Ryan Sullivan loaded the final crates onto his cabin cruiser. The entire galley was filled with equipment and the food he would need for the next few weeks. He’d been looking forward to this expedition for about a year now.

Depending on the weather conditions, it would take him from two to three weeks to gather all the samples he needed. After he had delivered the samples to the university, he planned to spend the rest of his summer holiday on his boat. It was a yearly occurrence, and the only thing that kept him sane for the rest of the year.

After the holiday he’d have to return to the noisy office, the endless phone calls and the long hours of writing, teaching and publishing. Sometimes he wondered why he’d chosen to become a scientist in the first place. Especially these days when his research was drowning in all his other duties.

The private research position he’d just been offered was more tempting than ever, even though he hated the fact that others would dictate what was worth investigating.

Oh well, he would have the next few weeks to think it over before he made his decision. Right now, it was more urgent to sort through the emergency kit and make sure he had everything he needed for the journey.

He noticed that he was low on painkillers and plaster and added them to his list.

He would have to do some last-minute shopping. There weren’t many stores along the route he was heading. Still, he looked forward to the quietude and only the sound of waves lulling him to sleep. He loved this time of year when he could take a break and get away from the rest of the world.

“Hello, Ryan,” a female voice suddenly called to him.

He looked up and met the familiar eyes of Chloe, the younger sister of one of his best friends. What now? Chloe had rarely sought him out before. Had something happened to David? He froze inside, expecting the worst.

“Chloe? What are you doing here?” he asked. “Has something happened to David?”

“No, he’s well, I believe. Although he’s not answering his mobile. But that’s hardly a surprise.”

“Yes, I know. How are you?”

“Fine, I guess, but…” Chloe seemed to have some trouble speaking.

“What’s up?” Ryan asked.

“Uhm, nothing much. I just…,” she paused as a blush settled over her face.

Ryan watched in surprise as the familiar and beautiful woman turned into a nervous teenager. She took a deep breath before she started over.

“I wondered if I could talk to you, Ryan?”

“Sure, as long as it’s a quick talk. I’m heading out tomorrow, and there’s a lot that needs to be done before that.”

“You’re leaving?”

Chloe seemed unhappy with his reply.

“Yes, I’m off for the next four weeks or so. Is it urgent?”

“Well, yes. I really need to talk to someone.”

“About what?”

Chloe blushed and wrung her hands together. Her courage seemed to have left her. Ryan felt sorry for her, but he didn’t have the time for her right now.

“Why don’t you talk to David about this?” he suggested.

“I tried, but he’s away on business, and I don’t know when he’ll return.”

“Look, why don’t you join me for dinner and then we’ll talk?”

“Uhm, it’s not that easy,” she started.

“Why not?”

“Well… It’s not one of your usual dinner topics if you catch my meaning.”

“It’s not?” What on earth was she rambling on about? “Well, can’t you at least give me a hint? Have you got yourself into some sort of trouble, is that it?”

“No. Well… sort of.”

He just bided his time as she tried to collect both her words and courage again. Finally, she seemed to have grasped a hold on herself.

“Jeffrey dumped me,” she blurted out.

He just stared at her. Oh, no. So now he was going to be the shoulder she could cry on. He just hated to console a crying woman.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” he said as he prepared for the tears that would surely follow.

But she only stood calmly in front of him, looking more relieved than upset.

“Can I do anything for you?” he asked instead. “Give him a beating, for example?”

She laughed. “Thanks, Ryan, but no. It’s not him that’s the problem. I don’t care about him anymore.”

“No? What’s the problem then?”

She looked around them, trying to evade his question.

“You’re heading out with your boat?” she asked.

He nodded. Never expecting her next question.

“Can I come with you?” she blurted out.

“What?” he stared at her in surprise.

No woman had ever been allowed to ruin his peace and quiet on his yearly journey. And he definitely didn’t want Chloe on board and having to live close by her for an extended time. Not that he wanted to dig into why, not even to himself.

But the temptation would probably be more than he could handle. He had no intention of finding out, and David wouldn’t be pleased if he ever did anything.

“What for?”

“Well… I can help you with your samples and cook dinner and… ” she suddenly seemed insecure again.

And warm my bed, he practically said aloud before he managed to stop his wayward thinking.

Damn it, why did she have to arrive just now. Couldn’t she have waited one more day before seeking him out? He couldn’t spend even a few days with her on the small boat – much less weeks. Bloody hell, where was David when he needed him?

Chloe was David’s sister, and therefore it should be David’s responsibility to take care of her and that broken heart of hers.

“No way,” he stated, refusing to be moved by the sudden sign of disappointment that appeared on her face.

“But, Ryan…”

“No. I said no. I’m working. I suggest you seek out one of your girlfriends and have a few drinks. That usually works wonders with my sisters to cure heartache,” he added.

“I’m not heartbroken,” Chloe said in an angry voice.

“No? Then what’s the problem?”

“I can’t… ” she stopped just before she blurted out something.

Ryan waited to see if she would be able to speak the words this time. Oh hell, he didn’t have the time to deal with sensitive women and their fine-tuned nerves. Not right now.

He turned away from her and reached for his jacket and wallet. He had some shopping to do before he could head off.

“I need a man,” she blurted out behind him.

He froze, before slowly turning toward her, thinking he must have heard wrong.

“What did you say?” he finally managed to croak.

“I mean, I need to talk to a man. A man I can trust,” she finally blurted out as her entire face was blushing.

“Well, talk to one of your boyfriends,” Ryan suggested.

“I can’t, Ryan. You’re the only one I trust with this now that David’s not around.”

He just stared at her. They’d always been on friendly terms, but he’d always been more a friend of David since they were the same age. What was going on here? It had to be something serious when she couldn’t talk to any of her other friends instead.

“Please, Ryan.”

“All right, all right,” he finally conceded.

There didn’t seem to be any alternatives. He would have to invite her along for a few days.

“You can come with me but only on two conditions.”

“Name them,” she said and smiled at him. “I’ll do everything you say.”

I doubt it, he thought to himself, before his mind started to turn in all the wrong sexual directions. David would kill him if he ever tried to live out any of his fantasies with her.

“First of all, I’m the boss, and you’re doing what I say. I don’t have the time to save you from drowning all the time. Is that clear?”

“Sure, boss,” she said as she gave him a salute.

Her back straightened and her face seemed filled with hope again. Oh, hell, he thought. He had always been weak when it came to Chloe.

“Secondly, you will only be on board for a few days. After that, I’m dumping you in the nearest harbour, and you can take the bus back home. Is that understood?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Now, go home and pack. You’ll need warm clothes and rain gear. We’re leaving tomorrow at 8 o’clock sharp.”

“Thank you so much, Ryan,” Chloe said as she ran up to him and gave him a quick hug. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she shouted as she hurried to collect her things.

Ryan was shaking his head. This was the dumbest thing he’d ever agreed to. Really, the dumbest. David would kill him slowly with the bluntest knife if anything happened to her. Or if Ryan treated her as anything other than one of his own sisters. The next few days would be more stressful than he had expected.

He needed to solve her problems as quickly as possible and dump her in the nearest harbour. Well, not literally. He’d leave her on the quayside. But definitely get rid of her before he upset her and David.

Still, he couldn’t help himself from returning her smile. At least someone was happy with the outcome, and he couldn’t turn her down. Not until he knew what all the fuss was about.

But he had a sense that David would owe him big time for this. Especially if he had to spend the next few days listening to a sobbing woman. He cringed at the thought. Where was David when his sister needed him?