And if Dane finds out about that kiss? About the weird crush I have on Cole—and, if I’m honest with myself, Nico, too—then what? Will I be the reason they break apart?
That thought makes me sick, and once more, I have to shove it away to focus on the “mission” at hand.
“Right—and, I mean, in a way, that’s what the product offers.” I laugh it off, leaning back, letting out a breath. “Not that it matters to me, if you try them. But Iamsaying that they’re pretty amazing…”
They all laugh, agreeing they’ll have to try them out, too.
I don’t even recognize myself right now, and I don’t think Mary or anyone back home would either. Sitting here, talking about sex—and alluding to using the toys myself—so easily. It’s bizarre, but I’m having fun.
It’s not like I’d want to stay in these pearls forever, but for right now? It’s a good time.
Maybe this is what Nico likes about all this. Getting to play pretend as an adult, leading people in a certain direction, and watching with satisfaction as they plod along, thinking they got there all on their own.
The conversation moves away from Ember and onto the girls’ upcoming trip to Cabo, but I have the deep, simmering feeling that I’ve completed my assignment.
“Lucy, Lucy, Lu-cy!” Nico sings, walking toward me with his arms out the moment we’re alone on the main deck. I glance around nervously, wondering when security will come and tell us to leave.
The last of the others just left, including Angel and her husband, and I kept waiting for Nico to tell me it’s time to go too, but he disappeared for a while. So I stood here and waited, looking out over the inky black water, feeling weirdly at peace.
It’s not like I’ve ever really been aboatgirl. As a kid, we would sometimes take trips to the lake, but after one of my cousins got covered in leeches, we never went back.
And I’ve obviously never had the opportunity to go yachting off Manhattan.
Though I’m not sure the little jaunt we did counts as yachting, and it certainly doesn’t count now that we’re bobbing gently at the dock.
“Wha—” I start, but Nico is picking me up and spinning me around, the water turning to a blur in my peripheral, and I can’t stop myself from letting out laughter along with a squeal of protest. “Nico!”
“Youbrilliantwoman,” he says, setting me back on my feet. I waver slightly, but his arms are still on my waist, keeping mesteady as the boat rocks. I won’t lie—I’ve felt the tiniest bit of sea sickness since we came aboard, and I don’t understand how Nico moves around like the constant motion is nothing at all.
His words register, and I blink, “Angel liked what I said?”
“Liked what you said?” he asks, eyebrows shooting up, “She basically told stinky old Edward that if he doesn’t invest, she’ll leave him. He’s going all in on the next round of product.”
“That’s great!” I say, though I’m surprised at how happy Nico is about this. It’s not like he’s a new entrepreneur and this was his only shot at funding. Ember could get anyone, I’m sure. I bet the three executives could fund everything themselves, if they chose to.
But I think back to the feeling of Angel coming around, my words influencing her. It’s the thrill of the win, not the money, that has this grin lighting up his face.
“Come on,” Nico says, taking his hands off me and gesturing for me to follow him. “Let me pour us a drink to celebrate.”
When I hesitate, he pauses, glancing back at me expectantly. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?”
“No, I—” I pause, clear my throat, and glance around for the security guard I saw earlier. Now, I spot him down on the dock, standing at the loading platform. “Aren’t they expecting us to leave, too?”
Nico raises an eyebrow, “Who’sthey?”
“Whoever…” I trail off from sayingwhoever owns this rigat the look on Nico’s face, and that’s when I realize that I’ve been onhisboat this entire day.
A laugh bubbles out of me, and I step forward, following him. We wind along the side of the boat, the water sloshing to our right. “Why didn’t you tell me? And why did we get here so much later than everyone, if you were the host?”
Nico flashes me a winning grin as he turns and pushes open a different door, gesturing for me to come inside. “Here’s a lessonfor you, darling—always be fashionably late. I’ve got people to set up the party for me.”
Those people, the ones serving the shrimp and drinks, are gone now. I can’t be certain, but it feels like Nico and I are the only two people on the entire boat.
We walk down into what appears to be the living quarters. I gasp and jump back when I realize part of the floor isn’t the same solid, polished wood—it’s glass.
“Don’t worry,” Nico says, walking confidently out onto it. It’s too dark for me to see anything in the water, but the thought of something swimming under us sends a shiver up my back. “It’s military-grade.”
I raise an eyebrow at that but follow him into a little living room. He moves to a cart in the corner, letting out a noise of surprise.
