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“Always,” I replied with a straight face. “She will be well protected for any contingency.”

Sue nodded, looking pleased. “Attaboy.”

Maddy stared at the boat, watching as I got on board and set down the basket. I held out my hand to help her. She hesitated.

“You coming with me?” I teased.

Still, she paused.

“Hey, are you okay?” I asked. “Does the boat make you nervous? Are you scared about being on the water?” I jumped back onto the dock, taking her hand. “We can go to the park and picnic there. Or find another place,” I offered.

“No,” she replied. “I was just…” She shook her head. “I was staring. Sorry.”

“At what?” I looked around. Dad’s boat was a nice one, meant for day trips and drifting around the islands. Not over the top but comfortable.

“You.”

I stopped. “Me?”

She lifted a shoulder, looking sheepish. “You looked so at home hopping on the boat, handsome and confident. I was just…looking, I guess.”

I snaked my arm around her waist and held her tight, dropping a kiss to her head. “Look all you want, pretty girl. I like looking at you too.”

She tilted her head back, smiling up at me. “I see.”

“You make me happy,” I said, not sure how else to describe how she made me feel.

“You do the same.”

“Then let’s go explore and be happy together. We can find some out-of-the-way inlet, and I’ll show you how happy you make me.”

“Okay.”

I cupped her face and kissed her. “Okay.”

I hopped back onto the boat and reached over, gripping her waist. I lifted her on board, laughing at her little squeal of surprise. Then I handed her a life jacket and grinned. “Welcome to My Katy.”

She followed me to the front, and after we stowed the basket, she sat beside me watching as I guided the boat from the dock and we headed out toward the open water.

“Have you been driving boats a long time?” she asked.

“Dad’s had a boat for as long as I can remember. This one is the smallest he’s ever had, but when we were younger, he’d pile us all in for a day trip. Occasionally, we stayed overnight and camped out under the stars.” I chuckled. “Sometimes Mom stayed home and had a break from us, but she usually came. We’d camp and cook on an open fire. Dad made it feel like an adventure.”

“Is Katy your mom?”

“Yeah. Dad has named all his boats after her.” I paused. “I’m really lucky. My parents are still crazy for each other. Dad worships Mom. She adores him. They’re a great couple.”

“That’s lovely.”

I steered the boat toward a small grouping of inlets. “They have always been amazing parents. Dad worked hard and taught us that mind-set. They were strict but fair. Mom stayed home with us, but she helped my dad a lot. He calls her his muse. He would discuss a campaign brief, and she would give him ideas. When I was little, he’d sit me on his knee, and I’d listen to them talk. It was fascinating.”

“But not what you wanted to do.”

“No, I always knew I wanted to be a doctor. But I loved how Dad’s mind worked. How he could come up with a concept and work it through. He was big in the marketing world. He’s getting ready to retire now.”

I glanced at her. “He and Mom are looking forward to meeting you.” I paused. “When you’re ready.”

She brushed the hair from her face. “I’d like that.” Then she laughed as the wind blew it right back. “I give up.” She gathered her hair up, securing it with a hair tie she had around her wrist. “I should have done that all along.”