I think I was about to swoon. I shook my head and took a deep breath, trying to clear my head.
“Come on you guys,” Madison said excitedly. “Let’s watch from the bow!” She grabbed my hand while Romeo and Kamiko followed.
“Check it out,” Madison pointed, “that’s the naval base on Coronado island.”
“Can someone tell the captain to drop me off there?” Romeo asked. “I’m thirsty for seamen.”
“Gag!” I said.
“I never gag,” Romeo said confidently.
Me, Madison, and Kamiko exchanged a grimace.
A few minutes later, Tiffany’s yacht had cleared the San Diego Bay and entered open water. It sure was fast for such a big boat. Wind whipped through our hair as we stood on the front of the boat. Romeo and Kamiko had huge grins on their faces.
Romeo raised his arms and pumped his fists. “I’m the queen of the world! Woo hoo!”
“It’s king, Romeo,” Kamiko giggled. “King of the world.”
“Don’t ruin my moment,” Romeo grinned while basking in the sea breeze, arms wide.
The city lights of San Diego shrank into the distance until they were but twinkling pinpricks against the purple velvet sky. To the west, the last light of the sun faded to pink on the horizon. I traded a smile with Madison.
Eventually, the yacht slowed to a stop in calm waters.
“Dinner is served!” Tiffany called from the dining room while someone clanged a hand bell.
The dining room table on the yacht only seated eight, so dinner was served buffet style. Stainless-steel food warmers covered the surface of the table. One of the crewmen in black and white, now wearing an ankle-length white apron, was pulling the lids off.
We all got in line and grabbed plates. While we waited at the back of the crowd, the other crewman, also in an apron, approached us with a platter brimming with gourmet finger-food.
“What is it?” I asked the crewman.
“Seared sea scallops in a tarragon butter sauce,” he said pleasantly.
We all took one while we waited for the buffet. Everyone agreed the scallops were totally yummy. Eventually, Christos and Jake joined us in line. The six of us loaded our plates and climbed up to the top deck together to sit down and eat.
“Wow, this is great food,” Jake said.
“Totally,” Madison said.
Even if Tiffany was an Olympic bitch, she knew how to pick out a great menu. I doubted she cooked any of it herself, but at least she had good taste, and the food was free.
Was it possible that I could enjoy this evening without Tiffany ruining it? I believed it was. I crossed my fingers.
While I chewed on a mouthful of crab cake, Kamiko leaned into me and whispered, “Don’t look now, but here comes the snake charmer.”
I looked up, straight into the eyes of Brandon Charboneau. He climbed the ladder onto the top deck, holding a plate of food and glass of wine.
“Greetings, everyone,” Brandon said smoothly, holding up his wine glass to toast us.
“What up, Brandon,” Christos said with a smile, raising his own glass. “I didn’t realize you were on board.”
“I was down in the boiler room shoveling coal into the furnaces,” Brandon joked.
Romeo smiled hopefully. “Did you have your shirt off and were you all sweaty from the exertion?”
Everyone chuckled.
“I’m afraid not,” Brandon said suavely.
Brandon’s father owned the gallery that had sold Christos’ latest paintings. Brandon was tan, tall, debonair, and very handsome, but there was something slithery about him that always bothered me.
Brandon slid into the end of the booth next to me and set his plate of food on the table. His knee brushed against mine and I jumped.
“Good evening, Samantha,” he said charmingly.
I felt trapped. But Christos was sitting on my right, in case of emergency. I glanced at him, worried he’d be irritated by Brandon’s proximity, but he merely chewed on a bite of lobster and smiled at Brandon.
I loved that about Christos. He never seemed to get jealous, unlike lame Damian, who always had.
Christos was an inspiration. I leaned into him affectionately and he reached over to caress my forearm. After smiling at me, he wiped his lips with his napkin, and gave me a smoochy kiss.
I was always tickled by how Christos worked the bad boy thing and the gentlemen thing in equal measures.
Brandon smoothed his own napkin on his lap and looked at everyone. “If I remember correctly, you’re Kamiko Nishimura, and you’re Romeo Fabiano? Did I get that right?” He flashed a warm smile at them.
“Wow, you remembered!” Kamiko smiled.
“Running the gallery requires that I remember a lot of names.” Brandon grinned and leaned over the table to shake her hand, then Romeo’s. I think Romeo swooned.
“I don’t think we’ve met,” Brandon said to Jake and Madison.
“Jake Stratton.” He and Brandon shook hands firmly.
“Madison Lockhart.”
Brandon shook her hand gently. “Charmed,” he smiled. Smooth as always.
“How’s the gallery, Mr. Charboneau?” Kamiko asked politely. I think Kamiko still wanted to make a good impression on Brandon, in case she ever wanted to sell her own amazing art through his gallery. And because Brandon was hot, even if he was a serpent in an expensive suit. Plus, I’m pretty sure Kamiko had a crush on him.
“Fabulous,” Brandon answered, “Ever since Christos’ sold-out show last year, new customers have been pouring through the doors on a daily basis.”
“That’s awesome!” Kamiko said.
“Christos tells me that you’re an artist?” Brandon asked Kamiko.
She blushed. “Sort of.”
“Kamiko’s amazing,” I said. “Don’t let her bashfulness fool you. Maybe you could sell her work at your gallery, Brandon. She’s totally good enough.”
“Sam!” Kamiko protested. “I don’t even paint in oils!” She blushed crimson, and I half-expected exclamation points to pop out over her head while her face turned cartoony like in one of her Japanese anime shows.
“Sam’s right,” Romeo said in a normal tone of voice, perhaps for the first time that night. “Kamiko really is hyper-talented.”
“Aww, thank you, Romeo,” Kamiko said.
“Perhaps you should stop by the gallery, Kamiko,” Brandon suggested. “Bring your portfolio. I’d love to see your work.”
“Really?” Kamiko beamed. “But all I have is watercolors.”
“We have an annual contemporary artists’ show that features all types of artistic media.”
Kamiko glowed hopefully. “Really?”
“Certainly. Call and make an appointment, anytime.”
“Wow! I’ll do that!” Kamiko smiled.
I was excited for her. Her art was amazing, and I still thought it would be a shame if she never did anything with it. I suspected that she didn’t love the idea of becoming a doctor with the same passion as her parents.
I was in a similar predicament with mine. They wanted me to be Sam Smith, CPA. But the last thing I’d dreamed of as a girl was becoming an accountant. At least Kamiko would help people and save lives. I would just end up pushing numbers around.
“Why don’t you submit a piece to the show, Samantha?” Christos encouraged.
“What?” I blushed. “I couldn’t! I don’t have any paintings!”
“Any type of media is acceptable,” Brandon said. “Whenever you’re ready, bring something down to the gallery for me to look at. The show is still a few months out.”
I looked at Christos, uncertain. I felt like I was getting in over my head.
“Don’t worry, Samantha. You can totally whip something up in time.” Christos flashed a first-place smile at me like we were both total winners.