Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
The steward, a young man dressed as impeccably in white as the captain, began setting out a feast. They started with a charcuterie plate, including Swiss cheese, mortadella, Black Forest ham, and a basket of baguette slices. The steward added a pasta salad with artichokes, olives, tomatoes, feta, and mango, along with a bowl of beet hummus surrounded by sesame crackers.
Her mouth was already watering. “Shall I bring dessert now, sir?” the young steward asked. “Or after you’ve finished with this course?”
Troy gave him an appreciative smile. “Thank you. Let’s wait for dessert.”
Then the young man filled two tumblers, the water infused with grapefruit, pomegranate, and mint. “If you need anything else, press the button at the edge of the table.” He pointed to a button by Troy’s right hand.
Once he’d left, and before Michaela could say a thing, Troy asked her, “Does the crew come with the boat?”
“I’m sure you can negotiate with the captain.”
He winked. “The service is excellent.”
She took in the spread before her as the boat—yacht—sailed past Tiburon. The sea breeze was crisp and the sun warm on her shoulders. And Troy was too close for comfort. “This is too much. Tell me how you knew all my favorite things.” Every single delicacy was something she loved. “I never took you for a stalker.”
She tasted the pasta salad and almost groaned in delight.
He didn’t give away a thing. “That’s for me to know and you to guess.”
The beet hummus was to die for. She’d tried making beet hummus on her own, but she’d failed miserably. Even her mother, an excellent cook, wasn’t able to get it quite right. But they’d found a store-bought one that was delicious. She’d recognize the flavor anywhere.
“Tell me right now, or I’ll throw you overboard.”
In answer, he drawled, “I won a gold medal in diving. I think I’ll be all right.”
She couldn’t help her smile or the frisson of pleasure along her spine.
He’d cheated, but he liked that Michaela wouldn’t take no for an answer. And maybe she deserved the truth. “I asked Susan to call your mother. And Flo revealed everything.”
“I’m going to kill my mom,” she growled. But that didn’t stop her from enjoying mortadella and Swiss cheese on a slice of baguette.
Maybe he should have added the Brie and pepper jelly as well.
And though he knew she wanted to get mad, she was downright groaning over the curated meal.
He lifted his wineglass. “The Cakebread chardonnay is delicious. An excellent choice.”
Her chin tilted up slightly, almost defiantly. “I have expensive tastes.”
Without her having to say a word, he guessed that though her tastes might be expensive, she rarely gave in to them. That’s why pulling together all her favorites had been so special. Her mother had even suggested buying the beet hummus at a little deli around the corner from Michaela’s office.
“Since we’re trying out the yacht—” He stretched out the word. “—to see if I like it, let’s just enjoy this meal.” Then he added with a smile, “And not be mad at your mom.”
She waved a hand. “Fine, fine.” Her lips pursed. Then, as she met his eyes, her smile took over, as if she’d realized she was acting like a surly teenager. Michaela would see that as a weakness. Yet her stiff spine told him she’d keep up all her barriers while she enjoyed the meal of all her favorite things.
Halfway through the pasta salad, the beet hummus, and the charcuterie plate, she glanced at him, and her eyes suddenly twinkled. The amazing sight wrapped around him, making his heart beat faster and his breath come quicker.
She surprised the heck out of him by asking, “Are you going to install a diving board in the stern?”
“I hadn’t even thought about that,” he admitted freely. “But it’s a perfect idea. It should be removable, but when we’re not tooling around, I can dive right into the water.” It was brilliant, and he made his decision then and there. “This boat is perfect for me. I definitely want it. I don’t even need to bargain down the price.”
The only reaction was in the flare of her pupils. The commission would be a hefty one, he was sure. But instead of addressing the bargaining, she asked, “Do you still dive for fun?”
“Naturally. I do dives and flips.” With a laugh, he added, “And cannonballs because they’re fun.” Then he had an idea equally as brilliant as hers. “Since you’re the one who suggested a diving board, you have to jump off it with me right after it’s installed.”
She surprised him with a shudder. Wagging a finger, she said, “Oh no, there are things in the ocean that freak me out. It’s too wild. I could get stung by a jellyfish or eaten by a shark.”
He gave a great belly laugh. “I’ll protect you.”