Priceless Treasure(57)

Ashton led her to his dining table. He grabbed a bottle, pouring each of them some amber liquid before he joined her. Savvy automatically picked it up, then began sputtering when the liquid burned all the way down her throat.

“What in the world is that?” she said, her stomach feeling like it was on fire.

“It’s a nice shot of scotch. Family favorite. I know it burns, but it will help with the nerves. Finish it up.”

She decided to trust him and, with a grimace, threw back the rest of the drink. He put cheese and crackers in front of her next, and she swallowed what she could, hoping that the food would help the burning and her upset stomach. It did.

“Now, you can have some more with a mixer,” he said as he sat across from her, a drink in his hand.

“Are you trying to get me drunk, Mr. Storm?” she said, feeling much better.

“I’m just showing off some of my mad bartending skills from the good old days,” he told her with a laugh as he stood up, grabbed a bottle and tossed it in the air and then caught it after it spun a few times.#p#分页标题#e#

“Sexy. Just like Tom Cruise,” she added with a wink.

“Hey!” he said with his signature scowl. “I’m much better-looking — and taller — than he is.”

“Hmm …” She paused as his scowl deepened. Then she conceded. “Yes, you are, Ashton.”

“That’s much better,” he told her.

Damn, he looked so good as he leaned back in his chair, a relaxed smile on his lips.

“I have to admit that I was incredibly impressed with the way you were handling the ship. Thanks for letting me go to the control room with you.”

“All of the crew have been in storms before and as I said, those storms can be deadly, but if everyone works together, they aren’t so bad. Now, if you ever see panic on my face, then is the time to grip your chair and forget to breathe.”

“I wasn’t exactly looking at your face, Ashton. I was watching the water trying to overtake this little boat. Trying to look taller, like you versus Mr. Cruise.”

“Trying?” he said with mock outrage. “I never try. “But seriously, storms are actually pretty fascinating to watch if you sit back and think about it.”

“Now that I know we’re out of danger, I agree with you, it was intense. But I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep at all tonight. I’m far too wired now.”

“Then we’ll talk all night if you want. We pull into Seattle tomorrow, so we both get the day off.”

“But I still have to clean my rooms, Ash.”

“No you don’t, Savvy. All the bedding is stripped and we bring in the big guns to prepare the ship for its next cruise.”

“I’m not one of the big guns?” she asked with a smile as she flexed her right arm. There was a little muscle there that she was quite proud of.

“You most certainly are, darling.”

He led her over to the couch and sat down with her in his arms. She sighed as she leaned into his warmth. This was heaven — right here, right now. With just a few of his words, she felt safer, warmer, and taken care of.

“I have always loved the sea, and I’ve been able to go out on dives, but never very far out, and only under the best weather conditions. But I’ve never really gotten to spend days and days at sea. It’s been a real treat — storms and all.”

“You’ll have to come on the next cruise as my date, and it will be easy as sin. We’ll have so much more time together.”

“Don’t you still have to take care of navigating the boat?”.

“I have a very reliable staff. They don’t even need me in there most of the time,” he said.

“Aren’t you running yourself out of a job?”

“I own the company. I play captain for fun, and then drive the real professionals crazy in the control room on occasion. But someday I plan to go out on the seas when I have young kids running around. My prime directive in life, I suppose, is to spend time with the people who are most important to me.”

“Wow, you really think ahead.” She’d instantly lost that relaxed feeling.

He seemed to notice her uneasiness.

“Don’t you? Most people I know have plans for their future, Savvy. Why so tense all of a sudden?”

“Oh, I’m not tense. And I do have plans, but they are all related to work,” she told him with a nervous laugh.

“Not everything should be about work, Savvy. What about family?”

She was quiet for a moment. “It’s just my sister now. Just the two of us.”#p#分页标题#e#

“That’s not the family I’m talking about. What about children?”