if Gavin had been a decade younger and never encountered the fiery Brenna, would have intrigued him endlessly. “My technical expert is already gone for the day, Penelope, but if you’ll let me know when you want to come back, I’ll set up a meeting for you. He’d be glad to show you the Microseaomitter.”
Behind her glasses, her eyes widened. “Really?”
“Absolut—”
“Don’t let him sway you, Penelope,” Brenna interrupted, her green eyes fiercely fixed on his. “No telling how many treasures he’s absconded with today.”
“I thought we agreed you wouldn’t judge,” Gavin said.
“I thought we agreed your radar wouldn’t include certain innocents,” Brenna countered.
“My sensors are otherwise occupied at the moment.”
Penelope, as intelligent as she was, certainly sensed the tension between him and Brenna. “He’s just being kind, Miss McGary. We talked about the Microseaomitter at the party last night.”
“That’s fine, but I told Sister Mary Katherine I’d be responsible for you.”
“I’m an orphan,” Penelope said to Gavin and Pablo. “My parents were killed in a car accident when I was little, and the Sisters raised me. However …” She narrowed her eyes in Brenna’s direction. “I’m nineteen now and about to start my sophomore year at the College of Charleston.”
Brenna offered the group an uncertain smile—like a parent, uncomfortable with how to publicly handle an outspoken child. “And everyone’s so proud of you.”
Not backing down in the least, Penelope crossed her arms over her chest. “I can take care of myself.”
“I know,” Brenna said, looking a bit panicked.
Since Brenna excelled at giving him a hard time as well, Gavin was firmly on the teen’s side in this standoff.
“How am I ever going to be responsible if you guys never let me out of your sight?” Penelope returned.
“I don’t really have control of—” Brenna began.
“I’m a legal adult,” Penelope said forcefully. “I have control of my own life. I have my own apartment and pay my bills.”
Brenna grabbed the teen’s hands. “I’m so sorry. I truly didn’t mean to give you a hard time about coming here. I just …” She trailed off as her gaze found Gavin’s again. “Got carried away.”
Even as Gavin understood this message was for him and the night before, Penelope’s face turned bright red. She seemed to realize there were people present besides her and Brenna. “Oh, my goodness.”
Pablo, firmly in gentleman mode, patted her on the back. “It’s okay, señorita. Asserting your independence is a time-honored tradition on this boat.”
“It’s probably the sea air,” Gavin added.
“Or the sun,” Brenna offered.
“I grew up here!” Penelope wailed as she accepted the towel Pablo handed her and dabbed her tears. “I’m used to the sea and the sun.”
“Then it’s gotta be romance,” Gavin said, sending a commensurate glance in Brenna’s direction. “Only intense attraction can make a lovely, intelligent woman—or irresistibly brilliant man—irrational and despondent.”
Penelope bowed her head. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”
After a significant pause, Pablo said, “Don’t worry, honey. You will.”
Behind Penelope’s back, Brenna gestured to Gavin, who joined her a few feet away. “Fix this,” she whispered.
“How?” Immediately, he inhaled the faintly floral aroma that clung to her skin and made all the nerve endings in his body stand at attention. “I’m not allowed to even touch her.”
Brenna scowled. “You can console without touching.”
“How?” he repeated.
“Be verbally supportive.”
The woman was going to literally drive him over the edge. He couldn’t work, he couldn’t think and now he couldn’t relax without her interference. Without her … presence. Her scent and the lure of stroking her velvety skin permeated every breath he took.
“You’re the talker,” he retorted. “You be verbally supportive. Pretty much all I’ve thought about since you stepped onto my boat is how to get you naked.”
Her eyes turned smoky, then cleared. “That’s not helpful.”
“Sorry.”
“I even brought a peace offering.” She pointed to the cooler at Pablo’s feet. “I’ve got flounder and salad on ice.”
“For what?”
“Dinner.”
He pictured candlelight, moonlight, the cozy confines of his cabin. Wine, both of them talking as little as possible. The combination could lead to anything.
Possibly even nakedness.
Though he’d just assured himself it was smart of them to have escaped last night without any more physicality than the vertical make-out session, his resistance when faced with her was crumbling like the wooden frame of the ship she was so determined to defend.
Being near Brenna wasn’t wise, but he didn’t seem to have a choice anymore. She was determined to keep a close eye on him, and there was no way he could continue to resist her for long.
Surrender could be pleasurable, right?
“You brought dinner for us?” he asked, trying to focus on the present rather than the optimistic future.
“Well, for everybody.”
And the bubble of hope burst.
Pablo and Penelope were on board. And the reason Brenna had brought her young friend was suddenly apparent. “You need a chaperone to be in the same room with me?”
“Yes. I’m in charge of supervising you and your crew for the historical society, if you remember. Though consoling Penelope seems to be a greater priority at the moment.”
Gavin glanced at the teen, who had her head on his friend’s shoulder. “Pablo’s got it.”
Brenna looked annoyed. “Your sensitivity needs a lot of work.”
“I’m not the one smothering her,” he said smugly.
“Ahoy!” called an unfamiliar male voice.
“What new hell is this?” Gavin wondered, directing his attention to the gangway.
A cop was boarding the Heat. Young, probably early
