Page 16 of A Fierce Princess

“OK?” Logan asks me. I look up to find him watching me intently. I feel a blush creep across my face.

“Just contemplating what we’ll see tomorrow,” I say as I push food around my plate.

Logan launches into a tutorial of the island we’ll visit tomorrow. It’s a smaller island, and we’ll be able to snorkel. Chris asks a bunch of questions about what sea life we’ll be seeing. I try to take some bites of my fish. It’s very good, but it’s also incredibly hard to eat when I can feel the heat of Logan’s body against mine. As he speaks, his leg bumps into mine, and I want it to stay there, our skin pressed together.

“So?” I hear Chris ask. I look up at him.

“I think you should go to bed early, Anna,” Chris says.

“I’m sorry. Long day, what did you ask?” I ask, turning to Logan.

“Are there any fish or sea creatures you’d like to see this week?” he asks again.

“A shark,” I say without thought.

“I’m sure we can accommodate that,” he replies.

He then starts talking about all the sharks that are in the area. Mia asks questions about them, clearly nervous to be in the water with them. Chris reassures her that it’s fine.

I yawn as the second round of drinks are served after the meal. I look at my phone. “I hate to say it, but I think I’ll turn in early tonight,” I say.

Logan scoots out of the booth so that I can head to my cabin. “Let me or the crew know if you need anything,” he says as I walk past him.

“Will do,” I say as I go to my cabin and promptly pass out.

Chapter 9

The squawking of a seagull wakes me. I open my eyes and find sun streaming through the window of my cabin. I shower quickly and head up to the galley where Vicky has a buffet of breakfast food out on the small counter.

“Help yourself,” she says with a smile. “Our breakfasts tend to be informal.”

“No, this is great. Thanks,” I assure her. I take a bagel and lather some cream cheese on it before layering lox on top of each half. She hands me a coffee, and I take it out to the deck.

Logan is already up and steering us into a small alcove.

“Good morning,” he says cheerfully.

“Good morning,” I reply.

“Ready to paddleboard?” he asks.

I grin. “Yes,” I say.

“Good, I’m gonna drop anchor, and then we’ll tour around the alcove by paddleboards. We can bring the snorkel equipment. There’s a good reef right over there,” he says, pointing to a rocky outcropping at the edge of the alcove.

“Is it safe?” I ask him.

“Very,” he says.

I sit and watch while he and Thomas anchor the boat and get out the paddleboards. I notice there are only five paddleboards.

Pete pops his head up from the salon. “Morning, Susanna,” he says.

I glare at him because in such situations he knows he should just call me Anna.

“Good morning, Anna,” he restates.

“Is Anna a nickname?” Logan asks from the far side of the deck.

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