Sailing at Sunset - Cindi Madsen Page 0,85

the website, and as they filled their mugs with coffee, everyone gathered around Franco’s computer to see the new mockups.

They all commented on how much they liked the concept, and when a few minor issues were raised, Franco took them in stride as he jotted notes. A bit of fine-tuning and the website would be good to go.

“Not to be cheesy,” Vanessa said, spreading her arms wide and encompassing as many of them as she could. “But I’m so lucky to work with such talented, amazing people. Let’s hold on to this trip forever.”

“Even when someone forgets to make coffee after taking the last cup?” Franco asked with a laugh, and everyone joined in. Well, Danae couldn’t quite manage laughter, but she smiled. The entire point of this trip had been to truly become a team, and they’d done that and then some.

“Josh, you want coffee?” Vanessa asked, her attention drifting over Danae’s shoulder.

Danae’s internal organs stretched taut, unable to properly function with Josh’s name hanging in the air.

“Sure. I didn’t sleep very well, so I could use the jolt.” Hearing the deep voice that had whispered in her ear only yesterday ached as badly as looking at him had. No saving herself now, so she dared the briefest glance.

“Lucky for you,” Paige said, grabbing one of the mugs and holding it up so Vanessa could pour, “I made it, so it’s extra strong.”

Danae could feel every inch of space between her and Josh, and she detested each one. He reached past her to grab the offered cup, and her already-struggling spirit crashed to the wooden floor.

She couldn’t tell if she was the only one suffocating from the despondence, but she never could handle tense silence. “So, uh, how long before we dock?”

The guy who turned to her wasn’t the same Josh she’d spent time with this past week. He wasn’t even as civil as the cute-but-vexing sailor she’d met the first day, and that guy had been about as cuddly as a cactus. While she’d waved it off that day, the lack of his warm, joking personality jabbed at her. She wanted to make it better even though she knew she couldn’t, and that frustrated her, too.

“It’ll take as long as it takes,” he said.

Vanessa blinked at Josh and then regarded Danae, hinting that she wanted an explanation of the shift in mood between them. One Danae didn’t have, and she tried to convey that with the tiniest shake of her head.

Vanessa picked up her phone and opened her notes app. “Well, since it sounds like we have a few minutes to kill, why don’t we finish hammering out some of the details for your boat-christening ceremony? I’ve got a contact who can get us supplies at a discount.”

Josh lowered the steaming mug from his lips. “You know, I appreciate you guys getting excited about it, but it’s just a foolish tradition. I’ll take my chances.”

“Foolish traditions make the world more fun. Plus, I have this whole plan to livestream it. We can mention Barton Boats and get potential clients thinking of their own christening ceremony. We’ll also add that you’re available for chartered trips, so it’ll be mutually beneficial.” Again, Vanessa looked at Danae, as if she could help convince Josh to go for it, the same way she had before.

Little did Vanessa know that everything had changed. It was all messy and ruined, and Danae clung to that moment last night when Polaris flashed extra bright, because she was one wrong word away from tears.

She spoke past the tightness clogging her throat. “Honestly, I don’t have time to plan a boat christening anyway. I’ll be too focused on putting the new campaign together. All of us will be extra busy with that during the next couple of weeks.”

“Sure,” Vanessa said, not getting the hint, “but we can take a Saturday to support our captain and his ship.”

Josh took a large gulp of coffee and cast Danae the tiniest glance. “It’s too late anyway. It’s been renovated for months, and I don’t want to deal with scrubbing off the old name and putting on the new one.”

“You haven’t done that yet?” The question burst out of Danae before she could stop it. Then she shook her head. “Never mind. It’s none of my business.”

“Anyway, it’s about time to pack up. It shouldn’t be too much longer before we dock, and I’m sure everyone’s ready to get home.” Josh thanked Paige and Vanessa for the coffee and returned to