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“I don’t know any Vanessa!” I insist, pushing him hands away. “Please, you’re making a mistake.”
“Savannah!”
I look up toward where Cole bellows my name. His eyes are wide as he spots me. “Shit.”
“Cole!” I’ve never been so glad to see him as I am right now. My heart hammers so loud in my chest that I think it might dent my ribs.
Richard pauses, seeming confused. “What–”
Cole makes it to me in three impressive bounds. He grabs me by the wrist and yanks me bodily out of my seat. I go willingly into Cole’s arms, clinging to him.
He feels safe and secure. He puts an arm around my waist and pulls me tight against him. He smells like a hint of exotic aftershave and I throw my arms around his neck.
“Now, wait a second,” Richard growls.
“She’s not with the rest of the girls,” Cole growls. “She’s on the boat by mistake.”
Richard looks astonished. I am confused too, but I’m too busy burying my face against Cole’s solid chest to protest.
“Wait, she… oh, my. It was my mistake, honey.” Richard addresses me, but I’m too busy trying to hide in the folds of Cole’s sweater to respond.
“Get out of here,” Cole says. “Go find someone else.”
“Is she–?” Richard starts.
Cole tenses and snarls, “I said to leave her alone, damn it!”
I scrunch my whole face up and close my eyes. Cole touches my hair and back for several moments, then speaks quietly.
“We’re going to go to the top floor. We won’t be bothered up there.” He pushes me back a little and looks deep in my eyes. “Come on. I’ll explain everything upstairs.”
I suck in a breath and nod. Clinging to Cole’s hand, I let him lead me up the stairwell. At the top is a closed door with a suited guard standing outside it.
“Name?” the guard asks.
“I want this whole floor. Whatever it costs.” Cole pulls a credit card out of his pocket and hands it over. “Let us in. You can run my card once we are settled.”
The guard licks his lips. For a moment, I hold my breath. Is he going to say no?
But then the guard takes the credit card and swings the door open. Cole leads me into a smaller, more intimate space. The walls are made of tinted glass everywhere I look. The room is set up as a lavish bedroom with a small bar. A sitting area is set up by the back of the boat and I can see some people smoking on the rear deck below.
“Is there a setting on these windows to give us more privacy?” Cole asks the guard.
The guard shrugs. “I’m hired help, man.”
“Okay. Thanks.” Cole shuts the door on the guard and turns to me.
“What the hell just happened?” I ask. “I feel like I’m taking crazy pills here.”
Cole comes over, takes me by the hand, and leads me to the bed. “Sit down. You want another glass of wine?”
I sit. I can tell from my unsteady legs that I’m still trembling.
“If you will hurry up and tell me the deal, I’ll feel a lot better.”
He blows out a breath. “We got on the wrong boat.”
“What?”
