NautiCal (Forever Wilde 8)

I soldiered on. “I’m not in trouble. Well, I kind of am in trouble because I’m starting to like him, and that’s really bad.”

“Why?”

I groaned. “Did you forget the part about Jay-Z?”

“Wait. Are you pretend dating Jay-Z?”

I sighed. “Is Lior there? Let me talk to him. Maybe he can help.”

“He’s at the sword thing. But listen. You already know what I’m going to say because it’s what Doc and Grandpa would tell you. Be yourself. And if they don’t like you, it’s their loss. You know what else? Lior’s friends and family find me adorably… provincial.”

I scratched my head. “I don’t think that’s a compliment, Fee. It means unsophisticated. Like a country mouse.”

“Yes, but an adorable one.”

I laughed. Maybe he was right. After all, what did it matter if I was only on this ship for a few more days? I wasn’t even sure what I was freaking out about. Maybe it was simply panic from learning how rich Worth truly was. That kind of money scared me. And I would never say this to him, but that kind of money made me feel young and incapable. Irresponsible somehow.

“I love you, Fee,” I told him. “Thank you for always being there for me.”

“I love you too. And if you do end up dating Jay-Z, will you ask him if you can borrow his plane to fly you over here for a visit? I promise you we have sailboats in the harbor you can use. Lio even said he’ll give you a tour of the Liorland World Cup boat if it’s here when you come.”

I pictured the bright sails from the photos Felix had sent last year and practically salivated. “I need to find a rich boyfriend with an airplane. Hey, wait. You have a rich boyfriend with an airplane.”

He chuckled. “Boyfriend, heh. I’ll have to tell him you called him that.”

After saying our goodbyes, I left the phone in the room and returned upstairs to the deck where everyone was still lounging over coffee. Worth stood and pulled out my chair. “Everything all right?”

I nodded. “Yeah. Yes.” Maybe I needed to be more precise in my speech like Felix. “Affirmative.”

Maybe not.

Worth’s eyebrows twitched down for a second. “You sure?”

I sent him a pleading look that was meant to convey something like, My thinker is offline, and I need a break from speaking. He seemed to get the message because he turned back to the table and continued talking to Jade about something having to do with an environmental charity in Canada.

Once I settled in my seat, Worth reached for my hand without looking over at me. It was such a sweet gesture, I wanted to cry like a baby. Why now? Why did fate have to be so cruel as to open my eyes to the possibility of a relationship with the one person I could never have? He’d made it very clear he wasn’t interested in an actual relationship. Mason had done a number on him, and he was understandably not looking to replace him anytime soon.

And clearly when he was ready, he’d want to find someone well educated and elegant. Someone who knew how to comport himself around big fancy money and la-ti-dah corporate people in Chicago. Beautiful, refined people like Jade and Jin. Hell, even Prescott Resnick seemed to know how to exist in this world.

That thought put me right into a funk. I shot him a glare across the table. Prescott fucking Resnick.

Pres’s eyes widened in surprise when he caught me glaring at him. “Where did you go?” he challenged. And because I was stupid and immature, I couldn’t help myself.

“Quick call with my cousin Felix. He lives in Monaco and has some kind of royal ceremony to go to tonight. I wanted to catch him before it got too late in the day because of the time difference and everything.”

I let the words sink in while I reached for the carafe to pour a fresh coffee.

“Felix… Monaco…” Prescott’s murmurs seemed to mirror the cogs turning in his head. When the pieces clicked into place, his eyes widened even more. “King Liorland’s consort? That Felix? The gay royals?” His voice got higher with each question.

I took a sip of my coffee and nodded. Maybe that would help me seem more attractive to him. He needed to start flirting with me in front of Lucas if this plan was ever going to work before the week was out. “That one.”

His eyes narrowed. “He’s your cousin.”

I nodded. “We grew up on the ranch together.”

Captain Vin stepped outside and greeted us. “We’re getting ready to pull up the anchor and motor over to Treasure Point on Norman Island so you can snorkel in the caves. We’re going to the caves today to avoid the crowds that will be there tomorrow, but then we’ll turn around and return to Peter Island for the rest of the day and night. If we need to change the plan, just let me know.”