I shifted onto my side to face Cade. “You know, the deal we made also covers my services for the week.”
The glass doors to the balcony let in just enough moonlight for me to see the strong line of his jaw tightening. “Don’t call them services.”
“But that’s what they are.” I frowned, telling myself not to feel insulted. “You can judge it all you want, but I cuddle professionally. It’s a real job.”
His gaze flicked over to me. “All I need you to do on this trip is convince my brother and his friends that we’re getting married. Yourservicesaren’t required.”
Okay, then.
“Understood,” I murmured, shifting to face the ceiling.
Note to self: Maybe just let your grumpy client stay grumpy if he wants to so badly.
I whispered a good night to Whiskey, comfortable on his pillow at the foot of the bed, then tried to block out Cade’s big warm body lying just inches away from mine.
I couldn’t forget how he’d said our nap together was the best he’d ever had. And my decision to enter professional cuddling hadn’t been completely selfless. Yes, I wanted to help others, but I also slept better when being held.
Lying next to a perfectly warm—albeit unwelcoming—body in the dark was like torture. I shifted restlessly and tapped my fingers against my thighs, waiting for him to change his mind about cuddling.
But the minutes ticked by, and Cade’s side of the bed was radio silence.
I was still waiting when the exhaustion of the day finally caught up to me and sleep pulled me under.
pastries & pretending
. . .
Cade
I hadn’t been touching Ellie when I fell asleep—not after she’d criticized my acting and priorities in life. But I’d woken up to find a fluffy unicorn tucked under my arm and snuggled against my side, sleeping soundly.
She was all warm and cuddly, and the intimacy spooked me enough to jump straight out of bed when my alarm went off.
But I’d slept great.
Again.
… Shit.
Not wanting to dwell on that, I went about my normal morning routine: coffee, emails, then to the onboard workout room for a swim, followed by a few work calls. When I returned to our cabin to shower, Ellie was still curled up in bed, asleep. But she’d moved over to my side, and she had a new cuddle buddy hugged against her chest—a blue-eyed cat who tracked my every move until I shut the bathroom door behind me.
The bed was empty when I finished showering, but the doors to the balcony were open wide. Ellie stood at the railing—still in that ridiculous unicorn onesie, but with the hood pulled down so the ocean breeze played with her messy blue braid. With a towelwrapped around my waist, I strolled over to the open door and leaned against the doorjamb.
Whiskey sat on one of the patio chairs, surveying the water with his tail flicking idly.
He looked adorably grumpy in an orange cat-sized life jacket Ellie must’ve brought for him.
The engines were silent, the waves lapping rhythmically against the hull. I took a slow inhale of salt air, welcoming its sharpness.
“I can’t believe I’m really here,” Ellie murmured before covering a wide yawn with her hand. She gazed out across the water, eyes on the horizon. “It felt like a dream to wake up on this beautiful boat with the ocean right here. I’ve never been this far away from home.”
I crossed my arms. “What’s stopped you from traveling before?”
“Traveling is a luxury I don’t have the money or time off for.” She spoke softly, her voice still hoarse with sleep. With a small shrug, Ellie turned and leaned against the railing, giving me a sleepy smile. “You sure are an early bird. Where’d you run off to before the sun came up?”
“Went for a swim,” I said, making her eyes widen.
She pointed over the balcony’s railing. “In the ocean?”
