Italian Bred

By Marie Ahls

What could possibly go wrong on a dream vacation? For Gemma? Everything! After all her friends back out of the trip, Gemma decides to take the vacation on her own. She already has the time off work, the deposit is nonrefundable, and some rest and relaxation are just what she needs...even if she has to go alone. A trip on a private yacht, cruising around the Caribbean, day-dreaming about a fun little vacation fling sounds like paradise. When Gemma arrives, she's blindsided at the marina when she finds out the yacht has been double booked.
Luca wants to build his business, so when the opportunity to preview an exclusive luxury yacht falls in his lap, he jumps at it. The possibility of adding the yacht adventure as an offering for his high-spending clientele could take his business to the next level. With the booking gone wrong, Luca either has to give up his plans or float away with Gemma.
It's a large boat. They can totally stay out of each other's way...right?
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fiery Vision Publishing
• Release date: May 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201310097

Book preview

What could possibly go wrong on a dream vacation? For Gemma? Everything! After all her friends back out of the trip, Gemma decides to take the vacation on her own. She already has the time off work, the deposit is nonrefundable, and some rest and relaxation is just what she needs...even if she has to go alone. A trip on a private yacht, cruising around the Caribbean, day-dreaming about a fun little vacation fling sounds like paradise. When Gemma arrives, she’s blindsided at the marina when she finds out the yacht has been double booked. 

Luca wants to build his business, so when the opportunity to preview an exclusive luxury yacht falls in his lap, he jumps at it. The possibility of adding the yacht adventure as an offering for his high-spending clientele could take his business to the next level. With the booking gone wrong, Luca either has to give up his plans or float away with Gemma. 

It’s a large boat. They can totally stay out of each other’s way...right? 

Chapter One

Gemma

Imagine my surprise when I showed up at the marina and the trip that had been meticulously planned was now a complete and utter disaster.  

It was supposed to be a girls’ trip, sailing around the Caribbean on a private yacht, drinking, dancing, and relaxing. For one reason or another, each friend backed out, but it was either go or forfeit the deposit, which was a fortune to begin with. I arrived roaring to go all by myself. 

You’ve got to be kidding me? This trip is a complete failure! I cried as the representative shared that the yacht had been double booked. 

What do you plan to do about it? I asked. 

Well, you have four options. the rep said. I waited for her to continue, my hands on my hips. I was sure the displeasure I felt was written all over my face. 

She fidgeted from one foot to the next, swiping open her iPad. You can cancel, and we’ll refund a portion of the deposit, or you can rebook out. Let me see what we have open. She brought up the calendar and began reading off possible reschedule dates. There was no way I could get another chunk of time off to rebook. 

Or you take one of our other boats out. Her eyes looked toward a smaller and older looking boat docked, and my eyes followed her gaze. It comes with similar amenities. Just on a smaller scale. Shall we take a look? she explained. 

What’s the fourth option? You said I had four options, I inquired, not happy with the options she’d presented. 

The gentleman who is also booked on the yacht has already agreed to allow you to join him. It’s a large boat, so you two should be able to avoid each other. You might not even know he was on the boat if you wanted. Plus, we have staff on the yacht for the duration of the trip, so you’d be safe. 

The options rolled through my mind. I badly wanted to take the trip, but maybe the universe was telling me to go home with all the things that have already gone awry. I eyed the smaller boat again. There was no way it contained all the amenities that originally drew me to the yacht in the first place. I looked away and gazed longingly at the yacht waiting outside the harbor. It seemed to be beckoning me to it. 

On an impulse, I’ll take my chances with the stranger. I didn’t give myself time to question my decision. 

Okay then. The rep clapped her hands together. Let’s get you on that boat. She waved for my bags to be loaded on the small motor boat that was docked, waiting to take passengers to the larger ones. 

This is Captain Cliff, she introduced the captain of the yacht, and his wife Angie. They’ll see to your every need. 

It’s a pleasure to meet you. I greeted them both with a wide smile and stepped onto the boat. 

As we pulled away from the marina, my stomach flopped nervously, and I prayed that the trip would turn out okay.   

Chapter Two

Luca

It certainly wasn’t what I’d expected when I arrived for the free trip on the luxury yacht. I was hoping to add this company to the options I could offer my clients, but first I needed to check it out. 

It was a strike against them when I was told that the yacht had been double booked, but they scrambled to fix the problem and come up with an acceptable alternative. 

The way I saw it, the only acceptable alternative was to get me boarded as soon as possible. 

They threw out a bunch of options, but I knew my clients wouldn’t be happy with anything other than the best, and the best was the trip I was supposed to be taking. 

I’m getting on that boat. Figure out a way to make it happen, I demanded, pointing toward the beast of a boat waiting for me. 

But, sir? 

I shook my head. I don’t care what you need to do. Offer the other party a refund or another boat. I don’t really care as long as I’m on the boat on time. 

Somehow, that turned into the option of us sharing the boat, which I reluctantly agreed to. I guess it might give me a better view of their guest experience if there was a true guest aboard. 

The hassle of the mix up was almost forgotten when I stepped onto the yacht. It was elegant and as gorgeous as advertised, and I was secretly glad that I pushed for them to let me continue on with the trip as planned. It was going to be fabulous. 

The captain and his wife were waiting on the deck to greet me with a mai tai in hand. Nice start.

Captain Cliff and Angie gave a tour, and since I was the first to arrive, I got my pick of rooms, choosing