“You have no idea how I see you.” His voice is like a hammer resonating off steel and a shiver zings down my spine. “You’re so wrapped up in your own preconceived notions about my motives you’ve never stopped to consider that maybe I’m different. You can’t know what I think because you don’t know me.”

He takes a step closer. I hold my ground and raise my chin.

“You know what? I think you’re mad because, despite your best efforts, you actually like me. And that makes your ruthless approach to this promotion harder than you thought.”

“What?” I splutter. “I don’t like you.”

“You do, at least a little. Admit it.”

“That’s… that’s…”

A tiny voice inside echoes in my ear. He’s right. Letting loose a disgusted snort, I snatch up my equipment in a puff of sand and stomp down the beach.

“You can lie to yourself all you want, Henley, but you had fun hanging out with me this morning. So why try so hard to hate me?” he yells at my back.

My steps falter, but I keep walking.

I gather the rest of my things and head for one of the Zodiacs pulled up along the shore. I’ve had enough snorkeling for today. Climbing into the boat, I spot Graeme down the beach. He’s still standing where I left him, watching me.

Even at this distance, I can tell he’s shaking his head. When he sees me looking, he points directly at me, draws an enormous heart in the air with both index fingers, then thumbs his own chest.

And it’s not cute at all, damn it.

Sticking my nose up, I turn my back on Graeme. But I can feel his eyes on me until the Zodiac pushes off toward the ship and the beach becomes nothing more than a blur in the distance.

13

I almost don’t sit with Graeme at dinner. Almost.

But then I catch Nikolai staring at me from the dessert buffet, and I force myself to weave through the dining room until I spot Graeme sitting alone at a table for two along one of the front windows. Outside, the blazing orange sunset dips and crests with the movement of the ship.

I’m finally warm after a hot shower, but the air-conditioning chills my damp skin and I pull my sweater tighter around me. My phone vibrates in my pocket and I pull it out to see a new text from Christina.

Miriam says Graeme got a new phone last August after his first phone went kaput.

NOW SPILL WHAT IS THIS INTRIGUE

I blow out a shaky breath. He was telling the truth. He never intended to take credit for my video.