He laughed. "It's not my fault Melissa's so cute. Now get out of here so I can carry out my evil plan."
"See you at dinner," Wendy said. "I'm going to go take a nice long bath."
Linda elbowed her as they left and I heard, "Alone?" drift back to me.
Derek got up and closed his door. "She's really quite something, your soon-to-be-mother-in-law."
I laughed. "She's got a one-track mind, that's for sure."
He sat down and leaned a little toward me, studying me, and didn't speak right away.
I brushed at my cheek. "Do I have something on my face?"
He shook his head. "I'm worried about you, though." He reached out and put his hand over mine and gave it a brief squeeze before withdrawing. "I'm still pretty new at this, but you don't seem as excited about the wedding as most of my other brides have been."
I shut my eyes and sighed. "Sorry."
"Hey, I'm not criticizing you, I'm just concerned. Are the plans not what you want?"
I swallowed hard, since my throat was tightening, then opened my eyes and made myself smile at him. "The plans are just fine. I think it'll look great." I sighed again. "It's not that."
"Do you want to tell me what it is?"
His gentle tone made my eyes fill with sudden tears though I struggled to hold them back.
"Hey, it's okay." He reached over and grabbed a box of tissues from his desk, pushing them toward me. "Here. It's okay. You can tell me."
I blew my nose and took a long deep breath. "Sorry. I..." I shook my head. "Okay. Owen's spending all his time in the casino and I never see him. It makes me..." I had to swallow again. "It makes me wonder..."
"It's okay, I get it. Is Owen a big gambler at home?"
I shook my head. "Never does it. Not even once. That's why it's so weird."
He smiled at me. "Then it's no problem, trust me. I've been working on cruises for ages, although I'm new to the wedding side of it, and I can't tell you how many people have said their partner or friend acts differently on the ship. He's on vacation and just having fun. When you get home he'll be right back to his usual self."
Before I could say anything he added, "And when you get home, you'll be married! And you'll look back on how you feel right now and you'll laugh at yourself. It's all going to be just fine. I'm sure of it. Lots of brides feel a little weird beforehand. Lots of grooms too, for that matter. It's just part of the process."
He was probably right, and I told him so, but as I walked back to my room I wondered whether those other brides really felt as dead inside at the thought of their weddings as I did.
Chapter Nineteen
"So, did you do any reading last night?" I tried to keep my voice casual but to me it sounded hopelessly artificial.
Nicholas shook his head. "I wish. No, Nicole's friend Brandy was having a big pre-wedding party and I had to go."
Feeling disappointed, and also a little relieved I didn't have to worry yet about what he thought of my book, I gave a mock sniff. "She didn't invite me? I thought we were best buddies."
He laughed. "She was probably afraid Owen would rub off on her Brian and he'd stop doing everything she wanted." He slowed down as he neared the end, and the moment his last word came out he said, "Sorry. Shouldn't have gone there."
"Why not? I wouldn't want a guy who only did what he was told all the time."
My words stayed hanging, so clear they were nearly visible, for far too long. I'd left him because he'd tried to do what I told him to do. Because he wouldn't take a stand.
"That's true," he said softly. "You wouldn't."
I couldn't think of anything to say, and he didn't speak either, until a minute or so had passed. Then he cleared his throat and said, "So. Have you seen the latest Hatchet Monster movie?"
We'd seen the first one at a movie night with the horror club and the second as our first date almost a year after we met. While I'd wanted to see the newest one, I'd felt weird doing it without him. "I meant to, but I missed it in the theatres and it's not out on DVD yet."
He dug in the larger-than-usual bag he had with him and with a dramatic flourish drew out a DVD case.
"It's out? When did that happen?"
"Day before the cruise. I brought it along in case I had a chance to watch. I did see it on the big screen but it's well worth another viewing."
"It's good?"
He grinned at me. "It's terrible. But in a good way."
I laughed, knowing exactly what he meant. Many horror movies could be described that way. "Well, when you're done with it I'd love to borrow it."
Another delve into his bag produced a laptop computer with headphones dangling from it. "We could each take an earpiece," he said. "If you want. That's why I brought it here."
Sitting that close together to watch a movie? It was probably a terrible idea, but I still wanted to do it. Hatchet Monster was our thing, after all. "Do we have time?"
He checked his watch. "We're meeting Wendy and Mark on the pier at twelve-thirty, right?" I nodded, and he said, "It's just after ten now. So we'd be fine."
The shusher appeared just then, putting an end to our conversation.
Nicholas dug in his bag again and pulled out his ereader. He held first the headphones then the ereader toward me, his eyebrows raised.
I'd seen the other Hatchet Monster movies with Nicholas. I wanted to see this one too. I reached out and took an earpiece from his hand. My fingers brushed his skin as I did, and I wondered whether the computer had shocked me before I realized that the contact had done it.
As I tried to discreetly wiggle my fingers to get rid of the sensation, he flipped the computer open. Before sticking in the DVD, he pulled up the word processor and typed, "Better not scream. The thing from the linen closet will come get you. Even scarier than Hatchet Monster."
I pretended to lock my lips closed.
He grinned, then mouthed, "Stand up."
I did, confused, and he moved our lounge chairs further from the pool, positioning them so we had our backs to the wall around the ship's maintenance area and were isolated from the other people around the pool.
We took our seats again and he murmured, "Probably better if nobody's watching over our shoulders."
"Why?" I blinked innocently. "It's not scary, is it?"
His wink sent a shiver shooting down my spine.
More shivers followed within moments, as the Hatchet Monster proved himself well-named before the credits were even done.
We watched the death toll mount, sitting close together with the computer balanced on his left thigh and my right, until I jumped at a particularly unexpected attack and he caught the laptop before it fell to the deck.
"Sorry," I whispered.
He smiled. "I'll take care of you," he whispered back.
I liked the sound of that but knew I couldn't take it literally, so I murmured, "Until you get a hatchet to the skull."
"Yeah, until then."
We smiled at each other, and he resettled the computer and reached out to rewind the movie.
"I don't want to see that again," I muttered, as the Hatchet Monster again aimed for the unsuspecting victim's bald spot.
Nicholas gave a low chuckle. "Sure you do."
I jumped again when the blow struck home then admitted, "Yeah, I did. That was cool."
"Definitely."
We watched the rest of the movie in silence, except for my gasps of shock and his amused murmurs of "Nice" at a few extra-creative killings, and I'd never felt so cozy and comfortable while watching people being dismembered by a hatchet.
*****
The closeness I felt watching the movie with Nicholas carried over into the excursion. When we dropped off our stuff at our respective staterooms, those two moments of seeing where we each lived with our partners were awkward, but otherwise we were thoroughly relaxed with each other and it felt almost like old times.
Almost.
Stephanie and Rob had decided to stay on board to make s
ure they were ready for their wedding the next day, and with Nicole off at the spa with her friends and Owen of course at the casino it was just Wendy and Mark and me and Nicholas.
We'd decided to go snorkeling again, since we'd all enjoyed it the last time, and again Nicholas guided us around. This time, though, I noticed how much more assertive he was than he'd been when we were dating, gently but clearly letting our official guide know that we wouldn't be sticking right on his heels. I liked it.
Once we'd finished snorkeling, we decided to rent beach chairs and umbrellas and relax, and we lounged in the warm shade talking lazily of our favorite Hatchet Monster moments and arguing good-naturedly about which execution had been the most amazing. Mark and Nicholas hadn't met before the cruise, but bonding over Hatchet Monster they seemed like they'd been friends forever.
When we'd exhausted the topic, we had lunch while trying to create a definitive list of the best horror movies of all time. We didn't manage it, but we had a terrific time trying.
I caught Wendy looking at me a few times, her eyes full of questions, but I pretended not to see. I could hardly answer in front of Nicholas, after all, and I didn't know how to answer even if he weren't there. Yes, he and I were friends now, but she'd clearly noticed we were closer than we'd been on the last excursion and maybe closer than we should be.
That impression would only have been strengthened when we were about to head back to the pier. I made the mistake of wading in the water once more, with my sandals on, then couldn't get up the rocky slope to the path because my feet kept sliding in my wet shoes. Without seeming to consider it at all, without even interrupting his detailed explanation to Mark of why the third Hatchet Monster movie was obviously superior to the second, Nicholas reached out his hand to me and I took it so he could pull me up.
Of course, once I was up he could have let go, but he didn't. He kept talking, and holding my hand, as we stood waiting for Wendy who'd gone back for her sunglasses.
I could have pulled away, but the feel of his hand in mine brought back every wonderful thing about being with him and for a second I wanted to keep all that with me.
When Wendy arrived, she said, "Um, Melissa?"
I made myself drop Nicholas's hand. "Yeah?"
"Nothing." She glanced at the guys, who weren't looking in our direction, then raised her eyebrows comically high.
I turned away from her.
I heard a quiet "hmm" from behind me, then she said, "Guess we should get back now? It's five o'clock already."
"I could use a shower before dinner," Mark said. "So sure."
"Nicholas, I guess you're off to find Nicole?"
I flicked a look at Wendy, annoyed, and she gave me her best innocent face in return.
"She'll still be at the spa," he said, "but I'll probably go read for a bit." He looked past Wendy at me. As he said, "Want to come brave the towel monster with me?" I studied his face and realized he didn't feel guilty or awkward about holding my hand.
He hadn't even realized he was doing it.
I wasn't sure whether that made it better or worse.
"Actually," Wendy said, "could I steal Melissa for a while? We've got wedding stuff to discuss."
I knew I wouldn't enjoy this discussion. "We do?"
"We do," she said firmly. "First yours then mine."
"Of course. Have fun," Nicholas said, and we headed up the gangway into the ship. Once we'd had our ID checked, we were allowed back on board.
Three steps in, I was stopped dead in my tracks by an unexpected sight.
Owen. Out of the casino. Wearing a suit, the teal silk tie I'd given him for Valentine's Day before he'd given me the ring-containing box of chocolates, and an apologetic expression.
He held out his hand. "Mel, I'm an idiot. Would you do me the honor, though I don't deserve it, of having a nice private dinner and then an evening alone with me?"
"Of course she will," Wendy said, "and we'll all get out of your way."
She smiled at me, and so did the others although Nicholas's smile didn't reach his eyes, and they headed off leaving me alone with my fiancé.
Chapter Twenty
Owen and I got some funny looks as we walked through the ship, since his suit didn't go with my short-sleeved sweatshirt and casual skirt, but he didn't seem to notice, too busy asking about my day.
Liking finally having his attention, I told him about the snorkeling and the amazing fish I'd seen and the great cafe Nicholas had found for our lunch, but I didn't mention Nicholas taking my hand to help me up the hill. Now that I was with my fiancé again, the hand-holding thing didn't seem significant. Nicholas had just been helping me, nothing more.
Once inside our room, Owen picked up a small black velvet box from the dresser. "I was saving this until the night before the wedding but I want you to have it now."
Before we'd left Toronto I'd bought a pair of gold cufflinks engraved with his initials for his wedding present, and I loved that he'd thought to bring something for me too. I opened the box to find a pair of diamond stud earrings. "Oh," I breathed, turning the box and watching them sparkle. "They're gorgeous."
"Not too small, I hope."
I shook my head. They were small enough to clearly be real but far bigger than little chips. "I love them." I hugged him. "Thank you."
He held me close and kissed the top of my head. "You're welcome." His arms tightened around me. "I love you, Mel."
I burrowed into his crisp white shirt, pressing the velvet box against his back as I wound my arms further around him. "I love you too."
We held each other for a few moments, then he said, "So. I made reservations at the Blue Damselfish restaurant. Is that okay with you?"
"I haven't been there, so sure. Is the food good?"
"Best seafood I've ever had."
While I didn't hate seafood, I wasn't anywhere near as into it as he was. Still, if I were going to try to get into it, the Blue Damselfish sounded like the place. "Perfect."
"I'm not saying you stink or anything, but did you want to shower before we go?"
I leaned back to see him grinning down at me, and laughed. "Subtle. And yeah, I do. I've got ocean all over me."
"Take your time," he said. "Reservation's not until seven."
After a few minutes in the lovely hot shower I had a horrible thought: would I emerge to find he'd gone to the casino 'until I was ready' where he'd end up so engrossed in his gambling that he'd again forget all about me? I started to rush, then changed my mind. If he were going, he'd probably already gone, so why race to find out?
When I'd blown my hair dry into the sleek straight style I knew he liked, I wrapped a towel around me so I could fetch my clothes without lowering the tone of our evening then took a deep breath and stepped out into the room.
He wasn't there.
My breath rushed out in a sigh and I shut my eyes against the disappointment. I'd actually thought he really wanted to--
"Done already?"
I looked up, startled, to see his head sticking into the stateroom from the balcony. He smiled. "I figured I'd sit out here so you could have the room to yourself to get dressed."
"Thanks," I managed.
His smile widened. "Although I like what you're wearing now."
I realized I'd let my towel slip quite a bit, so I pulled it up, grinning at him with happiness and relief. "Show's over."
"Fine then." He pretended to pout. "I'll just stay out here and watch the water until you're ready."
He turned his back to me and let the balcony door close.
I stood studying him, studying the man I loved and would marry in just over a week, for a moment or two until my legs stopped shaking. I'd really thought he'd left me. But he hadn't. He wouldn't.
I began dressing, choosing the silver dress I'd worn for dinner the first night aboard because I knew he liked it and topping it with my pink cashmere shawl in case I needed extra warmth, and had to admit to myself that Owen would leave me again. He loved
gambling and I'd be naïve to assume he'd spend the entire next week with me instead of in the casino. But tonight, he was fully here, and I would savor every moment of it.
*****
We sat together in a quiet secluded corner of the restaurant, toying with our salads and sipping wine and chatting about nothing as we waited for our dinners to arrive.
"Your earrings look great," he said, smiling at me. "They're bouncing the candlelight all over the place."
I smiled back and twisted my left hand to make my engagement ring catch the light too. "It doesn't want to be left out."
He took my hand and squeezed it. "That ring looks gorgeous on you." He rubbed his thumb across my finger below the ring, and a shiver rippled through me.
His eyes met mine, a knowing smile growing on his lips, and he raised my hand and kissed it. "We're going to have an amazing evening, Mel."
I nodded. This time with him was too precious to let go to waste.
He kissed my hand again, then released it and said, "So, what do you think of Nicole? You've seen her more than I have."
I shrugged. "She's okay, I think. Why?"
He shrugged too. "No reason. She just seems a little... much for Nicky. And she pushes him around, doesn't she? Mom thinks so too."
I really didn't want to spend my evening with Owen discussing Nicholas. "He seems fine with it. That's all that matters, right?"
He smiled. "I guess so. Okay, let's forget them. Tell me everything you've been doing."
We talked about the excursions I'd been on and the cool things I'd already seen and even a little about how he'd been doing in the casino. He seemed to know I didn't want the gory details, and especially not the details about how much money he'd been making and losing, but he made me laugh with stories of the little quirks of his fellow players.
The amusement and the wine and the candlelight made me feel warm and relaxed and content, but that all came to an abrupt halt when the waiter set our plates before us then walked away.
I stared at my plate.
Toronto Collection Volume 2 (Toronto Series #6-9) Page 79
