Chapter 2

2

Jace Brigham glanced from the deep blue water to the massive array of controls in front of him at the helm. He was grateful they'd left the harbor and were heading out into the bay because it meant he had time away from the guests. His only job right now was to guide the boat safely to their first stop of the trip, a point out on the water that would show off the sunset.

His mind, however, wasn't on his job. The guest's luggage mishap had made him notice her, but he would've regardless. She was so different from everyone else on the ship and the typical types he would expect to see. Her skin was milky pale, so she obviously didn't spend much time in the sun. Her dark, choppy hair framed her beautiful face, neatly accented with a tiny crystal on one side of her nose. Jace had only had a moment to study her, but that was enough for the bear inside him to go into a tailspin.

"Hey, Dad. How's it going?" Ian stepped onto the bridge and slumped into a nearby seat.

"Just fine," Jace replied evenly, though he realized he'd been white-knuckling the wheel as he thought of that woman. He didn't know her name and resisted looking at the ship's manifest to find out. There was no way of telling by the names and contact information which one she was, and Jace would spend valuable time guessing.

"These people are really something, aren't they?" Ian asked, running a hand through his hair and then carefully combing it back into place with his fingers, clearly remembering he had to look put-together for the job. "Grade A snobs, for sure. I figured this would be a pretty easy gig. You know, carry a few suitcases, swab the deck, whatever. But these folks are so demanding! I've already had to go to the galley and ask the chef for some caviar. Judging by the look and smell of it, I don't know why anyone would eat it voluntarily."

"Ian—"

"You remember when we used to watch Gilligan's Island when I was a kid, and there was that old rich couple that got shipwrecked with them? The annoying ones who never seemed to understand that they didn't serve cocktails on a deserted island? Well, I guess they sort of made that happen anyway. Rich people are just like that. But anyway, that's what these folks remind me of," Ian concluded.

With everything under control at the helm, Jace took a deep breath and looked at his son. "I'm not going to say I don't have a few regrets about taking this job. It's very different from a day charter on a sailboat. Different hours, different crowd, different vibe."

Ian snorted. "I'll say."

"But," Jace continued quickly, "it's still a job. I'm here because Rodney needed me, and you're here because we were short a man. We're getting paid, and we have to be professional."

"I know," his son conceded. "And I am. In front of the guests, I mean. I'm not dumb enough to say all this where they could hear me."

"No. I know you're not, but mistakes can be made. This is a good-sized yacht, but it's still a relatively small space. I just think there's plenty of drama here without adding to it."

"Do you mean because these people are so stuck up, it's a surprise they can see anything past their Rolexes?" Ian snickered.

What could he say? "Basically, yes. Snobs or not, though, this is our paycheck."

"Yeah, I know." Ian stood and looked through the massive front windows at the water surrounding them. "This is a hell of a ship. It's not exactly what I want for myself, but I wouldn't turn it down if I had the chance."

"Are you still thinking about becoming a captain?" Jace asked, trying not to let too much hope into his voice. Ian had practically been raised on the water since Jace had never been able to stay off it himself. He'd always told himself that his son could do anything he wanted, and it wouldn't bother him a bit. It was true that Jace would be just as proud of Ian if he decided to be a lawyer, an artist, or anything in between. Still, the way Ian had been talking lately, it sounded like he was eager to follow in his father's footsteps.

Ian grinned, and his hazel eyes flashed. He had Jace's eyes and Maggie's light brown hair, bordering on blonde. He was a handsome young man, and Jace felt that was true even without his bias. "Yeah, but I've got something more specific than that."

Checking his watch, Jace nodded. "I've got some time before we have to anchor. Want to tell me about it?"

His son's grin widened, and Jace knew this had to be something really good. "Okay, so you know there are tons of whale-watching tours and fishing charters, right?"

"Sure." Jace had worked on plenty of them over the years. The sailing charters he ran these days were probably his favorite because they felt so much more relaxed. There was no pressure to produce wildlife, just a beautiful view and a novel experience.

"And you know how Buzz is going to school for aviation?"

"He kind of had to, with a name like that," Jace remarked. He'd always teased Buzz about his nickname, but it suited him well.

"So, we've been talking and got the perfect gig figured out. Great white sighting tours. Not an easy thing to do, I know, but we've got a great system. Buzz will be overhead, spotting the sharks from a plane. Then he just radios the information down to me in the boat, and I take my passengers to the right spot every time. I know we're not the first ones to come up with it," Ian added, "but I really think it's a great idea."

"It sounds like a lot of fun," Jace admitted. "Have you looked into startup costs?"

At the mention of this, Ian turned a slight shade of green. "Let's not get into the money, Dad. I know I'm not there yet, but I will be at some point."

"I'm sure you will," Jace agreed immediately. He'd vowed a long time ago to support his son in his endeavors. Some would turn out, and some wouldn't, but that would be up to Ian to figure out. "I think it's a great idea. I could really see you doing that sort of thing."

At this, Ian brightened again. "Yeah, because we've got a secret weapon."

"What's that?"

"No. Who, and it's Bailey. She's a marine biology major. She knows all sorts of things about sharks, and she's already gotten to go out and tag some. Bailey's going to give us that much more of an edge over the competition, and we might really be able to turn it into something big. I mean, what if we can get people to pay to come see the tagging? Or something else, I don't know. I just think there are a lot of possibilities."

"Oh." Jace was silent for a moment as those possibilities ran through his head. Bailey was getting the education needed but might also have good connections. "Wow, Ian. That's pretty damn cool."

"Thanks, Dad. I hoped you might like it." Ian's excitement was even greater now, his energy almost palpable.

"I do. We'll have to talk about it some more." Jace eased back on the engines and prepared to drop the anchor. "In the meantime, it's time for the first event of the week. Our guests are ready for happy hour."

They opened the large glass doors that separated the helm and the lounge from the aft deck. This created a large, comfortable area for the guests to assemble. The long row of cabinets that formed an entertainment center quickly turned into a cocktail bar for happy hour, and Ian helped Marissa bring up trays of hors d'oeuvres.

"Oh, this is just lovely!" Gretchen cooed as she clasped her hands beneath her chin and took in the view.

"Anything for you, my dear." Hugo Bradford put his hand on the small of his bride's back, but he looked bored as he took it all in. "Really, though, I think we should've chartered a larger boat for this. Things are a bit cramped, don't you think?"

"Whatever you say," she purred, "although I certainly don't mind being close to you. "

He rolled a shoulder slightly. "It's nice, but Hugo Bradford wants more than just nice. I want luxury. This is fine for a week, but we'll definitely need an upgrade when I purchase one for us."

"That sounds wonderful, dear. Cosmopolitan, please." This last directive was aimed at Jace.

"Yes, ma'am." Jace passed the order over to Marissa, who scooped ice into a shaker. With his back turned to the couple, he frowned. He knew he was right in correcting Ian about the way he spoke about their guests. They really did have to maintain a professional attitude and do the job they'd agreed to do. But maybe Ian was still right about a few things.

"What's that, Hugo? You're finally going to dive into buying one?" Archie Young nudged the groom with his elbow. "I've been telling you for quite some time now. You're really going to enjoy it."

"Oh, don't give him such hell, Arch." This came from Phillip Downs, who barely glanced at Marissa before saying, "Whiskey."

"What?" Archie countered. "A man of Hugo's wealth and reputation ought to have a boat or two under his belt."

"Sure, but have you seen the machines he's got in his garage?" Phillip let out a low whistle. "Now, those are something!"

"Oh, you boys," Gretchen giggled as she took the drink Marissa handed her. "I'll let you talk about your toys." She flitted off to the women who'd just come up onto the deck.

Jace felt every hair on his body stand on end. The dull conversation about expensive sports cars and even more pricey yachts funneled out of his hearing. It wasn't the dazzling bride who had his attention, nor was it her giggling girlfriends. The tall, willowy woman with the constantly bored look of a runway model didn't do anything for him, either.

It was her. His bear heaved inside him when he caught sight of her dark hair. Jace could feel her presence. In fact, he was pretty sure he'd been able to sense her the entire time she'd been on board. He knew what that meant, but could it really be? After all this time? And in such an odd circumstance? He would need to find out more, but he had a job to do right now.

As Marissa prepared drinks for the men, who were now weighing the merits of various brands of wristwatches, he glanced over his shoulder. The bride had brought her flock to the oversized wraparound couch. The two giggly ones flanked her, squealing every now and then and gesturing wildly with their hands as they spoke. The tall one perched herself neatly and carefully in an armchair, displaying herself like a museum piece.

She was a little further back, situating herself in the corner of the couch. She watched and listened to the conversation but wasn't really a part of it. One finger spiraled around a lock of hair, twisting it into a thick rope. While the other women wore bright, lightweight sundresses, she'd opted for a pair of loose black trousers and a fitted tank top.

The beast inside him didn't give a shit about the job he was there to do, and it was getting impatient. Jace stepped over to the group of women. "Can I get you ladies anything to drink?"

"Oh, just get me a cosmo like Gretchen has!"

"Same!"

That took care of the first two. Jace turned to the tall one, who let out a long exhale through her nostrils at having to go to the trouble of looking at him.

"Sparkling water with a squeeze of lime," she commanded in a low voice.

Jace then turned to the last one, whose name he had yet to learn. In fact, she was the only one whose name he cared about. "And for you?"

Her green eyes flicked up to meet his. They widened for a moment and then quickly turned away. "Nothing for me, thank you."

Even as he relayed the drink order to Marissa, her presence continued to pull at him. His eyes returned to the sofa, but she was gone. It only took him a moment to spot her. She'd left the small crowd on the deck and slipped off to starboard on the narrow spit of decking that ran around the cabin and toward the bow. He thought for a moment before he grabbed something from the fridge and slipped out the side door.

She stood with her elbows on the railing, leaning slightly out as she gazed over the water. She appeared to be lost in thought, and she hadn't heard him come out. The breeze blew her hair back slightly from her face, letting him see more of the structure of her cheeks and the line of her jaw.

"You shouldn't be the only one without a drink of some sort." Jace stepped to the railing next to her and handed her a cold can of soda.

She startled a bit but then laughed when she saw what he was trying to give her. "I figured a boat like this was too fancy for a simple soda. "

"You never know what you might find here." He'd certainly found something unexpected. "Jace Brigham."

She glanced at him again, those green eyes flashing for just that moment before she glanced away. "Erin O'Leary."

At least now he knew her name. And he liked it. "Are you enjoying your trip so far, Erin?" Her name rolled beautifully down the length of his tongue.

She tipped her head slightly to the side, and her shoulders contracted in a minimal shrug. "It's all right."

He knew it'd gotten off to a bad start. He knew she'd been embarrassed by her luggage mishap on the deck when she'd first arrived. What she didn't know was that he hadn't stopped thinking about it since, but probably not for the reasons she would imagine. Erin wouldn't need that toy if he had any say in the matter. Still, his mind flashed with an image of her in her cabin on the bed, her head craned back in ecstasy against the pillow as she slipped the little silver device between her legs.

Jace tightened his jaw and forced himself back into the moment. He was getting carried away, but that was easy. "Forgive me for saying so, but you don't seem like the type I usually see on these charters."

She looked at him more fully now, letting go of some of that aloofness that she wore like armor. "Is this where I'm supposed to tuck my hair behind my ear and tell you I'm not like other girls?"

"I already know you're not." Jace sensed the shifter in her, but it wasn't one he was familiar with. She definitely wasn't a bear like himself, nor was she a wolf like some of those who'd been adopted into his clan. It was a mystery to him, and it made her all the more intriguing. "This isn't exactly the scene where you'd normally find me, either."

"So, you're not like other captains?" she challenged.

The hint of a smile that played on her lips made his stomach twist. "You could say that. I used to do long charters like this, but it was too much while I was trying to raise my son."

"You have a little boy?"

Was that a hint of wistfulness he detected in her voice? No, Jace decided. He was reading too much into it. Most women wanted to hear about children. "Not exactly a little one anymore. He's just about grown." Jace turned and nodded toward Ian, who was politely offering everyone dainty little slices of cucumber with slices of salmon on top.

This had Erin turning around so she could look back and forth between Jace and Ian. "Oh. I see the resemblance now. I can imagine it would be hard to be a parent while you're gone for days at a time."

"It was, and my family helped me a lot, but I still found that the day tours were much easier to deal with. Even so, Ian has fallen in love with the water just as much as I have. He's got plans for his own boat tour company someday." Jace didn't really want to just yammer about himself, but at least he had her talking. Erin reminded him of a feral cat when she was around the other passengers. Somewhat tolerant, pretending here and there to be part of the crowd, but overall keeping to herself. "A friend of mine asked if we could fill in while he had surgery, so here we are."

"Mm." She nodded as she took a sip of her soda. Erin was now leaning back against the railing. She didn't look as uncomfortable as she had on the couch, but there was still a wall up around her. "Gretchen and I were best friends as little girls. We grew up and changed over the years, but we've always kept in touch. I knew it was going to be…in teresting…to join her for this little cruise, but it's her wedding. What else could I do? So here I am."

"It's funny how things like that work out," Jace noted quietly. His hand twitched. He wanted to reach out and touch her, just to brush his fingertips against her arm at least. More, hopefully, but she created a longing in him that he'd never experienced before. "Sometimes I think fate puts us where we need to be."

Those catlike eyes slid up to his and then quickly away again. Every time he started to make progress, she'd slip backward again a moment later. "Possibly. Sometimes, I wonder if we ought to have a say in the matter."

"The line between destiny and free will can be kind of blurry." He'd never thought about things that deeply, but at the moment, it seemed right. Jace had chosen to take this job. It'd been a conscious decision, yet it'd put him right there with Erin. He'd been put right in the path of his?—

"Captain! Yoohoo! Captain!" Gretchen was shaking her empty glass in the air.

Jace frowned. "Duty calls." He slipped past Erin and went back to the lounge to help Marissa and Ian serve the guests. On a smaller yacht like this, he had to serve as both captain and crew. They could probably have used a couple of extra hands to take care of the demanding wedding party, but there was only so much space for the crew to sleep. He whipped up some more cosmopolitans, but his mind was on Erin as she stood by the railing and sipped her soda.