Page 7 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8
A few swipes through the frames and he found her in the galley with Ripley.
Her long hair was tied back in a neat ponytail that made his fingers twitch with the need to see it wrapped around his wrist. She was dressed in the crew-assigned all-white uniform, with his yacht’s logo displayed discreetly on her attire. But not even the modest buttoned-up shirt or the pleated skirt and apron could disguise her striking, coltish beauty.
Eyes followed her when she moved. Lingered when she smiled or laughed.
And when his assistant snagged her attention, Jario found himself in the startling position of experiencing stomach-churning irritation bordering on...jealousy?
Ridiculous.
But Ripley’s appearance had reminded him of a failing that needed fixing. Setting the tablet down, he accessed the Bluetooth intercom that connected him to his assistant.
‘Yes, sir?’
‘Come to my office right away.’
‘Of course, sir.’
Jario’s fingers drummed impatiently on his desk, counting down the interminable three minutes till the knock on his door.
With one last look at the screen, he shut off the surveillance. ‘Come.’
Ripley approached his desk, his easy stride broadcasting his self-assurance in his efficiency at his chosen profession. Usually, Jario appreciated his assistant’s demeanour. He’d never had much patience for wallflowers or lazy scroungers, choosing to surround himself with hard workers like Ripley. But this morning he found himselfchafedby the other man.
Because of the breach last night. Nothing more.
‘How may I help you, sir?’
Not even the courteous respect twinned with his eagerness to serve mollified Jario. He’d slept like crap. Fighting demonsandsexual frustration wreaked havoc on a man’s disposition. He needed to ensure at leastoneof those didn’t happen again.
‘It’s your job to ensure that all crew obey my code of conduct while on board my yacht, is it not?’ he enquired evenly.
Ripley’s laissez-faire evaporated. ‘Of course, sir. And you have my assurance that they all know to follow your rules.’
‘Do I? Then why did I find your newest recruit wandering the decks in the middle of the night?’
The flicker of surprise preceded the tiniest flash of quickly disguised ire that made Jario curb a smile. More than most, Ripley hated being called out for a flaw, and to his credit they rarely happened. It was why he was as close to being his right-hand man as Jario would permit.
‘My apologies, sir. Clearly, Willow needs reminding of the rules. She was hired to assist me so she’s directly under my supervision. Leave it with me. I’ll make sure...’
Ripley’s words receded as her name echoed seductively in Jario’s head.
Willow.
Dios mio, it suited her down to a delectable T.
He shifted in his seat as fresh heat pounded through his bloodstream. Beyond Ripley’s shoulder was the screen counting down the time until their next destination. Seven days till Bali. Till he could do something about this savage need in his groin.
Until then, he had deals to close. One nemesis to take down another satisfying notch. And yet, he refocused on Ripley as he rose and poured another espresso before returning to his desk, the words leaving his lips as surprising as they were unsettling. ‘If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to witness it, make sure we’re all on the same page?’
If he was surprised by the request, Ripley disguised it with a brisk nod. ‘Of course. I’ll get Miss Chatterton right away.’
Jario’s vision hazed red, his pulse leaping from ten to a million in a nanosecond. For a ridiculous moment, he thought he would pass out from the shock filling his veins. He barely heard the espresso cup clatter onto the saucer, barely felt the hot liquid singe his skin.
‘Perdoname?What did you say her name was?’ The savage whisper blistered his throat.
Ripley’s eyes widened as he lost several shades of colour. ‘Willow Cha-Chatterton, sir. Is there something...?’
His hand slamming his desk made the other man jump. ‘Bring her to me.Now.’