Guardian by Heather Burch Read Free Book Online

as hard as if she’d been physically hit. What it meant for her, for him, for them, she wasn’t sure. But he’d wanted to be with her. Even after that awkward episode on the deck with Raven. Even after telling him on homecoming night she didn’t want to be with him. The same night her parents died.
    This was bad. And good. And too much to figure out right now because Mace was leaning …
    He scooted a fraction closer so his head tilted toward her, and all that salty scent came rushing at her. Closer and closer.
    Off in the distance, a door opened and closed, but Nikki barely heard it. Mace’s cerulean eyes were locked on her and she couldn’t breathe.
    The warmth of his fingers intertwined with hers. A quiver ran up her arm, setting her skin ablaze.
    “Well, Captain will be pleased to know you two have rearranged the cups.”
    That now irritating voice, thick with an Australian accent, interrupted her blissful moment. She refused to drag her eyes from Mace.
    “Not sayin’ I’d have chosen the galley floor for storage, but I never claimed to understand Yanks,” Sky said, his casual tone laced with humor.
    Mace let out a long, surrendering sigh and rose from the floor, leaving a cold void beside her.
    “It was Nikki’s idea,” he teased and threw a wink down to her. “Never argue with a woman about a kitchen. You’ll lose every time.”
    Nikki blinked up at him. What just happened?
    Sky dusted his hands together. “Well, if what I just saw was punishment, sign me up.”
    Ugh. Nikki felt nauseated. Maybe it was being the object of this discussion, or maybe it was the movement of the boat. Either way, she needed air. The kitchen that only moments ago was like an oasis of comfort suddenly became a stuffy, oxygendepleted closet.
    “You look green,” Sky said, concern and a bit of amusement twinkling in his eyes. “Come on, let’s take her above.”
    Sky and Mace each offered her a hand up, and together they headed toward the stairwell. “Should I stay down here and finish the job? Ocean will expect it to be done,” Mace said.
    “Nah. What can he do? Fire you for insubordination? The supplies will keep. Everyone should get to watch land shrink away.”
    Mace stopped. “Still, Ocean is counting on us. I’ll stay down here and keep working. Take care of her, Sky?”
    Nikki’s stomach churned. “I don’t feel well.”
    Sky hurried her along. “Nikki, it’s time for you to learn about one of my favorite sailor’s traditions.”
    “What’s that?” she said.
    “Introducing the contents of your stomach to the sea.”

Chapter 5

    She hadn’t vomited. Yet. But at least the wedge sandals lifted her to the perfect height to hang her upper body over the railing. Being above deck helped ease her stomach, however, as did feeling the wind rush through her hair, drying the sweat on her temples. She’d never known herself to be seasick. But she’d never been on the ocean in a sailing yacht, either.
    “Are you going to be this antisocial for the entire trip?” Raven asked, leaning over the railing to stare down at the water with her.
    “Not in the mood for your sarcasm right now, Raven.” The boat rolled over waves as they made their way through a pass. Sky had warned her it would be a bumpy ride until they cleared the jetties. White peaks smacked the side of the boat like tiny explosive water bombs. Every now and then, one would reach high enough to coat her face in a spray of seawater. It felt amazing.
    “Just for you, I’ll try to resist all cynicism.”
    He threw her a patronizing glance before returning to his study of the water below. Oh, she hated that look. Not the patronizing one—the hidden one, the one only she seemed to see. The extreme longing deep in his dark-blue gaze. It was that bottomless yearning that made Raven who he was. And on many levels what made him hard for her to resist, because she shared his profound need, felt its intensity. Simply put, she lived it. It’s what made them