Burn: A Novel Read online

  While Cael watched Larkin, she watched Cael. She was still mad at him, but watching him was still a visceral pleasure. She hadn’t told either Faith or Tiffany what had happened while they were snorkeling, but they weren’t dummies; they knew something had. Tiffany had caught her eye and shrugged. Now that her temper had cooled somewhat—not much, but some—and her humiliation level had dropped a few degrees, Jenner was able to maybe see the morning from a slightly different angle.

  She was going to have to make the first move if she wanted this fake relationship to go anywhere real, right? Well, she had, and gotten a breathtaking orgasm as a result, but then Cael had pulled back when any normal man would have been all over her like slick on butter. She didn’t know if she could take another rejection like that, no matter what his reason. If he was being honorable, then that sucked. She needed him to be honorable only if she needed someone else to take care of her, which she didn’t. She was an adult. She could make her own decisions, good or bad, and accept the consequences. On the other hand, while she was willing to step out on a limb, that didn’t mean she was going to set herself up for more rejection. If he didn’t want her …

  His body said he did. More accurately, his body said he wanted sex. Maybe he disliked her so much—God, why should he?—that even though he was horny he didn’t want to have anything to do with her. Or maybe he was married, or seriously involved. Tiffany wouldn’t have given her that condom if he was, would she? Maybe. Tiffany had her own rules. But Faith would have had a different outlook, and she hadn’t been at all disapproving.

  So, no marriage, no significant other. Either he was brushing her off to protect her from herself, in which case she might kill him because that was the last thing she wanted, or he seriously didn’t want her.

  Damn it, how was she supposed to tell the difference?

  She gave up trying to make sense of the situation and looked at the rest of the group. Tiffany was as flamboyant as ever, dressed in a black-and-white flapper dress, and didn’t seem to mind the dancing feather on her head. She wore a multitude of long necklaces, and often swung them about as she flirted outrageously with every man in her path. Faith’s Gatsby-style dress was a soft champagne color, as was the matching hat. Ryan, leaning on his cane, was dressed in a military uniform; the sight of him in that costume gave Jenner a moment’s pause. He had the look of a soldier; he might’ve just stepped out of World War I. He was so urbane she hadn’t noticed it before, but there was definitely something military in his posture, despite the cane.

  The five of them weren’t hanging out together tonight, as they had the night before. She supposed that would’ve been a pattern, and Cael didn’t like patterns. Apparently there were a lot of things Cael didn’t like.

  Larkin was coming in their direction, and as he drew closer Jenner noticed that he was smiling. It wasn’t the tight, false smile she’d seen on him before; this looked like a real smile. Either he’d gotten better at putting on a show, or something had truly amused him. He stopped to greet a couple—the man was in a green zoot suit, the woman wore a classy dress much like Faith’s, only in a soft pearl—and while they were talking, Larkin smiled as if he were very pleased with himself.

  The idea of him being pleased with anything sent a shiver up Jenner’s spine.

  Linda Vale, wearing a black flapper outfit that was two sizes too big for her thin frame, walked between Larkin and Jenner. It was all Jenner could do not to jump out of her skin.

  “There you are,” Linda said brightly. She was holding a clipboard, which was not in keeping with her costume. “I’ve been looking for you two.” She smiled at Cael. “Very handsome,” and then at Jenner, “and you look like a doll!”

  “Where’s Nyna?” Jenner asked. She always saw the roommates together.

  “She’s with Buttons and Penny, getting drinks.” Linda lifted her clipboard. “I’ve volunteered to help out with the bachelor auction.” She looked significantly at Cael. “I’m afraid we don’t have many bachelors onboard.”

  He smoothly placed his arm around Jenner. “I’m taken,” he said.

  Linda sighed. “Every man onboard is taken, that’s not the point. It’s for charity. Maybe Jenner will bid on you.”

  “And maybe she won’t. Then what’ll I do?” Cael teased, though he had to know Jenner not bidding on him was a distinct possibility, as things stood between them.

  “Then Nyna will.” Linda laughed, but it was probably true enough.

  “What does the winning bidder get?” Jenner asked. Cael’s arm tightened very slightly.

  “The remainder of the evening with her bachelor. What you do with the evening is up to you.”

  “There’s no obedience clause in there? If he had to do whatever I wanted, for an entire night … that might be worth bidding on.” She gave Cael a shark smile. “I might bid on you after all, honey,” she said. “Wouldn’t you like to know what you’re worth?”

  Linda said, “So, I can put you down …”

  “No,” he said flatly.

  Linda was disappointed, but she didn’t give up. “Be a sport,” she said. “It’s for a good cause.”

  Cael looked around, a flash of frustration in his expression. They were drawing attention, and that was never good. Even Larkin was looking their way, curious, listening to their exchange with Linda. Jenner wasn’t a spy, but even she knew it wasn’t a good idea for Larkin to realize that Cael had her in an iron grip and had no intention of getting more than a few feet away from her.

  “Go ahead, sweetheart,” she said, and then she went up on her toes to give him a quick, soft kiss that sent her head reeling. “I’ll be fine here by myself. I promise not to get jealous if someone else buys you.”

  Everyone in the area was watching, waiting. Cael leaned down and kissed Jenner on the cheek. He pressed his rough cheek to hers and whispered in her ear, “Come on, tell me the truth. You were hatched, weren’t you? That’s the only explanation.”

  Damn him. She couldn’t stop herself from laughing, a genuine laugh that went a long way toward easing her tension and worry. So much for sweet nothings! She said, “Trust me.”

  “Like I have a choice,” he murmured, before he surrendered and followed Linda’s lead, weaving through the crowd toward the dais.

  It would’ve looked suspicious if Tiffany had rushed to join Jenner, after Cael was all but dragged to the front of the room, but as soon as possible she joined Jenner by the rail. “I thought I’d keep you company while he’s occupied.”

  “Not to mention it’ll keep him from freaking out because I’d be standing here by myself,” Jenner said.

  Tiffany shrugged. “Men.”

  That said it all.

  “You look great,” Jenner said. Tiffany twirled around to show off her outfit. Fringe danced, and so did the ridiculous feather.

  “So do you.” Tiffany leaned against the rail and looked out on the water. “I’m surprised Cael didn’t trip over his tongue.”

  They both turned to face away from the crowd, facing the ocean. Jenner said, “I don’t think he’s all that interested.”

  “Trust me, he’s interested.”

  “He’s not, like, married or engaged, is he?” Even though she’d already decided he wasn’t, she had to check. No matter how attracted she was, she wasn’t going to be a home-wrecker.

  “Nope,” Tiffany said without hesitation. It certainly sounded like the truth. “So, what happened today? Did you make your move?”

  “He made a crack about Stockholm syndrome.” That was the tiniest portion of what had happened, but Tiffany didn’t need to know everything.

  “Bummer.”

  “Yeah.”

  She realized that, behind them, the auction had already started. They turned to watch the handful of men who were gathered at the front of the crowd. There were a few crew members, two gray-haired guys, a blond she didn’t know, and Cael; not exactly a stellar showing, even though Cael looked mouthwateringly good. Matt must be working; if he was