I was on the phone, getting a quote from a supplier, when I felt Calvin’s eyes on me. I peeked up, and sure enough, he was staring at me from across the room. Was I saying something wrong? My voice caught, and I stumbled over my words for a moment.

He got up then moved closer as I opened up my spreadsheet to record the numbers. My fingers quivered as I typed. I thought the quote I’d negotiated was a very good deal, but maybe it wasn’t good enough for him. Calvin leaned over my shoulder and put his hand on my computer mouse, scrolling through the quotes I’d recorded. My whole body tensed up like his presence alone was enough to crush me.

“I’m waiting on a few other quotes, and then I’l get back to you,” I told the man on the phone, glancing over my shoulder at Calvin to see his reaction. His face didn’t give anything away, but he wasn’t scowling or mouthing anything at me, so I ended the call.

“What is it? Did I do something wrong?” I swiveled my chair around so I could look at him.

“What? No! I’m really impressed with how well you’re doing. That was a great quote. You managed to talk them down 30% if I’m reading your spreadsheet correctly.”

“Is that enough? When I go shopping, I usually don’t buy anything unless it’s at least 30% off, but I’m having a hard time getting anyone to take off more than that.”

Calvin chuckled at me and sat down on the edge of my desk. The move seemed friendly, but I still felt intimidated. Calvin was my boss, but he treated me more like a partner, even though I had no idea how to run a business.

“Wholesalers don’t typically mark stuff down like retailers do. The fact that you got them to go that low is amazing. And you’ve been doing that with all the suppliers? How’d you do it?” He stared at me like he was trying to uncover my secrets.

I shrugged and smoothed my skirt over my knees, feeling exposed. “I don’t know. I wish I had some secret method I could brag about, but I don’t. I just ask for what I want.”

“You’re just your natural, charming self, and people give you whatever you want, huh?” His words might’ve sounded insulting, but the way he was looking at me made me think he’d fallen under the same spell.

I gave him a nervous smile and chuckle. “I guess so. It got me this job.”

“I’m glad I hired you, Layla. You’ve really impressed me with how quickly you’ve learned and how well you’ve done. I’m glad I have you. As my assistant, I mean.” His voice was soft, serious, with a touch of yearning in it.

Every once in a while, he got like that, and it made me think he had feelings for me that went beyond a good work partnership. But he never went any farther. Most guys who looked at me like that asked me out or tried to kiss me, but Calvin never did. I could only assume it was the huge difference in our status. Just like I never would’ve considered dating him as a teen when I was high school royalty and he was a geeky loser, why would a billionaire businessman ever want to date a failed actress/secretary?

That was why I was stunned speechless when he jumped up, adjusted his tie and his suit coat, swallowed nervously a few times, then said, “What are you doing this weekend? Any chance you’re free on Saturday?”

My mouth fell open, and I stared at him for a moment. He quickly explained. “I’m thinking about buying a yacht to keep here in Sweet Bay. I might rent it out to guests when I’m not using it. I was wondering if you’d like to go try it out with me. We could spend the day on it.”

Was he asking me as a date, or a business partner? Or maybe both? It didn’t really matter. I was free, and spending the day on a yacht with Calvin sounded incredible.

I curled my gaping mouth into a smile. “I’d love to do that.”

Calvin grinned back, more happy and carefree than I’d ever seen him before. “Great. Can I pick you up early, like 9? It’s a two-hour drive to the marina where it’s docked.”

I chuckled. “I’m usually at work by 8. I think I can be ready by 9 on a Saturday. Should I bring anything?”

A blush crept onto his cheeks. “Um, maybe your swimsuit?”

I blushed too, picturing myself strutting around on a yacht in my tiny bikini with Calvin Montgomery — my boss. It was a scenario I never would’ve imagined.

Saturday morning, I was waiting by the door, dressed in white capris and a blue and white striped boatneck shirt with deck shoes, wondering if I’d taken the yachting look too far, when Calvin rang the doorbell. I took a deep breath and pulled open the door, trying to hide my nervousness behind a smile.

Calvin looked like a Nautica model in khaki pants and a brand new, red and navy polo shirt. Together, we were perfectly coordinated without being too matchy.

“I like your outfit,” we both said at the same time then started laughing.

I followed Calvin out to his Maybach, excited to ride in it for the first time. He held open the door for me, and I slid in and tossed my tote bag in the back seat. The supple, tan leather seats were quilted and tufted and accented with sections of dark brown leather that matched the glossy, burled wood decorating the dashboard. It smelled like new leather and that rich, complex, musky scent of Calvin’s cologne. When Calvin climbed in next to me, I felt like I was surrounded by him.

“This is a gorgeous car.” I ran my fingers along the slick surfaces, admiring it.

“Thank you. It’s my favorite.” He put on his seatbelt and started the engine. It gave a grumbly purr like a kitten.

I took that to mean he had several other cars to choose from, although I’d only ever seen him drive the Maybach. He probably kept the rest at his home in San Fransisco. The thought made me curious about his plans.

“Are you going to stay in Sweet Bay after the resort is up and running or keep your place in the Valley?” Of course, if he could afford several cars, he could probably afford to own a couple homes, too.

“I’ll probably keep my place there for a while. I intended to settle in Sweet Bay, but now I’m not so sure. The people haven’t exactly welcomed me back with open arms.” His face was stiff, emotionless, and he kept it focused on the road ahead, but I could sense the pain behind the mask.

Empathy twisted my stomach. I put a hand on the arm that laid on the soft, leather armrest between us. “Not everyone feels that way, only the most vocal ones. Since I’ve been prepping for the job fair, I’ve talked to lots of people who are excited about the resort. They recognize how good it will be for the local businesses.”

A flicker of confidence lifted his cheeks, and he glanced at me. “Really? That’s great. I’m sure a lot of that is thanks to you and your promoting. You always had a way of getting people to follow your lead. Think you could work a little more on the Society Club?”

“They’ll grow to accept you eventually. They’re just stuck in their ways. And to be honest, you coming back so unbelievably successful makes them feel intimidated, so they reject you as a defense mechanism. And of course, they’re not thrilled about vacationers invading their private sanctuary. But once they get used to having you and the resort around, they’ll see how wrong they were.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence. It means a lot.” He gave a hopeful smile.

“Sweet Bay is a great town. I really love it there. It’s nice to be back with my friends and family. I’m tempted to stay myself,” I admitted out loud for the first time, watching the quaint, little town whiz by out the window.

Calvin gave me a thoughtful look. “I wish you would. I hate the thought of losing you.”

The way he said that made me think he wasn’t just talking about losing me as an assistant, but then he said, “It’d be hard to replace you,” and I figured I must’ve been mistaken.

We chatted about the resort and Sweet Bay while I enjoyed the smooth ride and the scenery. Eventually, we pulled into a marina where dozens of boats worth more than I’d probably ever make in my life bobbed in the water. Calvin led us to the biggest one, of course.

The shiny, white hull was topped with three ascending tiers, like a wedding cake, only this was sleek and modern, with a sharp bow that would slice effortlessly through the water. I had to tilt my head all the way back to see the top of it. The name Harbor Princess was written in an elegant scroll in gold paint on the back.

Calvin whistled with uncharacteristic, childlike joy. “She’s a beauty, isn’t she? Can’t you just see her sitting in the Sweet Bay harbor?”

The boat was so big, it would probably block half the town’s view of the water, but it would certainly be a jewel in the town’s crown. I’d lived in Hollywood, surrounded by excess, and I’d never seen anything so luxurious. The residents of Sweet Bay would be blown away. Calvin could probably pay for the upkeep just by charging people for tours. It was a great plan he had to rent it out when he wasn’t using it; he always had the smartest ideas. I suppose that was why he’d done so well for himself even though he had a tough start.

We climbed on board and Calvin called out, “Davis, are you here? It’s Calvin.”

A gray-bearded man appeared wearing a navy suit coat with gold buttons, a red silk cravat tucked into the open collar of a white dress shirt, and a captain’s hat. He gave a wide smile and held out a tanned, gnarled hand to Calvin. “Mr. Montgomery, good to meet you.”

Calvin shook his hand then gestured to me. “Layla Emerson, Davis Gentry.”

I shook Mr. Gentry’s hand, contemplating the fact that Calvin didn’t call me his assistant. I still wasn’t sure if this was a date or a business trip, and I didn’t know quite how to act around Calvin.

“Beautiful lady you have there, Calvin. Let me show off my lady.” He waved his hand around the expansive deck of the yacht. Long planks of glossy, golden wood were interrupted by curved seating banks topped with thick, blue cushions with white piping and red throw pillows with subtle, white patterns embroidered on them. Some were shaded by an overhang off the main cabin while others were out in the open. I couldn’t wait to stretch out on them and bask in the sun. I’d spent too much time cooped up in the office lately.

In the middle of the deck was a hot tub big enough for six, bubbling with aqua blue water. It was too hot for that now, but I could imagine soaking in the warm bubbles after dark while staring up at the night sky. Out in the middle of the water, away from the lights of the city, the stars would sparkle like diamonds on black velvet.

Mr. Gentry caught me staring at it and gave me a wink. “Having a bit of a romantic fantasy about that, are ya? I’ll make sure you two get plenty of privacy today.”

I blushed and opened my mouth to contradict him, but Calvin spoke up before I had a chance. “There’s a pool, too, isn’t there?”

“Right there is! This way.” Davis led us to the other end of the boat where an honest-to-goodness swimming pool was sunken into the boat deck. It was much smaller than a regular pool, but it was plenty big enough to accommodate the rafts that floated on the surface, waiting for us to lounge on. I gawked at Calvin, who grinned like a little kid.

Davis guided us through the sumptuously decorated cabins, all done in plush fabrics in shades of navy, red, and white, like luxury was a show of patriotism. Glossy wood lined the walls, and expensive-looking accent pieces sat on the wall shelves and tables, daring the waves to disturb them.

Davis pointed out the gold-plated fixtures in the marble bathrooms, the large, flatscreen TVs hanging in each berth, the professional-grade appliances in the full kitchen where a chef was preparing a meal that had the tangy aroma of fresh seafood, and the dining area where it would be served that was large enough to seat twelve people.

Finally, he ended the tour in the wheelhouse where he spouted off some numbers about the length, the beam, the tonnage, and the knot speed that didn’t mean anything to me but seemed to impress Calvin. When Calvin wrapped his hands around the wheel, Davis patted him on the back. “Ready to take her for a spin?”

“Do you know how to pilot this thing?” I asked, surprised.

Calvin shook his head, giving a playful pout. “No, not yet. Maybe someday. For now, Davis will take us out. We can enjoy the ride while he does all the work. Come on, let’s go up top.”

He grabbed my hand and tugged me towards the deck. I flinched at the sudden contact, and Calvin looked surprised that he’d done it, but he didn’t let go till we were standing on the railing at the bow of the ship, him behind me like Jack and Rose in Titanic. Calvin was so close, I could feel his body humming with excitement. I half expected him to climb up on the railing and shout, “I’m the king of the world!”

Davis maneuvered the boat out of the harbor then picked up speed as he hit open water. The wind tossed my hair and ruffled my clothes, the cool, damp, salty, sea air a perfect balance to the warm sunshine. I lifted my face to bask in it. Calvin was doing the same. I loved seeing him like that, happy and carefree for once.

I thought he might wrap his arms around me, and my body fluttered with anticipation, but he didn’t, even when I leaned back a little and looked up at him, giving him permission with my eyes. “This is amazing, Calvin. Thank you for inviting me.”

“I’m glad you came.” He smiled down at me, his lips so close I thought he might kiss me. His eyes lingered on mine like he was contemplating it, but eventually he looked away.

I couldn’t figure him out. Was he attracted to me? I’d been told I was beautiful enough that I was confident in my looks, if nothing else, and Calvin acted like he liked my company, but he never went any farther than a lingering look or a thoughtful compliment. If the issue was the difference in our status, wouldn’t he be embarrassed to be seen in public with me? But he’d invited me to be his date to a movie premiere, and you couldn’t get much more public than that.

We stayed in that position for a long time, me wishing Calvin would make a move and wondering what was going on in his mind. Eventually, I decided to ask him. “You’re so quiet. What are you thinking about?”

He glanced down at me with a guilty, surprised look on his face like I’d caught him doing something. “Nothing! Just, you know, business stuff.”

I gave him a playful swat on the chest. “Business stuff? This is supposed to be fun, Calvin. Relax! Enjoy the moment.”

He put his hands on the railing on either side of me, surrounding me with his presence. “Oh, I am.”

We stayed that way for a little longer till the chef came out and announced that lunch was ready. I didn’t like the idea of sitting at that huge table in the dining area inside, so I pointed at a small table on the deck. “Can we eat out here? Is that okay with you, Calvin?”

He smiled and nodded. “Whatever you want.”

The chef brought up platters of tropical fruit, charcuterie, fresh bread with whipped butter, an arugula salad, and an entree of crab cakes with remoulade. Calvin and I settled onto the cushioned chairs and dug into the feast. I was glad the food wasn’t too heavy since I was hoping to put my swimsuit on later and go for a dip. I didn’t want to feel bloated from rich food.

Calvin took a tentative bite of his crab cake then hummed with approval. “I’m glad the chef didn’t prepare anything too exotic. I can’t stand fast food anymore, but I haven’t developed a taste for the delicacies some of my business associates seem to prefer.”

“Not a fan of caviar and foie gras?” I teased, but that was one thing I liked about him. Even though he was insanely wealthy, he hadn’t grown up that way, so he wasn’t the least bit pretentious.

He shook his head and laughed, a sound that made my heart skip and my lips curl up. “Definitely not. I’ll take a good steak over anything. This arugula salad is about as wild as I get, food-wise.”

I nibbled on the charcuterie, enjoying the spicy, thin-sliced meat. “My father wanted steak once a week when I was a kid. I didn’t like it then. I wanted McDonald’s, but he said it was garbage and would rarely take me there.”

Calvin made a face. “I didn’t have my first steak till I was 20 and made my first million. I wanted McDonald’s as a kid, too, but my father rarely had the money to take us out to eat.”

It made me a little sad to hear that the things I took for granted were rare luxuries to him as a child. We chatted a bit more about our favorite foods and found we had a lot in common. Hollywood hadn’t spoiled me to the comfort foods of my childhood, since I never got invited to the swanky parties of the rich and famous.

When he was finished eating, Calvin stretched and yawned. “I’m thinking about a nap on one of those rafts in the swimming pool. What about you?”

“I’ve been dreaming about it ever since I saw it.”

We headed inside to change into our swimsuits. I’d only brought one bathing suit with me to Sweet Bay; I didn’t expect to do much swimming. But the tiny, red bikini that seemed totally normal in Hollywood felt uncomfortably revealing for a date with my boss, if that was what this was. I didn’t want to dry dock myself because of it, though, so I slipped it on and hoped Calvin didn’t think I was trying to seduce him.

I twisted my hair up into a knot on the top of my head, wrapped a towel around my waist, then went back up top. I’d taken so long, debating whether or not I was brave enough to put on my swimsuit, Calvin was already at the pool, wearing his polo and a pair of white and navy plaid swim trunks. He pulled off his polo, revealing a smooth, golden chest with just enough definition to prove he worked out. Then he tossed the shirt on a chair and dived into the water, barely making a splash, and glided across the pool.

I gasped as his body broke the surface, imagining the chill of the water and shocked by the athletic display. When he popped back up, he slicked his wet hair back from his face and smiled broadly, blinding me with his bright teeth and his glow of happiness. The sun sparkled on the water around him, surrounding him with twinkling lights like he was a movie star. How had he gotten so gorgeous?

In high school, he was tall and gangly. If he was attractive at all, I didn’t notice it behind his bad haircut and wardrobe of hand-me-downs and thrift store clothes. Even if that wasn’t so bad, I couldn’t see past his reputation. Either he’d metamorphosed into a handsome specimen of masculinity, or my blinders had fallen off.

“Come on in, the water’s warm,” he called out, grinning at me like he knew what I was thinking.

I sucked in a deep breath, and my stomach, and dropped the towel then climbed into the pool. He was right; it felt like bathwater. It was shallow enough I could touch the bottom, so I waded over to him.

“Nice swimsuit.” He looked me up and down with appreciation even though most of my body was distorted by the water.

I resisted the urge to wrap my arms around myself. “Thanks. I would’ve worn something… different, but this was all I brought to Sweet Bay.”

I thought he said, “I guess I got lucky,” but I wasn’t sure because he whispered it under his breath then quickly moved away to grab one of the rafts. He climbed up and stretched out with his hands behind his head then sighed.

“I should take more days off. This is nice.”

“Yes, you should. What good is all that money if you never get to enjoy it?” I climbed onto the other raft and closed my eyes, letting the sun dry me. I admired Calvin’s incredible drive and his passion to pursue his goals. Look where it had gotten him. It inspired me to keep going after my own dreams. But at the same time, I thought he might’ve let his obsession take over.

“It’s more fun when you have someone to enjoy it with. Thanks for coming with me.”

“Who wouldn’t want to spend a day on a yacht?” I said, but then realized that sounded like I was taking advantage of him, and that was the last thing I wanted him to think.

“The company’s not bad, either,” I added teasingly, hoping that was enough to let him know I was happy to be with him.

Calvin rolled over onto his side and propped himself up on his elbow, giving me a better view of his physique. “Is that why you wanted to be an actress, to be rich?”

I turned my head so I could enjoy the view and let one hand dangle in the refreshing water. “No, I don’t care that much about money. I mean, it’s nice, sure. But I grew up with everything I ever wanted. I guess I like the attention, the fame. I didn’t think I had many other skills or talents, but I was always popular, and everyone told me I was beautiful, so I figured I had a good shot.”

He twisted his lips and gave me a look I couldn’t quite decipher. “You underestimate yourself, Layla. You’re a lot more than just beautiful and popular.”

He stared at me, and I squirmed under his inspection. What did that mean? Was that a boss complimenting his employee, or a man complimenting a woman he was interested in? If I didn’t figure out where he stood soon, I was going to go crazy. I was definitely falling for him, but there was no way I was going to make the first move.

We floated on the rafts for a while longer then got back in the water when the sun got too warm. Calvin was feeling playful and tried and failed a dozen times to do a handstand, making me giddy with laughter.

Afterwards, we dried off and headed inside to get out of the sun for a while. I changed out of my suit and came out to find Calvin browsing through the DVD collection on the built-in bookshelves. He glanced up at me, holding a handful of DVDs. “Want to watch a movie?”

I moved closer and took the movies from him to see what he liked. He had a variety. “Sure. Which one?”

“I don’t care; you pick. I haven’t seen any of them. I don’t watch movies that often.”

“Too busy,” we both said in tandem then laughed and shook our heads.

I browsed through the movies, feeling nervous about what should be a simple choice. But it definitely wasn’t. I didn’t want to pick something he’d find boring or stupid, and I didn’t want anything too romantic, although I was hoping maybe sitting close would encourage him to make a move. I eventually settled on a thriller with a complicated plot that Calvin would probably enjoy. I’d seen it, so I didn’t have to worry about not understanding what was going on.

He put in the movie, and I sat down on the couch. He sat next to me but not close, leaving just enough space to be proper. The chef brought us snacks — salty, buttered popcorn, gourmet chocolates, and icy sodas. We munched on them till we were too full for the dinner the chef offered to prepare. Calvin got into the movie, throwing out guesses that were right, but I refused to confirm or deny them, even though he begged and cajoled.

As the movie went on, our bodies shifted closer till our shoulders were touching. I thought for sure he would do that classic date move and stretch his arms then drop one over my shoulder, but he never did. I was so frustrated, I wanted to grab his arm and put it there myself, but I didn’t. As much as I wanted it, I didn’t want to risk ruining what we had if he wasn’t interested in me that way.

By the time the movie was over, the yacht was back in the harbor. I sighed in contentment as I climbed down off the yacht, glancing up at the stars. Calvin held my hand to help me. “That was incredible, Calvin. I think that was the best day I’ve ever had.”

“Me, too. I’m buying this boat so we can do that again. Maybe next time we can get in the hot tub once the sun goes down and enjoy the stars.” His eyes lit up with excitement, the stars reflected in them.

“I’d like that a lot.” I grinned at his mention of the romantic scenario I’d fantasized about earlier. Maybe if we did that, he’d feel inspired to kiss me.

We were both tired and relaxed on the way back, talking intermittently about how the resort could utilize the yacht in between bouts of quiet reflection. I didn’t know what was on Calvin’s mind, but I couldn’t stop thinking about how much I’d grown to like him. All he had to do was give me a tiny clue that he felt the same, and I’d lose my heart to him. But could he ever feel the same way about me?