Chapter 1

1

"Who is that ?"

"She's probably in the wrong place."

Erin O'Leary tightened the grip on her wheeled suitcase—one she'd bought specifically for this trip—and pulled in a deep breath. She could do this. She had to do this since she'd already committed. There was no turning back now. Erin eyed the sleek yacht that waited in Provincetown Harbor. It was like something out of a movie, not the sort of thing real people owned or even chartered. She should have been thrilled, but her inner bobcat was recoiling.

The blonde at the back of the line of women waiting to board turned as Erin approached. She looked down her remodeled nose and curled a filled lip, at least as much as she could. "Who are you ? "

"Erin!" Gretchen Wilkinson came flying up, wrapping her arms around Erin's shoulders and nearly knocking her backward. She squealed as she pulled away, still holding Erin's elbows. "It means so much to me that you're here! You can't even know! Remember when we used to dream about our weddings back in the day?"

"Of course." Erin's smile for her childhood friend was genuine, though she could still feel the curious stares from the other women. "Although I can't say I remember a boat being involved. All those games of MASH predicted that you were going to marry Ben Stevenson and live in that Queen Anne Victorian with the three-story tower."

Gretchen exploded with laughter. "I can't believe you remember that! It's just as well. That house was converted into condos, and Ben Stevenson is gay. I don't think we'd be very happy with each other."

"And what about you and this Hugo guy?" Erin asked. "Are you going to be happy with him? Because you know I'll push him down on the playground and beat him up if he's not nice."

"Oh, Erin, you won't even need to give him that salty stare of yours." Gretchen tipped her head back slightly and smiled, looking rapturous. "He's just amazing. I can't wait for you to meet him! He had a lot to do with putting all this together."

"A guy who actually helps plan his wedding?" Erin arched an eyebrow, thinking she might already approve. Hugo Bradford had to be absolutely loaded if he could afford a week at sea for his wedding, but maybe his heart went deeper than his pockets.

Gretchen lifted one tanned shoulder. "Well, he hired a planner, anyway. But he also insisted that we ladies board first so we could have a chance to explore the yacht before all the guys get here. You know, most of his friends are single and ready to mingle." She said the last word in a singsong and rubbed her arm against Erin's.

"I'll, uh, keep that in mind." As if she'd want anything to do with the kind of guys a bajillionaire kept as friends. She could just imagine the tech geeks, finance bros, and lobbyists dying to spend time with a wealthy guy like him. Erin was only on this boat to do her duty as a friend, not to hook up with someone because he could buy a Land Rover during his lunch hour.

Gretchen's hand caught her eye. "Oh, I love your ring!"

"Thank you!" The bride held up her left hand and wiggled her fingers. "Isn't it the most glorious thing you've ever seen? I haven't been able to take my eyes off it. Hugo knew exactly what I wanted."

Sunlight exploded off the massive emerald-cut diamond, completely surrounded by smaller, round ones. Baguettes marched down the band in three rows. Erin felt she needed a pair of sunglasses to look at it safely. It was the gaudiest engagement ring Erin had ever seen, and she couldn't even begin to imagine how much it'd cost. "Oh, uh. Yes. It's really pretty. I was actually talking about your other ring, though."

"Oh, that?" Gretchen glanced briefly at the ring on her right hand, its silver setting swooping around a dark stone. Hints of fiery red and deep blue winked from its depths. "It's just costume jewelry. If you think my engagement ring is gorgeous, you should see the wedding band! It's actually one of those wraparound styles, so it adds an extra row of diamonds to the top and bottom! Hugo sure knows how to spoil me!"

Erin wondered if there would be enough space on Gretchen's finger for all those stones, but all that mattered was her happiness. "I'm really excited for you, Gretchen."

"Anyway, I'm supposed to go check in with the captain on a few things. You hang out here, and we'll all get settled in our rooms soon!" Gretchen gave her a finger wave and trotted up the ramp.

That left Erin on her own with the rest of the bridal party. The blonde next to her, who'd practically snarled at her as she arrived, was holding up her cell phone, videoing the sea breeze fluttering through her hair. "Hey, fam! Blaire here. I'm so glad you'll all be with me on this journey. I'm all set to go for the week. I got my hair and lashes done, and check the mani! Matches my dress perfectly! And look, I even snagged some new luggage to keep the coordination going!" She tapped her pink polished fingernails against her Louis Vuitton bag.

Erin adjusted her weekender bag atop her suitcase. She'd also purchased luggage for the trip, but only because she didn't have any. Her own set was a plain knockoff she'd grabbed at the discount store, knowing she'd probably never use it again. She eyed the blonde's suitcase and wondered how someone could justify a suitcase that cost as much as an entire vacation for most people. It was impossible to understand how someone could be so frivolous with their money, even if they had a lot of it.

"Ladies, do you think I should wear my hair up or down?" Another woman in line was frantically fussing with her locks. "I can't decide if I should show off the length of my hair or the length of my neck. If I have the chance to snag one of Hugo's friends while we're on this trip, I want to take full advantage of it. Let's be honest; I'm not here just to support Gretchen."

"Right? There's a reason I got a Brazilian wax," Blaire said with a wink. "Hey, Gretchen said we'd all be sharing rooms. You've got to be my roomie, Hadley."

"Hell, yeah!"

While the two women squawked louder than the seagulls overhead and planned their wild nights, Erin pressed her fingers to the bloodstone pendant on a cord around her neck. She'd chosen it for strength and courage, knowing that this trip would be difficult. Right now, though, she wondered if she should've picked obsidian or black tourmaline for protection instead. Erin had a feeling she was going to need it with this crowd. Gretchen wasn't the same simple girl who used to conjure up fantasy stories with her under the jungle gym on the playground. She'd started hanging out with the popular crowd as they'd gotten older. Gretchen's big smile and happy personality meant she was the head cheerleader, dated the quarterback of the football team, got invited to all the parties, and was even homecoming queen. The typical teenage American dream.

And here was Erin, feeling like she was reliving the nightmare of high school at forty while the other girls paired off. It's just a week. She could survive. She'd done so for much longer, and she had Gretchen. That was why she was there, after all. Not to make friends or find a man.

"Welcome aboard The Endless Summer !"

Erin figured the deep voice must've come from the captain. She sucked up her worries and reminded herself several more times that this was only a week. It was the chance of a lifetime, too. It wasn't like she'd ever get to stay on a big-ass yacht like this again. Maybe it would even be an amusing story to share with the rest of her coven when she got back home to Salem.

The line moved forward quickly as all the other women were excited to get on deck. Blaire stepped on board, and then it was Erin's turn. She'd figure out which snob she was stuck sharing a room with, get her luggage stowed, and start this trip. The sooner she did, the sooner it'd be over.

But as Erin pulled her suitcase up onto the deck, the wheel spun out and caught the toe of her shoe, sending Erin flying forward. Her hand automatically closed harder around the handle of the suitcase as she tried to catch herself, but she only ended up dragging it all with her. Her knees hit the floor and her wrist twisted backward as her luggage fell, her weekender bag bouncing right off the top. It was packed full, and the zipper busted wide open.

Erin watched in horror as the contents spilled out onto the deck. Panties and bras decorated the teak paneling, along with a small pack of tampons, just in case. An eyeshadow palette popped open, and the now-broken pans spread a blast of color. Worst of all, a shiny silver vibrator rolled out for a grand finale.

Pain shattered her knees, but it was nothing compared to the sheer embarrassment that washed over her. Erin's inner bobcat went berserk. It had told her she never should've gotten on this boat, and here was the proof!

She crawled forward, snagged whatever she could reach, and tried to stuff it back into the bag, hoping no one would notice the most embarrassing item among the mix. Erin had packed it at the last minute, thinking it might be her only source of joy on this trip. The impact must have hit the power button because it began to clatter and clack against the deck, sending itself off in an arc just as she reached for it.

By this point, there was no chance it wouldn't be noticed. The other women were laughing and screeching, and she didn't have to look to know they were pointing at her. This couldn't be any worse, right?

Oh, but it could. The damn thing rolled further out of her grasp and right up to a pair of shiny deck shoes. As Erin watched, a strong hand reached down and picked it up. The other hand, just as strong and rugged, easily clicked the button and turned off the device.

Erin thrust herself to her feet, ready to throw herself overboard. Her gaze traced up the long lines of his crisp trousers, to the broad chest behind a uniform shirt, and up to a handsome face. Hazel eyes looked at her with humor in them as he handed the vibrator back. "Welcome aboard."

A tightness had taken over her chest as the scene played out, seemingly in slow motion for her, but that tightness dropped down into her stomach as she looked into the captain's face. Her fingers brushed his as she snagged the vibrator and shoved it into her bag. "Thanks," she whispered as she turned away .

Her inner bobcat knew that what she was feeling right now was much more than embarrassment. Yes, the sheer horror of seeing all of her most personal items exploding on the deck threatened to override everything, and she was seriously considering bolting back down the ramp or finding a black hole to dive into, but there was another sensation that pulled at her very core. She kept her eyes down, waiting impatiently for the women to quit their cackling, but she dared to steal a peek at the handsome captain.

Unlike the guests, he'd kept his cool. He was directing his staff, instructing them to show the guests to the proper cabins. He didn't look the least bit ruffled, smiling politely at everyone and making sure things ran smoothly.

Erin's eyes lasered in on his hands, which had only a moment ago clicked off her vibrator and given it back. She was mortified, but a small part of her was satisfied that he'd touched an item so intimate. Her breath grew quick and shallow as she imagined what his wide chest looked like under that pressed shirt, and she was sure there was a delicious transition to everything below the waist, too.

"Erin, you're bunking with Florence." Gretchen's voice sliced through Erin's thoughts .

"Hm?" Her bag was zipped shut again, but Erin held it bunched in her fist, daring it to defy her a second time. She tore her gaze away from Captain Sexypants.

Gretchen was beaming at her. She had a humorous spark in her eye, but at least she didn't blatantly say anything about Erin's little accident. "You'll be bunking with Florence," she repeated. "Blaire and Hadley are in a cabin, Hugo's two friends are staying together, and of course Hugo and I are staying in the bridal suite. That leaves you and Florence." She gestured toward the tall, willowy woman who stood next to her.

Florence had a long face with a Roman nose and hooded eyes. She stood with her head tipped slightly back and to the side, like some actress from the early days of film. Her hair was pulled sharply back, and she swept her gaze over Erin. "Nice to meet you," she said, her voice dripping with disdain.

"You, too." Erin only said it out of obligation, although there was obviously nothing nice about this interaction at all.

A young deckhand came out onto the deck and nodded politely to them. "Right this way. Can I take your bag for you, ma'am? "

"No, thank you," Erin said, quickly clutching her weekender bag even tighter against her. "I've got it."

"As you wish." He led them down into the yacht.

Erin was completely in her own head, but it stopped her from gawking at her surroundings. Everything was sleek and squeaky clean, with accents of top-notch wood, marble, or some other luxury material. As they moved through the boat, she spotted leather furniture, crystal glasses, and even plush carpet. This was like a small, floating hotel, and it looked like it'd been built yesterday.

"You'll be right in here," the young man instructed, opening a door and waving them inside. "Marissa, our stewardess, is right down the hall. Please let our crew know if you need anything."

"Thank you," Erin said automatically, although she noticed Florence didn't say a thing.

Her new roommate was too busy eyeing their room, checking the view from the massive windows and poking one long finger at the mattress to test its firmness.

Erin swallowed, although her throat was as dry as a bone. What was that old Samuel Taylor Coleridge line about water everywhere and not a drop to drink? Well, there was no time to get poetic right now. She could bury herself in a book later, but she had to deal with this for the moment. "You can pick whichever bed you want. It doesn't matter to me."

Florence turned slowly to look at her, scrunching her eyes slightly as though she'd forgotten that Erin was even there. "My biggest concern is the noise level at night. Do I need to wear my earbuds, or will you keep the vibrator down to a minimum?" she asked in that cool, clear voice, letting her gaze slide down to the offending bag.

"It's not like that." Erin slung the bag down on the end of one bed. She didn't know this woman, and she owed her no explanations, but she still didn't want her roommate to think she was some sort of horndog. Erin's explanations were cut off, however, by muffled buzzing. It was coming from her bag.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me." Erin yanked open the zipper and turned off the vibrator once again. She knew Florence was watching her, but she had absolutely nothing left to lose. She unscrewed the device and dumped the batteries into her bag. "There. Nothing to worry about."

Florence's thin lips moved slightly, but she turned away and said nothing as she began unpacking.

Erin hauled her suitcase onto her bed and began doing the same. This was going to be the longest week ever.