“You can’t expect me to just jump on a boat with a stranger.”
“Well, now, that’s exactly what I expect.Except I’m not a stranger.You know some of my innermost secrets.”
“Some?”
“I can’t dump my load all in one go.You gotta earn it, Gunslinger.”
“Where’s that captain you promised?”
“Kai!”he yells and gives me a patient smile.
Within seconds, a tall man in a suit emerges from the helm.
“Aye, aye, Captain Kai.”Wolf waves him forward.“Where’s my family?”
“They returned to the island on Kodiak’s yacht.I was instructed to wait for you.”The captain casts a quizzical look at my wedding gown and backpack.“Good evening, ma’am.Are congratulations in order?”
“Not yet,” Wolf says cryptically.“Who do you work for, Kai?”
“Monty Novak, sir.”
“And who is my father?”
“Sir?”
“Just answer the question.For whatever reason, the princess trusts the word of a complete stranger over mine, her one and only soul mate.”
“Wise decision, ma’am.”Kai winks at me and quickly clears his throat when Wolf levels him with a look.“Monty Novak sired this uncivilized creature.With much regret, I suspect.”
“You’re a gem.”Wolf pats Kai’s cheek.“Now go pretend you’re Jack Sparrow and try not to crash us.”To me, he holds out a hand.“Decision time, Annie Oakley.”
Stalling, I stare at those long fingers.
If I turn back now, I’ll never know what he’s really hiding or what he sees in me that makes him so sure I’m worth helping.
This isn’t about trusting him.It’s about trusting myself to handle whatever comes next.
Safe has never given me a leg up.Maybe a risky ride into the unknown will.
Lifting my chin, I shoulder past him and board the yacht like my nerves aren’t unfurling in rapid heartbeats.
Wolf leads me to the railing, the cold wind whipping my hair around my face.He openly stares at me from inches away, poking at my silence as if trying to pry me open.It only makes me want to close tighter.
“You always this moody, or is this just your honeymoon glow?”he asks.
“You always this annoying, or is this just my bad luck?”
“Nah, you caught me on a good night.”
“Look, I just need a place to stay until I get my feet under me.”
“So it’s like that?”
“What else is it like?”
“So many possibilities, the most logical being that you’re a princess, and I’m Prince Charming.”
“You really don’t know how normal people interact, do you?”
