“So you think I can have any man I want?”

“I know it. You’re beautiful, and that’s the least of it. Don’t you settle for anything less than the best, you hear me? Any man-the goddamn princes of the world-would be lucky to know you, let alone love you.”

She couldn’t have stopped her tears if her life depended on it. His sincerity slipped into her heart, and she knew it would be there forever.

He was also telling the truth. Not about the men who’d line up for her but that he wouldn’t be in that line. This was going to end. One way or the other, Michael was going to leave her. She didn’t want it to be so, but even a woman who’d lived most of her life in the land of magical thinking could see that he couldn’t continue as her bodyguard. Not after all this.

“Tate?”

She sniffed. “Hmm?”

“We still have right now.”

There was something so sweet about his voice, about his face. “Thank you,” she said. “Thank you for being my safe place. For seeing so much in me. I’ll never forget you.”

“You’d better not,” he said as he laid her down, as he moved between her legs. As he entered her body as completely as he’d entered her heart.

THEY DOCKED AT FIVE that morning. Tate held on to Michael as she listened for new voices, a chance perhaps to get someone’s attention.

He squeezed her shoulder and kissed her on the temple. She instantly calmed. Not Zen calm or anything, but she could feel the tension ease from her shoulders.

“I know it’s wishful thinking on my part,” she whispered after hearing nothing but Jazz’s voice on deck, “but, hey, we have to try.”

“We do, but I’d feel a lot better if you were off the boat. There’s a much greater chance you can get away.”

“I don’t want to go.”

“I know,” he said.

“They’re so damn secretive at the bank. We’ll be taken into a private room. It’s not like going to a bank in New York.”

“Just do what we talked about.”

“I’ll try.”

“You’ll be great. I have complete faith in you.”

“Well, that’s just insane.”

He laughed, then he tilted her chin up. There wasn’t much light, not enough to make out every detail, and yet she could picture every inch of his face. She closed her eyes, holding the image still and strong so that when she was out there she could bring it back.

His kiss was gentle and sweet, a tender counterpoint to last night’s urgency.

After the anchor went down, the boat rocked with a whole new motion. For two hours they lay entwined. Kissing sometimes, touching everywhere. She tried so hard not to think of this as the end, but she wasn’t strong enough.

“Michael?”

“Yeah?”

“I know what you said last night makes sense, but I can’t let it go. If…When we get back to New York, I want-” She felt him tense, and that made her stumble, but she really needed to say this now. “I want you.”

His chest rose, but it didn’t fall for too many heartbeats.

“Was that the wrong thing to say?”

He exhaled and pulled her closer. “No, not at all. I’m really flattered.”

“Screw flattered. Talk to me.”

“I’m going to resign,” he said. “That’s a given. But I doubt all will be forgiven. You’re father’s not going to be happy with me. And he’s right. I was supposed to protect you and I put you in danger.”

“You didn’t.”

“I did. Charlie is my fault. I should have cut him off years ago. I should have figured that he’d know how to break into my safe. I was stupid and you’re paying for it.”

“Okay, you have to stop that right now. I know you had nothing to do with Charlie’s plan. You’ve put your own life at risk to take care of me. So don’t even try to go there.”

“Even if I don’t, you’re father already has.”

“I’m not my father.”

“And for that I’m most grateful.”

“Michael. I’m not kidding around.”

“I know you’re not. And believe me, I’m goddamned amazed that a woman like you could want me. I just don’t think you should make any promises. Not yet.”

“I’ve run from promises my whole life. If I want to make one now, I will.”

“Okay, then. Promise away.”

“Please don’t make light of this. I’ve never felt this way before. Not ever. You’ve been a revelation. Not just because you know how to make me tremble, but because-”

He didn’t say anything. But he held his breath again.

“Because of how you see me. I had no idea this was even possible. All I can call it is simpatico. It sounds too fancy for what I mean, but-”

“No. I get it. I understand completely.”

She allowed herself a little grin. “Told ya.”

“Tell you what,” he said. “When we get back, we’ll take a look at how things stand. Just you and me. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Now try and sleep.”

“Ha.”

He kissed her temple one more time. “Rest, then. Rest.”

FOR THE FIRST TIME since they’d kidnapped her, Ed came into the cabin. It was just past eight and she hadn’t slept a wink. She’d been too busy thinking, not about the day ahead or what she’d have to face but about a future filled with Michael.

Of course, her father wouldn’t approve, but that was too damn bad. She hadn’t told him, not in so many words, but she loved Michael. Loved him in a way she’d never dreamed for herself.

“Get dressed,” Ed said. “I want you ready in one hour.”

He looked like an island millionaire. He wore an elegant Hawaiian shirt-which seemed contradictory but wasn’t-khaki pants, deck shoes and a Panama hat to cover his bald spot. His tan was deep, his Rolex top-of-the-line, and the diamond on his pinkie could have been used as an anchor.

He turned to Michael. “Make sure she looks good.”

Before Michael could say a word, Ed left, locking the door behind him.

She sat on the bed in her T-shirt. It was already starting. Her pulse pounded, her breathing grew labored. She closed her eyes so she wouldn’t see the narrowing of her vision.

“Come on, kiddo,” Michael said. “Don’t project. One foot in front of the other. You need to shower, right? That’s not scary. You’ve done that a thousand times before.”

She nodded, then looked up at him as her thoughts took a right turn. “Michael, you have to promise me that you won’t kill Charlie.”

“What?”

“Promise me. I know you’re going to fight and do all your spy stuff, and you can feed every one of these bastards to the sharks as far as I’m concerned, but you can’t kill Charlie.”

He straightened his back and flexed his jaw, and it was so easy to see the warrior in him. He’d been on his best behavior when her life had been at risk, but the moment she was off the boat…She tried to feel sorry for Jazz, but she couldn’t. He deserved everything Michael would give him.

“Michael, please. If you do, you’ll regret it forever.”

“Don’t ask me to make that promise, Tate.”

“Why not?”

“I have no idea what I’m going to be facing once you’re gone. Please don’t tie my hands that way.”

“All right. But will you try?”

“I will.”

She stood and went right into his arms. “That’s all I need.”

He took her by the shoulders and looked at her with his green-gold eyes. “I need so much more.”

There was nothing gentle about this kiss. She felt it to her toes, to her chromosomes. She needed to be strong for this. To come back to him.

He broke away. “Go on. Get ready. Remember, one step at a time.”

It wasn’t easy, but she managed to do just that. Shower, makeup, hair, the clothes Jazz had bought her in Florida. When she finally looked in the mirror, she knew she looked just as privileged as Ed. In fact, she looked as if she could have been his daughter.

It had been so easy to step back into the habits of years. The hair not just curled but coiffed, after lessons from some of the most sought-after stylists in the world. The makeup might not have been hers, but she knew how to work it. Subtle in every way. Elegant and understated. To be flashy was to be vulgar. To be one of them.