The Best of June by Tierney O’Malley Read Free Book Online Page A

smiled back. “Waiting for someone?”
    “Waiting for my courage, actually.”
    The man looked outside where Henry sat. His smile was so contagious that June started giggling like a little girl.
    “Ah. He’s been sitting there since ten this morning.”
    “Oh, dear.”
    “I don’t think he’ll bite. Just go out there and say hi.”
    “I should.” June looked out of the window. “But easier said than done.” When she glanced back at the man, he was already busy texting. Sighing, she checked the clock on the wall.
    All right, June. Just do it. You’ve already slept with the man. What’s another three days of being with him? Yup. I should go out there. Think. This is for the greater good.
    Taking a deep breath, she adjusted her big red shoulder bag containing her overnight necessities then left the shop. She’d made him wait long enough.
    Henry was looking at his phone. She wondered what had him smiling. June’s heart beat wildly with every step she took. Interestingly, Henry didn’t look up when she stood in front of him. June nudged the toe of his shoe, which she recognized as a Sperry.
    He made a great show of taking off his sunglasses. When he finally met her gaze, he grinned, resembling a boy who had just won a cookie.
    “Finally found the courage, eh?”
    “What?”
    “Billy told me you’ve been hiding in his shop waiting for your courage.”
    June felt her jaw slacken. “You know the man working in there?”
    “Yeah. Billy owns the shop. I’ve missed you.”
    June felt a vague, sensuous light pass between them. “We were together this morning.”
    Henry stood and cupped the back of her neck. “That was this morning,” he whispered before claiming her lips.
    The kiss was soft, quick, but enough to make her knees turn to jelly. “Oh, my.”
    “Ready?”
    Dazed, June blinked. “For what?”
    Henry laughed then pulled her in for a hug.
     
    Seeing how June was affected by their kiss made him happy. At least he wasn’t the only one. He thought about giving her a tour of the yacht first, but he didn’t want her to lose her new-found courage and change her mind—not after the kiss, not after he’d seen her in her white tank top and a matching white ankle skirt that hugged her body. So he led her to the second helm. While he slowly steered the yacht out of the marina, June stood on the sun deck.
    “This thing is a huge, but are you sure we’re not going to sink?”
    Henry grinned. “Don’t worry. I can swim. Can you?”
    “Very funny.”
    “Hon, we’re not going out in the open sea. No wind today and we’ll stay around the San Juans. So don’t trouble yourself with negative thoughts.”
    “We are so lucky to live so close to the water,” June said.
    He knew she was a local, but where exactly was she from? “Thanks for coming.” He took her hand and kissed her palm.
    “Sorry I made you wait.”
    “It’s all right. You’re worth the wait, hon.”
    “You know, I just thought of something,” June said.
    “What?”
    “I’ve never been on a yacht. What if I get seasick? I’ll ruin this trip. I never even thought about it.”
    “Don’t worry. If you get sick, I’ll just throw you overboard.”
    “Mean!” Laughing, June punched his arm.
    “Ouch! That hurts, woman.” Henry pulled her in for a hug. At that moment, he realized he wanted to give her everything, show her the cities that he’d visited around the world, take her to expensive hotels, exclusive beaches. He wanted to keep holding her. He cared for this woman. How in the world had that happened? He’d just met her last night. What was it about her that made him want to keep her?
    “Did you bring your bathing suit?”
    “Yes.”
    Damn. He was hoping she’d say no so they could both swim naked.
    “What about you? Did you bring your swim trunks?”
    “No, I swim naked.”
    June leaned out to look down on the water. “Why? Do you want the fish to go blind or shock their sensibilities?”
    “No, I just want them to