Katie swung the door open. “I thought this was going to be a full cruise. I’m not spending two weeks at sea with a stranger. And I couldn’t co-captain if I wanted to, because I know nothing about boats.”

His grin set her on fire. “It’s too late. I pulled the anchor last night, and we’ve been speeding along. Unless you’re a very good swimmer you’re stuck at sea with me.”

If she had to be stuck at sea with someone….Enough of those thoughts! She bit her lip and tried not to blush. It didn’t work. Her face burned as much as the rest of her. “You dock this boat right now, or I’ll have you arrested for kidnapping.”

Eledon laughed. “But you have your ticket. I’m sure no one would believe I stole you away.”

“What happened to the couple you mentioned?”

“I called Ryan to make sure he was okay before I pulled the anchor. Pete told him they were flying down to meet us and would sail back with us. Ryan might be able to fly in to.”

“Why would you pull the anchor without even asking me?”

He held her gaze. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I needed permission to pull my anchor back up to my boat. You were sleeping and since you seemed a bit…” He paused as if considering his words. “Tightly wound, I thought you could use the sleep.”

“The whole night, though?”

He held her gaze. “That generally is what people do at night.”

She shook her head. “You need permission to cart me off to Jamaica with you.”

“I kind of thought I had your permission when you came aboard and then sent my friend home.”

“Your friend is very lucky I happened to be here. If he had waited much longer, his illness would be a whole lot worse.”

“All the same, you seemed to be in complete control of the situation. If you didn’t want to be here, you should have left.”

She folded her hands in front of her, inhaled, and exhaled, the way Eliam taught Elizabeth to do. Finding enough calm to settle herself, she lifted her head and met his gaze. “I will pay you to dock and let me off.”

His grin grew wider.

She noticed a dimple. That dimple made it harder not to stare. This man was gorgeous.

“If you give me money, I’ll throw it overboard.”

She bit her lip. “Well, then just let me off.”

“No.”

“Why?”

He laughed. “I have no idea why, but I enjoy seeing Dr. Fake Nails in a situation she can’t control.”

Her cheeks heated, and she bit the inside of her lips to keep from smiling. His confession both infuriated and elated her. “That’s horrible. You don’t even know me and you enjoy seeing me upset. What kind of monster are you?”

He leaned in and whispered, “The kind that makes you blush.”

Heat spread through her neck and face. She dropped her arms to her sides and balled her fists. “No, you don’t.”

He leaned back and spoke at a normal volume. “You’re redder than a lobster.”

Katie gazed across the horizon, catching a glimpse of the sun then met his eyes again. “Sunburn. White people problems. Duh.”

“You haven’t been in the sun long enough for that.”

“I have rosacea.”

“Liar.”

“Why would I lie?”

“Why would you start out with a sunburn?”

“Why are you a jerkberry?”

His laughed so hard he wiped a tear from his eye.

Katie found nothing funny.

“What is a jerkberry?”

She blew a raspberry. “I don’t know. It’s my best friend’s equivalent to jackass, and I don’t talk to enough people to realize it’s not a widely accepted term.”

“As entertaining as this has been, Dr. Jerkberry, it’s time to catch breakfast, and if you don’t help fish, you don’t eat.”

“One, I don’t fish. Two, even if I did, it’s not safe to eat the fish until you’re at least fifty miles out.”

“Are you sure about that?”

She cocked her head. “I don’t know the exact mileage but I know you can’t eat the fish off the coast. They’re poisoned from oil waste.”

He rubbed the bottom of his thumb and the knuckle of his forefinger over the bottom of his chin. “Hmm. Then I guess we’re going to be hungry.”

“You would seriously make me stay on this boat with a man I don’t know and a food shortage?”

He shrugged. “We’ve already determined that I’m the kind of monster who makes you blush and a wild jerkberry. Don’t act so surprised. I may or may not have a stocked food supply. Either way, you don’t help fish you don’t eat. And to ease your precious little mind, we’re more than fifty miles out.”

“If you have food, why force me to fish?”

“I’m stuck in the ocean for at least a week, and you’re my only companion.”

“You could have docked when your friends all canceled.”

“I said I would be in Jamaica for New Year’s, and I will be. You are too, and we’re going to have fun.”

“Yes, because nothing says fun like getting a bite of mercury-poisoned fish.”

He turned away from her and walked toward the deck. “I know when a fish is safe to eat.”

She followed him. “Because you’re a marine biologist?”

“No, because only certain species are poisoned. The way they are affected has to do with their food supply.”

“Fine. Hang on.” She retreated into her room and grabbed her Kindle.