18. “Services”
“services”
. . .
Ellie
Being on a yacht surrounded by wealth and luxury was bizarre enough, and now a couples retreat was thrown into the mix.
At least Whiskey’s surgery would be worth it.
Dr. Lovejoy kept us after the icebreaker to do enough personality and love language quizzes to make my head spin.
But once she set us free, the next part of Cade’s plan involved the two of us strolling along a walking path that wrapped around the main deck of the yacht.
The boat was moving now, and a cool sea breeze teased my loose braid while I took in the grandeur of the ocean around us.
Cade’s plan didn’t involve talking during our walk, though, and his “stroll” was more of a speed walk that I struggled to keep up with.
He didn’t appear pleased with how the day had gone so far, but I decided not to broach it yet.
The other guests seemed interesting. Vlad mostly kept to himself, like Cade, while Piper and Madison had drilled Dr. Lovejoy with questions. Fletcher and Candace seemed to already be over the whole couples retreat, and Harrison was clearly playing along with it for his wife.
My people-watching stopped when a chef brought out treats for all of us. Fancy finger foods, including strawberry chocolate tarts that I could’ve cleared a platter of just by myself. But I’d made myself behave since my actions now reflected on my fake fiancé as well.
The walk was still a good idea to combat the four tarts I had surreptitiously inhaled, though.
By the time Cade and I made it to our cabin, I was ready to take a bath, put on my pajamas, and pass out.
There was just one thing I hadn’t accounted for.
… The room only had one bed.
Maybe that should’ve been obvious, but I came to a halt so suddenly that Cade stopped an inch away from barreling into my back. “What’s wrong?”
I was still processing the sight. “Well, there’s only one bed in here.”
“What did you expect?” he asked dryly.
“I don’t know. I’ve never been on a boat before,” I admitted, looking at the giant bed with its fluffy pillows and soft cream blanket. “I guess I was picturing bunked hammocks or something like that.”
Cade snorted and brushed past me. “It’s not a pirate ship.”
I shrugged. “It made sense in my head.”
The cabin itself was gorgeous—did yachts usually have crown molding? The bedroom was very spacious, and there was even a separate sitting area with a cute little kitchenette.
My favorite part was the large glass doors leading from the bedroom to an exterior balcony. We had a view of the ocean from right here.
The first thing I did was set Whiskey’s backpack on the bed and let him out.
“I’m sorry you’ve been cooped up so long, buddy,” I murmured, even though he’d happily napped the whole time he’d been in the backpack. “Want to go exploring?”
Whiskey flicked his bushy tail and eyed his new domain while I unpacked his red velvet pillow. Cade leaned against the dresser with his arms crossed, watching Whiskey—who promptly turned his back on Cade and ventured further onto the bed.
Ouch.
“He’s usually more of a loner,” I said, trying to ease the sting of Whiskey’s snub. “It can take him a minute to warm up to people.”
I subtly scratched an itchy spot on the back of my neck.
Cade’s eyes narrowed on me. “Why do you keep scratching yourself? You’ve been doing it since we got on the yacht.”
“Sorry.” I winced, dropping my hand. “Lying sort of gives me hives.”
A muscle fluttered in his jaw. “You didn’t think to mention that before I hired you?”
I smiled guiltily. “Well, I was a little distracted by all that money you offered.”
Shaking his head, Cade tracked Whiskey as he prowled across the bed. “He won’t attack me in my sleep, will he?”
“Of course not!” I waved him off, before pausing. “But you might not want to leave any valuables out in the open. Whiskey’s paws can be a little sticky. It’s something we’re working on.”
Cade raised a doubtful brow. “Where’s his litter box?”
“He doesn’t need one, because he’s trained to use the toilet,” I announced proudly. Satisfied with the bed, Whiskey slunk back over to me, and I gave him pets and kisses. “Aren’t you a good boy, Lord Whiskerson? Yes, you are. Such a good boy.”
He rumbled a soft purr and rubbed against me before jumping from the bed and darting into the sitting area.
Leaving him to his exploring, I did some of my own.
The first door led to a luxury bathroom almost as big as my studio apartment back home.
The next door opened to a fully stocked closet.
The left side was filled with women’s clothes that looked brand new—and expensive—but were completely foreign to me.
I stared at them. “Whose things are these?”
“That’s the wardrobe my assistant bought for you,” Cade said without looking.
“Wardrobe?” I echoed, stepping out of the closet to frown at him. He was scrolling on a phone that definitely hadn’t been in his hand a moment ago. Silly me assumed Nate needed my measurements for matching engaged couple swimsuits or something—not an entire wardrobe. “But I packed my own clothes.”
Cade’s gaze flicked to my top. “Do they all look like that?”
My eyes narrowed at his tone. “What’s wrong with my top? I crocheted it myself.”
His face went carefully blank. “… Nothing. But my brother will be expecting a certain image if this is going to be believable.” He paused before adding, “I need you to look the part. If I’d known you’d go this casual, I would’ve had him deliver you an outfit this morning.”
Ah. That had to be the most subtle way I’d ever been told I looked poor.
“Guess we’ve reached our first opportunity to compromise as an engaged couple.” I planted both hands on my hips. “How does this sound? I’ll wear some of the things you’ve provided to our group events if I can still wear mine during downtime around the boat.”
His attention returned to the phone screen. “Deal.”
I smiled. Problem solved.
This week might not be so hard after all.
Staff brought a five-course meal to our room, and I ate at a table out on the balcony. Cade was mostly distracted by the second phone he’d smuggled in with his luggage—along with a laptop, both of which were definitely contraband according to Dr. Lovejoy—but Whiskey kept me company while I grazed.
I soaked in a giant bathtub filled with salts and bubbles while Cade worked. The bathroom was filled to the brim with amenities. Luxurious lotions, bougie face masks, and a plush white robe I never wanted to take off.
Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be very appropriate for our sleeping situation. So I got dressed in my unicorn onesie pajamas, put the shiny diamond ring in a trinket tray for safekeeping overnight, and stepped out of the bathroom to find Cade already on the bed.
He leaned against the headboard on the left side, typing on a laptop with his legs crossed at the ankles.
He did a double take at my onesie. “… You brought that with you?”
I rubbed my hands over the colorful fabric at my hips, admiring its softness. “I know you didn’t actually request it, but I thought it’d be a good way to break the ice.”
“Because you love icebreakers so much?” he asked dryly.
It took me a second to catch on to the wordplay, and I laughed. “Yeah, I really do.”
His lips twitched, but he only shook his head. “Just get in the bed, Darling.”
The way he said my name made me swallow, and I kicked myself. Since when had I ever been nervous about climbing into bed with someone? I was supposed to be a professional.
I shuffled around the bed to the other side and went to climb in when a small golden wrapper caught my attention. My eyes widened in delight. “Oh my gosh. Someone put chocolates on our pillows?”
Cade refocused on his laptop. “The crew leaves them during turndown service.”
My nerves disappeared as I unwrapped the treat. “That’s so sweet of them.”
I popped the piece into my mouth and hummed at the chocolaty goodness—totally worth having to slip into the bathroom to brush my teeth a second time.
“I need to finish up some work,” Cade said without looking away from his screen or pausing his typing. “I can find a spare room on the yacht if you’d like to go to sleep now.”
I blanched at the thought of kicking him out of his own room.
“No, no. You’re fine.” I flitted around the space and pulled out different drawers in search of where my yarn and crochet hook had been unpacked.
I finally found them in the last drawer I checked at the bottom of the dresser.
“I like to crochet for a bit before bed. And our ruse won’t last very long if the others don’t think we’re making the most of private nights together on a luxury yacht.
We need them to think we’re going at it right now. ”
His typing stopped on a dime, and he raised a dark brow at me.
I replayed the words in my head, my cheeks warming, but it was the truth. At least, I assumed the other three couples were all doing it.
I cleared my throat and sat against the headboard next to Cade, quickly changing the subject.
“So… a couples retreat,” I said lightly, stealing a sideways glance at him. “That was unexpected.”
Cade’s attention returned to the screen. “It’ll be fine if you can stick to the script from now on.”
Well, that would be a little tricky, since our script was lame as heck and only covered the bare minimum.
I set the yarn on my lap and continued crocheting a little mouse I was making for Whiskey, while mulling over how to tell Cade that without hurting his feelings.
“It’s not my acting I’m worried about,” I said slowly. Taking a breath, I continued, “Dr. Lovejoy—”
“She’s not a real doctor.”
My eyes rolled toward the ceiling. “Bliss said we’ll be digging into our emotions and getting personal. Are you sure you can make that believable?”
“For the UK division of Westbrook Capital?” Cade breathed a laugh. “I can fake anything.”
I winced. He sounded confident, but… ”I’m just not sure they bought it so far.”
One side of Cade’s mouth turned down. “Why? It went fine.”