“Why would I know? You know I’m anti–app dating. It’s too public.”
“Says the blogger. Well, whatever that number is, double it.” I stared at her. “What? This is Florida. We’ve got twice the bad eggs in the dating pool.”
“I think you’re just mad he’s notyou know who.”
Nina let out an exasperated sigh. “Come on. You’ll see what I mean.”
I allowed Nina to pull me out of the laundry room and up to the galley. The new chef, who was dressed in the traditional white chef coat and black slim-fit chef pants, stood at the sink, his back to us as he scrubbed carrots and lined them up on a cutting board.
“Look,” Nina seethed. “Even the way he washes vegetables is annoying!”
I rolled my eyes. “Now you’re really being dramatic. He’s got a nice butt. You should be all over that.”
“I am not being dramatic!” she hissed. “And I don’t care how nice his ass is, he’s irritating.”
I shook my head. He could’ve been Jamie Oliver and Nina would’ve hated him. Deciding to nip this whole thing in the bud, I strode into the galley, giving Nina a wink before tapping him on the shoulder.
“Chef, I wanted to introduce myself. I’m...” But my voice trailed off when he turned around, and I took in the tousled hair, the honey eyes, the mouth that, every time I’d seen it, wore the hint of a smile.
Alex’s eyes widened in surprise, and the hinted smile bloomed into a real one. “Jo. Hello again. I’m sorry, but I have to ask... are you stalking me?”
I stared at him. He couldn’t be here. It was impossible. Too many coincidences. “Of course not, I—”
“Wait,” Nina said, practically sprinting into the galley. She looked from me to Alex, then back to me again. “You know this guy?”
My cheeks grew hotter as I fumbled for something to say. “We—”
“Live in the same building,” Alex said.
“Interesting.” Nina tapped a finger to her pursed lips, and dreadpooled in my stomach as I watched her fit all the pieces together. She snapped her fingers, her face gleeful. “I knew I recognized you! You’re that guy from the bar!” She turned to me. “Jo, he’s that guy from the bar!”
This was only getting worse by the second. “I know, Nina.”
Nina grabbed my elbow, dragging me away from Alex and over to the far side of the galley. She dropped her voice to a whisper. “Josephine, he’s the one you kissed!”
“Iknow!”
“And he lives in your building? Makes sense he’d be at Mitch’s... Oh my God.” Her eyes widened. “He’sHot Single Dad!” she said, then clapped a hand over her mouth when she realized how loudly she’d said it. She turned to Alex. “I’m so sorry. What I meant to say is you’rethatsingle dad.”
Alex looked as if he were trying not to laugh as he chopped carrots. “No harm done. I can’t deny I’mthatsingle dad.”
“Great. Marvelous. Sorry again for the... slip of the tongue.” Nina turned to me, her voice a whisper again. “Jo,” Nina said, practically shaking me by the shoulders. “Thatguy from the bar is Greyson’s dad. He’sthatguy from the barandthat single dad!”
I pushed her away from me. “I know, Nina! Everyone knows!”
Nina paused, then laughed so intensely she had to brace herself against the counter. Alex glanced at me and then at Nina, and I tried to avoid looking at either of them, sure I was about to spontaneously combust.
“Wow,” Nina said when she finally caught her breath. She patted my shoulder. “Guess they didn’t name this yachtSerendipityfor nothing. Since you already know Chef Alex, why don’t you help him get settled.” She turned to him. “I prefer to stay out of the chaos,” she said. “And, uh, sorry again. For what I accidentally said.”
I grabbed Nina’s arm as she turned to leave. “Don’t you think it would be better if I—”
“Nope.” She pried my hand from her arm and winked beforecrossing the galley to the steps. “The guests requested a charcuterie board,” she called to Alex. “Youdoknow how to make one, don’t you?”
“I’m sure I can google it,” he replied, smiling to himself as he stored the chopped carrots in a Tupperware.
I lingered at the edge of the galley and watched Nina disappear, leaving me alone with Alex. I was afraid to turn around and face him. This had to be a dream. No, a nightmare. Why else would the very person I was avoiding have magically appeared in the galley?
“I get the feeling I’m not her favorite person,” Alex said. I turned to find him leaning against the sink, watching me with that almost smile on his face.
