The boat skips over the ocean waves and Josephine presses her sun-warmed body into mine. I feel free as a bird, and tired, the way that only being out in the sun for so long can tire you.

It’s not a long ride back to the dock. Long enough to relax. I rest my head against the padding of the seat and watch the sunlight reflect on the waves.

Snorkeling is fucking awesome.

I was an idiot for turning it down all those years ago, but nothing could top watching Josie’s body move through the waves like she was born to swim. Knowing her—at least for this short time—she’s probably been on thousands of vacations like this. The pieces slide into place. If we lost Julia or Ellie…Jesus. I don’t know if I’d ever do their favorite things again. Not for a long time.

What would I have to avoid, anyway? Julia loves shopping, and Ellie likes to paint. I’m not much for either of those things. I don’t even know if they love snorkeling. I should call and ask.

I should also check in with Adam about how things are going in Italy. Absently, I reach for my shorts on the floor of the boat and feel for my phone in the right-hand pocket.

It’s not there.

That’s weird. I always put it in that pocket.

It’s not in the left-hand pocket, either.

The muscles in my shoulders tense. I can afford a new phone. That’s not going to be a problem. But it’ll be a pain in the ass to have everything switched over today. It’ll make me unavailable, and I fucking hate being unavailable. There’s a reason my father got away with so much, and it was because he just slipped off, doing things under the cover of darkness. Or silence, I guess. I don’t want people to think I’m not watching, not keeping everything in line. 

“Shit,” I hiss, and Josephine sits upright, her eyes going wide.

“What is it?”

“My phone.” I look back toward the water in what has to be the most pointless gesture of the century. If my phone somehow fell off this boat—and I don’t know how it could have, because I can’t remember looking at it during the trip at all—then the damn thing is gone for good. “It’s not here.”

Josie’s forehead wrinkles with concern, but then she laughs. “It’s just a phone,” she teases.

“It’s my one connection to my work,” I snap. “It’s not a fucking joke.”

She presses her lips into a thin line, and a red flush comes to her face that has nothing to do with the hours in the sun. “I know it’s not a joke,” she says, loud enough to be heard over the hum of the engine. “You don’t have to worry. Your phone is fine.”

“It’s fine?” I don’t know how she could possibly know that, unless—

“I might have...hidden it.”

My mouth drops open an inch, because this is the most ridiculous thing that’s happened all week. Nothing about it is sexy. It’s fucking stupid. How could she be that obsessed with having fun? How?

I lean my head back and rub my eyes with a finger and thumb. “Where?”

If she hid it in the ocean, I’m getting on a plane within the hour and getting the hell out of here. 

“In your dresser. And I—” She does not want to admit this part. “I turned it off. Last night, when I got up to use the bathroom.”

Wonderful. Just wonderful. I’m practically breaking out in hives at the thought of all the shit I might have missed between now and then.

“You know, Josie...” What do I even say? “You might want to ignore your entire life, but I don’t have that luxury.”

She’s quiet for a long time, both of us staring in opposite directions. Then she murmurs something that gets carried away on the wind.

“What?”

“You didn’t miss it.”

I’m too pissed off to admit that she’s right.

* * *

Back in the suite, Josie disappears into the bathroom. The shower turns on a few moments later, running full force.

That was an awkward boat ride. And nothing’s more awkward than walking across an entire resort with a woman who’s not speaking to you.

Or maybe I’m not speaking to her. I don’t know. What I do know is how that discovery made me feel like pulling away from her, turning my back on her, and going back to my regular life. The life where I’m in control. Where people answer to me. Where I don’t have to worry about crazy shit like that happening.

It’s not an overreaction. Not when you’re in charge of a company like Cash Industries.

I yank the dresser drawers open one by one until I see the phone, tucked in a back corner, and snatch it up. It takes fucking forever to power up. I sit on the edge of the bed and wait for the messages to load.

The emails appear in my app with a buzz, and my jaw goes tight. I clench my teeth, hard, then force myself to relax. I open the app. My teeth go together again with a click. 

Wow. That is not a great reaction to checking in with work. I’m not upset about the emails per se, but my teeth are pressed together so hard that my jaw aches. 

Guilt burns in my gut as I flip through the messages. Most of them are daily updates from other CEOs. There are no fires to put out at Cash Industries. There’s one message from Adam, letting me know that things are calming down in Italy—at least for the time being. 

She was right.

She was right, and I fucking hate it.

I didn’t miss the phone, the connection to my business, right up until the moment I discovered it was gone. Now that it’s in my hands I can’t deny that it’s fucking with me.

I never noticed this before. Why would I notice anything? I’ve been attached to Cash Industries at the hip for six years. 

Jesus, I was such an asshole. 

I toss the phone onto the bed and stand up, stripping off my shirt. I hesitate at the bathroom door. If it’s locked, I’ll leave her the hell alone. If it’s not...

I test the handle.

It’s unlocked.

The bathroom is filled with steam, and through the frosted glass of the shower, I can see her silhouette. Josie is standing there, head down, hot water rushing down over her hair.

“What do you want?” Her voice sounds tight. Has she been crying?

I stride across the bathroom to the shower door. “Can I come in?”

“Seems like you’re already in here.”

“You know what I mean, Josephine Paxton.”

She sniffs, crossing her arms over her chest. “Fine.”

The door opens soundlessly and I pull it shut behind me, stepping in front of her. The stream of water creeps out from behind her shoulders, the stinging droplets splashing against my skin. “Shit, that’s hot.”

“You’re hot.” She cracks a little smile at her own joke. 

I put both of my hands around the sides of her face and lift her chin. She’s been in the water for long enough that her skin is rosy, and her dark eyes are still shining with tears. “I’m sorry, Josie.”

She bites her lip. For a moment, I think she might apologize.

The moment passes.

“You could make it up to me,” she says finally. 

I laugh out loud, something breaking loose inside my chest, the last of the anger dissipating under the hot water. “I don’t believe you.”

“Believe this,” Josie whispers into my ear.

Then she kisses me hard on the mouth, and all is forgiven.