Page 27 of Betrayal of a Billionaire

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat as she waited for her sister’s text. Soon, they’d likely not have any signal, and she’d have to wait and wonder until they got back to the dock.

Her eyes went skyward as she watched her last bar disappear and her signal die.

Luke steered the boat toward more open waters. “Not going to get a text out here, but you should know that.”

She slid her phone into the pocket of her purse without any new information, though with this changed demeanor, she couldn’t imagine he didn’t know. He’d made a call. Who would he call?

Maybe he was seeing someone. Maybe he called a new girlfriend. Julia narrowed her eyes at him. Wouldn’t Alicia have told her he moved on? Maybe not. Maybe she thought telling her would mean Julia wouldn’t come home.

“So, you folks are from the big city, huh?” Luke asked.

The comment brought a slight smile to her face as she recalled the lighter-hearted moment earlier this morning when she’d informed Grant they wouldn’t be liked for that exact reason. She shot him a glance and raised her eyebrows.

He shook his head, looking less than amused. She slouched a little in her seat.

“New Orleans,” Sierra said with a lift of her chin.

“I bet you had no idea this many trees existed,” Luke said with a chuckle.

As his familiar laugh echoed across the deck, a pang of nostalgia hit Julia. Memories of their shared secrets, their dreams under the Harbor Cove stars danced in her mind. Yet, as she flicked her gaze to Grant, those memories felt like distant echoes of another life.

His sense of humor hadn’t improved, Julia thought with a half-smile. Of course, everyone in Harbor Cove would have said the same thing.

“Have you always been a captain, Captain Luke?” Kyle asked.

Julia resisted the urge to leap from the boat and swim for shore. Grant didn’t seem to be happy, but he’d brood quietly. Sierra and Kyle would go in for the kill in their best attempt to bring to light anything they felt was necessary.

“Yes, for most of my life,” he answered, his dark curls blowing in the salty air. “I love the sea.”

He took a swig of water from a bottle before he twisted to face them. “But I bet you didn’t know I was not the only captain of the Crystal Echo.”

Julia gave a slight shake of her head, desperately trying to signal him not to say anything. He arched an eyebrow at her, an amused expression on his features as he crossed his arms.

“Who captained it before you?” Sierra asked. “And why would we care?”

“It wasn’t before me. But I was not this ship’s only captain. And you may care because her other captain is sitting right next to you.”

“Julia?” Sierra asked.

He poked a finger in the air. “Yes, Julia was a very good captain. Everyone loved Julia.”

“That’s because I didn’t talk so much and let them enjoy the views,” she teased.

He offered her a coy smile as he returned to the wheel and changed their course. “Who’s ready to see a puffin?”

“Me!” Sierra called.

They trolled through the waters toward a set of islands where the black and white birds often climbed onto the rocks. As Sierra admired them and snapped selfies, Julia shot Grant a glance. She didn’t like his quiet demeanor. He had barely spoken to any of them since they boarded.

She would have whispered the question to him, certain this had to be uncomfortable, but they sat too far apart.

Sierra shifted around, trying to get a shot, and Julia used the opportunity to shift closer. “Why don’t we switch seats?”

“Yes, thank you, Julia,” she said as she leapt from hers and Julia slid down closer to the corner. She offered Grant as reassuring a smile as she could muster before she reached for his hand. He slid his hand toward her when Duchess leapt up with a growl.

“Duchess, no,” Luke said. “Sorry, she’s not normally this rude.”

“She has a real problem with my dad,” Sierra said.