Shaking his head, Cade tracked Whiskey as he prowled across the bed. “He won’t attack me in my sleep, will he?”
“Of course not!” I waved him off, before pausing. “But you might not want to leave any valuables out in the open. Whiskey’s paws can be a little sticky. It’s something we’re working on.”
Cade raised a doubtful brow. “Where’s his litter box?”
“He doesn’t need one, because he’s trained to use the toilet,” I announced proudly. Satisfied with the bed, Whiskey slunk back over to me, and I gave him pets and kisses. “Aren’t you a good boy, Lord Whiskerson? Yes, you are. Such a good boy.”
He rumbled a soft purr and rubbed against me before jumping from the bed and darting into the sitting area.
Leaving him to his exploring, I did some of my own. The first door led to a luxury bathroom almost as big as my studio apartment back home. The next door opened to a fully stocked closet. The left side was filled with women’s clothes that looked brand new—and expensive—but were completely foreign to me. I stared at them. “Whose things are these?”
“That’s the wardrobe my assistant bought for you,” Cade said without looking.
“Wardrobe?” I echoed, stepping out of the closet to frown at him. He was scrolling on a phone that definitely hadn’t been in his hand a moment ago. Silly me assumed Nate needed my measurements for matching engaged couple swimsuits or something—not an entirewardrobe. “But I packed my own clothes.”
Cade’s gaze flicked to my top. “Do they all look like that?”
My eyes narrowed at his tone. “What’s wrong with my top? I crocheted it myself.”
His face went carefully blank. “…Nothing. But my brother will be expecting a certain image if this is going to be believable.” He paused before adding, “I need you to look the part. If I’d known you’d go this casual, I would’ve had him deliver you an outfit this morning.”
Ah. That had to be the most subtle way I’d ever been told I looked poor.
“Guess we’ve reached our first opportunity to compromise as an engaged couple.” I planted both hands on my hips. “How does this sound? I’ll wear some of the things you’ve provided to ourgroup events if I can still wear mine during downtime around the boat.”
His attention returned to the phone screen. “Deal.”
I smiled. Problem solved.
This week might not be so hard after all.
Staff brought a five-course meal to our room, and I ate at a table out on the balcony. Cade was mostly distracted by the second phone he’d smuggled in with his luggage—along with a laptop, both of which were definitely contraband according to Dr. Lovejoy—but Whiskey kept me company while I grazed.
I soaked in a giant bathtub filled with salts and bubbles while Cade worked. The bathroom was filled to the brim with amenities. Luxurious lotions, bougie face masks, and a plush white robe I never wanted to take off.
Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be very appropriate for our sleeping situation. So I got dressed in my unicorn onesie pajamas, put the shiny diamond ring in a trinket tray for safekeeping overnight, and stepped out of the bathroom to find Cade already on the bed.
He leaned against the headboard on the left side, typing on a laptop with his legs crossed at the ankles.
He did a double take at my onesie. “…You brought that with you?”
I rubbed my hands over the colorful fabric at my hips, admiring its softness. “I know you didn’t actually request it, but I thought it’d be a good way to break the ice.”
“Because you love icebreakers so much?” he asked dryly.
It took me a second to catch on to the wordplay, and I laughed. “Yeah, I really do.”
His lips twitched, but he only shook his head. “Just get in the bed, Darling.”
The way he said my name made me swallow, and I kicked myself. Since when had I ever been nervous about climbing into bed with someone? I was supposed to be a professional.
I shuffled around the bed to the other side and went to climb in when a small golden wrapper caught my attention. My eyes widened in delight. “Oh my gosh. Someone put chocolates on our pillows?”
Cade refocused on his laptop. “The crew leaves them during turndown service.”
My nerves disappeared as I unwrapped the treat. “That’s so sweet of them.”
I popped the piece into my mouth and hummed at the chocolaty goodness—totally worth having to slip into the bathroom to brush my teeth a second time.
