“Of course we know each other,” Zach confirmed.

Jay stared at her, and she felt compelled to nod. She’d met Zach at another party in the Hamptons the previous Christmas. At the Gilberts’ anniversary party she’d only seen him in passing, but hadn’t spoken to him. It was downright annoying that he recognized her. If he told her parents where she was, they’d destroy her little idyllic love nest. And she wasn’t ready for that, not by a long shot.

“What are you doing here?” she managed to ask.

He motioned to Jay. “I’m testing the boat out with Jay today.”

She tossed Jay a questioning look. “What? How do you know Zach?” How on earth would a waiter know a man like Zach Ivers, who was on the top of her mother’s list of potential husbands for Tara?

“Uh… I told you about my construction job last night.” Jay seemed nervous for the first time since she’d met him and pointed to Zach. “It’s Zach’s renovation I’m working on. And this is his boat. He’s letting me live on it for free for the summer.” The two exchanged a look, and finally Zach nodded.

“Yeah.” He hesitated then motioned to the hallway behind him. “Why don’t I wait upstairs and let you guys get dressed?”

Jay nodded. “Appreciate it, Zach.”

He turned around and walked out, closing the door behind him.

“You work for Zach Ivers?” Tara asked.

“How come he knows you?” he answered her question with a question of his own.

“I met him at a Christmas party last year. Are you gonna be in trouble now?”

Jay’s forehead furrowed. “Why would I be in trouble?”

“Well, he looked kind of shocked when he saw me here, and not too pleased either. Are you not supposed to have girls on his boat?”

“His boat? Oh, uh, actually, the question never came up.”

Tara scooted off the bed and reached for her panties. “I can talk to him and tell him it’s all my fault.” She shrugged. “It is anyway. I just don’t want you to get fired because you’re having a wild orgy on his boat.”

Jay chuckled unexpectedly. “Wild orgy? Last time I checked the requirements for an orgy, it took more than two people to have one.”

He rose from the bed and walked around it, pulling her against his naked body just as she’d slipped on her panties. He pressed a kiss to her lips, still smiling. “And it’s very sweet of you to want to smooth things over with Zach, but I’m gonna handle it. Just give me a few minutes alone with him and I’ll explain the situation. He’s a reasonable man. I’m sure he’ll understand.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”

He released her and pulled on his shorts, then slipped his T-shirt over his head. All the while, she couldn’t tear her eyes off him. She loved the way his muscles flexed as he got dressed. It made her entire body hum with awareness.

“You’re not making it easy for me to leave this room.”

At his words, she yanked her eyes upward and met his. She felt heat rise into her cheeks.

Jay reached out his hand and traced her lips with his thumb. “It’s charming how you blush like that, darlin’, absolutely charming.”

~ ~ ~

Reluctantly, Jay turned and left the stateroom. He stalked upstairs and found Zach waiting for him on deck.

When Jay closed the sliding glass door behind him, Zach pivoted, shaking his head.

“The Ice Maiden? Really?” his friend asked.

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t tell me you’re the only one who isn’t aware of Tara’s reputation. Apparently she’s as cold as ice in bed.”

“We’re obviously not talking about the same person,” Jay protested, but was unwilling to divulge any more. He wasn’t one to kiss and tell. What Tara and he had was something special. Out of this world amazing.

Zach pointed toward the cabin. “I recognize Tara Pierpont when I see her. And that was definitely—”

“Pierpont?” Jay squeezed out. He knew the name, though he didn’t know the family personally.

Surprise washed over Zach’s face. “Oh, no, don’t tell me you don’t even know her name.”

Jay ran a hand through his hair. “She only introduced herself as Tara.” He sighed. How could he not have made the connection? “Anyway, it doesn’t matter now. I have bigger problems.”

“I’d say,” Zach agreed. “What was all that talk about me owning this boat?” He glanced around. “Not that I wouldn’t mind having it.”