“Please,” he said.

  His chocolate brown eyes mesmerized her and curiosity won. She nodded and turned. "Where are we going?"

  He pointed to the dark corner.

  Attraction flowed through her and she fought against it. She recalled her mother's tears that night their father had been arrested. Later she’d discovered that Damien had paid a woman to steal her father's computer password, and later sold the information to the FBI. The evidence the government had on her father, Henry Hansom, was too enormous for them not to get involved.

  Following Damien now made no sense—she should run in the other direction.

  She stopped under a string of lights on the upper deck and inhaled his masculine scent. As a teenager, she'd been attracted to her enemy. She tried to not to breathe so she wouldn't let that scent into her mouth and make her remember how stupid she'd been, making googly eyes at him from a distance.

  He stood too close as he said, "Thank you for waiting. I want to explain something."

  "Make it fast." She licked her lips and held the railing of the yacht as they sailed along the Miami shoreline. Without the sun, the ocean turned dark as ink. The lights from the ship reflected back at her.

  His voice sent a warm tremble through her. "I want to apologize..."

  "You did." She cut him off. Perhaps the best way to end this was to treat him like he was anyone else. Her life was an illusion when she'd been in the dark about her family. In some ways Damien had shattered that illusion, but from complete destruction, she’d grown. Her shoulders straightened. "Okay. This time I'll accept. I don't care what you said earlier. I really don't. It's fine."

  "It's not that. One more minute?" He shifted, leaning his left side against the rail and she glanced up.

  Damien, with his sorrowful expression, reminded her more of a lost puppy that needed a home than a man out to harm her. Her heart whispered that he was cute and adorable, but her mind reminded her the last person to help was Damien. He wanted to clear his conscious of whatever he had to say and then he'd forget about her. She released her hold on the railing.

  "Fine. What?"

  "You say fine a lot when you don't mean it." He tugged on his ear. The night sky created a pale sheen to his skin, but his hand that he placed on top of hers near the rail was warm. "I said you were vapid and high maintenance because you're the prettiest woman here and I need to keep my distance from you."

  Her head spun like it was a tennis ball in the middle of a game. She didn't move but said in a tone no one else might hear, "From me? Why? Because of my father and you?"

  "No. I didn't know what would happen to your father though for hurting you, I'm sorry."

  "There is no way any of us could have stopped him, I suppose." She sighed and held the ledge a little tighter.

  "Would you get coffee with me tomorrow? I'd like to talk—away from here."

  A date with Damien would be... actually she had no idea. Serenity avoided dating men like her father. She'd never be lulled into a false reality again, even if she could feel the trace of a beard tickling her skin if she allowed him to kiss her— no. The smell of Damien clearly evoked the fastest day dream in history. She played with the diamond pendant of her gold necklace, moving her head back.

  He leaned closer. "I don't normally talk to angels, so you’re an exception to my rule."

  None of this made sense, including the spike in her pulse. They were not suited. His last name was Morgan as his father demanded and he’d grown up under Mitch Morgan's tutelage. He was her enemy. She let go of the ledge. "Damien, do you remember meeting me when I was still a teenager?"

  He lowered his head toward her face, like they were sharing a secret. "No. When did that happen?"

  She stayed still as the image of Damien kissing her played as a vivid daydream. She clutched the metal rail tight. "My father brought me and my sister to a dinner party. Your father had you there with your brothers."

  He blinked, but stayed where he was. "I don't remember."

  The seventeen-year-old version of herself, complete in that stupid white dress with blue trim as she glided into the house party in one of the prettiest places she'd ever been made her feel like a princess at a ball. Then she remembered how Damien had stood beside her, a thin man in his early twenties and said, “a kid like you shouldn't be here.” A giggle escaped her throat now as she stayed close to him. "Clearly. Look, I forgive you. Let me think about the coffee. For now, I'm going to go get another champagne, and we'll talk later."

  She shifted away from him and tried to regain her composure. She straightened the line of her dress.

  Damien came closer and she backed into the rail. Her pulse quickened as she stared into his brown eyes. Longing for a kiss or his touch made her body ache. Every cell in her body was alive from being near him.

  He said, "You should go then. I'd rather you leave me now and keep my heart away from your high heels."

  Deflated, she tried to escape between him and the rail. The yacht dipped and she would have slipped if she hadn't held onto the metal. She shook her head, completely flustered. "My high heels?"

  A roaring sounded behind her and Damien reached to grab her. “Look out!”

  She twirled out of his grasp—instantly realizing her mistake as the ship rolled. The rush of oncoming water paralyzed her with fear. Before she could scream a huge wave captured her. She tightened her grip on the rail, but it slipped free. Water cascaded over her, and around her, and she lost sight of Damien.

  Suddenly she was in the ocean, which had been tranquil a moment before. She kicked and tried to swim.

  Ocean water went into her lungs and she gagged. Salt burned her lips. She cried out, "help," but wasn't sure anyone heard her between her coughs. The beads of her dress weighed her down. Her pocketbook was lost to the dark sea.

  A splash sounded as another wave rolled. Treading water, she bobbed as best she could to stay afloat and get her bearings.

  "I'm coming," she heard someone say. Words echoed in her head and she kicked harder, her shoes gone.

  More salt water choked her lungs but she managed to rise and not get pulled under. She coughed hard. A bright orange ring was pushed into her hands—the kind on the sides of ships. She coughed again, bobbed, but held on.

  It was easier with the ring to keep her head up. An arm around her waist let her know she wasn’t alone.

  Once the waves settled, she stared into Damien's chocolate brown eyes.

  “You jumped in?” He guided her toward the bright lights on the yacht. He tugged the life ring and pulled her to the safety of the ship and the rope ladder. She heard the rumble of people above her as she climbed, but she went one step at a time up the ladder, stopping to cough. Damien pushed her back onto the ship and she fell onto the floor.

  Whether he was an angel or the devil himself, she now owed him her life.

  4

  Serenity shivered as Damien hauled her over the rail, not waiting for her to climb the ladder, and back on the yacht. The moment he came beside her, she hugged him. He’d saved her life. Her heart beat wildly, unsure how to say thank you.

  A crowd of wedding onlookers gasped. The bride and groom didn't seem to care about the water on deck as they both went onto their knees to help Serenity and Damien. “Guess the champagne made me clumsy.”

  “The wave was rogue. I’ve never seen that happen before.” Damien wrung out his ruined white shirt.

  Serenity hugged her waist and wished she hadn’t touched the champagne earlier anyhow.

  A man dressed in a black suit for the party came toward her and Damien with a medical kit. “I’m Luke Morgan,” he said to her.

  Damien patted him on the back. "I'm fine. Check Serenity."

  "Your color isn't good." Luke knelt down beside her, his finger at the pulse on her wrist. "Give us space."

  Belle, the bride, stood and told everyone else, "The show is over now. Let's go inside and give the doctor room."

  The show. She felt like a spectacle for sure now. This wasn’t the positive press she’d wanted for her spa.

  The captain told a tight-lipped Peter Morgan, "The oil tanker was overfilled and going too fast, which caused that wave. I will speak to the owners of the company in the morning for almost ruining our wedding."

  "If Serenity is okay, then nothing is ruined. We have plenty of drinks and no more oil tankers nearby." Belle ushered the onlookers away. "The music has started and I hear a few people already getting refills."

  The bride's military background was clear from her steady voice and ability to navigate the crowd.

  Damien's hand on her back caught her attention. She turned toward him and shivered, but she felt safer now. He patted her lower back and spread warmth. "We're safe."

  "I don't feel good." Her entire body shivered from cold. The beads in her blue dress jingled and she realized in the water this dress must have weighed her down and added fifty pounds. No wonder she had issues bobbing.

  He brushed his hand on her arm and goosebumps grew in his wake. She turned into his chest and he petted her hair. "I am sorry I didn't get you before you fell."

  "Da...m...i.e....n..." Her lips chattered. He'd jumped in and pulled her back toward safety. What kind of bad boy out to get her would have done that?

  "Relax." He rubbed her arms to offer warmth and helped her follow the doctor into a nearby room. Damien found her a chair, then grabbed a blanket and threw it over her shoulders. The rough blanket never reached the bone-deep chill, but her heart felt warmer. The doctor came and knelt in front of her, while Damien whispered into her ear. "Don't worry—Luke’s a doctor and my half-brother. Let him check you."

  "O...kay..." She sputtered through numb lips and kept her eyes closed.

  Luke placed a thermometer in her mouth, gently probed her arms and legs for breaks or cuts, then listened to her breathing with a stethoscope. Serenity yawned and said, "I'm still c...ol...d."

  "Her dress is paper thin with beads threaded in. She needs to change into something else, though she's smaller than Belle." The bride was a nice healthy shape, not that Serenity could speak her mind. Damien looked around the room then rifled through some drawers. "I'll go find her something. Be right back."

  "Get yourself some dry clothes too," Luke called out as Damien left.

  Serenity held the blanket closer, trying to stop the shivers. Dr. Luke studied her skull, then looked into her eyes, quiet and competent.

  Slowly, her sense of where she was returned. The mahogany furniture and trim shone like it was just polished or brand new. This was probably a small galley where people ate on stormy days. The table looked like part of the yacht.

  Damien returned with a plastic bag and sat beside her. He placed his hand on her knee and his touch sent a zap of warmth through her. "Luke, is she okay?"

  Luke tapped his fingers to his chest and nodded. "I don't see any impact wounds that would suggest broken bones. No bleeding, so concussion. She’s very lucky. Let's give her a second to change and then I can complete my exam without her shivering. Is that okay, Miss?"

  "Yes." She nodded and said, "I'm Serenity."

  "I'm a doctor at Mount Sinai as well as a Morgan." Luke smiled. "Tomorrow, I'd like for you to come to my office for a full battery of tests, just to make sure."

  "Sounds fine," Serenity answered, grateful that someone trustworthy might check her. She’d moved to Miami so recently she hadn’t even looked for a doctor on her own yet.

  Damien handed her clothes from the bag, including new underwear. Luke stepped back from them but asked, "You seem awfully close. Did you know each other before tonight?"

  Damien's face grew darker. "We met at one of our father's dinner parties. Her father and ours socialized, often."

  "Got it." Luke packed his medical equipment.

  Her mind felt clearer. She turned and asked, "Why wasn't Luke invited to his own father’s parties like you were? I remember meeting Peter, John and Victoria before."

  "Our father kept our two sides of the family separated, and Luke’s mother had him and his siblings after my lovely father told everyone Isabelle died." Damien stood. "I'll change in the next room."

  "Did you see my shoes on deck?"

  "No, I’m sure they went overboard." Luke held the door open and both men left.

  Drat. The shoes were one of a kind and made especially for her. Kiwi would understand about the wave, but somehow, Serenity would have to make it up to her. Hopefully someone snapped a picture in the tabloids. She slipped out of her dress and dropped it to the floor. She noticed the underwear and bra tucked into the simple light blue cotton dress and checked the size. Damien had found clothes in her size? She quickly changed. The dry clothes made her feel better, but she'd need a hairbrush to get the knots forming in her hair.

  A knock sounded and she called out, "Come in."

  Damien, the doctor and Peter all came in, one after the other. Serenity's gaze locked on Damien. He was a handsome devil and hotter than the others. The groom folded his arms. "A top heavy oil rig sent waves. The captain has reported it. I'm upset that you were hurt."

  "I'll take care of her, Peter." Damien took the seat next to her on the berth, and fixed the blanket around her shoulders. She didn’t need it now as she felt her skin was dry and normal and no chills raced up her, but the gesture was sweet. She held her tongue.

  Instead, she glanced at the navy blue suit pants and light blue shirt he now wore. His actions in the ocean somehow made him touchable, when earlier she'd have kept far away. She placed her hand on his. "Thanks, but I can take care of myself."

  Damien leaned closer. "I just meant that I want to see you home and make sure you're still feeling okay."

  She believed he’d ensure she made it home and was well. Despite how she might have some questions about his past actions, she liked who he was now.

  "Don't worry, Peter. Go to your wedding and enjoy yourself."

  The groom then told Luke, "Have any medical bills sent to me—I’m getting the CEO of the oil company on the line so Serenity gets whatever she needs."

  "I feel fine, though I could use a brush," she told Damien as she tugged her tangled hair. He stood, nodded, and left—a man on a mission.

  Peter Morgan patted Luke on his shoulder and returned to his wedding party.

  Damien returned with the hairbrush in hand and a small pink kit. Luke left her side and stood next to Damien, "She seems fine. Just make sure she has no side effects when the adrenaline wears off."

  "Thanks, Luke—I can take it from here." Damien kept his hands folded but stood near the door. Luke reminded her to come to his office the next day, and left.

  "What's this?" She stared at the pink bag. He handed it to her and she realized it was professional makeup.

  Good. She'd look decent getting off—just in case there were more cameras and photographers.

  She stood and let the blanket drop. "Damien?"

  "Yeah?" He smiled at her, but her face felt numb. Normally smiling was pretty easy, but tonight she wasn’t herself.

  "How did you know my underwear and dress size? The bride is way more curvy than I'll ever be."

  Damien shrugged. "I guessed. Luke's fiancée and my half-sister Victoria run a fashion house. They’re always prepared and they brought a trunk of extra clothes."

  That made sense. She brushed her hair. "Okay, well if either of them want spa service, they are welcome to Calm Serenity."

  "I'll pass along the message." He scooted further away from her when she opened the makeup kit and continued to fix her hair. “I’ll drive you home, afterward.”

  She put her brush down. "You've done enough. You saved my life."

  "I don't want your gratitude, angel." He shook his head. "So don't..."

  "Thank you." She interrupted, came closer, and he held onto whatever he intended to say. Part of her body that was long buried woke up just from his nearness.

  He stared down his nose at her. "Angel, never thank me. Finish with the makeup. I'll wait for you outside."

  Her heart beat faster in her chest. She freshened up as best she could though the salt would itch until she took a shower at home.

  Her lips tingled from the ocean, not from hoping Damien kissed her. The thought was silly and dangerous. Once finished, she walked to the door then paused as she heard Damien and Jennifer Gonzales speaking. Damien said, "I told you she's exhausted."

  His protectiveness was nice, but she wasn't tired. Perhaps cold, but not tired. If anything, she was filled with energy and wanted to be near him, right now.

  Jennifer said, "Well I'm happy she's going with you. Tell her I'll see her Saturday."

  "Great." Serenity opened the door and pasted a huge beaming smile on her face. "We'll be ready for you."

  Jennifer jumped three feet from Damien's side. "He's all yours and if you want my opinion, Damien here is pretty sexy. I hope you both have a good time."

  She walked away. Serenity asked Damien, "What did she mean?"

  "Who cares." Damien took her hand. "Let's get you champagne, and find a place to rest until we reach the dock."

  "After you dance with me." Serenity ignored the waiter and placed her hand on his shoulder. For tonight, she'd forget about logic and how dating Damien was an awful idea. But she wanted him. The music hummed in the air and she tugged him onto the dance floor. "It's a wedding and everyone else is dancing."

  He stopped and stared down his nose at her. "If I put my arms around you, I won’t want to stop."

  Good. They had the same plan. She stood on her tip-toes in her borrowed shoes and hugged him. "You won't have to."

  "Serenity, in the morning, I'll need you to leave me. You terrify me."

  A giggle would have escaped her throat, but his lips met hers and she forgot all about her protest. Fireworks exploded in front of the yacht as they neared the dock, and inside she felt the same. Damien kissed better than she'd ever imagined. Her toes curled and she leaned on his strength to hold her, trusting him.

  5

  Serenity walked off the yacht holding Damien Morgan's hand. Camera lights flashed in the distance, but she kept her head down and followed him toward a parking lot. The constant flash made her slightly dizzy. She stayed closed and tried to focus on other things. "How did you know I didn't have a ride home? I intended to call for a car on my phone, not that I have that or my pocketbook anymore."