“She’s not there.” Arms crossed over her chest, the blonde eyed me with steely cold blue eyes.
My heart sank. “What do you mean? Where did she go?”
She checked her watch and cocked her head. “Probably on her way to the Emerald Princess right now. She said something about proving herself.”
“Take me there. Please.” I was more than willing to get down on my knees and beg if it came to that.
“I can’t. I’m taking a group to the rapids. They ran inside to pick up something for dinner. Based on what she told me about you, she’s better off on her own.”
“Look, I don’t know who you are or how you know Mariella, but I need to get to her. I was so fucking wrong, and I’ve got to tell her that. I’ve never met anyone like her. I know it sounds ridiculous, but we’re meant to be together.”
She didn’t believe me. Hell, I wouldn’t believe me either if I’d been in her shoes. But still, I had to try.
“You probably think I’ve lost my mind, but I just walked away from a twenty-thousand dollar job for her.”
Her jaw dropped open. “You’ve got to be shitting me.”
“I’m not. Take me to her?” I sensed the tide turning in my favor.
Until she shook her head and looked over my shoulder. “I can’t. The Williams family is counting on me to get them to their dive site.”
“What if I made it worth their while?” There had to be something they wanted. Whatever it was, I’d gladly give it.
“Made what worth whose while?” An older man in a pair of colorful board shorts stopped by the boat.
“Mr. Williams, this man was wondering if he could convince you to head back to the Emerald Princess to drop him off instead of moving on to our next stop.”
“But we already saw the statue,” he said.
“I need to tell someone something. It’s an emergency.” I focused my efforts on Mr. Williams, hoping he might be more receptive to my request.
“Can’t we radio it in for you?” he asked.
“It’s not that kind of emergency,” I explained. “There’s this woman. I let her down, and I need to make it right.”
“It’s love, isn’t it?” A tiny woman with silver hair held out a hand for Mr. Williams to help her onto the boat.
“It doesn’t matter what it is, he wants to go in the wrong direction. There’ll be another ferry in a bit. He can wait for that.” Mr. Williams took the brown paper bag the woman handed to him. “We’ve got plans, my love.”
“Remember all those years ago when you were on your way to our wedding and got a flat tire?” Her eyes twinkled as she addressed her husband.
His forehead furrowed. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“If that nice stranger hadn’t stopped to help you, who knows if we would have made it down the aisle that day?” She turned toward me. “Where do you need to go?”
Hope bloomed in my chest. “Back to the Emerald Princess.”
Shyla bit back a smile. “What are we waiting for, then?”