Page 130 of My Real Love Affair

“I try.” I stretched, working out the kinks from sleeping without a pillow. “I can’t believe I fell asleep. I didn’t mean to.”

“You were tired. All that travel catches up with you.”

I smiled and then it slipped off my face. “Oh shit.”

“What?” Austin asked with confusion.

“What time is it?” I asked, suddenly panicked.

“About eight. Why?”

“Cleo. I never texted Cleo.” I looked around frantically for my phone. “She’s going to think I’m dead. Or kidnapped. Or—where’s my phone?”

“You told her you were going to be in Tahiti,” he said.

“Yes, but she wanted me to let her know you didn’t kill me.”

His brows shot up. “Excuse me?”

I waved my hand. “I have to text her. She probably already called the Coast Guard or the FBI. Scotland Yard. Whoever the authority is out here.”

“Why in the hell would she call the FBI?”

“Because she was worried you might be a serial killer.”

He blinked, then frowned. “Are you drunk?”

“No. It’s Cleo. You don’t know her.”

“Clearly.”

“I have to call her. Where did I leave my phone?”

“Probably in our stateroom with the rest of your stuff.”

“I need to—” I started to get up, but Austin caught my hand.

“Relax. I’m sure she’s fine. Maybe a little worried, but fine.”

“You don’t know Cleo. If she couldn’t get some kind of agency to come after us, she would hire mercenary pirates to track us down in international waters.”

Austin’s expression suggested he wasn’t entirely sure I was joking. “Mercenary pirates?”

“She’s very thorough when it comes to my safety.” I stood, wrapping the blanket around myself. “I need to call her. Now. Before she does something dramatic.”

“Want me to walk you down?”

“I’ve got it. You stay here and enjoy the sun. Be shirtless. Do your thing.”

He grinned. “My thing?”

“You know what I mean. Sit here and look all hot and sexy.”

I hurried down to the stateroom, the yacht swaying gently beneath my feet. I’d been worried about seasickness before we left, but the motion was actually soothing. Almost romantic, the way the boat rocked like a gentle cradle.

I was pretty sure that’s why I slept so well. That and being in his arms with the fresh air surrounding us.

Our stateroom looked even more luxurious in the morning light streaming through the windows. My suitcase was in the corner where I had left it, and my phone was on the nightstand, exactly where I’d plugged it in to charge.