Passengers sulk around the ship on disembarkation morning, listlessly dragging wheeled suitcases and bickering over petty details. The scent of aloe and sunscreen fills the balmy morning air. No one is eager to leave, least of all me.

After the blowout with Richard, Havana and I no longer had to sneak around. A few of the Smooth Sail guests whispered the first day we showed up as a couple, but no one really cared. Chalk one up for cruise magic. We held hands and danced close, and people acted as if they’d known all along. Maybe they did. Richard’s bombshell fizzled without even a wisp of smoke. And instead of taking off the thrill, being able to claim Havana as mine made our sex hotter. It was a best of both worlds scenario.

He hasn’t spoken to either of us since that night, though I’d get an occasional note through email if someone made a request directly to him. The rest of Smooth Sail remained as friendly as before; if anyone knew of Richard’s trick, they hid it well. The entire group surprised us with thank-you notes and a cake on the last night, and we laughed and danced until I couldn’t wait any longer to take her to bed. Richard had excused himself earlier, but Jenny stayed.

In the final hour, Havana and I chat amiably with Gabe and Viv in a seahorse-themed lounge. A last round of shipboard drinks sits in front of us, and my arm rests across the back of the leather booth. Havana leans against me, the most relaxed I’ve ever seen her.

“That golf resort in Veracruz was top notch, man,” Gabe says. “Thanks for hooking us up.”

Viv laughs. “I visited the Korean spa at least four times on this trip. Havana, what have you done? I’m hooked. And I found out I am born to cruise. Gabe, I expect a cruise for every anniversary from now on. Maybe birthdays, too.” She winks at Gabe, who predictably groans. However, he grins into his drink.

Havana leans in close. “I hear Bob found a lady friend.”

“He did!” Viv crows. “Who’d have imagined Bob Simon capable of a shipboard romance?”

I squeeze Havana’s thigh under the table. They say ocean romances don’t last on land, but I’ve no doubts about ours. She presses her leg against mine. We understand each other.

“Richard is the final say, but if you don’t get this contract, it’s criminal,” Viv continues. “I don’t know what possessed you to include a vacation in your negotiations, but thank you. Smooth Sail’s bottom line can only benefit from this relationship.”

“I really appreciate that Viv. Honestly, this was a great experience for me too.” I shoot Havana a smile. “But if it doesn’t work out, we’ll keep moving forward. Cruises are a different animal than the traditional hotel, and however this shakes out, I’m glad I had this firsthand look. It’ll inform how we plan and accommodate packages at our hotels.”

My fingers trail over Havana’s shoulder. My office put together the skeleton of this trip, but she’s responsible for the sinews and muscle that made the whole thing work. And if she sticks with me, this project will move ahead. With or without Smooth Sail and Richard Mannerin.

Our group number blares over the PA system, and people clutch at purses and bags. Havana and I stand on opposite sides of the exit, shaking hands and thanking the guests as they leave. One final courtesy to leave a pleasant taste. As I smile and wave at the last of them, the hair on my neck prickles, and I look over to see Richard looming at my side. His face puckers like he took a bite of something foul.

“My people are happy, I have to admit,” he says without preamble. “You did a good job, Jet. My partner and I founded Smooth Sail in 1979, and we know cruises. It takes a lot to impress me, but I’m impressed, dammit.”

“Thank you, Richard. That’s high praise.” I’m polite but cautious. This man is as shady as they come.

He shakes his head and plows on. “For the last three days, I’ve been hearing nothing but people screaming at me to give you this contract. My employees like you, and my shareholders like your track record.”

He shoves a leather folder at me. I take it reflexively and open it. I flip through the papers, which appear to be the preliminary documents, signed, that will grant Encompass Regency Hotels an exclusive partnership with Smooth Sail.

I glance at him, eyebrows raised skeptically, and he clears his throat.

“You’ll do a better job than Eastward Hotels,” he says gruffly. This is probably the closest to an apology the man has come since he was grade school.

“I—ah—well I’m a little surprised, but I’m pleased that Smooth Sail is ready to accept our offer.” I close the folder with a snap. At this point, I’m not sure I still want to work with this asshole, so I make sure to avoid making any kind of verbal commitment. “I’ll look these over and be in touch.”

I expect this to be the end of it, but Richard still lurks.

“It’s no secret that family things get complicated,” he blurts.

I tense. This could go sideways in a heartbeat.

“But what I did to Havana was over the line.”

“No argument here.” I fold my arms over my chest.

“Just treat her right, okay? Shit, when you stepped in to stand up for her, I felt like the biggest asshole on the planet. Maybe I am. Anyway, she seems happy, and she’s damn good at what she does. My brother’s still an asshole, but I’m proud of his little girl.”

I hold my scowl a second more, and then extend a hand. We shake hands, and I nod. As Richard walks away, I exhale in an audible puff. Against all expectations an hour ago, we landed the deal.

I stay on the ship until the last minute, watching the last passengers disembark. It’s nice to feel free again, to know those thirty-four people aren’t my concern anymore. Heels click on the deck, and I see Havana walking my way. Another gauzy sundress swishes against her thighs. Her hair is pulled back in a ponytail, highlighting her sharp cheekbones and pointed chin.

Her broad smile shames the sun, but she’s still Business Havana, carrying a sheaf of final paperwork from the cruise line.

“I personally checked everyone at the disembarkation gate,” she says. “Smooth Sail has officially left the boat. These are the signed copies of all receipts. Here’s the itemized bill to your room, by the way. You eat a lot of late night meals, Mr. Flourish. What’s been keeping you up nights?” She smirks, but her smile falls as she watches the stragglers on the docks. “It’s a shame all this didn’t get the contract though. I mean, I know you said that to Viv about a learning experience and all, but I hate losing. Even when the game is rigged against me.”

I laugh, realizing Richard didn’t mention it to her. Probably out of shame. I pull her in for a last cruise ship kiss, bending her back with a dramatic dip. When I pull her upright, I tap her on the nose with the black folder.

“Speaking of the contract, you’ll never guess what this is.”

“No way.”

“Yep.”

“I just—how? Why did he change his mind? I didn’t even see him leave. I assumed I’d probably never see him again.”

“The battle isn’t won or lost until it’s over. And it looks like we won.”

If I thought her smile was bright before, it’s blinding now. She throws her arms around me and plants a noisy smack on my cheek.

“Congratulations, boss. What now?”

“That night you cursed Richard, I told him I wanted to offer you a job. This is me, officially asking you to come work with me. I know you’ve got a business that you’re proud of, but I’m willing to offer what it takes to get you on our team. ERH needs someone with your skills.” I bounce my eyebrows suggestively. “And I need your other skills.”

She tilts her head to the side. “I don’t know.”

My heart thuds to halt.

“I’m going to need some convincing. How are the benefits?”

“I’ve got a benefits package you won’t believe. Come here, take a look.”

She falls into my arms again, and my kisses absorb her laughter.

A Hawaii breeze lifts the gauzy curtains of an airy top floor suite of the newest ERH hotel. No corners cut, no cheap details. From the travel shampoo to the liquor cabinet, everything is the best we could find in understated elegance. Mahogany and granite, glass tile mosaics and gleaming chrome. This ultra-luxury boutique hotel is the first success story with Smooth Sail. We’re here for the grand opening, and its first cohort of guests are trickling in. It’s booked solid for a month, most of it part of the first travel package we’ve offered. I step through the curtains onto the balcony and stare down at the white Hawaiian sands. Tiny figures scurry over the beach from one end to the other, but a frenetic group below me catches my eye. A dark-haired man chases a trio of tanned children around an encampment of beach towels. It’s too far, but I imagine I can hear their squeals of laughter. Satisfaction spreads through me.

The lock beeps, and I hear the door handle turn. Havana steps through, wearing a gauzy cotton top and fitted white capris. One look at her face tells me she’s in business mode, but I’ve got other plans. Her blunt bangs have grown out to frame her face, and she’s wearing it down. A stray lock slides over her shoulder and she tosses it back.

“Jet, the first weekend numbers are here if you want to see them. The staff are doing great so far. A couple of snags, but nothing they can’t handle.” She squeals as I sweep her into my arms.

I kiss her soundly, wordless with gratitude that she’s in my life.

“Mmmm,” she purrs. “What’s got you in such a good mood?”

“Look at this. Look at you. Right now it seems like every dream I ever had is coming true.”

Her eyes go soft and she flips her shoes off with her toes. She lays her head against my chest as I carry her to the mahogany four-poster bed in the middle of the room. When I lay her in the center of the crisp white bedcover, her hair pools around her head in a dark halo. I pull my shirt over my head and lean down. Her eyes darken with lust, but she lets me take the lead. I unbutton her capris, drop a kiss under her navel, and hook fingers under the line of her panties.

She gives this little hum of anticipation as I peel the tight pants down her thighs and over her manicured feet. My dick responds with a throb, and I take care of my slacks and boxers next. She eyes my thick cock greedily as it juts out.

“Come here, sexy,” she says.

I climb onto the bed and tug her shirt up. With a twist of my wrist, I trap her hands in the fabric, holding them over her head so I can appreciate the way she looks. Arms raised, the same way she looked the first time I saw those perfect breasts caged in a sheer lace bra. I graze one nipple with my teeth, and desire spears through me when it pebbles in my mouth. One year together, and her body still responds eagerly at the first touch. As does mine at the first sight of her. Always.

I release her hands and free her breasts, ready to feel all of her against me. My body covers part of hers, partially trapping her so I can stare a few more minutes. I trace the curve of her hip and skim a palm down her thigh. Her chin tilts up. Her eyes flutter closed. Watching pleasure on her face never gets old. She turns her head and meets my stare with clear eyes that shine with love. How did I get so lucky?

I’m asking that question anew a few seconds later when she slithers out of my grip and wraps her lips around my balls. Her tongue writhes against me before moving up to the base of my shaft. She does these little sucking nibbles up the side. They drive me crazy, and she knows it. I groan and sit up to reach for her. She pulls away at first, then yields as I grab her leg and haul her pussy over my face. My head falls back as she spreads her legs over me. I kiss her inner thigh. She caresses my balls and blows across the head of my cock. I break the standoff first and wrap my arms around her ass to drag her to my mouth. I groan when the first sweet taste of her hits my tongue. At that precise moment, she covers me with her mouth. Pleasure zips along my nerve endings, and I can’t play this slow burn game of ours any longer. I thrust my tongue into her folds and up to her clit. She grinds her sex into my face while her mouth makes me forget my name. Her hand around the base of my cock pumps gently, and her lips and tongue circle the head. I’ve wanted her all day as we worked, and now I’m barreling toward a climax I thought I could make wait. I slide two fingers into her slit, and my cock jumps in her mouth as I realize how wet she is.

She sucks me in, swallows my cock a little deeper, and teases gentle fingers under my balls.

“Ah, fuck, Havana.” My fingers sink into the flesh of her ass. “I want you. I need to be in you.”

Inch by inch, she slides her mouth off my dick. I’m ready to flip her over and take her, but she scoots forward, shimmying down my body. All I can do is rest my hands on her waist as she lifts herself over my cock, takes it in her hand, and positions it at her entrance.

She flings her hair over her shoulder and looks back at me as she sinks onto me, guiding me carefully in. And then she changes again into another Havana, the wild one. On her knees, she rocks her hips backward, up, and around. I jerk my hips up to meet her, but I can barely move, she feels so good. The way she rides me, I get glimpses of the way she touches herself too. One hand cups her breast and teases her nipple, and the other reaches between her legs to heighten her sensations.

My dick gets harder, surging in her. She seems to feel it, because her excitement hits a new pitch, and she moans my name. Her pale, round ass bounces over me like some kind of sex hypnosis. It’s so tantalizing, I slap it, leaving a faint pink mark and earning Havana’s hand under my balls again. Her flesh smacks against mine, and her moans climb in pitch as she gets closer. One more roll of her magic hips and my yells join hers as I explode inside her. Seconds later she arches back with a long, low moan as her climax grips me in waves.

After a naked, sated nap, we pull on clothes and sip wine on the balcony. This stretch of the beach is quiet at night, and an impressive array of stars blankets the night sky. From behind her, I nuzzle her neck.

“I’m so proud of you, Jet. I’m so proud that you made this happen.”

“We made this happen.”

“The balcony and stars remind me of that first night on the cruise. Our first dance, first kiss.”

I take her wine and set it with mine on the table. Then I pull her close with an arm at the small of her back. She takes my raised hand, and we sway together to the music of the surf, much the way we did that night. I grin down at her, and she gives me the same shy sort of smile she did that night. Moonlight will always be my favorite place to be with her.

“Mmmm, yes, I believe I remember that night,” I tease. “I think our first kiss was followed shortly by another first.”

“And a second,” she says, arching an eyebrow.

“It was almost perfect, that night.”

“Almost?” she pulls away with mock indignation.

I release her and sink to one knee. Her hands cover her mouth, and she shakes her head wordlessly. I pull out the ring stashed in my shirt pocket and hold it up, pinched between thumb and forefinger.

“This sapphire is for the ocean at night, and the diamonds around it are the stars. You’re both of these things to me. You’re the unpredictable, life-giving water I need to live, and the multitude of suns that light my darkness. Havana, you know that I love you. If I could change the past, I would propose to you at night on the Coral Queen, because I knew. Before we left that ship, I knew you were it for me. But since I’m sadly inadequate in the time travel department”—she giggles tearfully—“I offer you my heart and my life with this ring. It’s not enough for a woman like you, but I hope you’ll settle for here and now. Havana Skye, will you marry me?”

She wipes the tears dripping off her lashes and nods.

“Yes. Yes!”

With the top of my tongue, I taste the tear that rolled to her lip. She smiles up at me, and this Havana is the true one. The one who is mine forever.

* * *