I closed my eyes and replayed our evening. Unfortunately, the attraction I’d felt for him was hard to beat back. But he’d made clear in no uncertain terms that it was my problem to deal with. And he seemed like he was the type to respect a power imbalance and never act inappropriately toward someone who worked for him. And I knew there was no way I’d compromise my job of taking care of sweet Dauphine or cast a stain on Tabitha’s agency she’d worked so hard to build.

The boat rocked gently, and before long I was dozing. The deep bass of a disco beat in the port thrummed faintly almost in time with my heart. I wondered what the nightlife was like in France and if I’d get a taste of it. Thinking of that made me miss Tabitha and Meredith.

I awoke sometime later, fully alert. The sounds of the port had subsided. Pale waving lines danced like ghosts along the cabin ceiling from the reflection of the water. I strained my ears, hearing a footfall on the steps and then outside my bedroom. I turned my head, seeing a figure in the hall. Mr. Pascale. He fumbled with the latch holding my door open, and it began to close.

“No, please,” I said quietly.

He started.

“Sorry.” I stifled a chuckle at giving him a fright. “Please leave it open. I can’t breathe with it closed.”

He was quiet as he processed this. “We leave the port early in the morning. You must close your window.”

I sat up.

“Je le ferai.” He waved me off and came fully into the room, his silhouette heading to the porthole. He slid it closed and latched it.

I could smell him. His cologne mixed with the sweet scent of scotch. He’d been up late drinking. I wondered if this was a common occurrence. I swallowed, breathed in deeply, the air now filled with him, and rubbed my chest.

“You are okay?” he asked.

“I—I think so.”

“Is this why you do not like boats?” his voice rumbled in the darkness.

“Part of it.”

“And the other part?”

I only vaguely made out his features in the dark. “The ocean has always scared me a little. It’s so dark. Fathomless. Full of things humans don’t understand.”

“Mystery and miracles too. It all depends on how you choose to see it. And the Mediterranean … well, you will see so many parts that are clear and sparkling and seductive. You will forget your fear. You will want to dive down deep to discover her.”

“You sound certain.”

“I am. Oh. Merde!” he cursed. “Can you swim?”

“Of course.” I huffed out a laugh. “And I love beaches. It’s just the idea of being in the middle of wide open expanses of water that makes me forget how to breathe.”