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‘The biggest?’
He laughs and then looks at me with gentle understanding. ‘You okay at the thought of going on the water? It’s a beautiful morning. Calm, pristine conditions.’
‘You’re saying I’m going to be safe.’
‘I wouldn’t risk you,’ he says softly.
I know. Because of Lukas.
‘You can hold my hand if you want.’ He holds his palm towards me.
I take it.
We board a gleaming white catamaran. I feel as if I’ve stepped into a film set, only it’s real. The crew are lined up to meet me. They’re dressed immaculately and are so polite, so well drilled in their job he doesn’t need to issue orders. Everything is beautiful and perfect, it’s like magic. I know it’s not just that they’re paid a mint to do it. I get the feeling they want to do a good job for him—same with the discreet staff at his house. They’re loyal because they actually like him.
He’s not as entitled as I first thought. Yes, he was born into wealth, but he worked hard to turn the family company around when it foundered. He’s worked hard to get what he has. And he’s working hard to please me now.
‘Aren’t you going to captain the ship?’ I ask once the crew disappear to get ready to move.
‘Not this time,’ he says lazily. ‘I’m going to breakfast with you.’
‘But you can, right? You have your boat licence and a whole other bunch of licences, right?’
‘Right now I’m hoping for a licence to eat,’ he teases.
I follow him up to the large back deck and see the feast already set there.
‘When did you arrange this?’ I ask.
He just smiles. I blink repeatedly at the beautiful view—and I don’t mean the bay. I’m too blown away by him to nibble on the fresh fruit and pastries.
‘Nothing tempts?’ He notices. ‘The chef will make you something fresh if you want?’
Laughing, I shake my head. ‘I’m too busy taking in the view. The water looks so inviting—’
‘You want to swim?’ His eyebrows lift. ‘It’s not too cold?’
‘This is warm for me.’ I smile. Even though it’s technically still winter, it’s much hotter here in Brisbane than back in the South Island of New Zealand. ‘But no, I don’t want to swim.’
‘But you want to strip?’ He teases.
I just want to stare. At him. Which I don’t. I make myself look beyond him. We glide over the blue waters passing beautiful bays with gleaming gold sand. It’s invigorating and my heart soars.
‘I’ve never been sailing,’ I chirrup thoughtlessly, turning to look at him again. I never imagined ever being on a boat like this.
Again he just smiles. He knows. Of course he knows that there are lots of things I’ve never done. I bow my head to hide the burn of embarrassment—I’m so gauche. But he lifts my chin, forcing me to meet his intense blue gaze again.
‘There’s no shame in never having gone sailing before,’ he says softly. ‘But now you can. With me.’ He pulls me close. ‘We’ll come back—scuba when it’s warmer.’
‘I don’t know how to scuba.’
‘I’ll teach you.’
‘You’re a qualified scuba coach as well?’
He chuckles.
My heart thunders. ‘Why did you arrange this?’
