Sailing at Sunset - Cindi Madsen Page 0,5

even though the owner of the company had booked his services without requesting his life story.

So she’d sorta kinda replied to his joke, but then she’d immediately switched back to professional mode. Then again, her email signature was pink and included an inspirational quote that changed each day. A bit of a conundrum, to say the least.

Or maybe he’d had too much spare time to kill, studying her signature and searching for some insight.

After he responded with the information she’d asked for, Danae had sent him revised itinerary items Friday and yesterday evenings. A strange mixture of unease and curiosity coiled in his gut as he thought about meeting the woman in person. If Danae Danvers could nitpick this much over email, how much more would she attempt to call the shots once she got onboard?

The subject line of her latest email proclaimed it “The Final FINAL Itinerary.”

Josh tapped on it and read the paragraph she’d written.

Josh,

Thank you for answering my questions and providing your credentials. I’m very much looking forward to meeting you tomorrow.

I’ve highlighted a few of the items I never received complete answers to in yellow and require your feedback. As I mentioned, it’s more important to have sufficient strategy sessions as opposed to the more frivolous activities (i.e., the sailor knot workshop, mental scavenger hunt, and “Use What You Have” challenge.) Although fun, I hardly think those will help us finalize the marketing plan that needs to be established by the time we return to Newport at the end of the trip.

For instance, we can simply use what we have—our computers.

Please peruse the suggested changes and let me know your thoughts.

Best,

Danae Danvers

Chief Marketing Officer, Barton Boating Company

When it came down to it, a paycheck was a paycheck. However, one of the main reasons Josh had left his financial advisor position was so he could go with the flow and throw schedules and strict deadlines out the window. He’d do the job and do it well, sure, but life was so much easier once you let go of filling every single minute.

Since this was his chosen profession, as well as how he paid for his slot at the marina, he tapped the attached document. Then he glanced up at the Riveras to see how they were faring.

Mrs. Rivera lifted a bottle of wine they’d picked up at their last stop. “We’re toasting to the end of our trip and the start of our new life together. Would you like a glass?”

“You two go on ahead,” Josh said. “The Newport shoreline will be in view before we know it.”

After a good minute or so of trying to open Danae’s email attachment, the download timed out. WiFi was spotty at best out on the water, and if it hadn’t loaded by now, it never would. He could glance at it later, once he returned to his dock sweet dock, where he had just enough modern comforts, like a strong internet connection. Which he primarily used for the occasional TV show.

I wonder if George and Nancy DVR’d our show, because I forgot to. They lived a couple of slips down and occasionally showed up in the morning bearing coffee, donuts, and hot gossip from around the marina.

In return, Josh brought them fresh fish and tales of his adventures on the high seas, since they didn’t head out as often as they used to. They also watched crime dramas together and had a running contest going to see who could figure out the mystery first.

Thanks to a strong headwind that hinted at an oncoming cool front, he delivered the Riveras to the dock about forty-five minutes later than expected, which was why he didn’t give out exact times, but ranges. Not that the newlyweds cared or thought twice about it. They thanked him profusely, took up their belongings, and skipped off into the sunset.

Josh visited the pump-out station, refueled, and gave his boat a thorough cleaning.

A quick glance at his watch revealed he only had twenty minutes to shower and rush into town. He’d scheduled a catch-up dinner with his little sister and her husband, neither of whom he’d seen in way too long.

From the sounds of the emails he’d received from the bossy CMO of Barton Boating Company, he’d better enjoy the break. The next eight days with the woman who couldn’t stop changing the itinerary would surely try his patience and remind him why he’d left the corporate world in the first place.

Chapter Three

When Danae stepped inside her mom’s