“Well…” Walter said after a moment. He shook his head and recovered his bearings. “You’re definitely the most intelligent woman I’ve ever been on a date with. By a long shot.” He toasted me.
I needed to rein it in. I was speeding toward thirty-five. Walter might be my last shot, or I was going to have to go back to Jim or John or…blaarrggg!
The captain let out a huge horn blast and took a sharp turn, or as sharp as you could in a multimillion-dollar luxury yacht the size of a navy ship. I careened against Walter, who grabbed me.
“Apologies,” the captain’s voice said over the intercom. “There seems to be another boat drifting into our lane that we narrowly missed.”
A bright light panned out over the water onto the deck. I squinted as something large and shadowy slowly pulled alongside us. The light moved, and in the glare was—
“Hunter!” I screeched. “What the hell are you doing? You’re going to cause a wreck!”
The captain sounded the horn again as the other, much bigger yacht almost scraped the side of Walter’s boat. He cursed. “What the hell?”
“We’re just taking Hunter’s new boat out for a spin!” Karen called out to me.
Yes, she was still here.
“Really, Hunter?” I said as he stared at me smugly. “This is a low point, even for you, don’t you think?”
“I don’t see how!” he shot back.
“You think a boat is going to impress me?” I crossed my arms.
“He bought it to impress me!” Karen shrieked at me. “He’s even named it after me.” She pointed at the paint that was smearing on the side of the boat.
“Let me guess, Hunter,” I drawled, “you paid one of your little brothers in Pokémon cards to scrawl that on there in washable paint?”
Karen ran to the side to look over.
“An innocent mistake,” Hunter said smoothly.
“What’s not so innocent is how you justhappento be wherever I am whenever I’m on a date,” I yelled across the water.
“It’s fate,” he said, matter-of-factly.
“You’re stalking me!” I insisted.
He smirked at me. “Please. You’re happy I interrupted your date. I saved you. I always save you. You hate all the dates you’ve been on. None of them can compare to me.”
“I’ve called the coast guard,” Walter roared at Hunter.
“And don’t worry, Meghan,” he assured me. “I’m calling the police too.”
“Er… no need. I have it under control.”
“I care about you,” Walter told me, “and Hunter is unhinged. Just like his father.” He glanced across the railing and the water that separated us from the other couple.
Wrong thing to say. Hunter’s jaw was tight. His nostrils flared slightly. “I am nothing like my father, and I am nothing like you! You stole my company, you neglected your children, and now you’re trying to manipulate Meg.”
“I assure you I have no ulterior motive,” Walter said sincerely.
“Don’t believe him!” Hunter warned.
“I can take care of myself,” I retorted.
“But you don’t have to when I’m around,” Walter said. He shot another triumphant glance at Hunter then wrapped his arms around me, leaning in… was he going to kiss me? Did I want him to?
Another bright light shone at us.
