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S era inhaled deeply as the salty ocean breeze filled her lungs. Then Alex brought them back to shore with the skill of an entire ship’s crew.

Finally.

Land.

Her bare feet sank slightly into the cool, damp sand with each step, her slippers dangling from her fingers.

The beach stretched endlessly before her, as if it were at odds with time.

With her life. She enjoyed the boat ride, but she loved strolling along the beach with Alex much more. Mostly because it felt safer.

Safer for her life.

But admittedly, more dangerous in other ways. Like claiming all her awareness.

Sera cast a sidelong glance at the man who’d so easily convinced her to join him on a boat. A boat! But she realized there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for him. The wind tousled his blond hair.

So handsome.

It was remarkable how comfortable he seemed in any environment, as if the sea and sand bowed to his presence rather than challenged it.

“Where are we going?” Sera asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

“You’ll see soon enough,” he replied, a maddeningly vague smile tugging at his lips. He, too, carried his boots in his hand, swinging them lightly, as if they were out for a casual countryside stroll rather than wandering toward some mysterious destination.

Alone. Together. Again.

“You’re pampering me with mystery.”

He chuckled. “So patient.”

“Should I be impatient, then?” Sera quipped.

“No,” he murmured. “But it is rather refreshing.”

How interesting. “Are you usually surrounded by impatient women?”

“I cannot in good consciousness say yet. The most outspoken women in my life are my mother and my sister.”

She laughed. “But you can’t say no either.” After a brief pause, she wondered, “Where is your family?”

“Well, my mother is at home with my father, but it turns out my sister is in England. Let’s not talk about things that give me shivers,” he said, visibly shuddering. “I’d rather not think about the trouble she’s in.”

Before she could say anything more, they arrived at a… cave? No. An alcove? How had she never noticed this before in all her years? He led her into the alcove, and she blinked at the sight before her. A blanket was spread in the center with a basket.

“What is this?”

“A picnic.”

“Who arranged this?” Sera asked, unable to tear her gaze away. There was even a candelabra with candles! “Who set this up?”

“Someone who knows the area better than I do,” he said, leading her over. “Sit. And don’t worry. He is very discreet. Plus,” he grinned at her. “I don’t even know your full name, remember?”

“I don’t know if I should rejoice or be alarmed by that.”

Sera lowered herself onto the blanket, watching as he knelt and unpacked the basket one item at a time, spreading it between them. Sandwiches. Eclairs. Grapes. Wine. Then he quickly lit the candles.

“This is quite romantic,” Sera couldn’t help but remark.

“It’s dinner.”

Sera chuckled. “What a typical male thing to say.” She pointed at the spread. “Did your friend arrange this?”

“Of course.”

“You must trust him a lot.”

“He has his strengths.”

Her eye caught something, and Sera leaned closer, her gaze narrowing. Her hand darted out to pluck a napkin from the basket, and she froze when she saw the emblem embroidered in its corner—the unmistakable crest of her father’s hotel!

Her suspicious gaze turned to Alex. “Where did you really get this?” she asked, holding up the napkin as evidence.

He hesitated for only a moment before answering, “From the hotel.”

Her eyes widened. “Did your friend steal it for you?”

“No!”

“Then you are a guest?”

“Must I be a guest to receive favors?” he replied smoothly, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

“You don’t have to be that mysterious!” She flicked the napkin at him. “Besides, you’ve been found out. Tell me. Did a hotel servant give you this? Or the cook?”

Come to think of it, fishermen or smugglers didn’t have connections with hotels; they supplied smuggled goods.

She glanced at the bottle of wine, which was from a winery she didn’t recognize.

French. Either he smuggled the contraband, or he could afford to purchase very expensive wines.

Well, if he were rich, she supposed, he would do things differently than Father. She glanced at his polished boots.

All the signs were there already.

This man wasn’t from simple means.

Sera crossed her arms, studying him as if trying to solve a puzzle. “How nice of your friend to package these so thoughtfully.”

Alex chuckled. “He had a great many questions.”

She lowered to the blanket and plucked a grape. “About what?”

“About whom I was meeting. What I would be doing. Why…”

Sera couldn’t suppress a laugh. “I hope you didn’t scandalize the poor man.”

He grinned. “If I did, only a little.”

She shook her head. The soft glow of the candle made the alcove feel strangely intimate; everything did, really. From the tiny sandwiches to the big man himself. She leaned back on her hand and tilted her head toward him.

“Thank you. This is quite unexpected.” She slipped the grape between her lips, squinting as a burst of sourness filled her mouth.

“Are the grapes not sweet?” Alex asked.

Sera shook her head. “No.”

Alex handed her a sandwich. “Here, try this.”

Sera accepted it and took a careful bite. It was delicious, of course—her father’s hotel wouldn’t serve anything less. She chewed thoughtfully, watching him as he poured them each a drink from a flask before also enjoying a sandwich. The man just became more mysterious with each passing minute!

She lifted her glass and sniffed. “What’s in this? Madeira?”

“Just so.”

She arched a brow. “I can’t have so much liquor on an empty stomach.”

“Then eat what you like. There is tea also if you don’t want wine.”

“This is fine.” She took a sip, studying him. “You should have given me this before we went on the boat.”

Her mind couldn’t stop turning over the mystery of his connection to the hotel.

He didn’t look like a guest, but then again, what did a guest look like?

There was an ease about him, a lack of formality that set him apart from the usual posh that graced the establishment.

“Is it possible to like someone you don’t know? ”

“Is that a question or a compliment?”

Sera shook her head, her gaze meeting his. “It’s a question for you and me.”

“I like you.”

“You don’t know me.”

“And yet,” he murmured. “You don’t know me, but you like me.”

Could she even deny that? But this was the “thing” between them, wasn’t it? Mystery. Purposefully not allowing a hole to be poked through the veil. “You surprise me at every turn.”

“So do you.”

She nodded thoughtfully.

This man was unlike anyone she’d ever met—charming yet perplexing, confident yet utterly unpretentious. She wanted to ask him a thousand questions, but for now, she was content to sit with him in this alcove and enjoy the moment.

And yet…

Her eyes caught on a piece of paper that stuck out from the basket. Curious, she took a closer peek. “Reading material?” she said, nodding toward the papers. “Is this for when you get bored with our conversation?”

Alex scoffed. “I could never get bored in your presence.”

She leaned closer, picking up one of the sheets.

It was a language she didn’t recognize, but she could spot the German words, thanks to her governess’s incessant lectures.

Curiosity burned in her chest. Her eyes caught on a small, intricate map sketched in the corner, the markings suspiciously similar to the route maps her father used for his shipping ventures—only smaller.

Had she been wrong?

This man wasn’t a fisherman or smuggler but perhaps a pirate? A sudden question popped into her mind… “Why are you going to London?”

Alex stiffened, his gaze dropping to the paper she held in her hand. He had seen them earlier but hadn’t thought much of them, too nervous. They were covered in neat German script, and he let out a breath.

Why the devil had the valet included this?

She wouldn’t be able to read German, right? If she could read, this would probably just reinforce the belief that he was a rogue seaman.

Clearing his throat, Alex fought the urge to snatch the paper from her fingers.

That would only make him look guilty. At least not guilty about any of her wild imaginings.

Of course, he didn’t plan on hiding his identity forever, but for now, it was best—for her safety, if not for any of his selfish reasons to keep the moment of having her all to himself.

Especially since he was leaving tomorrow, and danger loomed.

“I have urgent business that can’t wait, unfortunately.”

She tilted her head, studying him with far too much interest. “Well, what do you know? I do too.”

His brow shot up. “You do?”

She nodded, her lips curving into a slow smile. “Though I’m not sure when. It should be soon. You know, I have urgent business that can’t wait.”

Alex chuckled at her tease, though inwardly, his mind raced.

Sera in London?

The thought filled him with both excitement and trepidation. If their paths crossed there, it might complicate things.

Could he risk being near her? Could he not?

No, it might put her in danger. And she could go anywhere, from shops to restaurants, hotels, and ballrooms—where did she belong?

But the thought of her in London, so near yet out of reach, would dig under his skin like a splinter he couldn’t remove.

It would itch and fester, threading through his every thought, until even the simplest tasks felt unbearable.

He’d pace and brood, his chest tight with the weight of wanting, until the city itself seemed to mock him with her absence. But he still wanted her there, close.

“What’s this?” she asked, interrupting his thoughts, her brow furrowing as she traced a finger over the paper.

“Just a commentary for a draft of a law,” Alex said hesitantly, watching her closely.