The next morning, the sky was a cloudless azure blue, the sea calm and placid, as if the sun had never known the storm had been. Layla slept deeply and didn't wake until the sun shining through the porthole of her cabin touched her face.

Her first thought was for the crew's breakfast, but when she quickly dressed and went into the galley, she found Mark there frying some eggs.

"I'm late, I'm sorry," she said.

"No problem," he replied easily. "We each got our own breakfast this morning."

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yes, of course," Layla replied.

Mark nodded. "The captain was pleased with the way you handled...