Flynn stood rooted to the dock, his gaze following Herman and Sage as they boarded the Marvelous Mira.
Cap shimmied his backside, eager to embark, but waiting patiently for Flynn to get his act together.
Flynn tightened his grip on Cap’s leash but still didn’t budge.
Come on. One foot in front of the other.
He tried to cajole his body into motion, but his brain kept his feet glued in place, working overtime to sort through his conflicted emotions.
Despite his love for the wide-open water, he hadn’t been near a sailboat since his brother’s death. Too many painful memories. Besides, forgoing his greatest passion in life while pursuing Kevin’s was a fitting consequence for the selfish choice he’d made ten years ago. The day his brother died.
“Are you coming?” Sage called from the starboard deck. “Or are you giving up already?” Her inflection indicated she wouldn’t be surprised if he quit.
Even in his current condition, with his body and brain at odds, she did something to him on a molecular level. Something he couldn’t explain. The feeling reminded him of the first time he set sail, when the wind and water came together like art, physics, and magic all rolled into one. His stomach sank while his heart soared, wholly transcendent and intoxicating. He couldn’t get enough. And after all these years, she still had the same effect. How was that possible?
He squinted in the sunlight, taking in her ethereal appearance. Her hair shone in the golden light, fluttering gently in the briny sea breeze. The long skirt of her white cotton sundress billowed around her legs like a sail, drawing his focus to her slender ankles—and the braided friendship bracelet she still wore.
He closed his eyes. The moment she’d given him and Kevin their matching bracelets remained imprinted on his mind. Life had been so simple then. The future had been bright and promising, brimming with the call of adventure. And now?
Now, all love and joy and hope for something better lay buried with his brother.
“Are you okay?” Her tone softened slightly, and he realized he’d grimaced, pained by the memory.
“Peachy.” He cleared his throat, returning to the present. “Just caught a glare while I admired my new boat.” He tossed a teasing grin in her direction, grateful he could hide his pain with humor.
Sage rolled her eyes and turned her back to him.
Patting Cap’s head, he murmured, “Ready, boy?”
Cap nudged his palm for moral support, and Flynn straightened.
It’s now or never.
Letting Cap lead, he crossed the gangway, his heart thudding inside his chest with each step.
Three days. He could keep it together for that long, couldn’t he?
As Herman gave his little spiel, reiterating the rules and Mackensie’s expectations—find the diary, blah, blah, blah—Flynn let his gaze wander. Even after weeks lost at sea, the Marvelous Mira was a bona fide babe. Easily the classiest boat he’d ever seen, and his parents had dozens scattered along both coastlines.
Her white paint needed a fresh coat, and the rigging looked worn. He wouldn’t know about the sails until he unfurled them, but he had a hunch they’d seen better days. All in all, there was a good chance the Marvelous Mira wasn’t even seaworthy. But what did it matter? It wasn’t like he planned to set sail. It would be good enough to simply own her.
Herman continued their tour below deck, starting with the galley, which was roomier than Flynn expected.
“The refrigerator is more like a cooler.” Herman gestured to a rectangular box the size of a mini fridge built into the counter. “So, be judicious with how often you open it. But you’ll find that it’s fully stocked.”
Sage pulled back the lid to take a peek inside. Her eyes widened, and she quickly slammed it shut, her cheeks tinged pink.
“What’s on the menu?” Flynn inched closer, curious to see what had caused her strange reaction.
“Nothing.” Sage hovered in front of the fridge like a protective mama bear guarding her cubs.
“Let me have a look.”
“We shouldn’t open it. We need to conserve the cold temperature.” Her voice had gone up an octave.
What had Mackensie put in the cooler? “I’ll just take a quick peek.”
Her shoulders slumped in resignation, and she begrudgingly stepped aside.
Flynn cracked open the lid. What in the world? He did a double take, making sure his mind wasn’t playing tricks on him. “Is this some kind of joke?”
“I don’t know what you mean, sir.” Herman looked about as innocent as a criminal caught in the act.
“Why is our fridge stocked with oysters, caviar, chocolate-covered strawberries, heart-shaped crème brûlée, and three bottles of champagne?”
“Sounds like a lovely meal, sir.”
“Yeah, for newlyweds.”
At his comment, Sage made the unmistakable sound of someone choking on their own horror. Not that he blamed her. They’d planned on marriage once. But now? She’d probably marry a Sasquatch with smelly feet before him. Why did the realization create a gaping hole in his stomach?
“What kind of game is Mackensie playing?” he asked.
“No game, sir. Mr. Mackensie simply has very fine tastes.”
“Sure.” Flynn wasn’t convinced the kooky billionaire didn’t have ulterior motives for his culinary choices. Maybe the guy got a kick out of toying with estranged exes? The entire town knew about his breakup with Sage—the way he’d behaved like a deplorable jerk, ditching her without an explanation. Not that they knew his reasons, as if that would matter. Did Mackensie want to see him squirm?
He glanced around the galley, searching for hidden cameras while Herman highlighted the four-burner, gimbaled stove.
“Now, let’s move to the main living quarters,” Herman announced with a grand sweeping gesture. “Mrs. Mackensie wanted an open feel, so she had the main salon and captain’s quarters combined into one large space.”
They followed Herman to the back of the boat and into a long, surprisingly airy room. The black walnut trim and beams gleamed against white bulkheads, embodying a classic Herreshoff interior. Custom-built bookcases surrounded them on all sides, interspersed with booth-style seating in a rich hunter green leather.
Flynn did a 360 turn, overcome with an unexpected surge of awe and admiration. Although he knew all the exclusive and expensive brands, he didn’t usually care about superficial things like fancy throw pillows or pricey paperweights. His mother had hired a designer to decorate both his penthouse apartment and his office, and he’d honestly been happy to offload the task. Even as a kid, his bedroom decor had been handpicked by a professional.
But something about this space—the combination of elegance and subtle masculinity—stirred an emotional response he hadn’t expected. It felt… homey. Was that the right word? He wasn’t sure. Nothing had felt like home before.
He glanced at Sage, wondering if she had the same impression.
Sage covered her mouth with both hands, tears glistening in her eyes. Her entire being radiated joy, wonder, and disbelief, as if she’d been lost in a desert and stumbled upon a life-saving oasis. She clearly had a connection to this place, something deep and profound. Something he didn’t understand.
But one thing was undeniably apparent in her raw, vulnerable expression. Sage wanted this boat. Perhaps more than anything she’d ever wanted before.
And if he fulfilled his promise to his brother, he’d have to take it from her.
He’d broken her heart once. How could he do it again?