The ride across the Sound Cody had dreaded turned out to be the complete opposite of his fears. The water shimmered under the bright sun as the Victoria Clipper cut effortlessly through it. Except for the sea and landscape flashing by, the travel was so smooth one could hardly tell they were moving.
Outside, the mountains were out in full force, a little snow still clinging to their uppermost peaks even in August. The boat itself was comfortable, with booth-like tables and panoramic views across the water wherever one looked. Cody wondered if he could ever live in a different place, since the Pacific Northwest was really one of the most beautiful he had ever seen.
To make things even better, the man sitting across from him, sipping a cup of tea and eyeing him at this very moment, had tur
