need to say this, but youâre truly a professional.â
She had never been more offended in her life. Who, exactly, did he think she was? Just wait until she found Bridgett.
She heard the party going on somewhere in front of them, laughter drifting down from the deck above. Sheâd never been on a boat this size, however, and she took her time walking along the side deck, watching the lights splash on the dark ocean, getting her sea legs.
âThis must have cost a fortune,â she murmured.
âI think the family can afford it,â Luke said, still holding her hand, walking in front of her.
âNo, really, I donât think they can.â
He glanced back at her, the slightest frown on his face. They emerged on the bow of the yacht where a band played steel drums, filling the night with a tropical beat. A couple of waiters held trays of pretty drinks and dark-haired women in dresses that certainly wouldnât have needed the wand danced together while men lounged on the chairs, laughing and smoking cigars.
Uh, maybe there was more than one wedding party on this ship. âSheâs not here. I think we have the wrong group,â Scarlett said into Lukeâs ear.
She didnât let go of his hand, however. And bless him, he didnât let go of hers, either. See, he was a gentleman after all. She might decide to like him, just for now, despite the coerced dating.
He stopped a waiter and asked him something inSpanish. She tried to catch it but he had a much better grasp of the language than she did, clearly, because he talked so quickly she got nothing. The waiter gestured up another deck.
âSheâs in her stateroom waiting for us,â Luke said and pulled her toward the stairs.
Stateroom?
They found another group partying on the deck above. Not a familiar face here, either. She let Luke drag her to the back of the boat.
As he knocked on the stateroom door, she turned and stood for a moment, staring out at the mysterious black sea, the stars pinpricks on the undulating surface. The music, the flicker of lightning in the distance, the low tremble of thunderâshe had entered a different world. âI canât believe Bridgett rented this. I mean, sheâs normally over the top, butââ
âWhat?â Luke sidled up beside her just as the door opened.
Scarlett turned, expecting Bridgett. Instead, a woman with dark hair, wide brown eyes and very red lips stood in the doorway. She was petite, beautiful and wearing an off-white silk gown that left nearly nothing to the imagination.
The woman glanced at Luke, then her gaze landed on Scarlett. What looked frighteningly like relief crossed her face.
âFinally,â she said. Then she reached out and put her arms around Scarlett, hugging her as if she might be her long-lost friend. âIâm so glad youâre here.â
Â
Something didnât feel right. Luke couldnât put his finger on it, but ever since they boarded the yachtâfrom the panic on her face when Sanchezâs men wanded her,to her more-than-friendly grip on his hand, to the way her eyes widened when Lucia threw her arms around herâsomething about Scarlett seemed off.
She had been briefed, right? And it seemed that when sheâd slid her hand onto his arm back at the resort, sheâd even settled into their charade, had put on her game face.
Lucia grabbed Scarlettâs hand and pulled her inside.
Luke followed and shut the door behind them. Wow, the drug business paid well. His tiny flat in Prague that he shared with Brody Wickhamâhe might be displaced soon, thanks to Brodyâs recent engagement to pop sensation Vonyaâwould fit three times over in Luciaâs living room alone. Closed doors probably led to a bedroom and more. The place looked as if it should be in a showroom or a catalogueâa seafoam-blue sofa and overstuffed chair, cherrywood end tables, a giant flat screen on which played a