I Survived Seattle Read Online Free PDF Page B

my grandparents came over from Italy.”
    “Italy? Really? But you —”
    “Take after my mother,” Nic said, politely interrupting Justice’s barrage of rudeness. “So, boys, and girl, gather round and I’ll tell you about our adventure today.”
    He waited patiently while the boys stopped cackling and shoving each other, and formed a semicircle in front of him. “I thought we’d putter around the lake for an hour or so, see the sights. Then we’ll drop anchor and have dinner, and you all can do whatever you want. After that we can do a bit of night cruising before heading back in.”
    “Sounds great!” Rory said, rocking back on his heels and grinning.
    “I couldn’t get my regular captain on such short notice,” Nic said, throwing a pointed look at Justice. “So I’ll be piloting the boat. This lovely lady behind me is Samara Alvárez. She’ll be your hostess for the evening. I’m going to leave you in her capable hands and head on up to the bridge. We cast off in ten minutes.”
    Nic turned and sauntered off, stopping briefly beside Samara. “Give me about a half hour to get us cruising, and then you can start flybridge tours. One at a time.”
    “Sure thing, boss man,” Samara retorted.
    As soon as Nic was gone, Justice felt the loss like a physical entity. The air around him felt empty, and the calm that had settled over him without his realizing it, had evaporated. He wanted to say something, to follow him, but Justice could never be that brave. He just stood there like a forlorn puppy in the pet store window, watching Nic walk away.
    Justice couldn’t help tilting his head a little and getting a long look at Nic’s tight, jeans-clad ass. He had to rein himself in, though, because popping a woody in the middle of a posse of straight guys was…ill advised.
    Trying to distract himself from his problem below the belt, he turned his attention back to the colossus of a boat that loomed in front of him. She was spectacular. But as gorgeous as the craft was, he couldn’t help but crane his neck to get one more glimpse of Nic’s retreat. He was so enthralled that he didn’t notice Samara sidle up beside him, until she wrapped a surprisingly strong arm around his shoulders and leaned in to whisper in his ear.
    “Sweetie, don’t you think you’re being a little obvious?”
    Justice tensed and reddened, dashing a nervous glance over to the boys. “Fuck,” he hissed.
    “That’s the idea. All you have to do is ask. One word from you could have that boy wrapped around your little finger.”
    “Um…”
    “What’s that, gorgeous?” Samara asked, loud enough for the others to hear. “You just have to be the first to visit the flybridge? I think we can accommodate you, unless the groom-to-be would rather go first.”
    Rory gave a mock bow and winked at them. “Be my guest, Jus. I usually don’t get seasick on large boats, but I’m not going to push it by going up there.”
    Justice gave Rory a halfhearted nod of thanks, mainly because he had no idea what was going on. He nudged Samara with his elbow and whispered back to her. “What the hell’s a flybridge?”
    Samara pointed up to the very top of the boat. “It’s the small deck above the main bridge. It’s got a fully equipped cockpit, so Nic can pilot the boat without having his view obstructed by your friends’ shenanigans.”
    Justice swallowed hard. “So, he’ll be up there? On the…um…flybridge?”
    “Sure will. And he only allows one other person up there at a time. You catching on yet?”
    “Think so,” Justice said, irritated by the crack in his voice.
    “Come onboard, have a beer or five, and when it’s time, I’ll take you up there. Don’t worry, Mama Sam will take care of ya.”
    Justice followed dumbly behind that whirlwind of a woman, though his mind had wrapped firmly around the thought of being alone with Nic.

Chapter Six
    Nic gripped the wheel so hard he thought it might break. He couldn’t believe his last