Page 115 of Falling Overboard

I smiled and knew how true that statement was. Ships like this were very expensive to maintain. “I’ve heard it said that the two greatest days of a boat owner’s life are when they buy their boat and when they sell it.”

Hank laughed. “Probably true. I will have to rename it, though. I was thinking aboutSeas the Day.” He spelled out the word so that I would hear the pun. I smiled and shook my head. Like father, like son.

“Did you go to college?” Susan asked me.

“I didn’t get the chance,” I said.

Hadley, Hunter’s eighteen-year-old sister, looked up from her phone long enough to say, “Nice necklace.” She had a knowing grin.

“Thanks.” I hoped I wasn’t blushing. I tucked the necklace back into my uniform.

“Do you have any siblings?” Susan resumed her line of questioning.

“Two younger sisters,” I said. “Twins.”

“And where is your family from?”

“All over. But my paternal grandparents are from Italy.”

Georgia was across the table from me, pouring wine for Hank. She raised her eyebrows and smiled at me in amusement. I understood what she was silently communicating. Nobody was asking her any questions. Just me.

Something flashed across Hunter’s mother’s face. Understanding? Recognition? She nodded with a look of satisfaction and then asked, “What do you see yourself doing after yachting?”

This was starting to feel a bit like an interrogation. White-lie time. “I love my job so much I can’t imagine doing anything else,” I said. “I’m going to go check in with the chef. I’ll be right back.”

I let out a deep sigh when I entered the main salon and hurried down to the galley. Hunter met me on the staircase, blocking my way.

“Found your phone,” he said, handing it to me.

“Where was it?”

“On the floor of our cabin.”

I frowned. That was weird. I had done a thorough sweep of our room. “Thank you.”

“How are things going up there?”

“What did you say to them about me?” I didn’t mean to sound so accusatory, but I couldn’t help it.

“Nothing!” he said, holding up his hands like he was about to be arrested. “Why?”

“Your mom was asking me a bunch of questions. She seemed keenly interested in me and didn’t ask Georgia anything. It felt personal, like she knew something about us.”

He dropped his arms down to his sides. “My mom is very perceptive and sees things that other people don’t. It’s part of what makes her such a great neurosurgeon. Did they do anything else besides interrogate you?”

“Your dad told me what he wanted to name the yacht.”

“I suggestedTitanic II, but that didn’t amuse him. I also triedKnot Pro Bono, ‘knot’ with aK, but that aggravated him even more.” He looked at my grin. “Why are you smiling like that?”

“Apple, tree, something about trajectory.”

“I’m not like my dad.” He seemed to bristle slightly.

I put my hand on his arm. “I just meant that you both love puns.”

“My mom always said that’s how my dad won her over.”

The fact that he’d probably looked exactly like Hunter when he was younger had probably helped. “They seem very much in love. They act like they’re still on their honeymoon.”

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