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“Like he’s always happy you’re around. He gets this look when you walk in the room. I want that someday.”
There was no look, Erica told herself. Summer was being silly.
“Take your time,” she said. “But for now, let’s get the plain onesies, but this perfect pink dress as well. Compromise.”
“It has lace.”
“I know. That’s what makes it the best.”
The hundred-foot yacht came with two living rooms, or “salons” as the captain called them, a large formal dining room and enough outdoor space to play football. Although it was May and summer didn’t really start in Seattle until July 5, the night was unusually mild. A warm front had brought temperatures close to seventy and the lows would barely crack the midfifties. Heaters provided warmth as the guests circulated.
Killion had gone all out for the celebration. There was a band up by the bow, a photo booth with boas and funny hats, two bars serving top-shelf liquor and a seafood buffet that included lobster and crab.
Erica had no idea how much it cost to rent the amazing yacht, but she could estimate the price of everything else, then multiply that for a party of nearly thirty people.
She waved her glass of Dom Pérignon. “Are we drinking up your profits?” she asked, her voice teasing. “Should I switch to club soda?”
Killion, handsome as always in a custom tuxedo, smiled at her. “This party doesn’t begin to touch one percent of my profits. Drink as much as you’d like.”
The evening—a formal affair celebrating the sale of one of his companies—had started at six when the yacht had sailed. They’d spent the evening circling Lake Union and Lake Washington, with views of the Seattle skyline.
The captain walked over and spoke quietly to Killion. When he’d left, Killion smiled at her.
“We’ll be docking in fifteen minutes. An hour after that, we’ll have the boat to ourselves.”
The yacht rental was twenty-four hours. The caterers had boarded at one to set up. Once the guests disembarked, the staff would clean up, but Killion had possession of the boat until one tomorrow. He’d asked Erica to spend the night with him.
“Are we going to just sail around the lake all night?” she asked with a laugh.
“I thought we’d take one last lap, then dock and settle in the main cabin.”
She’d left her overnight bag in the large space so knew about the king-size bed, the view from the windows and the skylight.
“I’ve never spent the night on a boat,” she admitted. “It should be an experience.”
“I hope so.”
The yacht approached the marina. Killion excused himself to say good night to his guests. Erica went downstairs to the main cabin, where she took off her uncomfortable heels. She pulled yoga pants and a sweater out of her suitcase, then unzipped the simple black gown she’d worn. Once she was in comfortable clothes, she stepped into her Uggs and hung up the dress.
By the time she returned to the main deck, the guests were gone and the catering staff was cleaning up. One of the women saw her and smiled.
“We left some food in the refrigerator in case you were hungry. Sometimes it’s hard to eat at an event like this.”
“Thank you.”
She found Killion on the rear deck. He smiled when he saw her, then pulled her close.
“How is it you look more beautiful now than you did when you were all fancy?”
“All fancy?” She laughed. “I dressed as per the invitation.”
“Yes, you did. You always do the right thing.”
“It comes from years of practice.”
He kissed her. “Hungry?”
“For food or lovemaking?”
