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He’d sworn nobody would ever control him or hold any power over him again. Yet here was a petite, doe-eyed maid who had more power over him than any business magnate or his father ever could.
Will raked a hand through his hair. He’d promised Cat a day of relaxation and he intended to deliver just that. If she wasn’t ready for more, then he’d have to pull all of his self-control to the surface and honor her wishes.
What had he gotten himself into?
Nine
Maybe bringing this particular swimsuit had been a bad idea. When she’d grabbed the two-piece black bikini, Catalina had figured she’d make Will suffer a little. But, by wearing so little and having him so close, she was the one suffering.
Catalina pulled on a simple red wrap dress from her own collection and slipped on her silver flip-flops.
One glance in the mirror and she laughed. The bikini would at least draw attention away from the haggard lines beneath her eyes and the pallor of her skin. Over the past few months, if she wasn’t working for James or Patrick, she was working for herself getting her stock ready to showcase when the opportunity presented itself. She believed in being prepared and the moment she saw an opening with any fashion design firm, she was going to be beating down their doors and promoting her unique styles.
Catalina tossed her discarded clothes back into her tote and looked around to make sure she hadn’t left anything lying around in the bathroom. Could such a magnificent room be a simple, mundane bathroom?
With the polished silver fixtures, the glass wall shower and sparkling white tile throughout, Catalina had taken a moment to appreciate all the beauty before she’d started changing. The space screamed dominance...male dominance.
Will was pulling out all the stops today. He’d purposely invited her aboard his yacht because he knew that given her love of water she’d never be able to say no. He was right. Anything that got her away from her daily life and into the refreshing ocean was a no-brainer.
Exiting the bathroom, Catalina dropped her bag next to the door and headed up to the top deck. The sun warmed her skin instantly as she turned and spotted Will in a pair of khaki board shorts and a navy shirt he’d left completely unbuttoned. The man wasn’t playing fair...which she assumed was his whole plan from the start.
Fine. She had a bikini and boobs. Catalina figured she’d already won this battle before it began. Men were the simplest of creatures.
Will had transformed the seating area into a picnic. A red throw covered the floor, a bucket with ice and wine sat to one side and Will was pulling fruit from a basket.
“Wow. You really know how to set the stage.”
He threw her a smile. “Depends on the audience.”
“It’s just me, so no need to go to all the trouble.” She edged around the curving seats and stood just to the side of the blanket. “I’d be happy with a simple salad.”
“There is a need to go to all this trouble,” he corrected her as he continued to pull more food from the basket. “Have a seat. The strawberries are fresh, the wine is chilled and I have some amazing dishes for us.”
Catalina couldn’t turn down an invitation like that. She eased down onto the thick blanket and reached for a strawberry. She’d eaten three by the time Will came to sit beside her.
With his back resting against the sofa, he lifted his knee and wrapped his arm around it. “I have a variety of cheese, salmon, baguettes, a tangy salad my chef makes that will make you weep and for dessert...”
He reached over and pulled the silver lid from the dish. “Your favorite.”
Catalina gasped as she stared at the pineapple upside-down cheesecake. “You remembered?”
“Of course I did.” He set the lid back down. “There’s not a detail about you that I’ve forgotten, Cat.”
When she glanced over at him, she found his eyes locked on hers and a small smile dancing around his lips. “I remembered how much you love strawberries and that you will always pick a fruity dessert over a chocolate one. I also recall how much you love salmon, so I tried to incorporate all of your favorites into this lunch.”
Strawberry in hand, she froze. “But you just asked me last night. How did you get all of this together?”
Will shrugged and made up a plate for her. “I knew I wanted to take you out on my yacht at some point. I was hoping for soon, but it wasn’t until yesterday that I realized how hard you’ve been working.”
