Michaela parked at the marina in Sausalito. Troy had offered to pick her up, but she didn’t want this to seem like a date. Besides, sitting cocooned in his car with his scent surrounding her—especially after Friday night—might make her a little bonkers. And she had to be sharp around him.
This marina offered dedicated slips that could accommodate vessels as large as the yacht she had in mind for Troy. You couldn’t moor a 150-foot yacht just anywhere.
She was both excited and wary. Since the moment she’d agreed to a cruise with him two days ago, her stomach had been filled with butterflies. Or maybe, where Troy Harrington was concerned, they were tadpoles ready to turn into jumping frogs.
She saw his sleek luxury vehicle in the lot. But where was he?
She found the slip number she’d been looking for and headed down the dock.
Naturally, Troy was already charming the captain and his first mate.
A wicker basket dangled from the mate’s hand, and as Michaela approached, she heard him say, “I’ll take care of it for you, sir.”
Take care of what? What was Troy up to?
She thanked her lucky stars there were steps to get aboard and not a ladder she’d have to climb in her tailored suit.
Both the captain and Troy headed straight to her, but Troy got there first, taking her hand as he helped her onto the deck. And not letting go when he should have.
She had to shake the man off. Surreptitiously, of course. She didn’t want the captain to see.
“Michaela, this is Captain Sprague.”
Tall and elegant in his crisp white captain’s uniform, the man was in his mid-fifties, his hair an attractive silver gray.
“It’s so good to meet you, Captain,” she said, shaking his hand.
“The captain has agreed to give us a tour of the boat,” Troy said.
Captain Sprague gave a gruff laugh. “Please, sir, she’s a yacht, not a boat.”
Troy slapped a hand to his forehead. “My mistake. I wouldn’t demean the Splendid by calling her a boat.”
They toured the entire yacht, including the bridge, where Troy was fascinated by all the screens, gauges, and levers, asking questions as if he were truly interested. The captain seemed delighted to share details.
Michaela had seen pictures, but there’d been no chance to run up to Sausalito to see the boat—yacht. And those pictures didn’t do it justice. The Splendid was the epitome of luxury, with a full galley, four magnificently appointed cabins, a lounge, living room, and dining room. The sundeck up top featured a small pool and a cascading waterfall down into a larger pool below, which had a Jacuzzi tub attached.
Captain Sprague ended the tour in the luxurious lounge with every libation imaginable on the glass shelves behind the bar. Smiling, he poured her and Troy glasses of chardonnay, abstaining himself.
Cakebread chardonnay. It was her absolute favorite, though she didn’t indulge often on the expensive wine. “Thank you, Captain. This is delicious and an unexpected surprise.”
He glanced at Troy. “You’ll have to thank Mr. Harrington. He brought it.”
The comment floored her. Troy couldn’t possibly know how much she loved this wine. And yet there was something in his gaze that said he had her figured out. Why did that send a delicious shiver down her spine?
The captain’s gray eyes gleamed. “Tell me, Miss Killian, what do you think of the Splendid?”
The question made her wonder if he thought Troy was her lover and that he would buy the yacht only if she approved. She had to disabuse the captain of that notion quickly and flourished a hand at Troy. “We should address that question to my client.”
The captain didn’t show a flicker of discomfort. “Mr. Harrington? Do you approve?”
Troy’s smile was lady-killer charming—or maybe, in this case, captain-killer. “It’s an impressive vessel. And you keep it shipshape.”
The captain bowed slightly. “We’re all proud of her.”
Then he led them to a cozy seating area in the stern. From there, she could hear the waterfall splashing into the lower pool.
“And now,” Captain Sprague said, “please enjoy your wine and a little repast while we cruise around the bay.”
