LITMIR.BIZ

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She could see the clean sandy floor below. A boat loaded with freshcaught fish chugged by, heading for the quay.

      “For so long, we had no hotels, no advertising, an obscure language that no one speaks.” He glanced at her, sun dancing in his dark eyes. “Much as it pains me, I suspect the average person still isn’t even aware Caspia exists.”

      He turned to stare at a white-sailed yacht cruising nearby. “Tessa, does that man look familiar?”

      She squinted against the high sun and looked at a tall, tanned man with salt-and-pepper hair in a yellow polo shirt. She recognized his face from the TV news. “It looks like Senator Kendrick. What would he be doing here?”

      Sebastian grabbed a pair of binoculars out of a compartment under the seat. “I thought so. He used to live in my building.” He leaned over the side of the boat. “Michael! Charmaine!”

      He spoke rapidly in Caspian to the boatman, who steered in their direction. Within minutes, Sebastian was helping Tessa up the ladder into the Kendricks’ yacht.

      Sebastian kissed them on both cheeks and introduced her. Nervous, she babbled that she was his assistant visiting from New York.

      “I can’t believe you came to Caspia without letting me know,” Sebastian chided gently.

      “We didn’t really plan our visit,” Mrs. Kendrick explained. “Michael decided to surprise me with a whirlwind tour of the Mediterranean to celebrate our thirtieth wedding anniversary.”

      Thirty years? Tessa hoped she looked that good ten years from now. Charmaine Kendrick’s short, blond hair swept back to reveal an alert face. Her rose-colored shorts showed off fit, tanned legs.

      “And naturally we couldn’t sail right past Caspia,” cut in the senator. “Not after you’ve sung its praises to us so often.”

      “You can see I wasn’t exaggerating.” Sebastian had his arm around both of them. “I’ll be deeply offended if you won’t join us at the palace for lunch.”

      Mrs. Kendrick brightened at this suggestion, but her husband quashed it with the explanation that they had a strict itinerary to stick to.

      “Twenty ports in twenty days.” Charmaine laughed. “We’re expected in Piraeus tomorrow morning.”

      “What can I show you of Caspia while you’re here? The ancient market? The early Christian frescoes? The Ottoman mosque?”

      Tessa’s ears pricked up. She silently voted for the frescoes.

      Mrs. Kendrick shielded her eyes from the sun with a manicured hand. “Oh, my goodness, does that sign say Dolce & Gabbana?”

      “It does.” Sebastian grinned. “And that’s BCBG Max Azria right next to it. How about some shopping?”

      The senator clapped Sebastian on the back. “Charmaine never says no to shopping.”

      “Well, dear, we do have a lot of functions to go to. And I didn’t realize it would still be so warm at this time of year.”

      “And scanty evening wear is something I never say no to.” Senator Kendrick’s tanned face eased into a grin.

      The senator begged off going ashore with them and asked Tessa to keep him company while Sebastian took Mrs. Kendrick to the stores in his gondola.

      Tessa didn’t mind. She’d rather sit on a yacht and watch the water than shop any day. And if she remembered right, Senator Kendrick was a keen supporter of spending for education, a cause she held dear.

      He guided her to the front of the yacht, where two padded seats looked out over the prow. She eased herself in next to him.

      “So, you’re Stone’s assistant?”

      “Yes.” She turned to Kendrick with a smile. “I’m here to organize a meeting.”

      “Working for royalty must be rather bizarre for a girl used to American democracy.” He puffed his athletic chest inside his lemon polo shirt.

      “It was a bit strange at first, but I don’t think much about it. The people of Caspia seem very content with their royal family.”

      “I don’t suppose they have much choice.” Senator Kendrick leaned in. His grin gave her a close-up of his blazing white teeth. There was something weird about his skin. Smooth and shiny, it looked like the skin of someone who’d had dermabrasion to erase wrinkles.

      She looked over to the quay, where Sebastian was helping Mrs. Kendrick out onto the stone sidewalk that flanked the row of luxury boutiques.

      “You’re a quiet one, aren’t you?”

      “I guess I’m just dazzled by the view.” His pale blue eyes fixed on hers. “I’m rather dazzled by it myself.”

      Something about the way he stared at her made Tessa’s stomach tighten.

      “Too much foreign food and foreign scenery makes me pine for a little taste of home.” He leaned in so close that his freckled arm brushed against hers. Her hairs stood on end.

      She forced a laugh. “You’re craving corn dogs and apple pie?”

      “Something like that. I bet you’re tired of being hit on by swarthy Mediterranean men.”

      “Not at all. The Caspians I’ve met have been very polite and charming.”

      “Carrying a torch for your prince, are you?” Senator Kendrick’s salt-and-pepper eyebrow lifted.

      “What?”

      “I suppose all silly young girls fill their heads with fantasies of crowns and coronets. An American senator has a good deal more power than a tin-pot monarch.”

      “I imagine that’s a matter of opinion.”

      Her stomach knotted. It would be tough to swim for shore in the long dress. She’d lost sight of Sebastian, too. He’d gone into one of the shops.

      She decided to redirect the conversation. “What do you think about mandatory school testing? Do you think it ensures an even playing field, or do you think it makes teachers gear lessons too much toward the tests?”

      Senator Kendrick threw his head back and guffawed with laughter. “I came here to get away from all that claptrap and political bull. Now I’m sailing on a boat with a beautiful blonde and she wants to bend my ear about education? I feel as if I’m back in New York.”

      The disgust in his voice made her eyes widen. She thought she caught a whiff of something on his breath, too. Whiskey?

      She gathered her skirt about her knees and groped for a good excuse to leave the intimate seating.

      “Where do you think you’re going?”

      “I’d like to take a walk on the deck.”

      “It’s a small yacht. There’s barely room to take three steps.” His pale eyes narrowed. He leaned over her and trapped her with his arm by placing his hand on the armrest on the far side of her. “I can think of some far more interesting things to do.”

       He’s going to kiss me.

      The thought rushed Tessa’s brain as his pursed lips rushed her mouth.

      Instinct kicked in. Since she couldn’t pull back, she whipped forward and smashed him in the nose with her forehead. She was on her feet and back on the deck in seconds. A young male sailor knelt nearby, winding some rope.

      Senator Kendrick appeared around the sail, rubbing his nose. He glared at her. “Don’t get the wrong idea.”

      “Don’t worry, I didn’t.” She stood with her hands on her hips.

      Now that her adrenaline was flowing she’d like him to try that again. She’d enjoy pitching him into the drink.

      Maybe he read her mind,

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