Sunken Seas (A Rowan Gray Mystery Book 4)

by Lily Harper Hart

  Sally rested her hand on Rowan’s as a form of solace. “I’m sure he didn’t mean for it to happen. When you’re drinking, time gets away from you.”

  “I’m sure he didn’t mean it, too.” The smile Rowan forced was almost grotesque. “I really do have to get to work, though.”

  “Okay, well … if I see Quinn, do you want me to tell him that you’re looking for him?”

  Rowan’s eyes flashed with something akin to fury. “Absolutely not.”

  Sally chuckled. “You go, girl. Make him pay for forgetting you.”

  Rowan knew Sally meant it as a joke but being forgotten was one of her biggest fears. “It’s not that,” she lied. “I simply don’t want to take him away from his job.”

  Sally recognized the statement as a lie but didn’t push further. “Well, if you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen most of the day.”

  “Thanks for the offer, but I have other things to focus on.” Rowan squared her shoulders, determination washing over her. “I have a job to do, too, right?”

  Sally bobbed her head. “Right.”

  “I’d better go do it.”

  QUINN WOKE LATE, his head pounding.

  At first he thought he was sick, although he rarely fell victim to illness – his immune system was strong, after all – but when he rolled to his side to slide his arm around Rowan and get some comfort he found the other side of the bed empty.

  That’s when the events of the previous night came flooding back to him and he bolted to a sitting position.

  “Oh, geez.” He slapped his hand to his forehead, miserable.

  Quinn moved slowly as he got ready, downing a handful of aspirin before climbing in the shower and letting the hot water beat down on him for what felt like forever. By the time he hit the tiki bar for breakfast, he was feeling half human … but just barely. He expected to find Rowan at their regular table, but she wasn’t there.

  “Where’s Rowan?” Quinn asked when Demarcus shoved a mug of coffee in his direction.

  “I haven’t seen her this morning,” Demarcus replied. The bar was empty, which was one of the reasons Quinn and Rowan enjoyed having breakfast there on a regular basis, so the two men could talk freely.

  “She wasn’t with me when I woke,” Quinn noted. “She must’ve got up early … although I have no idea why.”

  Demarcus stared at Quinn for a long beat. “She didn’t sleep with you last night.”

  “What do you mean?” Quinn broke off a piece of the doughnut Demarcus slid in front of him and dunked it in his coffee. “Of course she slept with me.”

  “Really? How do you think that happened?” Demarcus was well versed in ship gossip. “She waited up here for you for several hours – even though she looked really unhappy when you didn’t show, mind you – and then she went to her cabin. Unless you woke alone in her cabin, I can guarantee you two didn’t sleep together.”

  “But … .” Quinn scrubbed his hand over his cheek to encourage wakefulness. “That’s not right.”

  “I didn’t think it was right either. She kept looking at her phone for a message … and staring at the door you would’ve come through if you joined her … and I felt a little sorry for her when she finally gave up and left.”

  Quinn’s stomach jolted at the words. “No … .”

  “Yes.” Demarcus bobbed his head. “She waited a long time. Truth be told, though, she looked upset long before you were late. Something was clearly bothering her.”

  Quinn didn’t like the sound of that at all. “Did you talk to her? Did you ask what was wrong?”

  “Of course I did. I’m a gossip. I always ask what’s wrong. She wouldn’t answer. She kept saying nothing was wrong, but I could still tell something was eating at her.”

  Quinn felt sick to his stomach. “I didn’t mean to … do that.”

  “Forget about her?”

  “I didn’t forget about her,” Quinn barked, guilt rolling through him. “I could never forget about her. I kept telling Anthony that I had to go, but he wanted me to have a drink with him.”

  “And I’m guessing one drink turned into ten if your pallor is any indication,” Demarcus noted.

  “I didn’t mean for it to happen,” Quinn stressed. “I just … we were telling stories about Afghanistan and I hadn’t been around military folk for a bit. I lost track of time.”

  “Yes, well, Rowan didn’t.” Demarcus wasn’t trying to hurt Quinn, but he wasn’t about to let him off the hook either. “She didn’t come here for breakfast. I’m assuming she was ticked when she woke up alone and ate somewhere she wouldn’t risk running into you.”

  Quinn didn’t want to believe that, but he was fairly certain Demarcus was right. “I’ll find her. I’ll fix things.”

  “I hope so. You guys are cute together. More importantly, I think you’re good for one another.”

  “I’ll fix things,” Quinn repeated. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

  He looked so stricken that Demarcus could barely tamp down the pity rising in his chest. “I’d start on the deck … but I’d eat something first. You need to look a little less rough around the edges if you expect to use your looks to woo her back.”

  Quinn bit back a hot retort. “I’ll have another doughnut and more coffee.”

  “There you go.” Demarcus beamed. “You also might want to stop in one of the gift shops and get some flowers.”

  “I’ve got it under control.”

  “Yeah, I don’t think you do, but it’s going to be fun to watch all the same.”

  ROWAN SPENT THE MORNING taking photographs, edging her way around the deck and snapping candid pictures to upload to the ship’s internet portal. She doubted very much that anyone would want them, but at least she could say she was doing her job.

  The leading edge of her anger with Quinn didn’t fade as she worked, although she managed to push it aside when she caught sight of Nick and Michael. She snapped a bevy of photographs of the two men, quickly shifting her attention to the individuals gathered on the deck when they happened to glance in her direction, and by the time lunch rolled around Rowan had hundreds of photographs to sort through.

  She also had a decision to make.

  Quinn and Rowan often ate lunch together, either visiting the tiki bar or meeting in the main dining room. Since Rowan wasn’t keen to run into Quinn – she was afraid she would embarrass herself and start crying – she picked up a sandwich from one of the small umbrella sellers and picked a spot on the deck to sort through her photos so she wouldn’t risk an uncomfortable meeting.

  The exact opposite happened.

  “Hey.” Quinn’s voice was low as he approached her.

  Rowan jerked her head in his direction, fire filling her eyes before she managed to rein in her fury. “Hello.”

  She was stiff and formal, something Quinn didn’t like.

  “Listen, I am so sorry about last night,” Quinn offered. “I didn’t mean to … .”

  “Forget me?”

  “I didn’t forget you.” Quinn hated her frigid tone. On a normal day she was happy to see him whenever and wherever they could steal a few moments. Now she seemed agitated and eager for him to leave. “I could never forget you.”

  “And yet you did.” Rowan ran her tongue over her lips as she focused on her computer screen. “You completely forgot about me … as if I didn’t even exist.”

  “Rowan, that is not true.” Quinn struggled to maintain his temper. He knew very well that snapping at her when he was in the wrong was the worst possible way to go. “I lost track of time.”

  “I heard.” Rowan clicked on several photos and moved them into the computer’s trash bin. “You were up late telling Afghanistan stories with your buddies. Classified Afghanistan stories, I might add. Ones you couldn’t tell in front of me but had no problem telling in front of Andrea Morgan, mind you.”

  Quinn stilled, dumbfounded. “Are you angry because I didn’t make it to the tiki bar or because I told Afghanistan st
ories?”

  “I’m not angry.” Rowan’s tone was clipped, indicating the exact opposite. “Why would I possibly be angry?”

  “Because I said I would meet you at the tiki bar.”

  “And you didn’t. It’s hardly the end of the world.” Rowan was determined to keep the conversation from turning into a fight. She didn’t want to argue in front of The Bounding Storm’s crew members – or the divers and other guests, for that matter – so she forced herself to focus on the computer screen.

  “Rowan … .”

  “I’m busy right now,” Rowan snapped. “I have work to do.”

  Quinn’s guts twisted. “Ro, I’m sorry.”

  “You don’t need to be sorry.” Rowan pressed her lips together when she recognized a familiar symbol on one of the photographs, her anger with Quinn falling by the wayside as she leaned forward and stared at the photo.

  “I don’t think you believe that,” Quinn pressed.

  “It doesn’t really matter what I believe.” Rowan clicked another photo featuring the same woman. The symbol was there, signifying death was close and on the hunt. Unfortunately for Rowan, she had no idea who the woman was.

  Under different circumstances Rowan would chat about the occurrence with Quinn. They would make a plan to find the woman and do their best to keep her from dying. Now, though, the last thing Rowan wanted to do was spend more time with Quinn. She would have to find out who the woman was on her own.

  Rowan snapped her computer shut and flicked her eyes to Quinn, agitation swiftly returning. “I have work to do.”

  “Rowan, we have to talk about this.” Quinn was firm. “I’m am sorry for what happened. I can’t fix it if you shut me out, though.”

  “There’s nothing to fix.” Rowan was blasé as she cradled the computer to her chest. “You forgot about me. It’s over and done with.”

  “Don’t say that.” Quinn grabbed Rowan’s wrist to still her. “I didn’t forget about you. I simply … lost track of time.” The excuse sounded lamer each time he uttered it.

  “It’s the same thing, Quinn.” Rowan carefully extracted her arm. “I have work to do. I believe you do, too.” She inclined her chin to a spot over Quinn’s shoulder, to where Anthony and Andrea stood and gestured for him. “I believe your friends want to see you.”

  Quinn was caught. He knew it. More importantly, he knew Rowan recognized it, too. “Rowan, we’re not done talking about this.”

  “There’s nothing to talk about.” Rowan was breezy as she stepped away from the table. “You forgot about me. You can’t take it back. It’s done.”

  “But … .”

  “I have someplace else to be. I’ll … talk to you later, I guess.”

  She sounded so uncertain that Quinn couldn’t fight off the wave of guilt washing over him. He let her go all the same. He knew better than making a scene.

  “We’re definitely going to talk about this later.”

  ROWAN WAS STILL RATTLED by her run in with Quinn when she found Sally in the kitchen. The gregarious blonde was holding court, telling some hilarious story about the first time she went diving, when she realized Rowan was not only present but needed attention.

  “What’s up?”

  Rowan led Sally to a corner of the kitchen where they couldn’t be overheard and opened her laptop. “I need to find out who this is.” She pointed to the woman with the omen hanging over her. Since Sally wasn’t aware of Rowan’s ability, she didn’t question the symbol. To her it was merely part of the background. “Can you think of a way for me to do that?”

  “I recognize her,” Sally said after a beat. “She’s one of the divers. You could ask that Andrea woman. You met her last night, right?”

  Rowan nodded, grim. That wasn’t her first choice. She was hoping Sally would have a better idea. “Can you think of another way?”

  Sally shrugged, unsure. “Maybe.” She snapped her fingers to get one of her waitress’s attention. “Laura, can you come over here, please?”

  The amiable waitress did as she was asked and shuffled over. “What’s up?”

  “You waited on a lot of the divers last night,” Sally said. “Do you recognize this one?”

  Laura studied the photo for a long beat and then nodded. “Selena Dennis. I remember because I liked her name. She’s part of the elite diving team. I don’t know much beyond that. They were good tippers, though.”

  “Thanks.” Sally shooed Laura away before turning back to Rowan. “Does that help?”

  Rowan beamed. It was the first genuine smile she’d been able to muster all day. “It helps a great deal. You have no idea how much. Thanks.”

  Sally grabbed Rowan’s wrist before the woman could walk away. “Did you talk to Quinn?”

  “There’s nothing to talk about.”

  “I think you’re deluding yourself.”

  “How?” Rowan challenged. “He forgot about me. You said it earlier and I didn’t want to admit you were right, but that’s exactly what happened. He forgot about me.”

  “It was an accident. He didn’t mean it.”

  “No, probably not,” Rowan agreed. “It’s not the first time I’ve been forgotten, though. It’s not the first time I was left to wait for a really long time. It’s also not the first time I waited in vain.”

  “You’re talking about your father.” Sally felt uneasy. “That was a different situation.”

  “And yet the outcome was the same,” Rowan pointed out. “Neither one of them showed up. It’s fine. I’m over it.”

  Sally knew that was pretty far from the truth. “Rowan … .”

  “I have something I need to do.” Rowan kept her smile in place for Sally’s benefit. “Thank you for helping me. I’ll let you get back to work.”

  7

  Seven

  “There he is.”

  Anthony’s voice was booming when he caught sight of Quinn.

  “I’m surprised you’re up and around,” Andrea offered. She wore a slinky bikini, one that showed off her firm assets to perfection, and beamed at Quinn. “I thought you might call in sick today.”

  Quinn was mildly embarrassed to realize they thought he was a party animal, but he was more troubled by his alienation from Rowan than anything else. “I bounce back pretty quickly.”

  “Do you feel okay?” Anthony’s eyes were full of concern.

  “I feel fine,” Quinn replied. “What are you guys doing this afternoon?”

  “We thought we would wrangle you into hanging out with us at the tiki bar,” Andrea said. “Since we don’t technically start work until tomorrow, we figured we might as well have some fun today.”

  Quinn kept his smile in place but offered up a rueful shrug. “I’m on duty. You guys can have some fun, though. That sounds like a good idea to me.”

  “We can’t have fun without you,” Anthony countered. “You have the best stories.”

  “You definitely do,” Andrea agreed. “I’m sure we could talk to your boss and get him to let you off the hook.”

  Quinn pictured Rowan’s face when he found her on the deck and immediately started shaking his head. “I honestly have things that require my attention before tomorrow. I need the time.”

  “Are you sure?” Anthony looked disappointed.

  “I’m completely sure,” Quinn replied.

  “Okay, well, I was hoping you would bring that pretty girlfriend of yours around so she could comment on my size again.” Anthony winked in a playful manner. “I haven’t seen her at all today and I’m really starting to miss her.”

  “You’re not the only one,” Quinn grumbled.

  “What did you say?” Andrea was curious.

  “Nothing,” Quinn replied hurriedly. “I was just talking to myself. As for Rowan, I believe she’s taking photographs around the deck. She’s busy.”

  “I saw her about an hour ago,” Andrea offered. “She seemed tired or something, maybe a little upset. She was snapping photographs of my divers. I think she’s wasting her
time because no one is going to buy them, but I suppose she has to prove her worth somehow.”

  Quinn scowled. “She doesn’t have to prove her worth to you. In fact … .”

  Andrea held her hand up to cut him off. “That wasn’t a dig. I was talking about the ship owners. It’s obvious you find her worthwhile.”

  “Except you kind of dumped her last night, didn’t you?” Anthony furrowed his brow. “I forgot all about her when we started drinking. Did she ever come back around? I’m trying to remember.”

  “I don’t think so,” Andrea replied. “We didn’t stop until it was almost three. I’m sure that was well past her bedtime.”

  Quinn didn’t like Andrea’s derogatory tone but there was little he could do about it. “Yes, well, I have some work to get to. I’m sure we’ll sit down and have another discussion before any artifacts are brought up. My main concern today is handling the security around the salon. I’ll get in touch with you by the end of the day about security badges.”

  Anthony flashed an enthusiastic thumbs-up. “It sounds like a plan.”

  “Great.”

  QUINN WAS STILL FEELING guilty and annoyed two hours later as he walked through the salon for what he hoped would be the last time that afternoon. He’d checked all the doors, tested the scanners himself, and then opted for one final walk through.

  That’s where Sally found him.

  “You scared the bejeesus out of me,” Quinn complained when he saw her. “I thought I was in here alone.”

  “Obviously not,” Sally said dryly.

  “So much for my security.”

  “I happen to know Julio, who you have on the front door,” Sally pointed out. “I threatened not to feed him if he didn’t let me in. I think he’s more afraid of my wrath than yours.”

  Quinn scowled. “Probably. What else is new?”

  “Quite a bit actually.” Sally kept her shoulders squared as she sat on the bench at the edge of the room. “I had breakfast with Rowan this morning.”

  Quinn’s stomach flipped as he regarded the normally gregarious woman. She was somewhat muted, and he didn’t like it one bit. “I saw her on the deck.”