“You’re both welcome to join as well,” Vic said as an afterthought.

Emma shook her head. “Sorry, I can’t leave Brogan all alone on the boat with a horde of nieces and nephews.”

“And she invited me to join them,” Talia said sheepishly. “I was promised a dinner out of the deal, too.”

“Far be it from me to stand between anyone and Brogan’s boat or culinary skills,” Vic said, not displeased as she turned her focus to where she wanted it. “Ms. LeBlanc, I’d be happy to accommodate your questions, and any guests you choose, either in the name of professionalism or pleasure. Shall we say eight?”

Sophia pressed her lips together for a moment as if she didn’t quite like the corner she’d found herself painted into, but slowly she nodded. “This evening works as well as any.”

Vic managed to nod politely rather than doing a happy little victory jig, because it very much felt like she’d won a contest and scored a dinner date at the same time.

“But if I’m going to free up my evening, I’d better get back to my costume fitting,” Sophia added.

Talia glanced at her watch. “Crap, me too.”

Victoria took her cue to get out while she was ahead and showed them back to the main tourist entrance, careful not to actually come in contact with any tourists or their ever-present cameras. But as she bade the women goodbye, Emma did as well, choosing to stay beside her instead of following her friends.

Once the other two Americans were out of sight, Emma turned to her with both eyebrows raised.

“Yes?”

Emma’s smile turned almost shy as she whispered, “You’re smitten with Sophia LeBlanc.”

Her face warmed, slightly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You asked her out on a date.”

“I offered to assuage her concerns on a project in which we have a mutual stake.”

“Yes, as a cover to get her to have dinner with you.”

She forced a scoff even as her heart hammered. Had she really been so transparent? Emma clocked her straight away. What if Sophia had, too? Then again, she’d said yes, so maybe she should be thrilled she’d accepted what was apparently an obvious date.

“Do you have any idea who that woman is?” Emma asked.

She shrugged. “I read her bio.”

“Have you seen any of her movies?”

“I haven’t had the chance yet, but I know she won some prestigious award for supporting actress in something called Vigilant. I assume the film is about being prepared for anything.”

Emma burst out laughing.

“What?”

“It was the biggest blockbuster of last summer. It’s a gritty, dark, lesbian vigilante film. Talia wrote it. Sophia played a sexually and morally ambiguous villain who traps the antihero in an erotic—”

Some of the blood must have drained from her face, because Emma came up short.