Because I feel exactly the same.
“You might wanna…”
“Right.”My own voice is rough, unsteady.I fumble the phone to my ear, walking away before I answer.“West.”
“Roarke, darling!”Grand-mère’s voice is smug enough to see without a video call.“I have made reservations for lunch tomorrow in Cannes.You, me, and this magnificent nanny who has finally made you act like a man instead of a hard-drive!”
I close my eyes, determined not to think of how “hard” my drive is, my thumb still tingling from where it touched Mia’s skin.
After hanging up with Mémé, the kiss lingers in the evening air.Still hovering over me.
Unfinished.
Dangerous.
And impossible to ignore.
6
WHEN THE YACHT’S ROCKIN’…
MIA
The morning after kissing my boss dawns with the kind of perfect Cannes sunshine that makes everything look like a movie set.
Unfortunately, my life feels more like a disaster film than anything else.
The August weather outside is warm, but it’s nothing compared to the Hell I’m experiencing inside my room on theWest Wind.
I pace the length of my cabin, and clutch my phone to my ear as my sisters conduct their weekly interrogation disguised as a check-in call.
"So let me understand this correctly," Julianna's voice carries that particular tone that means I'm about to get the practical older sister lecture."You kissed your employer.On his yacht.While caring for his niece."
"It wasn't planned, Jules.”I stop in front of my tiny porthole, looking out at the world."It just...happened."
"Oh, it just happened," Bianca chimes in with obvious delight."Like accidentally ordering dessert or accidentally buying shoes.Except this was accidentally kissing a billionaire."
“Thanks, B.That’s really very helpful to the conversation.”
"I'm not trying to help.I'm trying to live vicariously.Was there tongue?"
"Bianca.”
"That's a yes," she sing-songs."Our wayward sister is finally moving on from Chef Disaster."
The mention of Ricardo makes my stomach clench."This is exactly like Ricardo.I'm making the same mistake again—getting involved with someone I work for, someone who holds all the power."
"Is it though?"Julianna's voice gentles."Because from what you've told us, this Roarke actually seems to care about your opinion.Ricardo barely acknowledged you existed outside the bedroom."
Blowing out a breath, I try not to let the comment sink in too hard.
Truthfully?I’d never been one for long-term commitment.Or marriage.
For most of my life, I’ve too been busy serving champagne on other people’s honeymoons to ever have my own.
Ricardo didn’t seem to mind, and I used to think that was perfect.
It wasn’t.
