Welcoming Seas (A Rowan Gray Mystery Book 1)

by Lily Harper Hart

  Rowan rubbed her lower lip as she regarded him. “Meaning?”

  “Meaning I didn’t want an audience when I say what I have to say,” Quinn answered. “We have two things to discuss and no coffee, though. I forgot you haven’t been on the ship long enough to figure out you need a coffee machine.”

  “I don’t even like coffee. I like tea.”

  “So get a Keurig when we hit the mainland,” Quinn instructed. “What do you want to hear about first? Do you want to talk about the engineers or our feelings?”

  Rowan remained disgusted, but she couldn’t deny the way her heart flipped when he mentioned “feelings.” She internally chastised herself for getting giddy at the thought and leveled her gaze on Quinn. She didn’t want to encourage bad behavior. “I want to hear about the engineers. They’re what’s important.”

  “It’s all important, but we can focus on the engineers first,” Quinn said. “I agree that we should get that out of the way because the second part of our conversation might go on for days.”

  “Days?”

  “You’re a chatty little thing and you won’t shut up when you’re feeling feisty. You’re definitely feeling feisty.”

  Rowan’s mouth dropped open. “Are you honestly flirting with me given the circumstances?”

  “Yup.”

  “Don’t you think that’s a bit … untoward?”

  “I think it’s cute that you use words like ‘untoward,’ but I’m going to let that slide for now,” Quinn said. “As for the flirting, get used to that. I’ve decided I’m not going to stop.”

  “But we agreed … .”

  “We didn’t agree to anything,” Quinn snapped, his eyes flashing as he cut her off. “You said you wanted to hear about the engineers first. That’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

  “Fine.”

  “Great.”

  “Whatever.”

  Quinn leaned his head back against the pillow and pinched the bridge of his nose to ward off an oncoming headache. “You’re going to be a lot of work. I can already tell.”

  “The best things in life require a lot of work.”

  “You’re not wrong,” Quinn said, flashing a smile. “So, I dragged all three engineers in for questioning. They didn’t take it well.”

  “Did they say what happened to Jessica?”

  “They deny any knowledge of Jessica’s whereabouts and claim she was at the bar with her friends when they left them on deck that night.”

  “Do you believe them?”

  “I’m not sure,” Quinn said. “The Jordan guy was the one who had the Rohypnol. I told him where I found it and he threatened to sue me. I reminded him that he signed a contract agreeing to abide by the cruise liner’s rules – which includes random room searches – and he quieted down a bit.”

  “Did he say why he had the pills?”

  “He said he had no idea the pills were in his footlocker and someone must’ve tried to frame him,” Quinn answered.

  “Do you believe that?”

  “Not for a second.”

  “So … where does that leave us?”

  “I’m not sure,” Quinn said, idly rubbing his thumb over Rowan’s bare shoulder as she stubbornly crossed her arms over her chest. “I believe they had those pills for a reason … and it wasn’t a good reason. I’m not sure I don’t believe them when it comes to Jessica.”

  “What is your next step?”

  “For right now the engineers are remaining on the job but not allowed to interact with guests,” Quinn replied. “I have two security details watching them. We hit the main port tomorrow morning. Once that happens, corporate officials will be boarding to handle the engineers.”

  “Are you okay with that?”

  “I have no proof they ever used the pills,” Quinn supplied. “Intent is obviously an issue, but I’m going to let the mainland police sort it out. I’m not really okay with their obvious intent, but now that they know I’m watching, I seriously doubt they’ll do anything nefarious.”

  “Nefarious?”

  “That’s a word.”

  “I know,” Rowan said, rolling her eyes. “So basically you’re saying we’re right back where we started.”

  “Essentially,” Quinn confirmed. “After breakfast we’re going to have to figure out a way to watch the girls. I want you to take fresh photos of everyone – but especially focus on Hayley – and we’ll go from there.”

  “I guess that sounds like a plan.”

  “Great.”

  They lapsed into silence for a moment. “You can leave now,” Rowan said, making small shooing motions with her hands.

  Instead of doing as she asked, Quinn merely grinned. “I already told you we have two things to talk about.”

  “I don’t want to talk about the other thing,” Rowan argued. “It makes me feel bad and no one likes feeling bad.”

  “I’m sorry I made you feel bad. I truly am. We’re going to talk about it, though.”

  “Quinn!”

  “Rowan!” Quinn mocked her tone, his eyes lighting up as he chuckled. “You really do make me laugh.”

  “That doesn’t change the fact that you don’t want a relationship.”

  “No, that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t want a relationship,” Quinn agreed. “That was one of my rules when I agreed to take this job.”

  Rowan stilled. “Oh. Are you not allowed to date anyone because it will make you biased in your security position?”

  This time Quinn’s laugh was low and hearty. “No, Trixie, that’s not it. I made the rule that I didn’t want a relationship. There are certain rules in our contracts about fraternizing with guests, but there are no rules regarding employee fraternization. Er, well, as long as there’s no sexual harassment involved. They take sexual harassment pretty seriously.”

  “I guess that means you’re in trouble for climbing into my bed without an invitation.”

  “Only if you report me, and I have a feeling you’re not going to do that.”

  “I am a rule follower,” she reminded him.

  “You’re also kind and being a tattletale isn’t really your shtick,” Quinn said. “As for the relationship thing … .”

  Rowan waved her hand to cut him off. “It’s okay. We flirted. It’s not the end of the world.”

  Quinn carried on as if she hadn’t spoken at all. “As for the relationship thing, I didn’t think I was ready for it after my time in the Marines,” he explained. “I saw a lot of things over there. I took this job because I thought it would be light and fluffy and I needed a break from the real world.”

  Surprisingly, Rowan felt her heart going out to him. “Oh, well, that was probably very pragmatic.”

  “I love a woman who can use the word ‘pragmatic’ in a sentence without seeming intellectually superior,” Quinn teased, smirking. “I was serious about not getting involved, mind you. I wasn’t even tempted for months. That all changed the second I saw you.”

  “Why?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “I can’t do some casual thing, Quinn,” Rowan said, choosing her words carefully. “I’m not built that way. I didn’t want a relationship either. Then I saw you and thought I spontaneously started drooling for no good reason and there must be something wrong with my heart and head.

  “I like spending time with you – this whole middle-of-the-night visit notwithstanding – but I can’t walk into something knowing that it will inevitably end,” she continued. “If we started something and it ended because things didn’t work out, that would be a different story. Neither one of us can see the future, after all.

  “You want me to walk into this so we can have a little fun and then immediately walk out of it,” she said. “I think I need more than that.”

  “Well, I’m starting to think I want more than that, too,” Quinn said.

  Rowan couldn’t stop the hope from filling her chest. “Really?”

  “I still want to give it some thought,” Quinn
cautioned. “I don’t want you throwing everything out the porthole when we have so much going on, though. Will you give me some time to think?”

  “Will you really think about it and only climb into my bed again if you really mean it?”

  Quinn nodded. “I think that’s fair.”

  “Will you also promise to always knock before entering?”

  “Not if I think I’m going to wake you. That seems unnecessary and rude.”

  “So is watching someone sleep.”

  “Oh, I was hoping you would find that endearing.” Quinn smirked and squeezed her hand before rolling over to search for something on the bedroom floor. He returned with the shorts he wore the previous day and dug through the pocket. He pulled out a small package – a jewelry box – and handed it to Rowan.

  “What’s this?” She was understandably curious.

  “Ever since I saw you I’ve felt as if I can’t look away,” Quinn offered. “I’m not the only one who has noticed. Demarcus asked me about it last night, which means the ship’s rumor mill is churning out bags and bags of gossip flour these days.”

  “Nice visual.”

  “I read a lot.” Quinn’s smile was charming, but also a little sad. “I like you. I like spending time with you. I need to time to decide what I can offer. I hope you understand that.”

  “I do understand it,” Rowan said, her eyes locked on the box. “What is this, though?”

  “Open it.”

  Rowan did as instructed, her stomach twisting when she recognized the dolphin earrings from the day before. “You bought them for me. Why?”

  “Because I wanted you to have them,” Quinn answered. “I knew you wanted them and I wanted to get them for you. If that’s not offering more than I originally intended, I don’t know what is.”

  “It’s incredibly sweet, but I’m not sure it’s enough.”

  “I know,” Quinn said, pressing his eyes shut and blowing out a sigh. “Once we figure out what happened to Jessica, I promise to come up with an acceptable answer for you.”

  “And until then?”

  The corners of Quinn’s mouth tipped up. “Until then we have breakfast and keep Hayley alive. That’s all we can do.”

  “It sounds like a plan.”

  “Then let’s do it.”

  19

  Nineteen

  “So, do you want to tell me what’s going on with you and the security stud?”

  Sally was all smiles when she sidled up to Rowan after breakfast, barely mustering a mild glance for the guests as they got comfortable around the pool.

  “I … have no idea what you’re talking about.” Rowan was determined not to make eye contact because she was fairly certain she might break out in a sloppy grin – or tears – and didn’t want to draw attention to herself.

  “He spent the night in your room last night.”

  “What the … ? How can you people even know that?” Rowan was flustered. “I didn’t even know that until I woke up this morning.”

  “That makes it a little kinkier,” Sally teased, amused. “Did he at least wake you up for … you know?”

  “There was no ‘you know.’ We just slept.”

  “Honey, I don’t know if anyone has ever told you this before, but you’re doing it wrong.” Sally’s eyes twinkled as Rowan scowled and turned back to her work. She was busy trying to get isolated photos of the girls. She was hopeful now that the engineers were in custody that the snapshots would be omen-free.

  “We’re not doing anything,” Rowan supplied. “We’re simply working together.”

  “Frederick from the Blue Lagoon Saloon said he saw you holding hands at port yesterday.”

  Rowan’s mouth dropped open. “I … we were doing something. It was official business. It was innocent.”

  “Siren – not her real name, mind you – said she was picking up new shoes for her lounge act and she saw you guys having a serious conversation at dinner and she said it looked as if you were fighting. I thought perhaps the ride was already over, but Terrence from room service said he saw Quinn let himself into your room in the middle of the night.”

  “This place is just one big gossip mill, isn’t it?” Rowan barely managed to tamp down her irritation. “Don’t you people have anything better to do?”

  “Clearly not,” Sally replied dryly. “You and Quinn are the talk of the deck. People have been trying to see him without his clothes on for months. You managed to sucker him in with only minimal effort. What gives? Are you magic or something?”

  Rowan swallowed hard. She knew Sally didn’t mean anything by her statement, but she couldn’t help but be uncomfortable. “We’re just … hanging out. We’re friends.”

  “Demarcus is my friend and we don’t sleep in the same bed.”

  “Yes, well, I was asleep and Quinn didn’t want to wake me. He’s quite the gentleman.”

  “Then he’s doing it wrong,” Sally intoned, shaking her head. “You two clearly like each other. If you don’t want to talk to me about it, that’s fine. It’s none of my business. If you do want to talk to me, though, I’m here to listen.”

  “And how much of what I tell you will you pass on to everyone else?”

  Sally was offended by the question. “If you confide in me, I’ll keep that to myself. If you don’t, I’ll keep speculating with everyone else.”

  Rowan blew out a frustrated sigh as she returned to her camera and snapped a few photos. “We’re … discussing things.”

  “Yup, you’re definitely doing it wrong,” Sally muttered, shaking her head. “I don’t even know what that means.”

  In truth, Rowan wasn’t sure she understood what it meant either. “It means that he doesn’t want a relationship and I’m not built for a series of sexual encounters and then a speedy goodbye. I don’t know where we stand.”

  “That’s interesting,” Sally mused, rubbing her chin. “It’s good that you put your foot down and made him think about what he wants. A lesser woman would’ve slept with him and tried to trick him into a relationship after the fact.”

  “I don’t want to trick anyone into anything.”

  “And that’s probably why you’ll get exactly what you want,” Sally said. “Men don’t like game players. You were honest with him and now he’s going to think and be honest with you. Since I think he honestly likes you, well, you’re clearly going to win.”

  “It’s not about winning. It’s about … .”

  “Protecting yourself,” Sally supplied. “I get it. I know you guys have been working together on the missing girl. Is there any news regarding her?”

  “Not yet.” Rowan wasn’t sure she should be talking about Quinn’s business so she refrained from telling Sally about the engineers. “We’re running out of time.”

  “Do you think she’s dead?” Sally was legitimately curious.

  Rowan tilted her head to the side and then nodded. “I don’t think she would hide for this long. I don’t think anyone else could keep her hidden either. She has to be dead.”

  “Well, that’s a shame,” Sally said. “I hope you and Quinn find the answers you’re looking for.”

  “That makes two of us.”

  ROWAN found Quinn drinking iced tea at the tiki bar shortly before noon. He smiled when he saw her approach and pulled out the chair to his right so she could sit.

  “You’re right on time.”

  Rowan knit her eyebrows together. “Were you expecting me?”

  Quinn shrugged. “We haven’t seen each other in hours. I figured you would be going through withdrawal and want to eat lunch with me.”

  Rowan rolled her eyes. “You’re a master at flirting. Has anyone ever told you that?”

  “Only one person who counts,” Quinn teased, smirking when her cheeks flushed. “I’ll put our order in. The menu is limited here. What do you want?”

  “Oh, um … a chicken sandwich and fries is fine.”

  “Okay. Give me a second.”

  By the time Qui
nn returned to the table Rowan was busy loading the new photos on her laptop. She was intent on her screen and he took a moment to study her profile. She was fascinating. She was adorable and sarcastic one moment and diligent and focused the next. He couldn’t figure out why she entranced him so, but he was fairly certain he wouldn’t be able to walk away. That meant considering a relationship … and the idea didn’t terrify him nearly as much as he initially envisioned.

  “Anything?”

  “Give me a second,” Rowan murmured, clicking through photos. Her eyes widened when Hayley’s face popped onto her screen. She studied the photo hard and then looked to him hopefully. “There’s no omen.”

  Quinn returned the smile. “That’s good, right? That means she’s safe.”

  “It’s never happened to me before. I don’t know what it means.” Rowan scanned through a few more photos – always focusing on Hayley – and when she was done, she couldn’t help but smile. “I think she’s safe now. You did it.”

  “Does that mean the engineers are the guilty party?”

  “I … don’t know,” Rowan said, holding her hands palms up. “They must be, right? You put them on notice and now Hayley isn’t being stalked by death.”

  Quinn barked out a laugh and made an exaggerated face. “Stalked by death? I think you missed your calling. You should’ve been a writer.”

  “I heard that someplace before,” Rowan said, pinching his flank and causing his eyes to light up. “Don’t tease me. It’s already been a long day.”

  “You took photos by a pool. How tiring can that be?”

  “And I woke up with a strange man in my bed and was grilled by Sally because she wanted to know what you were doing there.”

  “What did you tell her?”

  “The truth. Er, well, at least a version of it.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning that you were exhausted and didn’t want to wake me and I was already asleep,” Rowan replied. “I didn’t tell her about the engineers. I didn’t want to spread your business without asking first.”

  “Thank you for that, but there’s no way to keep that secret on this ship,” Quinn said. “I have security personnel watching the engineers. Word has gone out that they’re restricted to their rooms. Everyone is going to know something is up.”