Gratefully the boat is mostly full of commuters at this time of day. The tired Staten Islanders ignore the celebrity in their midst. But a small group of tourists approach Fin and he signs a few more autographs as the boat starts moving. I'm leaning on the rail watching the churning waves by the time he turns back to me.

I look at the skyline. It's on fire, all the shades of a red sunset coruscating off the gleaming glass buildings. The wind is whipping my hair around my face. I sigh and push it from my eyes. "I look forward to my ferry ride home every night. And not just because it's about getting from point A to point B physically for me."

Fin leans next to me and drapes his arm around me. "So what else is it about, other than getting from Manhattan to Staten Island?"

I turn so his arm drops away and I lean my hip against the rail, facing him. I prop my elbow up and put my cheek in my hand. "Well, it's also about changing my emotional state. I use this time to decompress and try to leave the stress of the office behind. This half hour on the water helps me open myself back up. I spend the entire day closed up in the office, guarding my feelings... faking things. But when I get home I need to be vulnerable enough to write. I need to be honest."

Fin turns toward me and copies my posture. "How very Meisner of you Millie. He thought that..."

I cut him off. "Greatness in art 'always has its roots in the truth of human emotion' and I would have to agree with him."

There's a lilt of surprise in his voice. "You studied Sanford Meisner?"

"And Stanislavski and Adler and Strasberg and Hagen. I minored in Acting. But I've never actually performed in anything outside of classes.. Never even auditioned for anything." I smile.

Fin's face is befuddled. "Why not?"

I pick up my head and lay my arm down on the rail. My fingers brush against his elbow. "It's simple really. My goal in learning the different techniques was to make me a better writer. I like to imagine, but I don't like to pretend. That's probably why I'm not really happy working at RAA."

His arm comes down on top of mine. His fingers close around my bicep. "It sounds like you're being pretty vulnerable and truthful with me right now."

I nod. "I think this is the most honest I've been with someone else in a very long time."

He squeezes my arm gently. "Another Meisner gem that I love is 'Don't be good. Be fearless.' And in that spirit, I confess that I've thought of little else besides you since Saturday. It's reasonably certain my director wanted to box my ears today because I was so distracted. I'm afraid that I'll never be off book in time for opening night at this rate. When I got your text before I hoped it meant that it's been the same for you."

My stomach is feeling the effects of the waves and the conversation. I press my free hand against it before I speak. "It has. And when I'm next to you like this, it feels like I'm right where I need to be. But there are so many warning signs flashing at me and telling me this is wrong. I'm terrified Fin."

Fin lets go of my arm and reaches across to push the hair from my face again. Then he traces his thumb across my cheek before dropping his hand to his side.

"God everything about you is so fit! I want to kiss you so badly right now, but there are too many people watching."

I turn toward the water and cross my arms on the rail, resting my head on them. "This is exactly what I'm talking about. You can't even kiss me in public."

Fin chuckles and moves behind me. He places his hands on the rail, on either side of me and shelters me with his body. Then leans down to my ear. "Ahhh but I can and I would. Bugger all the tabloids, publicists, agents and even the fans! The way you're sticking your pert little bum out right now has me so randy I would kiss you in the middle of Times Square or Picadilly Circus if you let me. But I don't want you made redundant if you want to keep your job. In the end, the risk is all yours so it's your choice to make.  What will it be Millie?"

He presses against me and it feels like he wants to do more than kiss right now. I turn around and he stands a little bit straighter to give me more room. I peek past his shoulder and look around us to see if anyone is filming us or trying to sneak a picture. The coast seems clears so I grip his shoulders to stand on my tiptoes and press my lips against his. Fin opens his mouth and swipes his tongue across my lips. I open myself to him more and he drops his hands from the railing to my body. He pushes me back against the rail. The boat engine thrums through me and Fin hums in my mouth. It feels like I am vibrating and I haven't used any batteries.

Suddenly we are jerked as the boat docks on the Staten Island side. Fin is panting in my ear. "I'm gobsmacked by this tight little green dress you have on. I would shag you right here if you were up for it."

"Don't get carried away Covington just because I let you kiss me in public!" I clutch his shirt collar and throw my head back.

Fin's lips move against my neck."It's time to get off."