Calypso, clicked from a menu of their wants and desires, and were matched with likeminded partners.” She gave me a dreamy smile. “It could be the new version of all those awful dating apps. Don’t swipe left, choose a fantasy that another has chosen, have a night of absolute abandonment, fall madly in love, and be as happy as the four of us.”
I eyed her. “Sounds like you’d enjoy running it.”
“I’d enjoy playing matchmaker.”
“It wouldn’t hurt to do a trial,” Sully murmured. “Create a simple website, let a few discreet booking agents know, host a few strangers onboard, and see where we go from there.”
“At this rate, we’ll need to buy a fleet.” I smiled. “You know anything to do with Euphoria is a massive success.”
“Yes, well. Who can say no to a virtual world where there’s no shame?” Sully gave me a doting smile.
“I think it’s a worthwhile venture,” Cal said. “And, in the interest of business, Jess and I will accompany you on your inaugural cruise so we can test out the yacht and see if it would be suitable for guests.”
Sully laughed. “Your lack of subtly is impressive.”
“I’ve given up waiting for an invite and just issued myself one instead.” Cal grinned. “And there’s no excuse about Wi-Fi. A yacht like that will have its own everything.”
“Fine. If that’s the case, then you’re more than welcome—”
“Eh, sir?” Radcliffe, our head of security, appeared as silently and as stealthy as he always did.
Sully instantly stood. “Everything okay?”
“There’s a vessel on the horizon. It just triggered the outer reef sensors.”
Sully narrowed his eyes. “Friend or foe?”
“Can’t tell. We’re trying to find what channel they’re on to radio. Thought I’d let you know sooner, rather than later.”
Pika fluttered to Sully’s shoulder, and Skittles flew to mine.
I stood too, moving to Sully’s side. “What does the ship look like?”
“Black and silver.” Radcliffe ran his hand over his gun strapped to his thigh. “Fucking ginormous.”
Cal and Jess stood, our breakfast forgotten. Cal rubbed his jaw. “He’s a day early.”
Sully nodded. “It seems Calypso has arrived.”
“Want me to take Singa Laut and check their credentials?” Radcliffe asked, mentioning Sully’s personal speedboat that we used to visit Lebah and his forty-four islands in our private archipelago.
Sully cast a glance at all of us. A family unit all bound in friendship, business, and love. “I have a better idea. Seeing as Calypso has suddenly become the potential hub of a new business, let’s all go and welcome her.”
Holding out his hand for mine, he waited until our fingers linked. “Ready?”
I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him, smiling when Pika grumbled with possessiveness. “Ready.”
“In that case, let’s go.”
With Radcliffe leading the way, Pika and Skittles darting like dragonflies, and Jess and Cal behind us, we padded through soft sand, past tropical palm fronds, and across an island that was our perfect home.
We stepped onto the beach, ready to welcome our new toys.
Chapter Three
CAL WAS RIGHT.
I really should have paid more attention to scale when I’d made the flippant order with Elder Prest.
Calypso had looked huge while standing on my shores, but now, as we pulled up beside the glossy black vessel and waited as a rear platform was lowered to welcome us, it was fucking monstrous.
I cut the engine to Singa Laut, well acquainted with the fast speedboat that I’d bought when I’d first built Goddess Isles, and eyed up the new addition to our asset sheet.
How did you even sail something this big? What sort of instruments and education were needed to embark on nautical navigation with such a giant?
Mirrored windows reflected the turquoise sea as polished chrome blinded us with sun flashes. An oiled wooden decking, expensive looking technology towers and radar, and a sweeping swimming pool and helipad hinted at the absolute luxury inside.
Radcliffe leaped onto the platform first, his bare feet splashing into a couple of inches of sea as the mechanically lowered deck hovered just underwater. His second in command, Rory, also climbed out, tethering the speedboat and scanning the yacht for any threats.
Looking up, I caught sight of movement as a man and woman appeared above.
The man wore calico shorts and a white polo while the woman wore a loose-fitting cream dress, similar to the one Eleanor had selected today. Unlike Eleanor, who wore a polka-dot silver bikini beneath, the woman watching us had a black one-piece, visible as the sun illuminated her svelte frame.
I recognised the man from Jethro’s masquerade—not that I’d seen his face—but his mouth and