Page 3 of Unmoored

“My chance to—” I don’t know how I can be laughing when I’m this furious, but it’s just so absurd. I’ve been clinging tighter and digging deeper, desperately searching for therealGeorge under all these layers… and here he is, showing his whole ass.

Literally.

“My—” I try again, but my giggle turns to a snort, and then a full-on laugh.

George glowers at me. “I’m the best deal in town!” he snaps, turning on his heel to storm out of the bedroom and down the hallway.

My phone buzzes. Grateful for the distraction, I scramble to grab it. I don’t recognize the number, but I still answer it. “Hello?”

“Hi. I’m Rod. Owner of Dawn’s Embrace.”

“Oh, yeah, uh huh…” I stall, but my brain isn’t giving me a thing.

“You won the auction, man. Congrats! The other bidder gave up way too soon. She’s a real bargain.”

“I did?” I swallow hard. “Wow. I’ve got my very own… uh…” I pause, crossing my fingers.

“Yeah. Your very own houseboat.”

“…houseboat,” I echo weakly.

Shit. I got drunk and got into a bidding war on ahouseboat.

But as I stare across the room at the open doorway, I can hear George banging around in the kitchen. Anything beats the humiliation of knowing how he thinks of me:the old backup plan.

“Yeah! Okay, great. You know what? I’ve gotta make some arrangements. I’ll call you back.”

I’m going to sell all my stuff and buy a houseboat. I just hope it’s the right move… because the universe doesn’t make mistakes, but I sure do.

ChapterOne

EDEN

I’m not aloneon this boat.

“Shit.”

I sit bolt upright in the pale light of dawn, shoving the old blanket to my waist. I’m still half-asleep, but my head is spinning with adrenaline. I swear I just heard footsteps on the back deck.

“Calm down, Eden,” I breathe out, rubbing sleep out of my eyes. “It’s probably just a drunk seal stumbling home.”

I was hopelessly romantic when I thought that the waves would rock me to sleep. Instead, I spent my first night aboard staring at the dark ceiling, listening to every splash of water lapping against the hull.

Thud, thud, thud.

Shit. Thosearefootsteps.

“Agh—!” I clap both hands over my mouth to stifle my little scream of surprise.

Is he a pirate? I mean, I can’t blame him for thinking Dawn’s Embrace is an abandoned wreck. When I got to the marina yesterday, I found out that she’ll need a lot more than a lick of paint.

But she’smyabandoned wreck, so… keep sailing, buddy. Whoever this guy is, I’m not afraid to say it to his face.

Simmering with outrage—and overblown confidence—I grab my pillow and slide out of bed, tiptoeing to the door.

Then I yank it open.

“What the fuck are you doing on board my boat?” I demand, my self-defence pillow raised in one hand.

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