Stranded With The Captain
What she wished for...and more!An adventure is exactly what Cat Sidran wants when she and two friends charter a boat for a sailing trip in the Florida Keys. Throw in a swarthy captain, and Cat has the perfect amount of excitement. Until pirates overtake them, and Captain Javi Rivas reveals himself to be an FBI agent.Working with Javi gives Cat a thrill like she’s never felt before. She can handle danger for a couple of days if it means saving her friends, but anything longer...? She loves her quiet life; Javi thrives on adrenaline. She needs to forget her captain...if that's even possible.
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What she wished for...and more!
An adventure is exactly what Cat Sidran wants when she and two friends charter a boat for a sailing trip in the Florida Keys. Throw in a swarthy captain, and Cat has the perfect amount of excitement. Until pirates overtake them, and Captain Javi Rivas reveals himself to be an FBI agent.
Working with Javi gives Cat a thrill like sheâs never felt before. She can handle danger for a couple of days if it means saving her friends, but anything longer... She loves her quiet life; Javi thrives on adrenaline. She needs to forget her captain...if thatâs even possible.
Cat swallowed. Why was it so hard to breathe?
âHaving second thoughts?â Javi asked, his voice soft like a caress.
âNo.â
She sucked in a deep breath, placed her palms on his chest and slid her fingers up to his shoulders, stepping so close that their bodies almost touched. She could smell the clean, salty ocean on him, the wine on his breath.
He hesitated, dark eyes troubled, searching her face.
The boat rocked slightly beneath her feet.
She was again losing her chance to do something reckless, to live in the moment. Because she was afraid.
She was always afraid.
She met his gaze, relieved at what she read in his expression. No question the captain wanted her.
Before he could ask something stupid like if she was sure, she placed her lips on his and closed her eyes.
Writing Stranded with the Captain allowed me to revisit one of my oldest passions: sailing! My first date with my husband was on a little Sunfish rented from Dinner Key Marina in Coconut Grove. Something about zipping along the water being propelled by nothing but the wind made me fall in love with Max and sailing and, before life got too complicated, we spent a lot of time on a beloved sloop named Spree. Some of our best vacations were spent exploring the clear waters of Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys, although the original Spree wasnât as large or as tricked out as the one Cat and her friends charter in Stranded with the Captain.
Weâve moved to the west coast of Florida now and are looking for a new boat, probably a catamaran because of water depth. We have a new bay to discover, and life is always full of adventures. Iâm hopefulâand fairly confidentâthat we wonât encounter anything as dangerous as Cat and Javi do in the Bahamas, but you never know. After all, Tampa Bayâs most famous festival involves a pirate named Gasparilla!
I hope you enjoy Javi and Catâs roller-coaster ride as much as I enjoyed writing it. And, please, if you get the opportunity, go for a sail. You just might discover a new love, too.
Namaste,
Sharon
SHARON HARTLEY has settled into her new home on the west coast of Florida. Sheâs found interesting places to volunteer, a new orchid club and loves her TARA (Tampa Area Romance Authors) sisters, who extended a warm welcome to the newcomer. But Sharon is now looking for new adventures. She hopes to sail Florida waters in the winter and travel the USA in an RV in the summer. Have computer (and yoga mat), will travel! Thereâs nothing like rambling to inspire ideas for fiction, so who knows where her next story will be set. Sharon loves to hear from her readers. Please visit her website at sharonshartley.com.
This story is dedicated to all of my dorm and roommates from the University of Florida, including the ârealâ Joan and Debbie, two of the dearest friends ever. Such adventures we had!
I learned as much from these classy ladies as from class.
Contents
CAT SIDRAN CAME to a halt and admired dozens of sailboats bobbing in the water around her, one of which would be her home for the next week. The Florida sun warmed her shoulders. A stiff wind clanged rigging against tall aluminum masts, the sound a mysterious promise of adventure. She closed her eyes to listen.
An adventure was exactly what she wanted, what she needed to pry herself out of a boring rut where she never did anything but work.
Although she was safe inside her rut. And she did love her work.
A sirenâan ambulance or the policeâdrowned out the sounds of the rigging.
âHurry up, Cat. Itâs hot out here.â
Opening her eyes, Cat glared at the back of her friend Debbie McMillan, who hurried ahead down the long concrete dock. Deb had done nothing but complain since the start of this trip. When had she become such a whiner?
âWhatâs the rush?â Cat asked. âWeâre on vacation.â
Debbie turned, shading her sunglass-covered eyes with a brochure. âI need to get out of the sun, and so does our food.â
