The corner of my lips twitched. “The gym on board has an Endless Pool to do laps in.”
She hummed, her gaze flicking down my bare chest. “Sothat’show you have a body like that while working an office job. From swimming?”
“Every morning,” I said, amusement growing. “Didn’t realize you paid that close of attention to my body.”
A warm blush rose to Ellie’s cheeks as she shrugged. “I mean, it’s impossible not to when I was cuddled up against it all night.”
I frowned at the reminder. It was the last thing we needed to talk about.
“Shower’s all yours,” I said shortly, turning my back to her and heading for the closet to find clothes.
Hiding had nothing to do with it.
The shower was going when I finished getting dressed, so I sent out a few emails before heading to the main deck.
A few others were already gathered at the outdoor table—including Dr. Lovejoy, so I headed in the other direction to where Mac stretched out on a sun lounger with a fruity drink that had a little green umbrella and silly straw. His bright yellow Hawaiian shirt threatened to blind me.
“Remind me why I brought you along again?” I asked, frowning. “I don’t need a bodyguard this week.”
Mac shrugged and put on a pair of dark shades. “An all-expenses-paid vacation? Sun and drinks and a front-row seat to watch your half-assed plan crash and burn? You couldn’t pay me to stay away. So, yes, you do need a bodyguard.”
He sucked his drink through the silly straw, while my frown deepened. “It won’t crash and burn.”
Mac just hummed and continued slurping, making me scowl.
First Ellie had complained about the script last night, and now Mac was calling the plan half-assed.
Why did it matter if our story was boring if it was believable?
We weren’t here to win any awards.
“It’ll be fine.” I crossed my arms. “She’s a bit rough around the edges, but at least she hasn’t been arrested, right?”
The slurping stopped, and Mac cleared his throat. “Well, about that…”
My gaze shot to him. “You’re kidding.”
“The background check came through about an hour ago.” He winced. “Nothing violent, but she’s had a couple arrests. Once for being mistaken for a sex worker, though that charge was dropped. The other?—”
“I don’t want to know.” I cut him off, pinching the skin between my eyes. “It doesn’t matter now anyway.”
It’d be fine. It had to be.
While I was rethinking my choices, Ellie showed up in one of the dresses Nate had bought—a white classic thing that hugged her petite figure. She fidgeted with the hem before shuffling over to us in her sandals.
I frowned at the familiar brown backpack she wore. “Are you going to bring that cat everywhere with you?”
“Only when Whiskey wants to explore. He’s an adventurer.” She set her bag down and opened the top flap. Whiskey popped his head out—still wearing his little orange life jacket—and looked around the deck while Ellie straightened the hem of her dress. “Why are most of the clothes in that wardrobe white? Do rich people never spill food on themselves?”
“Like I said, crash and burn,” Mac muttered under his breath.
Ellie frowned at my head of security. “What is a bodyguard even doing on a trip like this?”
He grunted. “My boss is here, and I’m paid to protect him.”
“Well, sure. But we’re on an enclosed boat with staff who I’m guessing have been preapproved to be here.” She looked around with a shrug. “Who do you need to protect Cade from out here? A dolphin?”
She’d clearly meant it as a joke, but Mac’s unamusement was clear as day through his dark shades. “I’m not concerned about the sea life. You’re the real wild card.”
