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.

He was so confident in me, it was almost impossible for me to doubt myself. My love for him grew every single day. Sometimes, it seemed to get bigger by the hour.

“Okay. I’ll do it!” I smiled.

“That’s my girl,” he said while rubbing my shoulder. “I totally know you’ll nail it.”

Maybe my New Year’s resolution needed to be finally going down to the Registrar’s Office in a couple of days to change my major to Art, no matter what my parents said, World War Smith be damned.

Everyone finished eating their dinners over chatty conversation. The food really was amazing.

“Anyone want to look around the rest of the boat?” I suggested.

“Totally,” Madison agreed.

“I can’t wait to snoop through Tiffany’s medicine cabinets,” Romeo said impishly. “She’s probably got lots of drugs.”

“I’ve got to hit the head,” Jake said, standing up.

“Make sure you don’t break it,” Madison quipped. “Tiffany’s toilet probably costs more than you’ve earned all year.”

Jake smiled at her. “If I win Mavericks this March, then I’ll have plenty of extra cash.”

“Dude,” Christos gawked, “did you finally get invited to surf Mavericks? Why didn’t you tell me?!” He flung his arms around Jake, clapping him on the back.

“Cool your jets, bro,” Jake laughed. “I’m number seven on the alternates list. Wanna go break some kneecaps, make sure I get on the invite list?” he joked. “We only gotta put seven guys out of commission, and I’m totally in.”

“Give me the list of names,” Christos smiled, “and I’ll make it happen.”

Everyone laughed while gravitating toward the staircase leading down to the main deck, except Brandon.

“Christos?” Brandon asked. “Do you mind if I talk to you for a minute?”

“Sure,” he said to Brandon. To me he said, “I’ll catch up with you in a second.”

“All right,” I said. “Let’s go, you guys.”

I followed Madison, Jake, Romeo, and Kamiko down the ladder to the main deck, leaving Christos alone with Brandon.

CHRISTOS

Samantha waved at me as she and everyone else left the upper deck.

It was just me and Brandon.

We walked casually to the railing on the back of the upper deck and looked out at the open water.

As long as I’d known the guy, he was never what I’d call a true friend. My family knew his family and we did business together. I didn’t dislike the guy. But did I genuinely like him? It changed by the minute, depending on his agenda. He could be a decent ally one second, or that thorny thistle in your sock when you’re trying to run a marathon the next.

“Christos,” Brandon smiled warmly, holding up his wine glass, “I have to congratulate you, the sales at your first solo show were nothing short of astounding.” He clinked wine glasses with me.

“Thanks, man,” I said, sipping my wine, wondering where he was going with this. Brandon always had an angle.

“Now I’m getting calls from new buyers almost daily. Celebrity clients, famous collectors, many of them international. You’re hot right now, Christos. The influential buyers who dictate the art market want your paintings, and they want them now. How soon do you think you can have a new solo show ready? I’m confident we can double your prices from the last show, and sell everything.” Brandon’s eyes flickered dollar signs.