We all nodded in understanding as he leveled a gaze at each of us, making sure we heard his threat loud and clear.
“Alcohol can also lead to a heap of drama, which I won’t tolerate either. Past that, safety is my number one priority — the safety of our guests and of our crew, too.”
Captain went on to explain what he meant by that, to review the importance of letting him know if there were any incidents on the boat, even if they seemed small. He reviewed our protocols for man overboard, fire, sinking ship, and other emergencies I hoped we’d never have to actually face, and then he was back to grinning.
“I want to give a couple of shout outs before we break here. First of all, let’s give it up for Ember, our Chief Stew.”
My cheeks flamed as the crew clapped. I wasn’t expecting this little bout of being the center of attention, and right now, the last thing I wanted was eyes on me when I was still reeling from the fact that my ex was sitting on the couch opposite me.
Nope — not reeling.
I didn’t care.
I didn’t care.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Ember for years now, and there’s no one who does a better table setting or a moresuperior dinner service. She runs an elevated interior from laundry to entertainment, and that’s why I wanted her as my chief stew this season. I know she’ll crush it. Let’s make sure to support her in every way we can in this new role.”
“Thanks, Cap,” I said with a genuine smile.
He winked at me. “I’d also like to recognize Palmer here. There’s no one I’d trust more to help me dock this behemoth in such a tiny marina. He runs his deck team like a well-oiled machine, and I think you’ll all find that everything on a yacht runs smoother when the deck team is in order. Let’s just hope our green deckie here can hang,” he added with a smirk at Eli.
“I won’t let you down, Cap!” Eli saluted before leaning back and stretching both of his giant arms along the back of the couch.
Captain continued, giving little tidbits about each member of the crew that he was excited about. I blacked out a little when he was going on about Finn’s culinary accomplishments; although, I didn’t miss that he mentioned a restaurant in Dublin. I wondered when he opened it, how it had done, and was it still open now?
The fact that he was here was answer enough to that last question.
Which only made a dozen more pop into my brain.
“Now, I will say, there is one first for me on this charter that I am not particularly thrilled about,” Captain said, his eyebrows raising as he shook his head. “But I’ve been assured there will be no issues.”
A few of us frowned — me included — as Captain sighed and ran a hand over his bald head.
“This will be my first time working a season with two crew members who are a couple on board.”
Did he just say… acouple?
For a moment, the entire crew was silent. Then, Bernard let out a whistle and threaded his hands behind his head, a smile on his face as he wagged his brows. “Oh,thisought to be good.”
I was inclined to agree, the corner of my mouth climbing as I surveyed my new teammates. I couldn’t help but try to guess who it was. Leah and Palmer, possibly? It obviously wasn’t Bernard, and no way was it Eli — that boy was a walking flirt if I’d ever met one.
The camera operators stood completely still where they flanked us, but I swore I felt their lenses adjusting — zooming, fixating, capturing reactions.
“Like I said, this is one first I’m not exactly thrilled about, but as long as you two keep it professional on the clock — the rest’s none of my business. Just keep the snogging to your down time in the crew mess or when you’re off the boat, yeah?”
I surveyed the crew on each couch, waiting for the lovebirds to reveal themselves, but everyone looked just as confused as I did.
I glanced back at Captain Gary.
Wait… why was he leveling a gaze at Finn?
The question had barely formed in my brain before my body started to shut down as the obvious answer hit me like an anchor, sinking my stomach and the now racing heart in my chest along with it.
As if the boat had taken on water, everything warped to slow motion. I gradually dragged my gaze to our chef.
Just in time to watch him slide a hand over Gisella’s knee.
My next breath lodged in my throat, eyes sticking to where his broad fingers were curling over her limb. I knew that hand intimately, knew the way the tan skin stretched over the bones, the scar on his middle left finger from when he nearly cut off the tip of it, the calloused heat of his palm when he wrapped thathand around my throat and tightened just enough to make me gasp and open for him and beg for more.