Luke handed his empty glass to a passing assistant. “Not anymore. My last firm handled some big suits—injury cases from bogus ads. These days, it’s mostly contract law. Fewer headlines. Much fewer juicy cases.”
She couldn’t help but laugh as she handed over her own glass. “Oh sure. Nothing juicier than corporations dodging accountability.” Smiling, she leaned back and closed her eyes, letting the sea breeze warm her face. It felt good to laugh. No tiptoeing, no sad looks, no eggshells.
“Well, you know what they say,” Luke murmured. “Classic villains call for classic heroes.”
She was so comfortable, and the air was so nice that Sylvie realized she could easily fall asleep if given the chance. The boat shifted slightly, and she felt the sun hit her face directly. She reached out toward the small table where she had dropped her tote bag in search of her sunglasses. Instead, electricity shot up from her fingertips and across her chest, making her heart race.
Sitting bolt upright in a flash, she yanked her hand back from where her fingers had brushed against Luke’s hand, which rested on the table next to her bag. “Sorry,” she said quickly, though whether it was for the awkward apology or for touching him in the first place, she wasn’t sure.
“It’s okay.” He smiled, flexing his fingers. “Static electricity is a surprisingly strong thing.”
She gave a nervous laugh. Had that really been static? Or was he just being kind?
A cheerful, accented voice called from just over her shoulder. The tour guide had stepped to the railing. “Okay, everyone, come and see! This isn’t an official stop, but our friends have decided to put on a show!”
Sylvie swung her legs off the lounger, and Luke hopped over to perch next to her. Together, they leaned toward the railing, following the guide’s pointing finger. She gasped as she saw four dolphins leaping among the waves, launching themselves skyward before disappearing under the water again.
“Wow!” Sylvie gasped. “That’s amazing. Look!”
“Check it out,” Luke said, pointing. “Is that one a baby?”
The guide beamed. “Well spotted! If you look carefully, there are a few little ones in the pod.”
“Where?” Sylvie asked, peering.
“There,” Luke said, leaning behind her. His face was suddenly right next to hers.
It made breathing complicated.
Tearing her eyes away from him, she followed the line of his outstretched arm—his surprisingly toned arm for a lawyer—and focused. Sure enough, three smaller dolphins jumped alongside their parents.
“Oh my gosh,” she breathed, barely above a whisper. “That’s incredible.”
“It is,” Luke replied softly, so close that she felt the warmth of his voice near her ear. A ripple of goose bumps skated across her arms.
Sylvie risked a glance sideways. With that smile and golden tan, he looked like something out of a Renaissance painting—or maybe a movie she’d been too young to appreciate when they first met.
Luke Preston.Sitting beside her in the Caribbean. Still as good looking as ever.
“Yeah,” she murmured, forcing herself to look at the dolphins. “It really is.”
Chapter 17
As Sylvie admired the fiery oranges and surprisingly bright pinks of the sunset reflecting off the sea, she imagined what it would be like to be someone who could turn what was in front of them into art. Fishing out her phone, she fiddled with the settings and aimed it at the scene. In her mind, she visualized a composition where the color of the sea hinted at its swirling depths, topped with white wave peaks stretching to the horizon, where they met a perfect ombré of orange, pink, and violet, all blending upward into the pale blue sky.
What she got, when she looked at her photo, was a washed-out pastel version of what she’d envisioned.
Sylvie tried again.
Too dark.
A third time.
Totally unbalanced—the sun was almost white, and the waves had disappeared.
She shook her head, trying to shake off the nagging feeling that she was ruining the moment by trying to capture it.
“I don’t mean to intrude,” said a silky voice beside her, making her jump. “But if you want, I could show you the right settings.”
