Arm Candy
. . .
Ellie
Houston, we had a major problem.
Cade’s mom had appeared out of thin air, and I got the vibe she didn’t like me very much.
Or at all.
Not that I’d even had the honor of talking to her while I was wearing pants yet. But it was difficult to find my zen during meditation with her glaring daggers into the back of my head.
It didn’t help that Cade was in no rush to introduce us. The opposite, actually. After Dr. Lovejoy’s meditation activity, he did everything in his power to keep his mom far away from me. Because even for our little pretend deal, he knew she wouldn’t believe he’d be with someone like me.
I tried and failed not to take it personally.
They ate lunch together on the top deck, while I crocheted on the main deck with Mac and Whiskey. Cade eventually visited and brought me water for my lingering hangover, leading to Harrison teasing him about Mommy coming to check up on him.
But the worst part? Cade changed after his mom’s arrival. Gone was the man who’d given me butterflies and kissed me through a sheet this morning. He’d been replaced by someone colder. More off-limits.
Dinner was miserable.
Cade’s mom sat across the table from us, and I felt more like a stale piece of arm candy than a scheming partner. My so-called fiancé deflected every question the woman asked about us, never even giving me a chance to speak.
I was nothing more than a plastic doll sitting next to him. When he rested his arm over the back of my chair as dessert was served—a move that would’ve made my heart explode into an army of butterflies yesterday—my dread deepened. He’d waited until his mom was here to do that?
My stomach soured, and I couldn’t take a single bite of the decadent chocolate mousse.
After making an excuse to skip out on after-dinner drinks, I went on a much-needed adventure with Whiskey.
I wanted to avoid Cade, so we strolled around the yacht to explore all the areas I hadn’t seen yet.
We found a cozy little movie theater on a lower deck, the Endless Pool Cade swam in every morning, and a dozen other rooms, each more luxurious than the last.
We might’ve also trespassed on the captain’s deck, but I couldn’t resist getting closer to the stars and further away from the happy sounds of the others drinking and hanging out below. Mrs. Westbrook’s laughter rang out louder than the rest.
It was peaceful up here. Quiet.
Exactly what I needed.
I carried Whiskey—strapped in his dashing orange life jacket—over to a pair of deck chairs, and we settled in to admire a sky full of glittering stars.
We cuddled like that for a while, until the nearest sliding door opened and an older man in all white exited. He paused in the doorway, while I stiffened at being caught in a private area, and we stared at each other.
His white hair gleamed in the moonlight, complemented by a neatly trimmed beard. He may be older, but there was nothing frail about him as he took a commanding step forward, sliding the door shut behind him.
“I didn’t know others knew about my spot,” he said, making me wince. Of course. It was just my luck the captain showed up at the same time I was intruding on his private deck. His gaze moved out to the horizon, before he gestured to the chair beside me. “May I join you?”
I cleared my throat and adjusted Whiskey in my lap. “Absolutely. It’s your deck.”
A deck I wisely didn’t admit to trespassing on.
The captain’s brows rose, and he took a seat while eyeing the cat in my lap. “That’s a handsome fellow you’ve got.”
“Thank you very much. This is Lord Whiskerson. You can pet him if you’d like,” I offered, shifting so Whiskey was closer to him. My cat’s grumpy little frown didn’t change. “He holds a bit of a grudge against the world, but he loves chin scratches.”
The captain held his hand up to Whiskey’s nose, who gave a few cursory sniffs before turning away in disinterest.
I smiled sheepishly, but the captain still patted his head, earning a pleased, rumbling purr from my fickle cat.
“What brings you up here?” he asked, reclining in his chair. “I know the view can’t be beat, but it sounds like the party’s in full swing below.”
Bass-heavy music and laughter floated up to us from the party deck, but it only reminded me of how uncomfortable dinner had been.
“Oh. I just needed a minute,” I said with a sigh. “It’s been a long day.”
A day I couldn’t wait to be over.
The captain hummed thoughtfully. “If you’d like to talk about it, I’ve been told I’m a fantastic listener.”
I snorted, then realized I kind of did want to talk about it—especially after keeping everything bottled up all day. Too bad I’d signed that NDA. “That’s not a good idea.”
He chuckled. “You know, imparting wisdom is one of the only good things about growing old. I might be able to see it more clearly from a different perspective.”
I glanced up at the stars, chewing my lip. “That’s a good point, but… Well, can you keep a secret?”
He tapped his chest. “Sea’s honor. I’ll take it to my grave.”
My brows pulled together. I’d never heard of a sea’s honor before. It must be a boat captain thing.
And the offer was tempting. Maybe it was because my and Cade’s plan was hanging on by a thread after today, and that made everything that had happened last night and this morning even more confusing. I was dying to talk to Sadie about it.
Maybe this man could be a fill-in Sadie for me today.
Besides, if there was anyone trustworthy on a boat, it was the captain. I’d already trusted him with my life out here at sea.
That was my only explanation for why I threw caution to the wind and opened my stupid mouth. “I think I’m falling for my fiancé.”
The moment those words spilled from my lips—softly and definitely flirting with violating my NDA—my lungs expanded with a full breath for the first time in days. It felt incredible. Liberating.
Surprise flashed across the yacht captain’s face before he squinted. “And that’s… a problem?”
My lips twisted. “Well, I don’t think he feels the same. Especially after today.”
He paused for a long time, letting time stretch, before speaking again. “Do you know why Cade’s grandfather named this ship The Valencia?”
I blinked, suddenly doubting what he’d said about being a fantastic listener. Or maybe he had short-term memory issues and had already forgotten what I’d said.
But I rolled with it, because that’d actually be preferable to me spilling all my secrets. Scratching under Whiskey’s chin, I shook my head. “I don’t. Do you?”
“Yes. The name’s meaning is rooted in strength and bravery. Qualities he admires and strives for himself. Qualities the crews he hires strive for as well.” His dark eyes watched me with an almost playful glint. “Have you considered telling your fiancé how you feel?”
My lips pressed together to hide a smile. Not so short-term after all.
The breeze picked up, and I chuckled dryly while hugging Whiskey to my chest. “That’s not an option. Without oversharing, he’s not exactly emotionally available.”
Amusement swam in his gaze. “Then why are you marrying him?”
Any hint of laughter faded. “It’s complicated.”
“It shouldn’t be,” he said. “Times have changed. In my day, love was a luxury, but now you young kids marry for love all the time.”
“Yeah, but Cade and I aren’t—” My eyes bugged out, and I snapped my mouth shut with a wince.
“Um, never mind. I really need to stop talking. Ignore everything I said, please. Of course I’m deeply in love with my fiancé.
I’m very excited to get married and start a life together and pop out like two dozen babies. ”
Shifting Whiskey to my other arm, I casually scratched the back of my hand. Whiskey gave a muffled meow before settling in.
The captain let out a loud laugh and slapped his knee. “Two dozen? That’s ambitious.”
Maybe I’d gone a little overboard there.
“Ellie.” A sharp voice cut through the night air, locking my limbs in place as Cade appeared at the entrance to the deck, moving toward us—fast. His dark gaze shot between me and the captain, and if anything, his eyes turned colder. “What are you doing?”
Oh no.
I shot up off the chair, earning a cross meow from Whiskey in my arms. “Uh, the captain was just telling me and Whiskey more about your grandfather’s boat. Do you know why he named it The Valencia? I just learned. It’s because—”
“Hold on.” Cade’s hand lifted as he pulled to a stop in front of us, and his gaze shifted to my new companion. Cade raised a brow. “… The captain?”
“Oh. Right.” I pivoted back to the older man, juggling Whiskey and sticking out my hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t get your name, Captain. I’m Ellie Darling.”
The older man got to his feet as well, and he took my hand with a warm smile. “Tobias Westbrook.”
I blinked.
Then blinked again as the name sank in.
And, finally, I blinked one more time, letting my hand slip out of his like a limp noodle while dread clogged my lungs.
“… Westbrook?” I squeaked out, my life flashing before my eyes.
“My grandfather,” Cade murmured dryly behind me.
Oh god.
“It wasn’t my intention to deceive you,” the older man said gently, eyes apologetic. “But it’s not often I get a chance to meet people who don’t recognize me. I couldn’t resist playing along, and I’m glad I did. It led to a delightful conversation.”
Said conversation replayed in my mind like a horror movie, and I paled. I glanced at Cade, his face unnervingly calm as his dark eyes met mine.
I gulped. “I… I…”
The man moved his attention to Cade, stepping closer and clapping a hand on his grandson’s shoulder. “I like her. Don’t screw this up.”
The tension lining Cade’s shoulders faltered, but he turned to me instead of answering. “We should get back to our cabin. Ellie?”
“Yes. Definitely. We should,” I agreed in an unnaturally high voice, then turned to his grandfather. “It was lovely to meet you, Cap—I mean, Mr. Westbrook.”
That playful glint entered his eyes again. “The pleasure was all mine, Ellie.”
Cade settled his hand against my lower back, steering me toward the stairs.
It was a quiet walk back to the room.