Nikolai inclines his chin, and before I can prevent it, he snatches my hand and delivers a kiss to my damp knuckles. “I see you later.” With a small bow, he squelches to the stairs and disappears.

Gustavo’s eyes widen.

“That’s not what it looks like,” I say quickly.

He pinches the bridge of his nose. “I hope not. There are rules about staff fraternizing with guests.”

Behind us, footsteps echo up the metal stairs leading from the disembarkation platform. Walsh bounds into the mudroom, closely followed by Graeme. They’re both red-faced, sweating, and breathing like they’ve sprinted a marathon. Or like they just paddled their kayak back to the ship at top speed.

Walsh lunges for me. “Henley, are you okay?”

I stiffen as she folds her arms around me. “I’m fine.”

Graeme hangs back by the lockers but watches me intently.

Gustavo steps forward. “The problem is, Ms. Evans, your negligence disrupted an excursion for our guests today. Not to mention you scared the wildlife.” He shakes his head sadly. “I will have to let James Wilcox know of these events.”

“What! Why?” I demand.

“Because he asked me to report anything notable to him.”

I begin to argue, but Gustavo raises his palms. “I’m sorry, but my hands are tied. And do try to be more careful in the future. As a staff member, you set an example for the rest of the guests. If you disrespect our rules, so will they.”

Graeme steps forward but hesitates. His chest rises and falls twice before he speaks. “She didn’t disrespect the rules. It was an accident.”

Gustavo blinks at him before shrugging. “The result is the same. Now, if you will excuse me, I have an email to send.” Frowning, he marches out of the mudroom toward the staff office.

My breathing hollows and my heart drums in my ears. Gustavo is going to tell James what happened. And rule breakers don’t get promotions.

I’ve let this opportunity slip through my fingers, and all because I couldn’t stay focused on what’s important. Because I was too busy obsessing over a guy.

Walsh approaches me cautiously. “Don’t worry, we’ll—”

“I never should have brought you,” I hiss under my breath. “You ruin everything. As usual.”

She balks like I’ve slapped her. “What are you—”

“You know what I’m talking about.” I shoot a veiled glance at Graeme. His expression is unreadable, but fire burns behind his eyes.

I barely make it to my cabin before the tears begin to fall.

16

As soon as I twist the knob to shut off the water, someone pounds on the door to our cabin.

Shoving the narrow shower curtain aside, I snatch a towel from the wall-mounted rack and fold it around me. Even the hottest shower I could stand wasn’t enough to dispel the chill from my dip in the water earlier.

The knocking reverberates again.