Page 11 of All for the Beast

V nodded, gazing at each shop they moved by.

“Like an extravaganza,” she said, her voice animated and jovial. “Fireworks, dolphins jumping through hoops, a rock star of what-have-you serenading the lucky guests. That’s the only way people are going to start talking. Recording for social media, telling people about it. I can promise you that.”

Katy was expecting him to scoff at her suggestions once again, considering himself the leader when it came to creating a future for his hometown. But he surprised her by simply nodding along, giving her a neutral and approving look as she strolled alongside him.

“Go on,” he said.

Katy then wondered if he was just calling her bluff. She went on.

“Get your best shifters to perform some acrobatics,” Katy said, hoping he couldn’t see through her mask of enthusiasm. “People adore all that shit. It’s what gets clicks and, ultimately, what gets you paying customers.”

V stopped walking and motioned toward a dock away from the pier, wide enough for only two people to walk. The pink waters were dusted with red and yellow splashes from the dividing suns.

“We can start a social media page,” V said when they turned.

Katy realized that he was serious when they began walking along the narrow dock. Their arms touched as they continued on, her elbow pressed up against his wrist. The feel of his skin on hers made them both snap to look at each other.

“Yes,” Katy stumbled on her words. “That would be a good idea too.”

They walked along in silence, and V placed his hands in his pockets. Her heart thudded through her chest, feeling like a cartoon where it would burst through her shirt.

They arrived at a bench a few feet from the water, which had calmed and was as still as glass now. They sat next to each other, with Katy folding her arms into her lap to avoid touching his skin again.

It was too soft, too tempting, and was clearly capable of wiping the slate of her thoughts clean. She needed to focus and get herself kicked off the job before things started to become too serious.

“Look,” V said, leaning over and turning her way. “I am a prince in this area, so that means I have access to a lot of wealth. There isn’t anything I can’t gain access to.”

Katy instinctively scoffed, causing a scowl to cross over V’s face.

“Is that so?” she said with her eyebrow cocked.

“I’m not gloating,” V huffed at her. “It’s a mere fact. That’s something that will surely help us along the way in terms of getting this cruise ship up and running, no?”

Of course, he was right. When it came to getting any business going, having a shit load of cash was always going to give the business owner a leg up over any potential competition. And judging by what Katy had observed in her brief tour of the town, there weren’t going to be any other cruise ships competing for the tourist’s interest.

She nodded, feeling somewhat ashamed.

“You’re right. That is going to be helpful. Hopefully, we can use that prestige to get that rock star.”

Katy flicked her eyes up at him and made the mistake of letting them linger. Most people were afraid of eye contact, especially when it lasted too long. But something invisible, even primal, was pulling her to him. A sense of knowing that she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

“V,” she said softly.

“Yes?”

“Are you going to consider the suggestions I make? Even if they go against what you think is best?”

His scowl melted away like ice cream on a hot summer’s day. He sat up, crossed his legs, and draped his arm around the bench. It wasn’t a big sitting area, so his fingers nearly bushed the top of her shoulders. Katy inhaled his musk, something forest-like mixed with the sage of the sea, and her breathing picked up.

“I trust your advice as the resident expert,” he said softly. “And I feel like we are both professional enough to let any animosities go for the sake of our partnership.”

Katy audibly gulped, then ran her hand through her hair, leaving it to rest on the back of her neck. When she looked back at him, he was still watching her, and it made her feel like a piece of art.

“I am glad that I could gain your trust so easily,” she whispered.

Katy found herself leaning in closer to V without realizing it. Neither spoke for a long time, their eyes fluttering down to their lips, each playing a game of chicken to see who would be the first to cave.

“Katy …”

---