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she remembered from that first night inGinger’s hallway was making its appearance again. Coupled with his flyboy sunglasses, it gave him a roguish air.
    “Got it?”
    She hadn’t heard a word he’d been saying. “Got it.”
    “Then it’s all yours,” he said, sliding out of the chair and releasing the wheel.
    She quickly took his place and put both hands on the wheel. The lake sparkled in front of her and the rocky coastline slipped by on her right. She adjusted to the motion of steering the boat. “Don’t leave.”
    “I won’t.” He stood right behind her. “Ease over to the left. That outcropping looks like it extends into the water a ways. It sure helps that the water’s so clear. You can see all the obstacles really easy.”
    “Too bad life isn’t like that, huh?”
    He sighed. “Yep.”
    That heartfelt sigh stirred her compassion. She was beginning to imagine what life might be like for the son of a dead business tycoon and a woman who sent a French teacher to instruct her unborn grandchild. Bowie had reacted by accepting the role of the reckless screwup, so nobody expected much of him, but Chance was just gritting it out, trying to carry the load for everyone.
    Even through the engine noise she could pick out the sound of his breathing, and the steady rhythm gave her goose bumps. She fantasized what it would be like if they were on this boat by themselves, instead of sharing it with her sister and brother-in-law. She imagined Chance putting his arms around her and helping her steer as they navigated along the rocky shore. “How’m I doing?”
    “Just fine.” His voice sounded deeper than usual.
    What a kick if he’d been having some of the same fantasies, she thought.
    “Think you can handle it by yourself now?”
    Her rosy fantasy collapsed. “I guess so. Got an important meeting to go to?”
    “In a way. I want to change clothes, and I do have some calls to make while clients are still in their offices in New York. Plus, I want to see what the stock market did today.”
    “Couldn’t you let it go for now? It’s such a glorious afternoon.”
    “Can’t.”
    “What’s the worst that could happen? I’ll bet the clients will still be around tomorrow, and if the stock market crashed, you might as well enjoy your evening, because you’re in deep doo-doo, no matter what calls you make.”
    “First of all, the clients may not be around tomorrow. They might interpret my delay as lack of interest and do business with another company that’s more enthusiastic. And the stock-market prices will affect what I say to my broker first thing in the morning, and I have tonight to consider my next move.”
    “It sounds exhausting. Don’t you ever wish you could swim with the minnows for a change?”
    “Did I hear somebody up here mention swimming?” Bowie said, coming into the living area. “Nicole’s changing into her suit and mourning her lost figure, so I thought I’d—well, shiver me timbers, look who’s driving the boat! Hey, Chance, want me to climb up to the roof and put out the distress flag to warn people out of our path?”
    “She’s doing fine,” Chance said.
    Andi warmed to the praise. “Watch your tongue, sailor,” she said, “or the captain, who is yours truly at the moment, will order you flogged for insubordination.”
    “Cool. S and M,” Bowie said.
    Chance laughed.
    “Hark!” Bowie said. “A strange sound fills the air.Could it be? Is the Grand Pooh-Bah of Jefferson Sporting Goods—be still my heart—chortling?”
    “I’ve never chortled in my life,” Chance said, still laughing.
    “Oh, yes. Chortling. In fact, there was the Great Chortle of 1975, when we snuck those turkeys into—”
    “Nicole’s out of the bathroom,” Chance said, smoothly interrupting. “I’m changing clothes and making those calls.”
    “You just don’t want Bowie to tell about the turkeys and spoil your image as a buttoned-down executive,” Andi accused.
    “That was a long time