When I awoke, it was dark. Moonlight streaked in, creating a faint colorless glow. My cabin door was closed. I sat bolt upright, utterly disoriented. I fumbled for my phone and saw the time was just after midnight. I’d missed dinner.

I padded to the bathroom, holding on as the boat rocked gently. Then I went to my open door, debating if I was going to go take a breather up on the top deck. I hadn’t woken with a racing heart I suddenly realized. And I didn’t feel hungry, so I wondered what else had woken me. Just then I heard a whimper. Then Dauphine talking. I poked my head out of the cabin. I waited in the silence to hear her again. There was another louder cry and then something unintelligible. She was having a nightmare.

Across the hall Xavier Pascale’s room sat dark and silent, like he wasn’t there. Then I remembered he’d moved back upstairs.

Dauphine’s scream pierced the silence, making me jump.

I hurried into her room. “Shhh,” I crooned, seeing her whip her head from side to side. I climbed on to the bed, and she sat up with another cry. My arms went around her and she tried to struggle.

“Dauphine, shhh. It’s me. It’s Josie. You’re okay. You’re safe. Shhh.”

“Josie?”

“Yes, my love.”

She collapsed back on the bed.

“What were you dreaming about?”

“Maman,” she whispered. Her shoulders shook, and she curled onto her side.

I brushed her hair from her temple. It was damp.

“Mon chou.” Xavier was a dark figure in the doorway.

“Papa.”

He came around the other side and climbed onto the bed. He was shirtless with just a pair of athletic shorts.

I should leave them together, but I was struck motionless at the sight of him. Jerking out of the stupor, I shifted to move.

“Non.” Dauphine reached out and grabbed my hand. “Reste ave moi,” she murmured.

“Your father’s here now—”

“S’il te plaît. Please.” She took a wobbling breath. “Please, you both stay?”

Over her head, Xavier Pascale watched me, his eyes almost black in the darkness. I couldn’t tell if he was appalled by his daughter’s plea. But if she needed me, just for a bit, I didn’t want to make a scene simply because being near her father sent my body chemistry into chaos.

I nodded and shifted down so I could lie down and face Dauphine. I smelled her coconut shampoo and beyond that the faded smell of Xavier’s woodsy cologne, musky male, and warm, sleepy skin. I mashed my lips between my teeth.

Dauphine grabbed her father’s arm and wrapped it around her middle and then turned toward me, curling into a ball and nestling her chin under mine.