Entangled To The CEO

Rainer’s [POV]

The yacht was lit up so brightly it looked more like a spaceship ready to bolt off into the dark sky. I understood the mystery that drove people to buy mega-yachts. Berger stood at the prow as if he’d conquered the sea himself. I knew full well he had no idea how to start the yacht’s powerful engine, much less move it safely from the dock.

His full crew greeted me as I walked across the gangplank. The entire skyline of San Francisco glittered above the dark water of the bay, and even I had to admit it was a dramatic backdrop for a party.

“Just wait until we sail under the Golden Gate Bridge,” Berger said. He slapped me hard on the back. “Until then I’ve got, how many? Four chefs: sushi, fusion, steakhouse, and the best dessert chef in town.”

A fleet of servers wove through the glamorous crowd, but I waved away the champagne. I could already tell that I was going to need something stronger. The yacht had every comfort, it was floating luxury, but the thought of being out on the water with no way to escape was already making me twitchy.

“Please tell me it’s only a three-hour tour,” I said.

Berger laughed and raised his hand to slap me on the back again. I dodged past a fashionable couple, knowing full well I was going to end up in the background of their endless photographs. Then the cameras turned on me.

I didn’t even have to turn around to know whose arm now linked mine. “Hello, Ellison. Nice to see you again.”

Ellison laughed and gave me a playful slap. “As if we didn’t talk earlier today, darling. You’re right, a yacht like this might be a great venue for your groom’s dinner.”

I pulled her out of the stream of promenading party guests and gripped the railing to stop myself from strangling her. “Why do you insist on doing that?”

“Doing what, Rainer?” Ellison asked, her elegant head held high.

“Acting as if I’ve already proposed to you. We are not engaged, we are not planning our wedding, and I didn’t talk to you earlier about possible venues for whatever the hell a groom’s dinner is!”

Ellison aimed a serene smile up at me all during the rant. “Everyone knows it’s inevitable. We are such a perfect match. Honestly, Rainer, you should be happy.”

Before I could grasp her slender shoulders with both hands and shake some sense into her, a helicopter whipped across the bay and hovered about the yacht.

“That’d be tonight’s performer,” Berger called over the noise.

“No, you didn’t!” Ellison gave my arm an excited squeeze and then forgot about me altogether. “He’s a darling, and I haven’t seen him since Paris.”

Ellison’s darling friend turned out to be one of the biggest acts on the world scene. It was surreal seeing him step off the helicopter and join Berger’s yacht party. I thought I might be going crazy.

“Let me introduce my fiance,” Ellison said, bringing the big star over to me.

“She’s jumped the gun a bit there,” I said. “We’re not engaged yet.”

“Then I still have a chance.” He wrapped an arm around Ellison’s waist, and half the yacht let out jealous squeals of delight. “Mind if I steal her away?”

“Not at all,” I said.

Ellison ignored me completely and jumped right into the excitement of the party. I clung to the railing and wondered if it was too late to grab a dinghy back to shore.

“I know people say that money goes to your head, but you are a whole new case of crazy,” Berger said. He joined me at the railing, looking out over his spectacular party like a sultan. “No one understands how you could turn down Ellison Ramsey.”

“That doesn’t mean it’s okay for her to make up our engagement. That’s the crazy part,” I said.

Berger snorted. “And here’s where you are wrong. Any other man, or woman for the matter, would be overjoyed that Ellison had decided on them. Do you even realize what her attention has done for your reputation?”

I didn’t want to admit that it was true. Ellison’s false rumors about our impending wedding had started to change my reputation from hopeless bachelor to decent prospect. I was getting way too many interested glances from the high society ladies now. As a wealthy widow in a bright red dress glanced at me, I realized that I could easily burn off the changes. All it would take was one indiscretion.

“Seems like even your father is starting to notice,” Berger continued the conversation.

“My father can think whatever he damn well wants. As long as it annoys my brother,” I said. Now that I had stocked up enough money to appease Maxwell’s ambition, my father had become downright friendly.

Berger stood up and cleared his throat. “I don’t get you, Rainer. You made billions; you could have all this and more. You could marry Ellison and be at the top. What’s stopping you?”

The buzzing of a small boat was a convenient distraction. I glanced down at the water and saw that it was Tasha arriving. Alone. Had something happened with her blond landscaper? The hope I felt was ridiculous, and I did the best I could to wipe it off my face before I turned back to Berger.

“As you said, I’ve already got a lot. So, I don’t see the harm in waiting for something I want,” I said.

Ellison joined us at that moment. “I bet I know what you want,” she said. “If you’ve been waiting to make a big announcement, the stage is all set.”

I glanced over to the stage and saw the world-class performer wink at Ellison. “Not my kind of music,” I said.

An actual frown broke through Ellison’s self-assured expression. She turned away and caught sight of Tasha boarding the yacht. “You and your one-hit wonders,” Ellison said.

“Sure you want to tie the knot with that?” Berger asked.

Ellison fluffed her hair and gave Tasha an evil appraisal. “I’m not worried.”

I was desperate to escape, and the shore was getting farther and farther away. The next waiter who walked by was shocked when I stopped him. “Is that fresh thyme on top of the stuffed mushrooms?”

“Yes, sir. The chef grows it himself.” The waiter nodded to a nearby man in a white coat.

I moved over to his table and complimented him on the taste. The chef looked at Ellison and hesitated to talk, but I got him into a whole conversation about growing his herbs.

“The flavors are much richer,” the chief said.

Ellison sighed and walked away. Moments later, Berger followed her.

“Thanks,” I told the chef.

“You know we’re on a boat, right? You can’t escape,” the chief said.

I assessed the glimmer in his eyes while his face was otherwise straight. “You know, I’m rich too.”

“How’s that going?”

I laughed and shook the chef’s hand. “I’m starting to think I’d trade my fortune for a practical skill. At the end of the day, you’ve created things, and that has to feel good.”

The chef graciously served two more guests and came back to join me. “It does feel good. It’s never too late to learn. You interested in cooking?”

“Me?” I asked. “No. But recently I started to get into gardening.”

The chef barely contained a snort. “You know how many of my clients demand fresh herbs and vegetables but won’t even think of putting a few potted plants on a windowsill? No offense, but sometimes I wonder what you people do all day.”

“None was taken,” I said.

It was an honest opinion, and as I looked around the yacht, I started to agree with the chef. Everyone was dressed in designer clothes with jewelry made to impress. Instead of noticing the delicious food, hand-crafted right in front of them, or the beautiful scenery of the San Francisco Bay, the ultra-rich were standing around only noticing those who noticed them.

Across the deck, Ellison gave me a come-hither glance. I held up another stuffed mushroom, and her perfect lips pursed tight. She turned back to a small knot of fawning admirers and ignored me.

“Well, I might be the only one, but I’m enjoying your efforts. Thank you,” I told the chef.

I scanned the room again and felt my heart sink. I was stuck on a yacht in a sea of my peers and couldn’t see a single person I wanted to talk to. Except for Tasha.

She was encouraging the first mate to tell her more about the unique features of Alcatraz Island. He was more than happy to oblige and leaned close as he pointed out landmarks. I handed my small plate to a passing waiter and set out across the crowded room.

“Hello, Rainer.” The woman’s voice was cool.

“Patricia, how are you?” I swallowed my irritation and focused on the redheaded woman. We’d had a passionate night after a product launch party, and I could tell she was surprised I knew her name. “How’s your sick dog? The last time we were, ah, together, you had to rush home to give it antibiotics, right?”

Patricia blinked a few times. “That’s right. Bingo’s fine, thanks for asking.”

I stood looking down at her as she hadn’t moved, but she had nothing else to say. “I hope you enjoy the party,” I said, stepping around her.

“It’s not going to work, you know,” Patricia said over her shoulder. She turned and nodded toward Tasha. “She’s too good for you. Besides, she’s been warned what you’re really like.”

“We had one night together. You don’t know me,” I said. I stalked away from her, my fingers curling into fists.

So, more people than I thought had noticed my interest in Tasha. No wonder I could feel eyes on me as I slowly wove my way through the party toward her. It took a lot of maneuvering, but I finally cornered Tasha near the small bar at the back.

Tasha eyed the narrow hallway next to her but decided to stand her ground. “I’m hearing rumors you might have a special announcement tonight,” she said.

“What the hell,” I muttered, missing at first the teasing light in Tasha’s eyes. “Oh, right. Make fun of me. Like you won’t have hundreds of men lining up to propose to you now that you’ve made billions.”

“I’ve had three proposals so far tonight,” Tasha said.

“Let me guess, the first mate? Watch out; you know the captain can marry people,” I said.

“Oh, so is that what you have planned for Ellison?” Tasha asked.

I grabbed her arm and pulled her down the narrow hallway. She darted inside the first open door, hoping to dodge around me, but I blocked her way and shut the door behind us.

“I am not marrying Ellison Ramsey tonight, and I do not ever intend to marry her.”

Tasha’s irritated expression softened. “Okay. I was just teasing you, Rainer.”

“Not a lot of people do that,” I said.

She inched closer. “Why am I so different?”

I ran a hand through my hair. “If I could answer that I might feel sane again.”

“You need your space,” Tasha said, reaching around me for the door handle.

“I need you,” I said. The scent of her hair knocked me back against the cabin door.

Tasha was only inches away, and she didn’t pull back or roll her eyes. Instead, she studied my face, staring deep into my eyes before her gaze dropped to my lips.

“All I know is you’re different, Tasha. And that doesn’t have to mean anything. I just. . . I just like being near you.” I held my breath and wished I hadn’t said any of that.

Then she kissed me.

My breath never came back, and, for a moment, I thought maybe I’d passed out and it was all just a crazy dream. Then Tasha’s sweet lips parted and the kiss deepened. I swung her around and pressed her against the cabin door, pouring more gasoline on our already blazing desire.

I pulled back. “Are you teasing me?” I croaked.

Tasha giggled and then pushed against the door, pressing every inch of her body against mine. “Maybe a little.”

I brought one shaky hand up to her cheek and held our gaze until her teasing smile faded away. The heat was still there in her eyes, so I kissed her again.