Vaughn frowned, and tugged on the woman’s arm gently. “Give me a second.” He finished the request with a kiss.
“Don’t say a damn word.” Dorian guzzled another bottle by the time Vaughn came over. He already knew what was wrong. The same thing that had plagued the muscled, stocky man for the last eight months: sea-sickness.
Not easy for a former Marine to admit. Dorian just wasn’t born with sea legs. Not like Vaughn.
“Did you run out of anti-nausea meds?”
His face turned a little more green, or maybe the disco ball kept catching his skin the wrong way. “They stopped working. As soon as we reached Curacao, they were useless.”
On cue, another wave shifted the ship sideways. People stumbled again, and this time a few glasses slid off the counter. Good thing they were plastic. The minute the ship hit the rougher waters off the ABC islands in the Caribbean, all bartenders knew to shift out the glassware.
Dorian’s stomach lurched into his throat. Without skipping a beat, Vaughn grabbed the trash can from behind the bar, and set it in front of his friend.
At least he knew at which point his friend would lose his dinner just by the look on his face. They had their routine. D would escape from guests’ view and finish his involuntary-purging, and Vaughn would cover for him. As soon as he recovered, they’d spend their time bouncing women off each other, full-time wingmen, traveling the world. Whenever a fight ensued between women over their ‘boat boyfriend,’ his military buddy deescalated for him. That’s what he did best. Something Vaughn sucked at.
Courtney sidled up to Vaughn, her fingers caressing his bicep in a strong grip he was counting on later. “You coming?”
“Sure thing, darlin’.”
Dorian heaved again from behind the panel, and Vaughn cringed.
“Actually, I’ll meet you there. Need to make sure my friend gets back to his cabin first.”
She sighed, and bit her lip. “He was pretty green all through the photo shoot, too. He should pick a different profession.”
Vaughn kissed her again, and promised to follow her soon. After she left, he retrieved a cold cloth from one of the drawers at the bar.
Dorian finally finished, and Vaughn gave him the compress for his neck. “Ever considered hypnotism?”
He glared, and drank more water, slower this time.
“The bird has a point.” A tall man in board shorts and a silk shirt stepped over, carrying a highball glass full of an amber liquid. Bourbon, Vaughn guessed. From the British accent and lopsided smirk, he was either here to flirt, or sell them something. “You look like you need a new profession.”
Definitely selling something.
“Occupational hazard,” Vaughn replied. “Comes with the territory.”
“I’ve found fewer things suck the life out of someone more efficiently than sea-sickness.” The man set his glass on the counter, and leaned against the marble bar.
“How about a sniper shot?” Dorian wiped his mouth with the rag, and looked sideways at him. “I’ll take this over an Afghan desert.”
The guy’s smile widened. “Fair enough. But what if you could have a job with this sort of fun, without the nausea?”
“You sound like a recruiter.” Vaughn glanced at his Citizen watch. “This guy’s already been pursued by one of those.”
The Brit laughed, then stuck out his hand. “Duane Wilkes.”
He shook it. “Vaughn Ayers. This is Dorian West.”
“Seems like entertainment is a crucial part of whatever role you fill. I could use a few good men like you. Forgive the pun.”
“What’s your business?” Dorian asked.
Duane’s smile turned into a smirk. “Let me ask you one question first.” He downed the rest of his bourbon. “How are you with discretion?”
Dorian’s brow furrowed. Vaughn couldn’t keep from laughing. “You sound like 007. What are you, a spy?”
“Don’t let my accent fool you. My business is based out of the USA. I’m willing to pay your moving expenses.”
“The cruise line isn’t thrilled with the idea of one of their guests trying to recruit away their staff.” Dorian chucked his empty water bottle in the trash. “You should be careful in case one of the Ship Directors overhears you.”
The man’s smile widened. “Good thing I’m her personal guest aboard this floating marvel.”
Vaughn bit back a cringe. This could be a set up. The Ship Director arranging this guy to see if their staff falls for a recruitment ploy, only to be fired for even considering it.
“Don’t worry, chaps. I owe her no loyalty.” He swiped his hand through his slick hair, the light glinting off his Breitling watch. “If my proposition intrigues you enough to whisk away to new ventures, what does it matter if she revokes your severance? I can guarantee you earn that sum back in less than a week.”
Vaughn glanced at Dorian, who raised an eyebrow. The man was considering it. “What’s the catch?”
“Dealing with an unconventional stigma, and putting aside your personal lives for a while. But you’ll never go hungry, and you’ll never be lonely. The rest, is the kind of lifestyle you’re currently living.”
Vaughn hadn’t thought too much about a different role in all his years with the cruise line, he enjoyed the party lifestyle and the constant flow of beautiful woman at his fingertips. But he also wasn’t getting any younger. Most of the ports of call he’d seen a dozen times over. As much as he loved the ocean life, something new couldn’t hurt. Especially if his good friend was coming with him. Not to mention the money.
But Vaughn knew more than most that good money never came easy. The catch to this man’s offer was hung up in the unconventional stigma.
“Where is this new venture?” Dorian asked.
“Texas,” Duane replied. “Dallas area. Before your mind starts filling in the image of cowboy hats and horses, it’s quite urban. Sleek skyscrapers, eclectic nightlife, and plenty of money.”
“Enough with the sales pitch. What’s the job?” Vaughn asked.
“Not a job, a lifestyle.” He handed over a card from his pocket.
Duane Wilkes
Owner - Knights of Texas
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan Sheehey writes contemporary romance, and romantic suspense adventure. Water plays a crucial element in all of her novels, and she’s a strong advocate for Autism awareness & acceptance. She squeezes in writing time between chauffeuring around her two boys, and guzzling down French vanilla coffee. Her beloved husband keeps her relatively sane, and full of laughter. She and her family live in Texas.
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Novels by Susan Sheehey
Royals of Solana series
Prince of Solana ( Book 1)
Jewel of Solana (Book 2)
Crown of Solana (Book 3)
Knights of Texas series
Tell Me What You Want
Tell Me What You Crave
Tell Me What You Need
Stand Alone Novels
Audrey’s Promise
Tell Me What You Crave Page 16
