Sailing at Sunset - Cindi Madsen Page 0,84

wasn’t as vital as in the days before modern technology, but there was something captivating about it.

Dark blue gave way to rich purple and bright oranges as the sun neared the horizon, and out of habit, Josh sought the North Star.

Then he thought about Danae, and about how her father taught her to always search for Polaris. How he’d told her that if she set her sights on the wrong star, she’d go in the wrong direction.

Josh had used Polaris to get his bearings many times, so why did it feel like he might be going the wrong way?

Since last night, irritation had been his constant companion. Given that he was in no condition to be around people, he was extra glad for his current solitary state.

This is why I live alone on my boat.

No complications, no having to deal with the expectations of others, which inevitably led to disappointment on both ends. He hadn’t been dissatisfied with his life before this trip, so he shouldn’t have cause to be anything but content with it now.

It’d be good to get back home to the marina, where he belonged. With people who understood that living on a boat was a plentiful, perfectly acceptable life.

She didn’t even try. She considered it for a few hours before rushing into her ex-boyfriend’s arms.

Fine, that was an exaggeration. But she’d no doubt be there in the near future. Which was why, for once, Josh was in favor of rushing. He’d speed the rest of the way to Newport, say goodbye to the Barton Boats crew, and put this entire misadventure behind him. No more “what ifs” or attempting relationships. Instead, he’d enjoy his itinerary-free existence and pour his affection into his true soulmate: his ship.

Door hinges creaked, and then Danae stepped onto the deck. She fixed her gaze on the horizon and swiveled around, and he realized she was searching for the North Star, the same way he had.

His heart clenched so tightly that it hurt every time it attempted to beat. Nautical twilight gave way to civil twilight, and as the sun emerged, a flash caught his eye.

He looked down to figure out what had caused it, and his gut sank.

Right. The gold star sticker on his jacket. He started to peel it off, but the memory of Danae gifting it to him left his fingernail frozen in place. He should’ve stuck it on his T-shirt, but he’d had to go and put it on his jacket.

Which had been on Danae.

Now I won’t lose it, he’d said.

Then he’d taught her to park the boat, and he didn’t want to replay their good memories, so why had his brain gone there? Did it hate him? As he took in Danae’s profile, his entire body protested at the idea of not going over to her, so apparently the rest of his traitorous organs were Team Danae as well.

We don’t want the same things. She’s never gonna bend. Get it through your head or body or whatever needs to hear it. Great. Now he was talking to parts of his body. Yep, she’d made him lose his mind, and it might take him a few days to get it back, but he would.

There wasn’t any other option.

Even though Danae told herself not to look, her eyes couldn’t seem to help it.

There was Josh at the helm.

Their gazes met, and then he quickly turned away, acting super busy with the wheel. Considering there was no need to correct their preset course, the fruitless move indicated that he was still mad, and why did he get to be the mad one? In spite of being fully aware she wasn’t the gambling type, he was upset that she didn’t want to roll the dice on them.

Extra infuriating, taking into account that he wouldn’t budge at all.

“Morning,” she heard from behind her, and she spun around to face Mark as he stepped out of the cabin.

Danae did her best to give him a smile. “Good morning.” While Mark had told her that he’d give her time to think about going on a date with him, the eager curiosity in his expression conveyed his hope that she’d have an answer for him now.

Luckily, Franco stepped onto the deck, allowing her to dodge a conversation she wasn’t ready for. Not with Josh a handful of yards away, a tornado of emotions rearranging her insides.

Paige brought up a pot of fresh-brewed coffee, while Vanessa carried the stack of mugs. Franco and Mark began discussing