To Win His Heart

She studied the outboard motor and gear shift. It all looked straightforward to her. After seating herself on the bench, she turned the key and pressed the button. The motor revved on cue.

So far so good.

She put the gear in reverse. Luckily there weren’t any boats nearby for her to run into. The boat slowly inched away from the pier. With her hand on the tiller, she made an experimental circle to get the hang of it.

Okay. Here goes.

She pressed on the forward throttle. Off the boat flew. Knowing she should be traveling at a wakeless speed, she decreased the power and headed straight out to sea past the buoys.

Her thoughts flew ahead.

The island of Ischia off of Naples was southeast of Vernazza. All she had to do was head east as far as Lerici where Luc and his cousins had taken them on the Piccione. She knew what to look for. After all, it was in those waters she and her sisters had jumped ship in order to get away from the crew. From there she’d head south.

She opened up the throttle. This was a piece of cake.

When she glimpsed other pleasure boats, she gave them wide berth as she navigated through the calm waters. Luc was still asleep. That was good. He needed it.

The motor gave her no trouble. She relaxed and enjoyed the breathtaking view of jewel-like villages dotting the coastline in the far distance.

Olivia decided this was much better than being on the Piccione. She had Luc all to herself at last.

A smile curved her lips upward remembering the first time she’d met him. He’d passed himself off as a French chef who cooked for royalty, but to Olivia he’d looked like some sort of dangerous French Adonis.

They’d clashed mightily. Deep down she’d never been so exhilarated in her life. Now they were clashing again. This time it was a battle to the death, and all the spoils would go to Olivia.

Hunger brought Luc awake. Still disoriented from a drug-induced sleep, he opened his eyes and was surprised to discover it was dark in the cabin.

He checked the time on his watch. Eight-fifteen. He’d been passed out for six hours— Where was Olivia? How come she’d let him sleep this long?

Easing his leg slowly off the bed, he stood up, then had to clutch the upper bunk for a moment. Either he was having serious side effects, or a wind had come up, causing the boat to bob up and down in its berth.

Had Olivia decided Giovanni wasn’t coming?

If she’d realized Luc had tricked her, she might have phoned Cesar for help. Luc had no doubts the two of them would have gone off together, leaving him to deal with the situation he’d created.

He felt for his cane resting against the wardrobe and looked out the window expecting to see the lights of Vernazza. To his shock, water surrounded the boat. The Gabbiano was at sea!

Who was at the helm?

For one thing, any experienced sailor would have turned on the boat’s lights by now. For another, they weren’t moving, and there was no sound of the motor.

Leaving the cabin, he used the braille method to make his way to the stairs and ran into a soft, feminine body hurrying down the steps. The impact knocked the cane out of his hand.

“Luc—”

Beneath her surprised cry he detected an underlying note of anxiety. He held on to her in an effort to steady them both. Her heart was pounding so fast he couldn’t count the beats. His was thudding, too, but not for the same reason.

During their brief moment of contact, his body became aware of every enticing line and curve molded against him. Her skin still radiated warmth from a hot Mediterranean sun that had gone down some time ago. With his face helplessly buried in her golden curls, he found himself intoxicated by the fresh peach scent emanating from her.

Sensation after sensation bombarded him. Having been in a deep sleep and then suddenly awakened, he felt alive to the primitive side of his male nature. The part of him that recognized this particular female could have been made for him.

If it weren’t for the fact that she was a calculating liar and cheat, incapable of being faithful to any man.

He let her go abruptly, then felt for the panel above the stairs to switch on the power and lights.

“So that’s where they were,” she moaned the words. “I looked everywhere but up.” She reached for his cane and handed it to him as if that moment in his arms had never happened.

Mon Dieu. Like pure revelation it came to him she’d been playing captain of the Gabbiano. Once again he’d underestimated her. This would be the last time…