The Work Wife

Below Deck

There are several luxury yachts at the dock, but we are led to the one at the end with a crew of eight waiting for us with glasses of expensive champagne. It feels like I'm going on Below Deck, and I'm ecstatic. 

We are all forced to part with our shoes on the dock, and I'm irked by Ainslee's casual footwear being a sensible choice. Ainslee and Chase are the first to cross the small bridgeway, with Logan and me bringing up the rear.

The crew welcomes us warmly, and Tika, speaking in a rich Caribbean accent, directs us to the areas where we can lounge. The yacht's interior is a marvel with polished cherry wood glowing under LED lighting, and sleek leather furniture adds a modern touch. The lighting, nestled under stairs and overhead, draws the eye in every direction.

Outside the salon is a grand oval table that offers a space for dining, while loungers are scattered across the decks. The layout balances intimacy and openness—plenty of room to sprawl out alone or gather around in groups, depending on the mood.

Ainslee immediately ushers Chase up to the sun deck for a photo session. The rest of us meander around the enormous boat, trying to decide where to settle as the yacht begins to glide away from the harbor. I grab Logan and take him through the salon to get to the back of the boat so I can get the coastline behind us. 

"I'm rarely this dressed up, so I'd like a photo," I tell him. We land in front of a railing with the perfect view of the harbor behind us. He holds my phone up as I squeeze in next to him. We make an adorable couple. 

He then holds up his phone and takes my chin in his fingers before kissing me. He snaps the most precious kissy photo of us, and I am obsessed. I am not sure who I am right now, loving kissy photos to post on social media, but I want to share my crush with the world. 

"Send that to me," I demand and then watch as the boat moves further away from the dock, pushing into the ocean. He nods and then gives me a shy smile. 

"What?" I ask.

"Nothing."

I eye him. "It's always something with you, Swensen."

He pops his shoulder up. "It's just...I dunno, I had this idea of you in my head for so long."

"Am I not living up to the idea?" I ask with a grin. He has no idea I had his best friend in my head for three years, and this trip is only showing me Chase is not living up to the fantasy. 

"You're surpassing it." I swat at him as I blush. "I mean it...did you know I actually do know how to use DocuSign? I just wanted to come see you, which is why I always signed everything in your office."  

"Wait, what?" I gasp out with a laugh. "You had to drive like forty-five minutes to sign stupid vendor contracts." 

"I remember first meeting you in Chase's office when he put you in charge of my launch. I thought you were so hot. You were wearing this little skirt that showed off your legs." 

"I'm five-two, Logan. There really isn't that much leg to show off." I tease, but I am shocked he remembers our first meeting. I hardly remember it. 

"You had heels on, and you just came in and took charge. I looked at Chase after you left, and he was like, 'Do not even think about it'. He knew I noticed you." 

I can still feel myself blushing. 

"I feel like I'm not usually the girl who gets noticed," I confess. "I thought we were kind of flirting on the plane, but I figured once you got around the rest of the girls I'd watch you fawn over them. I really thought I was just going to be on the fringe of this group. I surprised myself when I got a little territorial when Maddie started jumping all over you."