He could pick and choose among the women in town, and he did. But he was discreet. There were rumors of what went on aboard his yacht, but only rumors. Which, naturally, increased his attractiveness to women.
"Where's Jerry? Working?" Bill asked, crossing one leg over the other and rocking slowly.
"Playing hooky," Sue answered. "He's out there somewhere, becalmed as usual."
"I keep telling him he should get a motor boat," Bill noted. "You still get seasick?"
"Like a dog," Sue admitted. "You know Jerry will never join the ranks of the stink potters."
"You wouldn't get seasick aboard a boat like mine."
"I can get seasick in a bathtub," Sue snorted.
"Want to bet?"
Sue felt very sure of herself on such a bet. "Name your price," she said recklessly.
Bill stroked his mustache thoughtfully. "I'll bet you a bottle of champagne that if you come out with me, right now, you will not get seasick."
"Agreed," Sue said confidently. "Only you have to promise not to leave the harbor, so I can make a quick retreat when I start to turn green."
"A deal," he agreed quickly. He got up and extended one hard, tanned hand for her to shake. He used his grip on her to help her up out of her rocking chair.
Sue's spirits had been lifted by Wild Bill's interest in her. She felt a little reckless as she hurried to the dock with him. "Merci, Monsieur," she said as he helped her into the twenty-foot launch the club maintained. Deftly, the launch pilot steered through the clutter of boats in the harbor. He had barely glanced at them, had not bothered to ask their destination.
"Don't rock the boat, George," Bill cautioned. "I've got a bet on with the lady and I don't want to lose a bottle of champagne."
"Yessir," the pilot agreed, steadying the launch beside the Persephone, Caldwell's luxurious yacht.
Sue let herself be boosted aboard, then waited for her host to join her. "We'll honk if we need you," Caldwell informed George. "And if it's within the next half-hour, come quickly. It'll mean I lost my bet."
"Yessir," the pilot agreed. The launch pulled smoothly away from the big yacht.
"Come on," Bill ordered, leading the way toward the cabin.
Sue was feeling wary, but about her tendency toward seasickness, not about her host. "I think I'd be better off staying out here on deck, in the fresh air," she suggested.
"Piffle!" Bill snorted. "The cabin is air-conditioned, in the first place. And, in the second place, that's where the refreshments are, and in the third place, the seats are more comfortable."
Dubiously, Sue followed him. He unlocked the door and ushered her into a beautiful, wood paneled room. The fittings, brass and chrome, were brightly polished. The Oriental rug had a deep, rich pile.
"Please stay at the mooring," Sue called when she saw Bill head toward the controls at the end of the luxurious room.
Bill didn't touch the big spoked wheel or any of the levers, just flipped a small toggle switch. "Just starting the generator for the air-conditioning," he explained. "And then for some bubbly."
"Champagne? But I haven't won the bet yet."
"Nor will you," he retorted. "This is on the house."
"But it's only eleven o'clock in the morning," Sue protested. "And besides, champagne will make it even more likely I'll get sick."
"It's seven bells, nautical time. And in London, the sun is over the yardarm. Perfect time for champagne." He began opening the bottle he had produced from a concealed refrigerator. "And, if it does make you sick, you win your bet. Okay?"
Sue nodded dubiously, taking the stemmed glass of bubbling golden liquid from him. When she sipped it, bubbles went up her nose and made her sneeze.
"Gesendheit." Bill raised his glass. "A toast, to your continued good health!"
Sue found herself already needing a refill. "Is there any time limit on the bet?" she asked.
Bill slid over closer to her on the richly padded bench and refilled her glass. "I think we'll know when the time is up," he answered.
"This is really amazing," she gushed. "I mean, if I didn't know better, I'd think I was just in a very elegant apartment or something."
"You would grace any setting," Bill murmured smoothly. "Like a fine jewel cannot but improve the mast pedestrian of settings."
"Oh, Bill," Sue giggled, giddy. "I'll bet you say that to all tie girls."
"Women," Bill corrected, "and only to those who are truly deserving."
Sue felt warm, in spite of the air-conditioning. Bill's finger trailed a tickling, exciting line down the side of her throat, making her twist her head nervously. For a moment, she debated retreating from his suggestive touch but it felt so good. And Bill was, after all, a good friend of Jerry's, so what could possibly happen? She drained her glass.
"Is there any more of that delicious beverage?" she asked foggily.
"Not afraid of getting seasick?" Bill asked.
"Just trying to win my bet," she said, congratulating herself on her clever answer.
"Then I don't think I better let you have any more."
Sue snuggled against him, under his arm. "Awww," she protested softly, her head spinning delectably.
"Do you know," Bill said softly, "that I have always admired your eyes?"
"My eyes?" Sue gurgled, strangely pleased. She looked at him, and blinked theatrically.
"Such a perfect shade of green," he said, stroking her cheek softly. "Like emeralds."
"Yours are very blue," Sue announced. "I didn't know your eyes were so blue. Like-like…"
"Sapphires?" Bill suggested.
"Uhm-hmmmm." Sue's answer trailed off in a purr of surprise and pleasure as Bill leaned forward and kissed her lips, softly. The kiss was incredibly exciting. Her pulse raced.
She moved away until he placed his arm behind her shoulders and stopped her. "Oh, my," she sighed, boiling and just a little afraid.
Bill kissed her again, and her fear was blotted out by a volcanic blast of passion. As she kissed him back, her body melted and sagged against him. His tongue pried between her lips and she tasted champagne and tobacco. Her excitement boiled up and up and up as his tongue explored her mouth, an insolent, intimate probe that made her head swim.
Suddenly aware of what she was doing, Sue stiffened, pushed away and broke the kiss. "Hey! Wow! That was a bit much! Don't you think?"
Bill simply smiled, and moved in on her. "Hardly enough yet, don't you think?"
Suddenly aware again of where she was, who she was with, what she was doing, Sue twisted out of his grasp and lurched to her feet, staggering slightly. "Why don't you show me the rest of your ship?" she asked, hoping to distract him.
If he was distressed by her escape, it didn't show. "By all means, but really, it's only a boat. It isn't large enough to be called a ship."
"Big enough for me," Sue countered. "What's down here?" She indicated a flight of narrow steps.
"Go ahead," he urged. "The galley, the staterooms and the heads."
Sue went down the four steep steps carefully. She was in a narrow passageway. It widened out and on the right was a compact kitchen. "That's the galley?" she asked, unsure of her nautical terminology. "What are the heads?"
"Bathrooms," Bill said drily.
"Oh." Feeling foolish, Sue whirled to head back tip to the main cabin. She had decided it was too risky to look at the staterooms. Staterooms had beds.
She ran headlong into her host, and suddenly his arms were around her again, and she was being kissed, and her good intentions were dissolving in a haze of passion. Summoning her last bit of will power, she shoved Bill away and slipped past him. "I think I feel better up in the cabin," she explained awkwardly.