Space in His Heart by Roxanne St. Claire

Author:Roxanne St. Claire
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: romantic suspense military hero astronaut roxanne st claire contemporary romance
Publisher: Roxanne St. Claire
Published: 2011-11-30T16:39:05+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Deke awoke early to check the forecast. By seven o’clock, he had brewed some strong coffee and spent a quiet moment on the dock observing the skies and discerning the direction and strength of the winds.

Deke Stockard had never second-guessed a decision in his life and he wasn’t about to start this morning. In fact, he congratulated himself for salvaging what was left of his miserable week. Today, he didn’t want to think about coolant tube inspections or emergency landings. He didn’t even want to discuss his required role at some silly movie premiere next week. All he wanted was the simple seduction of the wind in his sails and the company of one extraordinarily appealing woman.

Padding about in nothing but draw-string sweat pants, he took his time preparing their lunch, wondering what Jessica might be thinking about today. She was softening to him, he thought with certainty. He wanted her in the most physical way, but something else had nagged at him since they’d returned from New York. He liked her. Her cool demeanor that covered a softie inside, her biting, teasing wit she used as a guard, and most of all, her fiery enthusiasm for life. All in a package he couldn’t wait to unwrap.

Two hours later with the boat packed, he stood on the deck, wrapping the lines and making his instinctive last-minute checks. He caught sight of her walking down the river path toward his dock. She wore jeans and a white tee shirt that pressed against her in the slight breeze and clung to her body. With a sweater tied around her shoulders and her hair in a ponytail, she looked like a teenager. He never got tired of looking at her.

“Permission to board?” she asked with a tentative smile as she reached the end of the dock.

He reached out and offered his hand to help her onto the deck. “Welcome aboard my humble vessel. She’s small, but sturdy and fast.”

He guided her to a spot near the helm and continued the last-minute preparations.

“It’s not so small,” Jessica commented. “What kind of sailboat is this?”

“A twenty-eight-foot Tanzer sloop.”

“Tailwind. Nice name. Does it have a special meaning?”

“It’s a pilot’s most favorable flight condition,” he told her. “Have you sailed before?”

“A few times around the Boston Harbor.”

“You have the option of handling the jib sheets and cranking the winch when we come about and tack into the wind,” he said with a smile. “Or you can just sit there and relax while I do the work.”

“I’ll give it a shot.” Of course, she’d rise to the challenge. “I must admit, Deke, you don’t strike me as the sailing type.”

“I’m in the Navy, remember?”

“Come on—fast cars, fast planes. It doesn’t fit. I imagine you in one of those go-fast boats with deafening engines guys like you can’t resist.”

What he couldn’t resist was… her. “You don’t think I’m in touch with my sensitive side?”

She laughed out loud and shook her head. “No, not exactly.”

“You underestimate me. But, there is a motor, just in case the wind dies.

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