes from the damp chest above a pair of low and very well broken-in jeans. Where had the man gotten that lean, amazing body? She visited a health club when she had time, but none of the men looked like
this.
    It had been months since she'd enjoyed an evening of laughter and lazy intimacy with a man. Maybe deprivation was doing weird things to her perception. “Look, about this morning—”
    “No problem. Just forget it.”
    Carly raised a hand, pleased to see it wasn't trembling. “I need to apologize. No, I
want
to