offset her balance too much. Rats, now she’d have to rely on his help, and that was the last thing she wanted. If she could levitate herself in, she’d do so.
Nikos pulled himself easily into the small craft, shrugged out of his tanks and went to the side to assist Sara, lifting her without difficulty. Once standing on the rocking boat, she unfastened her own straps. Before the tanks could slide off, he lifted them from her shoulders, carefully placing them in the rack built into the back of the boat.
“Thank you again, I enjoyed the diving,” she said politely, refusing to meet his eyes. If the yacht hadn’t been so far away, she would have struck out swimming to avoid this awkwardness.
“My pleasure.” His deep voice sent shivers down her spine. Could they recapture the ease they’d enjoyed before? Did she want to?
He pulled up the anchor and started the motor. Sara sat in the seat next to his and gazed straight ahead. The day had been magical. She would ignore the change after the kiss and remember the good part. Her friends would want to hear every detail when she returned. And she’d tell all—except about the kiss. Some things were too private to share.
It took less than ten minutes to return to the Cassandra. One of the crew heard the motor and was there to take the lines and secure the small boat when Nikos stopped. He turned and offered his hand.
She smiled politely and took it to step to the swim platform and then up the ladder to the aft deck.
“Oh, Nikos, where have you been?” Gina leaned over the side, eyeing Sara as she climbed swiftly up.
“Took advantage of the time for some diving,” he said. “What are you doing here?”
“The captain said you’d be returning on the aft of the boat, so I came to wait. You should have told me you wanted to go swimming.”
Gina continued to watch Sara ascend. When she reached the deck, Gina walked over. “Aren’t you the cook?”
“Chef,” Sara corrected, walking back down the deck toward the door to the lower decks.
“We didn’t go swimming, Gina,” Nikos said as he reached the deck. “We went diving. You said you didn’t know how or I would have invited you.”
“I could have gone swimming,” Gina was saying to Nikos as Sara walked through the door and headed for her cabin. Let him explain to his guests why he’d taken the hired help diving and ignored his invited guests.
As Sara stood beneath the minuscule shower a few moments later, she wondered why herself. He certainly had the choice of a wide variety of women. She knew a half dozen who would love to trade places with her. So why had he spent the day with her? Was it because he recognized a kindred spirit who also loved antiquities? She hardly thought so.
By the time Sara had the evening meal prepared, she had regained her equanimity. The duck à l’orange was perfection. The lightly steamed vegetables al dente and nutritious. Once the dishes were served, she’d send the crew’s meals out and begin to work on the dessert. Not that all the delicacies were consumed each evening. She had her suspicions about which guests did not eat the sweets. Their loss. The triple-chocolate mousse cake tonight would melt in their mouths, the bitter chocolate flakes on the frosting a contrast to the sweetness of the mousse. It was one of her favorite desserts. She’d made a double batch to make sure the crew had enough. And she could indulge, as well. Nothing like chocolate to set things right.
Stefano returned for the desserts a short time later, and Sara took her own dinner to the aft deck. Those crewmen off duty were lounging in contentment.
“The dinner was great,” one called when she stepped out.
“I’d have more dessert if there is any,” another said, holding up his empty plate.
Sara smiled; she loved it when people appreciated her efforts.
“There’s more. Help yourselves, or ask Stefano to get you another piece.” She sat at the end of the long table, eating while she listened to their desultory conversation. The gentle rocking of the boat was soothing. The air was cooler than earlier, but quite pleasant enough to sit outside. If she were in London now she’d be slogging away in some hot kitchen, making dishes to order and dashing around to find everything she needed with other chefs working at frantic speed, as well. Maybe after she found her grandmother she’d consider working for a private club or household or yacht. She enjoyed planning the meals and preparing them at a more leisurely pace.
That day was still a long way off.
Sara didn’t leave the aft deck when she finished eating. Stefano cleared the dishes. One by one the rest of the crew bade her good-night and left. Soon darkness fell and she felt alone standing by the railing as she gazed over the sea. The surface was calm, almost glassy, reflecting the stars that pierced the night sky. When the moon began to rise, its sliver of light cast a delicate pale yellow trail across the sea. She felt almost as if she could step out and walk along it all the way to the moon.
Nikos watched Sara from the bridge. She stood so still as she gazed across the sea. He wondered what she was thinking about. The captain looked up from the chart he was reviewing by the small lamp.
“Is everything all right?” he asked.
“Yes. The cruise is going well,” Nikos replied, still watching Sara. He wanted to go down to the aft deck and steal a few minutes of peace. Today’s kiss had shown him how dangerous that would be. It had just been a kiss. And if he had resisted that impulse, their time together could have continued. Now he had to distance himself before she thought there was more to his wanting to spend time with her than an escape from the duties of work.
That thought firmly in mind, he’d refrained from going down to the aft deck tonight. But it didn’t stop the desire to do so.
“We head for Mazure tomorrow?” the captain asked.
Nikos swung around. “No, head for home. I’m cutting this cruise short. I’ll explain to my guests tomorrow.” With a nod he left. The sooner he got his guests on their way, the sooner he could head for the family island. The return was only one day ahead of schedule. He’d treat them to a lavish suite at the resort to make up for it. And he’d head for his grandfather’s. He still had not asked Gina to marry him. After today he wasn’t sure he wanted marriage. He would bide his time a bit longer, bid the Fregulias farewell and think about the future when he was on the island.
And say goodbye to Sara.
In his office a few moments later, he was churning with frustration. He’d only been with the woman a few times. Once back into the swing of things, he would forget her soon enough. She’d be cooking in the kitchen of the farthest restaurant at the resort; he’d be at the other end in his offices and suite of rooms.
“Blast it!” he rasped out, slamming his palm against his desk. She was pretty, talented and content with her life. She had not made a single overture that could be misconstrued. Unlike him.
He sat in his chair, leaned back and gazed out of the darkened window.
What if he continued to see Sara for a while? The novelty would wear off and he’d be on to the next woman on the horizon. Maybe marriage wasn’t for him. At least his father had settled on one woman.
Sara’s appeal was her unique spin on things, which made her intriguing. Once back in his normal routine, he’d soon miss the witty repartee of women of his own social set. He’d miss the gala dinners, the receptions. He’d find her enthusiasm and wonder boring after a while and begin to long for the more sophisticated, cynical women he knew.
But until then, could he continue to see Sara?
Why not take her to the island? The thought came unbidden.
Why not, indeed. She seemed content to be on the boat. He knew she liked swimming, standing in the dark watching the stars, diving.
Would she be equally content going to formal receptions, meeting dignitaries and businessmen who played an important