Page 27 of Embracing the Change

It did it in the lounge when he got close to her, regardless of how insanely pissed he was at her.

It was doing it to him now.

Jamie powered through her sexy-as-all-hell perfume.

“Can you explain why that isn’t possible?” he requested.

“I have my orders,” the captain announced.

Jamie fought grinding his teeth and asked, “And those orders would be?”

The captain stepped away from the helm, dipping his chin to the chief officer who took over, before turning fully to Jamie to address him.

And you had to hand it to the guy, he looked wildly uncomfortable.

“I was told you’d make this request, and I was told, under no circumstances was I to cut our tour short.”

“My daughter-in-law gave you that direction,” Jamie surmised.

“Well—”

“I can make it worth your while to violate her order,” Jamie stated.

“I know who you are, sir, and I know that you can.” He cleared his throat awkwardly. “However, I don’t believe you can make it worth countermanding Hale Wheeler’s standing counteroffer.”

He heard Nora gasp.

And this time, he ground his teeth.

Because Hale was a member of the family.

And he was the richest man in the world.

Literally.

Jamie glanced at Nora, and both of them walked out of the bridge. They stood outside it as Jamie pulled out his phone and immediately called Hale.

Hale, who was supposed to be there with Elsa, and their new son Laird. Along with Mika and Tom. Genny and Duncan. Chloe and Judge. Alex and Rix. Ned and Blake. Sasha, Matt, Sully, Gage, Dru, Cadence…

And he and Nora.

Plenty of people around to run interference.

Not anymore.

Hale answered within two rings.

“Jamie—” he began.

Jamie cut him off. “Call the captain and have him turn this ship around.”

“I can’t.”

“You can,” Jamie asserted.

“Right, those mega-yachts are floating climate disasters, which wouldn’t be my choice…ever, but with that said, you answer to Chloe if I do that shit,” Hale returned.

“You cannot tell me you’re going to strand Nora and I alone on a boat for a week for a vacation we didn’t buy into because you’re afraid Chloe is going to pitch a fit.”

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