Page 59 of Forty, Flirty & Framed

My eyebrows reach for the sky.“Yours?"

"I've been sleeping on my boat the last few days.Been jumping from spot to spot since the indomitable Fiona Abernathy commandeered my penthouse.The suite is just sitting empty."

“A boat?”I ask, and he nods solemnly as I continue.“That sounded judgmental, and I’m sorry, but…I can’t imagine sleeping on a deck would be very nice to one’s back or neck.Your masseuse is probably having a field day with this.”

“Well, it does have rooms.”He pauses when I start staring.“The boat.”

“A boat with rooms?You mean… a yacht?”

"A small indulgence," he says, looking faintly embarrassed."I needed somewhere to escape that wasn't a hotel room.Somewhere on the water.My family was in shipping after all.”

"So you're offering me your empty suite while you sleep on a boat?"

"It's more comfortable than it sounds.And it keeps appropriate boundaries."

"Boundaries?”

"Professional ones…” His eyes seem to glitter.“I’m still your boss, Karina."

The driver turns, awaiting instructions.

"You're sure?"I ask.

"Entirely.The suite is paid for regardless, and I prefer the yacht.It helps me think."

"Fine.But I'm borrowing a t-shirt.This dress wasn't designed for eight hours of wear."

He directs the driver to the Four Seasons, and we ride in silence, the tensions of Richard's unexpected texts and Duncan's cryptic behavior temporarily set aside.

My phone continues its symphony of notifications.

VIKTORIA:Where are you?Mom's teaching Charlie how to make dolma and your kitchen looks like a crime scene.

ME: Staying at a friend's.See you tomorrow.Don't let Charlie reorganize my bookshelf again.

VIKTORIA:A 'friend'?Would this friend happen to be tall, Scottish, and trending?

ME:Staying at his hotel.He’s staying elsewhere

VIKTORIA:Suuure you are

I silence my phone, ignoring the flurry of sister interrogation that's sure to follow.

"Family concerned?"Callum asks mildly.

"Nope, just nosy.It's different."

"Sisters are protective."

"Sisters are invasive.”I snort.“It's genetic.We learned it from our mother, who could extract your dental history within five minutes of meeting you."

His mouth curves into a slight smile."Sounds like she and Fiona would get along."

"God help us all if they ever team up."

The car pulls up to the hotel, and we ride the elevator to his floor in charged silence.

This late, with just the two of us in the enclosed space, I'm acutely aware of his proximity and the memory of our almost-kiss from earlier.