Full Steam Ahead (Sea Swept #1) Read Online Free Page B

I’ll never see more than an ankle. I know I’ll still be imagining what’s under them.  
    My skin feels warm, and though partly it’s from fantasizing about Georgia, I also realize I never put on any sunscreen. I grab a bottle from Dan, one of my frat brothers, and sit down on my lounge chair, which is a row behind and a couple over from Georgia’s. She doesn’t see me as she chats with Yasmin, who’s already stretched out on her lounger to make the most of the warm Florida sun.
    “I’m so glad I sprang for the balcony,” Yasmin says. “How’s your room?”
    “Tiny. Filled with Jace’s stuff.” Georgia’s voice is flat, and I glance up from slathering sunscreen to see her make a face. Yasmin cocks her head.
    “Everything okay with you and Jace?”  
    Georgia shrugs. “It’s fine.”
    “What’s wrong? Did he try something with you earlier?”
    “No, he …” She pauses, and I see a hint of a smile curl her mouth. “He was in a towel most of the time. Just a towel. Sort of … distracting.”
    I feel my muscles tighten. Georgia, Her Highness, found me distracting?
    “Nice,” Yasmin says, but right as I’m feeling flattered, she gives Georgia a sober glance. “Be careful with him, sweetie. You know how he is—he’s probably going to try real hard to get you to hook up with him.”
    Georgia shrugs her slim pale shoulders, left bare by her swimsuit.
    “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m so not interested.”
    Ouch. I mean, not that I’m interested, but can’t we go back to how distracting I was in a towel? Damnit, now I’m feeling stung. I slap sunscreen onto my legs faster.
    “What are you wearing to the New Year’s Eve party tomorrow?” Yasmin says, setting her magazine down on her chair. “You brought that shimmery gold dress from Nordstrom, right?”  
    Georgia winces, and for a moment I swear she looks like she might cry. Before she can answer, though, Parker arrives with a pitcher of margaritas in one hand and three cups in the other. I escape before Georgia notices me, and play pool volleyball for a while. The girls from FSU are playing too, and one of them, a cute curvy blonde who’s exactly my type, is definitely interested.  
    “Let’s go give the girls a refill,” Dan says when I take a break for a beer. I follow his glance to the lounge chairs and groan.
    “Please don’t make me play wingman on this trip. Parker is never going to give you the time of day.” But when he orders a pitcher of margaritas I follow him dutifully, because that is what a brother does, even if it means being around miss I’m so not interested again.  
    Georgia is reading on a fancy tablet, something I’d love to be able to afford. Dan pours Parker and Yasmin fresh drinks, but Georgia declines, putting her hand over her still-full cup. I notice all the ice has melted, so it’s not a new drink.  
    I nod at her tablet screen. “Whatcha reading there?”  
    She glances up, and for some reason her cheeks turn pink.  
    “Nothing,” she murmurs, turning off the screen.  
    “Were you writing down our ground rules?” I say. Yasmin and Parker share a puzzled glance, so I explain, “Lady Cantwell here has set up a bunch of ‘roommate’ rules I have to follow.”
    “You didn’t, Georgia!” Yasmin says, slapping Georgia’s arm.  
    “He’s exaggerating,” she says. I ignore her annoyed expression.
    “I’m totally not.”
    “Wait, wait, you have to tell us what these rules are,” Dan says. “Let me guess: no walking around naked?”  
    “No nicknames. Pick up after yourself,’” I mimic Georgia. “And under no circumstances am I allowed to hit on her.” I grin, because Georgia is glaring at me now, and it’s fun to get under her skin. At least when she’s angry, she’s not wearing her prim, blank expression. “I think she’s afraid that my natural charm will melt her wall of ice and turn her to butter in my arms.”
    Dan laughs. Georgia scowls, shoving her