Taming the Bachelor by M. J. Carnal

couldn’t return his feelings, she was his friend and no one could take her place.  He was such a fool.
     
    He rocketed onto the boat, dropping his fins into the crate and pushing past everyone.  He knelt in front of Sophie and took her hands in his.  “Look at me.”  She wouldn’t look up.  He gently grabbed her chin and forced her to make eye contact with him.  “Soph, I am so sorry.  I am so so sorry.  I didn’t know.  I didn’t know what he did.”
     
    She launched herself forward into his arms and cried. He held her as she trembled and whispered that it would be ok.  He ran his fingers down her braid and kissed her softly on the shoulder.  “You needed me and I turned on you.  I won’t do that again Soph.  No matter what, I love you and I will always be there for you.”  He stood up and sat down with her on his lap.  She traced his Celtic arm band tattoo and began to calm down. “He’s my best friend Soph.  He always has been.  I won’t take sides in this.  But I will be here when you need me because falling for someone that doesn’t love you back really sucks.”
     
    “Enough!”  Mark jumped out of his seat as the boat started speeding away.  He tried to walk to the front of the boat but Amber stopped him.
     
    “Don’t you dare go up there!  Haven’t you done enough for today?  Don’t you hurt her anymore.”  Amber grabbed his arm and shoved him.  Her screaming got everyone’s attention.
     
    “Whoa, what the hell Amber?”  Rich stood up and grabbed her. 
     
    “Ask this asshole.  Leading Sophie on and then going to get laid by some waitress.  Solid guy.  She fell for this asshole.  She doesn’t need anymore of his shit today.”
     
    Ryan looked up.  “Mark didn’t sleep with Tabitha.  That was me.” He looked confused.
     
    “Bullshit.  He left the table and met up with her after lunch.  You walked in and said she was waiting for him.  He got right up and went to her.”  Everyone was looking at her as she kept trying to shove Mark.  Sophie cuddled closer to Caleb and whimpered.
     
    “I NEVER slept with her.”  Mark looked Sophie right in the eye.  “I didn’t go anywhere near her.  I went up to my room and took a damn cold shower.”
     
    “He’s telling the truth.  I went back to where I left Tabitha and she was still there waiting on him but he never showed.” Ryan was a player but he always had someone’s back in a fight.
     
    “You mean to tell me you passed up a free piece of Ass Moretti?  I highly doubt it.”  Amber huffed as she sat back down.
     
    “Nothing is ever free Amber!  What right do you have to get in my face?  Hi pot.  I’m Kettle.”  He shook her hand and seethed as he looked at her, “And, yes, even a man whore like me can pass up a piece of ass.”
     
    Mark turned away and went back to his seat at the back of the boat.  There was so much drama over one false piece of information.  He looked right at Molly, “This is why I am single; all this shit right here.  I spent the day trying to figure out what the hell was happening to me and why Sophie was so upset. But did anyone talk to me?  Did anyone ask what the truth might really be?  Nope.  This is the perfect example of why I always have been and why I always will be solo.  Sorry sis.”
     
    He pulled his sunglasses up over his eyes and turned his head to watch the scenery as the boat made its final approach to the hotel. 
     
     
     

Chapter 7
     
    She’d blown it.  Yesterday had been a disaster.  Hearing Mark tell everyone on the boat that he hadn’t met the waitress and then hearing Ryan defend him was heartbreaking.  His face showed complete betrayal by everyone on the boat.  And, it was all her fault.  She had jumped to conclusions and confided in Amber who just couldn’t let it go.  And all those faces on the boat, all the people he loved more than anyone in the world, they had all believed her without a second thought.  Well,