The illustrious yacht gleamed brighter than a thousand diamond necklaces could ever aspire to, and in comparison she felt common and inferior, even in her posh new digs. The luxury-steeped interior was a world—no, a universe—away from anything she’d ever known.

She was an imposter in this affluent realm reserved for society's elite. At any moment, she expected to be quietly shoulder-tapped and asked to leave.

She squashed the self-mutilating thought, determined to enjoy this impromptu outing. When would she ever be aboard another yacht?

Probably never.

The salon boasted tall clear windows that offered a panoramic view. The sun was still above the horizon, but the tone of the sky was already deepening.

She turned to Cortez with a smile. “Look at that, we made it before sunset.”

“And we only risked your having a heart attack.”

She waved that away. “Only a little one. Soooo worth it!”

The grin he gave her caused her heart to flutter. Knowing he could hear it, she looked away.

Along the dock, several deckhands were untying the boat. Another flourish of excitement bombarded her. They were actually going to set sail! Her first-ever sea voyage.

A worrying thought had her stepping back from the windows. “What if I get seasick?”

“It’s not as common as you might think. And we have seasickness medication if you need it.”

She allowed that to ease her, and her good mood returned full force.

A stewardess entered, greeting them with a pleasing smile. “Hello, I’m Emily, and I’ll be attending you throughout our journey. Let me know if there’s anything you need. Can I get you something to drink before we shove off?”

Cortez answered. “We’ll take dinner and drinks on the upper deck.”

“Yes, sir.” Emily scurried off to fulfill the order.

On the topmost deck all Naia could do was stare, agog. A three-sixty view of the surrounding ocean and land rendered her speechless. With the sun slipping toward the horizon, soft orange gilded along the ocean’s surface. At the center of the deck was a charming table dressed in fine white linens and decorated by a large arrangement of roses in a bulbous crystal vase. The table was accented by coral colored shells which matched the napkins, tied neatly by gold ribbons. Several pale candles within glass spheres had been lit in anticipation of their arrival.

Not for the first time, Naia felt overwhelmed, her throat going dry. This whole day had been too much all at once. The gifts, the chopper, the boat? It was like she’d been dropped into a divergent dimension. How was she supposed to act? What was she supposed to say? What did he expect?

When the stewardess returned with a selection of wine and top shelf liquor, she accepted a glass of white wine and took a long pull, mulling over this drastic change in her life.

Cortez selected a vodka with lime wedges and mint. “I’m unsure of your reaction to all this,” he declared without preamble. “You seem pensive all of a sudden.” He sipped his drink and claimed a seat on the bench that stretched around the outer rim of the deck, using the railing as an armrest.

Here was the evidence that Cortez couldn’t read minds, not that she ever believed he could. The notion was ridiculous. But if he could, he wouldn’t be curious about how she was feeling. She waited for the stewardess to leave before responding. “What do you want from me?”

He blinked as though the question threw him. He glanced at the pristine table set as if for a banquet then slid his gaze over the sea. Almost to himself, he muttered, “I guess this is all a bit much to take in, isn’t it?” Louder he admitted, “I only want your company.”

“Hew-hockey.”

“Pardon?”

“We both know you want a lot more than that.”

His expression remained stony, but he didn’t deny the implication.

“I’m not complaining,” she told him. “It’s just, I’m curious. Why me?”

Something fleeting passed over his face, but the expression was too swift to decipher. “Why not you?”

“Do you know what I thought the first night we met?”

“I really don’t,” he said leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees, his tone was layered with meaning.

His words tripped her up for a second, and a strange thought fluttered to the forefront. She shook it away. “I remember thinking if you tossed your room keys into the crowd at Ever Nights you’d have the world’s largest all-female wrestling match on your hands. I’m talking nails out, hair pulling, teeth-meets-flesh brawl.”

His lips twitched.

“You can’t deny the crook of your finger would have women lining up.”

“Your point?”

“Well, you’re here with me...” She left the duh off the end of her statement.

“You think I should want someone else?”

Her mind screamed in instant rejection of the notion, but she answered honestly. “I think you’re slumming.”

He leaned back and turned his head to watch the sun, going quiet for so long she thought she’d ruined the evening he’d so meticulously planned.

Finally he faced her, pinning her with his gaze. “You know what I thought when we first met?”

She shook her head, swallowed, heart in throat.

“I thought finally.”

Her jaw dropped. His gaze overflowed with all that was packed in that simple word, declarations that practically thickened the air around them. Somehow he’d manage to say everything and nothing at all.

Finally? Finally? What did that even mean?

As he lifted his hand to crook a finger at her, his lips curling with a teasing twist, she realized she was damn well going to find out.