Page 81 of No One Aboard

She reached up and fixed Nico’s shirt collar, which stuck up on one side.

“I would put those back if I were you. Besides, my daughter is seventeen. A minor, at least for the next few days. And you’re... let me guess. Twenty-one?”

“Twenty-two,” Nico said quietly.

“Right.” She patted his chest. “A bit old for a teenager, wouldn’t you say?”

“Meant no disrespect,” Nico murmured, keeping eye contact with Lila, which was impressive considering he’d just been caught. Most boys his age would be inspecting their feet.

“Of course not.” Lila stepped to one side of the doorway to allow him to leave. “I am ecstatic, however, that you were putting safety first.” She nodded at his pocket where he’d put the condom packs. “Even if those aren’t yours.”

Nico dropped his head, sheepish, and returned the condoms to Alejandro’s sock drawer. He walked back to the doorway. Lila gave him a dazzling smile and turned to go, but Nico reached out, suddenly, and placed his arm on the doorframe, blocking her path.

“How did you know those weren’t mine?”

“Excuse me?” Lila said, giving him the chance to back down.

He didn’t. He leaned into his arm so his face was hovering just above Lila’s. Lila looked into his eyes and no longer sawa resemblance to Alejandro. She saw Francis. She saw a litany of slimeball film directors and handsy costars and strangers watching her from the street, knowing they’d never get close enough to touch her, but if they could have, they would.

“Familiar with my uncle’s condoms, Mrs. Cameron?” He tilted his head, trying to pass off this exchange as playful.

“I could get you fired,Mr. de la Vega,” Lila replied evenly. “I could get you blacklisted from every Unwind Yachting boat in the world.”

Nico was nodding, tongue between his teeth. “True, true. And I could ruin your marriage.”

Lila did not consider herself an angry person. But right then, if that perfectly placed vase had been in arms’ reach, she might have shattered it into Nico de la Vega’s skull.

“Well, thank you,” Lila said after a long moment.

The boy had the decency to look confused. “For what?”

“For showing me exactly who you are.”

Lila ducked underneath Nico’s arm and dusted off her cover-up. She looked back at him over her shoulder with the most girlish, unruffled expression she could muster.

“Oh, and sweetheart? Stay the fuck away from my daughter.”

Chapter 40

Tia Cameron

Call sign: Thimble

Day 10 at Sea

Tia waited until after midnight to go see Nico. Alejandro was covering the midnight-to-four-o’clock shift, which meant Nico would be alone in his room. Tia slipped down the hall and knocked lightly on the door, trying to stay quiet in case her father was awake in the primary suite after finishing his watch.

There was no answer, but that wasn’t about to stop her. It had been a dismal rest of the day with Rylan sullen and avoiding her after what happened with the sailfish. Not that she was ready to see him either, after what she’d admitted to Nico. Francis and Lila had kept their distance as well, leaving Tia to read a book, study the sails, and remember Nico’s hands on her bare skin.

She knocked again before turning the handle and easing inside. Nico’s back was to her in bed, but when she touched his shoulder, he startled.

“Tia? It’s the middle of the night.”

“Sure is. And you’re wide awake.” Tia sat on the edge of the bed and grinned at him. “Pining over me or something?”

He didn’t laugh, only shook his head. “I’m sorry. I’m really tired.”

She hid disappointment. “Oh. Then why aren’t you asleep?”