“I hadn’t thought about that.”
“Believe me, we want to be ready to go when it’s time to disembark.”
He had a good feeling about her idea. “I’ll break the news to Corey and Amanda at dinner tonight.”
CHAPTER 65
As it turned out, Amanda and Corey had been no shows for dinner the night before.
And again at breakfast.
But he had seen them at the pool. About one in the afternoon. On the far side of the deck. Corey first. Then Amanda. He’d melted into a shadow and watched. Corey, looking like a Mister Universe contestant, wore a Speedo that left little to a woman’s imagination. The three women who’d tried to put the make on he and Robert at the bar, were hovering like kids at a candy counter.
Corey flexed his muscles, bringing smiles of delight to their faces. The four of them flirted and joked and laughed in a game of grab-ass.
Twenty feet away from her brother’s antics, Amanda—in an orange, painted-on, two-piece bathing suit—lay on a chaise lounge. One long leg stretched out before her. The other bent at the knee. Designer sunglasses. A large-brimmed, white sun hat. Her head moved in slow motion as though scanning the sunbathers around her.
A lioness surveying the African savanna.
At one point her head paused, facing in his direction. He figured she had noticed him watching, and maybe she had, but her attention was drawn to the diving board where Corey bounced and jackknifed into the water. She remained a moment longer, stood, and left the deck. Corey surfaced on that end of the pool, heaved himself out, and followed after her.
The three women stood watching, clearly disappointed.
He’d spent the afternoon trying not to think about what Corey and Amanda had cooked up for him.
Now he was about to find out.
* * *
Jack took the stairs down to deck six and walked half the length of the ship to the main dining room located in the stern. He wore the suit and tie Cherise had picked out for him—not a tux—though he felt no compulsion to dress up for Amanda, and certainly not for Corey.
But he wanted to appear as though he’d dressed to impress them.
A night of celebration.
In more ways than one.
When he walked in, he found her and her brother already seated at a table. He thought he had overdressed for the occasion. Quite the opposite. Amanda looked stunning in her sequin-studded, pale blue evening dress. Corey wore a light blue suit with sleeves stretched tight over his biceps. No tie. The collar of his yellow shirt open one button.
He ambled over and said to Amanda, “You look positively stunning. So how was your day?”
She took a sip of her martini and said, “In a word. Disappointing.”
I bet.
He took a seat and scooted close. “That’s unfortunate. You should have joined me at the pool.”
“We weren’t in the mood,” Corey said.
Liar.
Their server stopped at the table and Jack ordered a Knob Creek. When the attendant stepped away to get him the drink, he said to Corey, “I have to admit, this cruise was certainly not boring.”
“You look nice all dressed up,” Amanda said, as though she had suddenly warmed to his presence. “I thought you outdoorsmen only wore khaki bush pants and shirts with oversized pockets.”
He smiled. “Actually, I spend a lot of time in ratty cutoffs and tennis shoes. I bought this hoping to wear it in the company of a lady as lovely as you.”
“I must say, you’re full of compliments tonight.”
“Because I feel good.”
“I’m sorry we had to skip last night; I wasn’t feeling well.”
“But now you’re all right?”
She smiled. “And looking forward to the evening with you.”
His drink arrived. He took a large sip, and said, “I can’t think of anything better than spending it together. Speaking for myself, I feel like the luckiest man on the entire ship.”
“I suppose we should order.” Her gaze shifted about as if she was embarrassed.
Jack wasn’t fooled. “We should. I’m starved.”
They placed their dinner orders and Jack went back to his drink. To her brother, he said, “I meant to compliment you on your scheme to get those idols through security. A stroke of genius, really.”
Corey grinned. Maybe for the first time. “I think it’s one of my better ones.”
“You’ve had others?” Jack gave his full attention. “If they are half as ingenious as this one, I’d love to hear some of them.”
“You know about the reality program I had on television. A fishing show like that has its perks. The first gold trinket that I smuggled home, I carried through customs inside a mounted roosterfish. The poor dumb bastards never checked it.”
“Inside a stuffed fish?” Jack shook his head. “Chancy.”
“Not really.” Corey flashed him a smug look. “I had my cameraman and all of our equipment with us. The customs agents were more interested in looking through our suitcases than anything else. When I gave each of them a DVD with my first six episodes on it that pretty much ended that.”
Jack had the man talking and he wanted to keep him talking. “How many times have you done this?”
“A couple—”
“Corey,” Amanda cut him off. “Let’s not bore Jack with any more of this talk. I’d love to hear more about him.”
“I think I’ve told you the interesting parts.” He swigged his bourbon, hoping to change the subject.
“Really?” She winked. “Then we’ll have to come up with something else to talk about.”
Their food arrived and they ate silently for a couple of minutes. Amanda spoke first. She pointed at Jack’s glass. “Drink up and I’ll order you a fresh one. I’m going to indulge in another martini.”
“Why not,” he said. “I think a celebration is called for.”
She laid a cool hand on his arm. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll be right back.”
He downed his bourbon and let her place the order.
She returned to the table a couple of minutes later. “I asked him to bring you a double.” She smiled. “Since we’re celebrating.”
“My thoughts, exactly.” He’d been playing along with her but he hadn’t forgotten about Corey.
Her brother sat, quietly devouring his steak. He appeared more interested in his meal than the conversation. But his eyes betrayed the skullduggery festering inside his brain. There was a little too much shiftiness to them. A slight narrowing. What a person would see in an old gangster movie.
Jack didn’t let the man’s actions bother him.
He knew exactly what vile intentions Corey had in mind.
Amanda as well.
The drinks arrived and he took a sip. Less ice, more Knob Creek.
She let her glass sit. He watched her remove the two-olive garnish from her glass. When her gaze rose and met his, she parted her lips in a seductive gesture and spent an hour pulling one of the olives off the pick with her perfect white teeth.
All quite sexy, had she not been an ice cold killer.
He forked a slice of filet mignon, along with half a green bean, into his mouth. She could be drinking water for all he knew.
He excused himself to the restroom and carried his glass with him.
Robert stood with his back to the wall outside the men’s room. His arms were crossed against his chest. “You rang?”
“Perfect timing,” Jack said.
“I figured you were hoping I’d show up. Cherise, Lindsey, and I are in the diner eating cheeseburgers. You’re still planning to break the news to Corey and Amanda, right?”
“I’ll wait until they bring up the subject.” Jack handed Robert the glass of Knob Creek. “You can have that. Get me another, in a tumbler just like this. Only make it iced tea.”
Robert held the glass up to the light. “That should work. One double iced tea coming up.”
When Jack stepped out of
the restroom, Robert had his drink ready.
“Thanks,” he said. “I probably should get back.”
Robert grinned. “We don’t want Amanda getting lonely, do we?”
“Something like that.”
“She’s one smooth cookie, I’ll give her that much. Just so you know, I tipped your waiter fifty bucks to make sure you get tea if she insists on ordering you another drink. I’m thinking she will.”
“Good call.”
Jack returned to the table and retook his seat. Amanda’s martini had gone down maybe a quarter of an inch. Corey had finished his steak and his beer. A snifter of what appeared to be brandy or cognac sat in front of him. “I apologize for taking so long. Did you miss me?”
“I had our waiter bring me a brandy,” Corey said. “I would have had him bring you one, only you weren’t here.”
Jack drained half his tea and held up his glass. “No worries. Tonight, I’m sticking with bourbon.”
“Speaking of which.” Amanda nodded in his direction. “Looks like you’re in need of another.”
He pointed. “And you’ve barely touched your martini.”
“I’m pacing myself,” she said. “There’s a beautiful moon out tonight. I’d like to enjoy it.”
“And I got the impression you were trying to get me drunk so you can take advantage of my body.”
“The thought did cross my mind.” She gave him a sly smile.
He smiled back, then lifted his tumbler and tossed back the tea.
“I see you like my idea.” She sipped her martini down another quarter inch.
He figured he might get a look at the moon a second or two before Corey hit him over the head with something hard.
Won’t they be disappointed.
“Which idea are you referring to?” he asked. “The moon, or taking advantage of my body?”
“Can’t a pretty woman have both?”
He smiled. “Perhaps it’s time we take our celebration to the Caribbean Lounge?”
CHAPTER 66
Jack got up and slid the chair out for Amanda.
“Shall we?” he said.
She stood and laced her arm around his. “By all means.”
He looked at her brother.
“You two go ahead,” Corey said. “I’ll catch up.”
I bet you will.
Jack escorted Amanda to the elevator and rode it up five decks. They stepped off and he asked, “Do you mind if I take off this tie?” He began undoing the knot. “I feel a bit overdressed out here. And it is a beautiful night.”
She arched a brow. “As long as you don’t mind if I leave my dress on.”
He peered into her eyes. “On or off. The choice is yours.”
She hugged his arm. “I’ll leave it on for now.”
“Good choice.”
He liked the feel of her on his arm and couldn’t imagine so much woman locked away in a prison cell. A shame, really. A total waste of someone so gorgeous. But then, she had made her choice. And being dumped over the railing was no more appealing than being dropped into a sinkhole.
The sliver of moon had grown to near half. They seated themselves so they could watch it and a sky full of stars. She ordered herself a white wine and him a double Knob Creek. He gave up thinking about the take-advantage-of-his-body part of their earlier conversation.
“Is Corey all right?” he asked, as if concerned.
“Sure. What makes you think something’s wrong?”
He shrugged. “Nothing really. I just thought . . .”
“It’s okay, Jack.” She gave him a placatory pat on his hand. “Knowing him, he went to the cabin to change. He’s having a drink with Elena and doesn’t like to dress up any more than you do.”
“Since you’re so observant, maybe I should excuse myself and make a quick trip to my cabin?”
“Then I’d have to change.”
“That wouldn’t be bad. You could wear the dress you wore at the bar the evening we met.”
She stood and smoothed the sequin-studded fabric over her curves. “But I love this dress. It makes me feel glamorous.”
“Stunning is the word I’d use.” He got out of his chair, thinking she looked like she had been called to the stage to receive an Academy Award for best actress.
An award she deserved.
He hadn’t done badly either.
“I have an idea,” she said.
“I have one, too.”
“Mine first.” She put her arms around his neck and devoured him with a kiss on the mouth.
He didn’t resist. And gave full into it until he had to stop and take a breath.
“Walk with me, Jack.” She linked her arm around his and led him toward the starboard rail.
Against his better judgement, he allowed her to string him along. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Only one, providing you don’t mind if I refuse to answer.”
“Do you enjoy taking cruises with your brother? There’s no man in your life?”
“That’s two questions.”
“Well?”
She hugged his arm. “Who says I don’t have a man in my life? I’m holding onto one now.”
He couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, you are.”
She put her arms around him and met his gaze. “You haven’t had too much to drink, have you?”
He played along. “I’m a little wobbly. What did you have in mind?”
She eased his back against the railing and pressed her breasts against his chest. He felt her nipples harden beneath the fabric and pictured her breasts in his mind. Her hands slid up his arms to his shoulders as her mouth found his.
It would have been easy to give into the kiss as he had done minutes before. But at that moment, his sense of preservation kicked in.
Finally.
He worked his hands under her arms and gently turned her in a sort of dreamy slow dance until they had switched places. Only when her back pressed against the rail did he kiss her long and passionately.
“Pardon me for interrupting.” Corey’s voice broke the spell.
Jack eased himself away from Amanda. “Thought you were having a drink with your lady friend.”
Corey glared at his sister. “I got delayed. Let’s sit.”
Jack led Amanda back to their chairs. Corey pulled one over. He’d changed into khaki shorts and a t-shirt with a tagline: “Fisherman Catch More Bass.” A line ran through the ‘B.’
“You worried about tomorrow?” Jack asked.
“I thought we might go to your cabin and take a look at the idols.”
“Tonight?”
“Of course. I want to make sure everything is set for tomorrow.”
“I’d like to oblige you, but unfortunately I can’t. They’re locked in the purser’s safe. I figured it would be prudent to keep them locked up until I disembark in the morning.”
Corey’s jaw visibly tightened.
Jack saw the veins stick out on the man’s neck. “Sorry if I upset you.”
“Fine,” Corey said. “That’s just fine.”
Of course it wasn’t.
“Should we order drinks?” Jack asked.
Corey stood. “I’m going to bed. You and my sister do what you like.”
Amanda got up from her chair, leaned down, and gave Jack a dismissive peck on the cheek. “I’m sorry to bring the evening to an end, but I want to be packed and ready to leave the ship when it docks in the morning.”
“The celebration’s over?” He reached for her as though he intended to pull her into his lap. “What about a few minutes ago? You certainly weren’t talking about packing, then.”
She pulled away. “I was caught up in the moment.”
“You had me in the moment as well. I still am, in case you haven’t noticed.”
“So I see,” she said.
He enjoyed what had developed into a game for him and motioned her down with his hands. “You could hike that dress up on your lovely thighs and sit right h
ere. Show me those garters you wear. I’m guessing you’re not wearing panties.”
“I could, but forget it.”
Jack suppressed a laugh. The change in her demeanor couldn’t have been more abrupt. He’d have thought he dumped a bucket of cold water on her.
And wished he could.
He grinned. “See you in the morning, then.”
CHAPTER 67
Jack sipped the remainder of his Knob Creek while he walked back to his cabin. Along the way, he noticed passengers had begun setting their bags outside their staterooms, tagged and locked, ready for crewmembers to pick up.
He needed to focus. Disembarking a cruise ship, he found out, is not like checking out of a hotel.
Group assignments, colored baggage tags, a final reconciliation of your charges, a clearing of the ship by immigration officials, long lines at the front desk to consider. All can make for a chaotic debarkation.
In the morning, when a voice over the passenger address system announced that his group was clear to disembark, he wanted to already be in line with his carry-on in hand, waiting to show his cruise card one last time. With a little luck, he would then breeze through customs, join up with his friends, and be collecting their baggage at the terminal before Corey and Amanda showed up.
When he arrived at the door to his cabin, he paused and made a small wager with himself before going in. A bet he couldn’t lose. Fifty bucks said Corey had been inside searching for the idols.
He swiped his card and pushed the door open. Immediately, the hackles on his neck bristled with the spine-tingling awareness a person gets when they enter a closed room and sense someone has been there. His cabin had been rifled. A search that would have gone un-noticed had it not been for the not-so-subtle nuances left by the hasty intruder. His suitcase and carry-on left only partially re-zipped. Drawers pulled out and not pushed completely closed. Bedding left ruffled where the pillows and mattress had been lifted and put back in place.
Sloppiness contrary to habits second nature to him.
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