Chapter 36 #2
The first time I stepped onto this yacht, I was wearing an earpiece, holding three seating charts, and trying to keep a luxury charity event from collapsing into disaster.
Which was exactly why I wasn’t overly dazzled by the yacht anchored just off the coast. At the time, the only thing I cared about was that someone had approved ivory orchids against black marble tables—and whoever had made that decision deserved prison time.
Unfortunately for me, that someone had apparently been Titus. Somehow, that became the first of many things he used to form his completely wild opinion of me after I was hired to work his event.
Not to mention his final opinion, which I would learn later, was that I robbed him. He had no idea how screwed up his damn event would’ve been if I hadn’t taken over after his planner bailed out at the last minute.
“You’re smiling again.”
I glanced at him as we stepped from the helicopter landing platform onto the yacht’s upper deck. Newport Harbor shimmered around us as soft deck lighting reflected across the polished teak beneath our feet.
“Just remembering my first evening here,” I chuckled. “Do you remember being pissed off about the flowers?”
“The fact that you had them removed and replaced?”
“They were terrible. They didn’t align with any part of what your event was trying to convey.”
“They were flown in from Paris.”
“And still didn’t work.”
A low laugh escaped him as he guided me forward, one hand resting against my lower back. “You walked onto my yacht,” he continued smoothly, “without permission, insulted the event design, reassigned my staff, and told the chef his presentation looked disappointing.”
“It did look disappointing.”
“You threatened to replace him.”
“I salvaged your event.”
“You terrorized everyone onboard.”
I looked up at him innocently. “And yet your guests called it the most beautiful event they’d attended in years.”
The corner of his mouth lifted slowly.
God help me.
As we entered the main living space, the interior doors slid open, and even after having been here before, the yacht still stole my breath.
Warm ambient lighting glowed against dark wood and cream stone, while floor-to-ceiling glass revealed endless views of Newport Harbor. Massive contemporary chandeliers hung above sunken living areas filled with linen furniture that somehow looked untouched, despite costing more than most cars.
Everything about the space felt expensive in the quietest possible way. It wasn’t flashy. More like the design was curated, like everything Titus owned.
A few staff members moved discreetly throughout the yacht, preparing for dinner service, each greeting him as we passed.
“Good evening, Mr. Hawk.”
Titus acknowledged them with brief nods as he continued to guide me deeper into the yacht. I noticed no one looked nervous tonight. The first time I’d been onboard, the entire staff had been stressed, trying to survive a collapsing event timeline.
Tonight, the atmosphere felt entirely different. It was calmer, more private, and more intimate than I could ever imagine a superyacht being.
Somehow, that realization made my pulse feel unsteady.
“You’re quiet again, preciosa,” Titus said.
I glanced at him. “I’m just seeing the beauty of your yacht through different eyes.”
His gaze slid toward me lazily. “It may be one of my most beautiful possessions,” he smiled gently, “but it doesn’t compare to your beauty.”
I softly exhaled. “You are too much,” I managed, not really knowing how to respond.
My insides were going to combust, unable to understand how to maintain these constant rushes of emotions they’d not felt in too long.
“Come,” he said, relaxed and composed as he smoothly led me further into the yacht.
The entertaining spaces gave way to something quieter. They grew more private as the lighting softened and the hallways widened.
Suddenly, I realized where he was taking me.
“Titus…”
His hand slid slightly lower against my back as he glanced down at me.
“What?”
“Where are we going?”
“My personal living space aboard the yacht. No one has been in this room but me,” he said, his eyes darker and more mysterious. “Except for tonight.”
“Oh…”
A set of massive glass doors opened as we stepped in front of them. I was silenced by the beauty of the area. When I worked that event, I was nowhere near this floor or location. I could now easily see that everything was private and available only to those with exclusive access.
His private quarters opened before us like something hidden from the rest of the world.
A sprawling open-air deck stretched endlessly over the water, larger than my entire house.
Soft recessed lighting glowed beneath cream loungers and elegant teak seating, while fire features flickered in the ocean breeze.
At the center sat a massive infinity pool, its black water spilling seamlessly toward Newport Harbor until the yacht itself seemed to disappear into the ocean.
Beyond the pool, the lights of Newport shimmered across the water like gemstones had been cast into it.
I turned to take it all in. Behind us was floor-to-ceiling glass that revealed Titus’s more intimate living quarters. It was bathed in soft light, with dark wood and his massive bedroom facing the ocean.
A private lounge area sunken beside a marble fireplace. All of it was breathtaking, but more than that—it felt personal. More intimate than the rest of the yacht.
I looked out over the infinity pool slowly. “This is all so very beautiful.”
Titus’s gaze remained fixed on me rather than the view. “I thought you’d enjoy this area. It’s less formal and more intimate. I wanted you to feel comfortable and not intimidated.”
The quiet sincerity in his voice hit harder than it should have because this was a man who didn’t care whether people approved of what he owned. He was more the type to intimidate everyone with his wealth, as if that were what defined him.
Tonight, he wasn’t doing that. He seemed to be trying to keep that side of himself from showing, as though he knew I wasn’t impressed by anything overly lavish.
That realization wrapped around my chest before I could stop it.
I stepped farther onto the deck slowly as the ocean wind moved through my hair.
“It’s gorgeous,” I admitted, then let out a soft laugh. “I might be saying that all night.”
Titus smirked in response. “I’m grateful you approve. You never looked impressed by the money.”
Titus’s hand stayed against my lower back, warm through the silk of my dress as he guided me along the edge of the pool.
At the far end of the private deck, near the glass railing overlooking Newport Harbor, a cellist played beneath soft ambient lighting while candles in hurricane glasses flickered across the table.
The entire setup looked breathtaking against the harbor skyline and was romantic enough to make my stomach tighten nervously.
Everything about this felt warm and intimate rather than overly formal.
We sat at a smaller circular table near the water, its cream linen tablecloth moving softly in the breeze. It was set with black stone dinnerware and crystal wine glasses, catching candlelight. Beside the table sat a bottle of deep red wine already breathing beside two glasses.
I sat slowly at the table as he moved around it to sit across from me. I watched as the candlelight caught the sharp lines of his face as he loosened his jacket slightly before taking his seat.
As if this weren’t enough, the cellist shifted into another soft Spanish melody. It was more romantic than I could ever dream up, even if I tried.
A member of the staff appeared silently beside the table. “Wine, sir?”
Titus nodded once before the glasses were poured.
When the staff member disappeared, I lifted my glass slightly. “My drink of choice.”
“Red,” he smirked. “I know. It’s what you requested at my house when I had you for dinner.”
I stared at him, shocked he’d remember some small detail like that.
His gaze held mine in the candlelight for a moment before he finally gestured toward the table.
“I had the chef prepare bluefin tuna crudo to start.”
I blinked. “That sounds delicious.”
“I’m glad you approve. The tuna is served with blood orange, avocado mousse, chili oil, and sea salt,” he continued calmly. “Then the sea bass. Citrus beurre blanc. Roasted vegetables.”
I stared at him suspiciously.
“Sea bass just so happens to be my favorite.”
“I know.” His gaze stayed on me evenly. “My friends have wives who just so happen to be your friends. I did a little homework…”
He finished that with a wink and a smile.
Something in my chest tightened painfully.
This was so strange. A man had actually asked my friends about me just to surprise me with a meal he knew I’d love. No one did things like this for me. No one. Hell, this was what I did for everyone else.
“And dessert?” I asked softly.
That golden gaze flicked toward my mouth for a moment before returning to my eyes.
“Basque cheesecake.”
Heat climbed slowly into my cheeks for absolutely no reason.
Well, this is new. Jesus, is my face blood red right now?
The cello drifted softly through the Newport night around us as candlelight flickered between us across the table.
I took a sip of my wine. “What is this, honestly?” I finally said. “What made you take a sudden interest in me, of all people?”
“Truth?” he asked after a sip of his wine.
“Lies wouldn’t help anyone at this point,” I said with a laugh.
“I wanted to use you to get to Jameston.” His eyes stayed pinned on mine.
“Use me?” I answered, confused. “To get to that guy? How? Why?”
He smirked. “It was all nonsense,” he said dismissively. “I’ve had plenty of time to think about it. But I will admit, the driving force behind it all was that you simply intrigued me.”
“So now I’m—”
“All of those scandalous ideas I had at the beginning,” he interrupted, “were simply an excuse to hire you exclusively. I believe it was your constant rejections that spurred me on.”
“And now?”