We’d been in the car for almost forty minutes when I finally figured out where Viktor was taking me.

We were just south of Venice Beach in the seaside community of Marina del Rey. Condos reached for the sky as if they were attempting to imitate the palm trees.  Opposite them lay an endless expanse of marina. Broken into eight separate basins, the marina was the world’s largest man-made small craft harbor. Boats in all shapes and sizes bobbed in the light morning breeze and the North Pacific Ocean twinkled on the horizon.

Perhaps we were meeting Gabe at one of the luxurious waterfront hotels?

I frowned as we drove into a large parking area that ran parallel to the marina. While Viktor pulled into a parking spot, I squirmed on the leather seat and discreetly repositioned the stupid bikini Mama had insisted I wear.

Wait.

I was wearing a bikini. I cast my gaze out the window again at all the boats.

We were going boating?

That would explain Viktor’s casual choice of outfit for the day. Usually he wore tailored trousers around the estate, but this morning he’d chosen a pair of cream shorts and a white polo shirt.

When he turned off the ignition, I waited for Viktor to open the door for me. I knew if I attempted to exit the car myself I’d be in trouble.

We’re in public, he’d say.

I used the time to position the fashionable sun hat that Mama had shoved into my hands when we left. The last thing I needed was anyone recognizing me. Today I wanted to be like any other girl who was excited to be going on a first date with a boy she liked.

With her bodyguard in tow.

I sighed and adjusted my sunglasses. I couldn’t have everything, and I knew I already had so much. The truth was, even if I hadn’t grown up with an actress for a mother and a writer for a father, I’d probably be waitressing right now and trying to make it big like all the other hopefuls in Hollywood. I loved acting and performing, and all the baggage that came with it.

Viktor opened the door and I let him use his body to shield me from the traffic driving past beyond the parking lot. It was unlikely anyone would spot us. It also explained why Viktor was driving the dark unmarked sedan today that looked like every other car.

“Come on.”

He ushered me toward the marina and then directed me along one of the boardwalks. He nodded easily at an older couple passing us, but his arm tightened around my waist.

The woman smiled and the man nodded, continuing their conversation with each other as they passed by.

“See?” I whispered to Viktor. They hadn’t even recognized me.

“Keep walking,” he instructed.

Whatever. I wasn’t going to let Viktor’s overprotective tendencies darken my mood.

Beneath my feet the boardwalk moved slightly, at the mercy of the tides like the boats were. If I were to describe my mood right now, ‘buoyant’ would certainly be appropriate.

I grinned happily, giddy at the thought of seeing Gabe again.

Up ahead, a guy jumped down off a stately yacht with a nimbleness that caught my eye.

I stumbled, and if it hadn’t been for Viktor’s arm around my waist, I would have fallen.

“Steady. The last thing you want to do is fall at this guy’s feet.”

‘This guy’ was Gabe, and if I’d been able to speak I probably would have disagreed. My mouth went dry as we kept walking toward him. He wore a pair of cammo pants that came past his knees but the glimpse of his taut calves was enough to make my heart rate increase. A white T-shirt clung in all the right places and I felt like taking a photo and sending it to Faith with the message: ‘See?’

Gabe might have been on the smaller side, like me, but he was beautifully built. Everything about him was economical. He was lean with just the right amount of muscle.

“Stop staring.” Viktor didn’t sound impressed.

“I like him, Viktor,” I whispered.

He glanced over at me and the thin line of his mouth softened. “I can see that, Tinker. Just promise me you’ll get to know him better before you decide on liking him too much.”

We’d arrived in front of the yacht and Gabe strode over, a smile as bright as the sunshine lighting his face.

“Hey, Chloe.” He laid a gentle hand on my shoulder and leaned in to brush his lips across my cheek. “You couldn’t have chosen a nicer day off.”

Viktor cleared his throat next to me.

Gabe stepped back and extended his hand. “Viktor, right? I’m Gabriel da Silva. Do you know much about sailing boats?”

Viktor shook Gabe’s hand and I winced. If Viktor’s grip were any harder he’d break bones. Gabe’s smile didn’t dim and he reached around and slapped Viktor on the shoulder.

“I’m glad you’re here. I could do with the extra pair of hands and I can see yours are more than capable. It’s Chloe’s day off so I want her to relax as much as possible.”

The two lines between Viktor’s eyebrows were deeper than I’d ever seen them. I rushed to open my mouth, but Gabe’s mega-watt smile stopped me.

“How about you help Chloe onto the yacht and then I’ll show you around. I’ve just got to finish some checks.” Gabe gestured to a stainless steel ladder on the side of the yacht.

“Great!” I said just a little too enthusiastically and grabbed Viktor’s hand, ready to steer him out of Gabe’s way. I tried to ignore the surge of mortification I felt at Viktor’s presence. Gabe seemed to be taking it in his stride, and so should I.

I’d like to say I dragged Viktor over to the ladder, but no one ever dragged Viktor. He stayed firmly rooted to the spot and regarded Gabe and his impressive yacht.

“An Oceanis. The 62, right?”

Gabe swung back around and I was glad I was wearing my sunglasses because his smile was blinding. “You know yachts?”

Viktor grunted. “Some. I sailed as a kid.”

“Me too.” Gabe’s hands were on his hips and he was grinning at Viktor. No one grinned at Viktor and lived.

“You did?” I asked Viktor, hoping it would distract him from Gabe. “You never told me that.”

“You never asked.” My spirits dropped when he turned back to Gabe. “She’s not little. Can you handle her?”

“Tell me about it. I was like a kid in a candy store when I first took her out, but I paid an experienced skipper to show me the ropes.”

“How many hours?” Viktor demanded.

Oh God. Bringing my father along would have been better than this.

“I’ve clocked up a hundred solo hours so far.”

Viktor frowned again, but I recognized it as a frown of respect and relaxed a little.

“Come aboard,” Gabe said, “and I’ll show you around.”

Viktor grunted again, but Gabe didn’t seem to notice. He took my hand and led me over to the ladder.

“I’m so sorry about this,” I whispered in his ear.

“Nothing to be sorry for.”

“But Viktor—”

He squeezed my hand. “Is going to have an awesome time. You’ll see.”