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The ring of truth in his words pierced her soul. The truth was, she couldn’t imagine her life without him, either.

But she couldn’t get rid of the shame filling her at the knowledge that Boone’s brothers now knew her most private secret.

“I feel the same way, Daddy,” she said. “But I don’t know how I can go to your ranch now. How can I face your brothers and Kenzie when they know I’m a Little? They probably think I’m a freak.”

“I would never share our private life with anyone who would hurt you. I thought I had told you at some point. Bluebell, I’m not the only Daddy in my family. All my brothers are Daddies, too. They all think you’re adorable. I promise you, the only other emotion they are feeling is envy that I have found someone so precious.”

She gaped at him. All his brothers were Doms. And not just Doms, Daddy Doms. Did that mean Kenzie was a Little like her? How cool would that be?

“Tildi,” Boone said, reclaiming her attention. “I’m sorry I upset you. I should have made sure you were okay with me sharing that information. The fact that I knew they’d accept you is no excuse. That was wrong of me, and I promise to be more careful in the future. Do you forgive me?”

Wait. He was asking for her forgiveness? No one had ever cared if they offended her or not before. She nodded. “You don’t even have to ask, Daddy. I’ll always forgive you, just like you always forgive me.”

Relief swept his face. Then his lips were on hers, and she lost herself in his kiss. At least she did until the ship pitched so sharply it almost sent them both to the floor. Boone's phone lit up. Dutch was calling.

Boone took the call, and Dutch yelled, “I’m going to need some help up here. I think we’re in trouble.”

CHAPTER 13

Boone smiled at Tildi as he helped her get dressed as quickly as possible. It wasn’t easy. She’d heard the tension in Dutch’s voice as clearly as he had.

“What did he mean,problem? What kind of problem?” She was doing her best to stay calm, but her pulse had sped up.

“I’m not sure, Bluebell,” he said. “But I’m sure it’s nothing we can’t handle. You are in some of the best hands in the world. And if you roll your eyes again, you’ll be sitting on a wooden seat writing lines for the next three days.”

The shade of pink filling her cheeks had become one of his favorite colors.

“Sorry, Daddy. But you have to admit that was a bit of an exaggeration. I mean, the best hands in the whole world?”

He didn’t say anything at first, just held her gaze with confidence. He’d told her the capabilities of the three men she had on board with her. Now he would show her.

“We need to get up top,” he said. Handing Puff to her, he took her hand and led her back up to the helm.

As soon as they made it out of the companionway, Boone realized Dutch had played down the situation. The sky around them was filled with dark thunderclouds, and the wind almostripped the hat from his head. He turned the brim of his baseball cap to the back.

Never letting go of Tildi’s hand, he pulled her toward the helm, placing his body on the outside to shield her from the rain that was now coming down harder.

“Report,” he barked at Grif as they entered the helm.

“This thing came up out of nowhere,” Grif answered. “I’ve been watching it on the radar, but there must be a short somewhere because it went out right after y’all tore out of here. The last image I had showed us not coming in contact with it, but it obviously shifted course.”

Obviously was right. The wind was growing stronger by the second, kicking up the height of the waves.

“Are we going to be okay?” Tildi asked. She clutched Puff to her chest as she stared past him at the waves. “Why are the waves making that diamond pattern instead of all going in the same direction?”

He met Grif’s gaze as Dutch made it to the helm. “It means two storms met and are going for a dance. Don’t you worry about a thing.”

Dutch threw a small life jacket to Boone and cocked his head to Tildi before pulling three larger ones from the storage underneath a bench cushion.

“If there’s nothing to worry about, why do I have to wear one of these?” she asked in a tight voice.

“Because you are precious cargo, and I’m not willing to take even the slightest chance on you getting hurt,” he told her. She quieted, but didn’t look convinced. “Let’s get you situated at the table.”

He put her in the corner of the sectional seating at the table. That way, if it got worse, she’d have something to hold on to.

“I tried to locate the short so we could get radar back, but the wiring on this bucket isn’t like anything I’ve seen. I did find a weather radio, but no batteries.”

“So, what you’re sayin’ is we’re shit out of luck,” Grif said.