You’ve proven it. Let me continue.” She tapped her fingers as if counting her points. “You have a sense of humor—when you want to.”

“I suppose that is a drawback, being unpredictable.”

Her lips twitched. “You have rich friends. That yacht was enormous. But that’s really more of a negative then a plus.”

“Why a negative?”

“From an environmental standpoint, it’s terrible.”

“I agree.”

Her brows arched. “You do?”

“I do. I’m always worried about the environment.”

“You are?”

He nodded.

She frowned, a faint link forming between her eyebrows. “That’s interesting,” she murmured.

“Is it?”

Josephine nodded. “You’re starting to have a clearer sense of self. I think some of your memories are returning. This is a good thing.”

He felt a sudden wash of unease, and he didn’t understand it. The return of his memory should be a great thing, and yet all he felt was a pervasive dread. “Let’s talk about you instead.”

“Why? I’m a boring academic—”

“Not boring, and academics are exciting.”

She laughed. “Are they?”

“I went to school with brilliant women. There is nothing sexier than a smart woman—” he broke off as he realized what he’d said. He’d gone to school with brilliant women. And he knew he hadn’t meant high school or grammar school. He’d meant university, and the words had been so comfortable, so natural. He also knew that calling university school was very American. Had he gone to school—college—in America?

He could see from Josephine’s expression that she’d heard the reference, too, and understood it, as well.

“Your memory is returning,” she said softly, breathlessly.

“You’re healing me,” he said. “All this sun and swimming.”

She smiled back at him. “It’s not as if there’s a lot to do here. No TV or video games.”

“But even if you had those, I don’t think it’s something you’d do. You love being outside. You’re at home in the sea.”

Her cheeks were pink, and her eyes were bright as she tucked a long strand of sun-streaked hair behind her ear. “I’ve always grown up next to the sea. First in Hawaii and then here. I can’t imagine not swimming. If I go too many days without getting wet, I feel off.