"Like I said, my pleasure," he assured her, and then his gaze on the water ahead, he added, "You know what this means, right?"
"What?" she asked uncertainly.
"Well, I've showered you with flowers, bought you drinks and given you chocolate... we're practically going steady now."
Carolyn blinked and then burst out laughing. "You're a terrible flirt, Captain."
"Actually, I'm a wonderful flirt," he assured her. "I'm charming as hell."
"Yes, you are," she agreed with amusement.
"But you seem to be immune," he said conversationally.
"Is it the boy?"
"The boy?" Carolyn asked uncertainly.
"I came into the bar a couple nights ago after the midnight cruise and you were with some young buck. Ambrose behind the bar said he was from the band."
"Oh, you mean Christian," Carolyn laughed suddenly and shook her head. Funny she hadn't thought of him right away. While she'd seen him as a boy herself when they'd first met, the longer she spent with him, the less young Christian seemed to her. "We're just friends."
"Good friends?" he asked meaningfully.
"No, he's ga-"
Carolyn cut herself off abruptly and slammed her hand over her mouth as she realized what she was saying.
"Gay?" Captain Jack asked with surprise.
"No," she said at once, but then scowled and added, "Don't tell anyone. I promised not to tell." Shaking her head, Carolyn muttered, "And I said Bethany was the blabbermouth. What the hell was in those drinks?"
Jack grinned. "Sugar and spice and everything likely to loosen a girl's lips."
"Hmm," Carolyn said, glowering out at the water.
"So the young buck's a buckette," Jack marveled.
"Who woulda thunk it?"
Carolyn groaned and he patted her shoulder soothingly.
"His secret's safe with me... Certainly safer than it is with you," he teased.
"Did I say you were charming?" she asked with a grimace.
"No, I said it, you just agreed," he assured her.
"I must have been drunk."
Captain Jack chuckled, but then his laughter faded and he asked seriously, "So what's with all the hand-holding and his having his arm around you business?"
"He wasn't holding my hand or anything when we were in the bar alone," she said with a frown.
"So maybe I've noticed you more than once the last couple of days," he said with a shrug.
Carolyn's eyebrows rose.
"So?" he prompted, when she remained silent.