“That’s the third one that’s been declined,” Stark griped. “I haven’t had any trouble at all using my account on this trip until now. We’ve been touring all over Australia without issue for seven days. What the hell is going on?”
“I’m sorry, sir. The system doesn’t give me explanations.”
Stark’s frustration caught Blaise’s attention and he joined them with a worried expression. Nope, not going to spoil the kid’s vacation over a stupid credit card issue. Pulling out her wallet, she handed her own credit card to the agent.
“Here, try this.”
Stark stood aside, silently stewing while the agent ran her card. Immediately, the card machine let out a cheerful ding and the light turned green. A receipt began to print, and the agent was so relieved he looked like might actually weep.
“That one worked!” he exclaimed.
“I knew it would,” Wyntir said coolly.
“Show off,” Stark groused.
She gave him a wink as she took her card back.
“The crew has already stowed your bags aboard and Dagmar is waiting just outside to escort you to the boat,” the agent said with a big smile and then gave Blaise a very adult-y look. “No running on the docks and always do what the captain says. Okay?”
Blaise nodded solemnly, his gaze shifting over to Stark a few times before finally relaxing when he saw the situation was under control. A trim young woman in a neat uniform greeted them outside and led them down a long wooden dock, giving them a quick oral history of the huge sailing yacht. Wyntir and Stark followed along as she gave Blaise a more in-depth tour once they were aboard.
“I can’t believe you had to pay my way,” he whispered to Wyntir so the boy wouldn’t overhear. “How embarrassing.”
“Really? Babe, this is the twenty-first century. Is your ego really that bruised by the fact that a woman paid for your boat ride?”
“It’s not my masculinity I’m worried about. It’s just that…” He harrumphed and crossed his arms like a petulant child. “I’m totally one of the most famous actors in the world. I don’t often experience a declined credit card. What the fuck is up with that?”
She tried not to laugh at his pouty demeanor. “I dunno.”
Stark’s eyes lit up and he dug in his pocket for his phone. “I know who would—Xavier!”
“You’re going to call him now? They’ve already cast off the dock lines, babe. Can’t this wait?”
“The sooner I get him on it, the sooner I can relax.”
Wyntir kept an eye on Blaise as the crew maneuvered the boat out of the harbor. He looked so cute in his colorful little life vest. She checked her watch and bet herself he’d strike the Titanic pose in less than ten minutes. Warm wind swept her hair away from her face and she breathed deeply. She couldn’t remember a happier time in her life. This trip was just what they needed to really launch their life together.
Next to her, Stark jabbed his phone’s screen and held it to his ear again. Three times he tried with no luck.
“No signal?” she asked, leaning back against the cockpit as the crew set the sails and the captain turned off the noisy engine. Only the sound of the breeze and lapping waves could be heard.
“He’s not picking up,” he said with a frown at his phone for a moment before realization dawned. “Of course! Xavier always takes his vacations at the same time as his biggest clients, when they won’t need him much.”
“Now that’s service,” she said, nudging him with her shoulder. “Maybe send him an email. A guy like that will be checking whether he’s on vacation or not.”
That didn’t seem to make him feel any better, and their relationship was so new she wasn’t entirely sure how to cheer him up. Well, she could think of a few ideas, but they weren’t exactly family friendly. Speaking of which…
She scanned the deck and found Blaise in front of the mast, staunchly in the middle of the boat instead of standing way out front, holding out his arms wide and shouting about being the king of the world. Checking her watch, she smiled. Six minutes.
The boat smashed through the crest of a small wave and Blaise tumbled to his knees. Wyntir gasped and nearly jumped to her feet, but he settled on his bum and laughed his head off. A wave of relief washed over her.
She couldn’t help it. Now that she had become a surrogate mother figure to Blaise, her maternal instincts were on high alert. She worried about the kid constantly, but that worry was greatly outweighed by the gift of having him in her life. Blaise was a shining light, and she was eternally grateful for his presence.
“Just ridiculous,” Stark fumed. He wasn’t even enjoying the ride.
“Stark,” she said, taking his hands and capturing his gaze, “you need to be like Elsa. Let it go.”
“But—”
“No buts. Like you said, your accounts have been fine the entire time. This is our last big excursion before we fly home, so there’s no need to panic. The flights are already paid for and the yacht is dropping us off in Melbourne, so all we have to pay for to get home are a few meals and cab rides. I can cover that, no problem. In fact, it’s the least I can do considering you footed the bill for this extravagant trip.”
His expression softened and a hint of pink tinged his face. “It’s just so embarrassing.”
“I know, but you can pay me back when we get home, if that makes you feel any better. I know you’re good for it.”
That seemed to lighten his mood because she could have sworn she saw a hint of a smile. At the very least, he seemed more relaxed. “I guess that’ll work.”
His mild amusement turned into the megawatt grin he was famous for, confusing her.
“What?”
“You called it ‘home.’”
“So?”
He gave her an expectant look. “Does that mean you’re accepting my invitation?”
“I meant home as in LA,” she said with a laugh. “But…yes. Moving in with you and Blaise would make me pretty damn happy.”
Stark let out an enthusiastic whoop and wrapped her up in his arms, kissing her passionately as the crew applauded. Wyntir nestled into his arms, her back leaning against his chest, and relished the wind and spray cooling her overheated skin.
Their vacation had been perfect, up until the moment of Stark’s trouble this morning. She wished more than anything it could be settled so his mind would be fully on them and their experience. Then an idea hit her.
“Oh!” she said pulling her own phone from her pocket. Two bars. Maybe…
“What? You’re making a call now?” Stark teased.
“You’ll thank me,” she said, dropping a kiss on his cheek and dialing Dyrk’s cell.
She had completely lost track of the time difference and had no clue whether it was work hours or the middle of the night back home—or even what day it was—but of course Dyrk answered on the first ring. She would have expected nothing less of the tight-ass workaholic.
“Hey, what’s up?” he asked, his voice crackling with static.
It startled her how nice it was to hear his voice. As much as she’d enjoyed their trip, she was eager to go home and get back into her daily routine.