by Phoebe Conn
“I hope I won’t be all that safe,” she replied in a husky whisper, promising a great deal more than pleasant slumber.
“Probably not, but I want you to have a memorable voyage.”
“It already is.” She leaned out to kiss him before closing the door.
Alejandro found Captain Reyes on the bridge and stood for a long while just enjoying the incredible view. “This is my favorite place on the ship.”
“Mine too. Is there something I can do for you, Mr. Vasquez?”
He hated to ask him for anything. “A photographer Ana worked with was murdered. The police questioned her, and someone may believe she knows more than she actually does. A man tried to enter her hospital room, and he could have followed her here. He was a big, muscular man. Have you hired any men for the crew in the last week?”
Gabriel scanned the multiple computer displays. “There are new members to the crew every time we sail, but no one was hired that recently. I don’t recall any muscular men either. The chef hired a woman who looks as though she could handle herself in a fight, but the gender’s wrong.” He pointed to the computers tracking the weather. “We’ll be crossing through a storm by tomorrow night. It will keep people off the decks and out of the pools, but we’ll keep everyone entertained.”
“I’m sure you will. One other thing—I want to register our wedding ceremony on Sunday as a legal marriage.”
The captain turned his back to the other men on the bridge and lowered his voice. “Aren’t you and Ana already married?”
“We may get married a dozen times, but because Ana can’t recall the first time, I want to register this one too. Bill me for whatever you usually charge for a wedding.”
“You own the ship, Mr. Vasquez, so you’d simply be paying yourself. I’ll waive the fee. There will be flowers in the chapel and champagne on ice. If you speak to the chef about the cake, he’ll have it ready.”
“I’ll do it tomorrow.” He hadn’t realized a wedding on board could be planned so easily, and that accomplished, he walked on deck until he was sure Ana had had time for a brief nap.
When he came through the door, she sat up and pushed her hair out of her eyes. “What did the captain say?”
“I would have come back sooner had I known you were so worried. No one has joined the crew who resembles the man I saw, so you can relax.”
“Not unless you come here and relax with me.” She slid back under the covers.
He shrugged off his clothes and joined her in the wide, comfortable bed. “Is it too warm in here for you? The temperature is easy to adjust.”
She snuggled against him. “It isn’t nearly warm enough, but your heat will do.”
He hugged her closer. “I’m sorry I ever have to let you go. I’ve been happier with you than I’ve ever been. That’s what I said when I asked you to marry me.”
She brushed a fingertip across his lips. “You didn’t promise to make me equally happy?”
“Yes, there was more to it. I wish I could remember it all.”
“So do I.” She kissed him with sweet, tender nibbles and his passionate response took her breath away. She loved kissing him, holding him, feeling the hairy roughness of his body against the smoothness of her own. He turned her to her side to spoon her. “I’m so pleasantly numb from the pain meds, you won’t hurt me,” she murmured.
“Let’s not take the chance.” He nuzzled her neck, drew her hand to his lips and sucked on her fingertips. “All of you tastes so good.”
“You too. Maybe we’re simply a successful accident of chemistry.”
He nibbled her earlobe. “I’m very good at chemistry.”
She giggled and pushed her bottom against his erection. “Show me.”
“We have all night. Let’s not hurry.” He circled his palms over her silk-covered nipples. “You have gorgeous breasts.”
Other men had also said so, but the softness to his voice made him sound doubly sincere. “Thank you. I like all of you, but your light eyes are especially handsome.”
“Not strange or weird?”
She curved her back to rub against his chest. “There’s nothing strange about you.” She pulled his hand to her mouth to taste his fingers. “You taste like toothpaste.”
He silenced his laugh in her hair. “You’re more of a vanilla flavor.”
She brushed her hand along the easy curve of hip and felt his muscles tense. They fit together no matter what their pose, and he knew where to touch her, and when to pull away to leave her eager for more. His breath quickened, and she understood he’d teased himself along with her. She pushed against him as he entered her and clenched her muscles to lure him deep. The next time he pressed her clit, an orgasm caught her with a blinding flash. She rocked against his hips to push him over the edge and felt his body shudder as he came.
Thoroughly loved, she savored the afterglow and laced her fingers in his. “Let’s always be this close.”
He squeezed her fingers. “Always.”
Alejandro had closed the accordion partition to separate their bedroom from the sitting room, but the delicious aroma from the breakfast cart woke her. She moved off the bed and hopped around it to catch hold of the partition’s recessed handle. He shoved it open just as she did, and she toppled into his arms. She laughed and grabbed hold of his shoulders.
“I meant to serve you breakfast in bed, but since you’re up…”
“No one’s ever served me breakfast in bed. I’ll go right back so you can carry on with your original plan.”
He scooped her into his arms. “I don’t want you to fall on the way.”
He was dressed in jeans and a dress shirt, already clean-shaven and looked as though he’d been awake for hours. She didn’t even try to finger comb her tangled hair, and because his loving had wrinkled her silk gown, she didn’t apologize for looking rumpled when it was all his doing.
He pushed back the partition, rolled the breakfast cart up to the bed and placed the silver tray in her lap. “I thought the french toast with blueberries sounded good, but there are muffins, eggs, grapefruit, tea. Is there anything else you’d like?”
“You’re like a genie, Alejandro.”
“Thank you. Rub me anytime,” he teased.
She licked her lips. “You’re supposed to rub the lamp, not the genie, but I’ll look forward to it. Sit down with me. Have you already eaten?”
He circled the bed to sit down beside her and waited for her to start on the french toast before he tasted the scrambled eggs. “I had to make certain the breakfast was up to the Ortiz standard, so I’ve already sampled it all.”
The thick french toast was dusted with powdered sugar, and the maple syrup was warm. “This is so good, but I never eat this much for breakfast. You’ll have to help me finish.”
He poured her a cup of tea. “You could stand to gain a few pounds.”
“True, but not all in one sitting.” A firm knock at the door jarred them both. “Did you order something more?” she asked.
“No, I’ll get it.” He rolled off the bed and eased the partition closed before going to the door.
A steward addressed him with a slight nod. “Good morning, Mr. Vasquez. Captain Reyes says there’s a message for you, and he asks that you come to the bridge.”
“Can’t it wait?”
“No, sir. He told me it’s urgent.”
“I’ll be right back,” he called to Ana and left with the steward.
Ana was curious but not alarmed and swished another bite of french toast in the puddle of syrup pooling on her plate. It was almost too sweet, but she chewed each bite slowly to savor every single morsel. When Alejandro returned and pushed open the partition, his dark expression told her something was very wrong. “What’s happened that they had to call you?”
“My father’s suffered a massive stroke. My stepmother couldn’t wake him this morning, and he was rushed to the hospital. His doctor doesn’t expect him to survive the day. A helicopter is coming for me. I
hate to leave you again, but you’ll be more comfortable here. I’ll make travel arrangements for you just as soon as I can. Although you needn’t be caught in the mess if my father dies.”
Shocked that he’d dismiss her so easily, she struggled to remain calm. “Mess? Is that how you’d regard it?”
“My father runs a huge corporation. If he dies, the stock value will drop and…”
She rested her fork on her plate. “That’s your only concern, the stock value?”
“We weren’t close for a good reason, Ana. I won’t pretend to be devastated if we lose him. Start planning for our wedding. You must have a favorite designer who’d love to make your dress.”
She drew in a deep breath, but his sudden change in subject was difficult to grasp. “I’ll think about it.” She didn’t utter another word as he packed up a few things and left her with only a maple-syrup-flavored kiss.
Chapter Fifteen
The ship’s library was larger than she’d expected and had an old-world charm with oak bookcases and comfortable leather armchairs and hassocks where she could prop her legs. She took a book from the mystery section, eased herself into a chair, then let Maria move the wheelchair out of the way and go. A young man in a dark suit soon joined her.
“I’m Edwardo Mendoza, the librarian. Please let me know if there’s anything you need.”
She raised her book. “Is this any good?”
He frowned as though he hated to offer an opinion. “It’s not a book you’d keep forever, but for a quick shipboard read, it’s good enough.”
She handed it to him. “I need something more involving, riveting, if you have one.” She raised her skirt hem to show off her cast. “The most active thing I can do is read, so I need something really, really good.”
He pursed his lips. “Have you read R.J. Ellory’s A Quiet Belief in Angels?”
“No, is it good?”
“It’s one of my favorites. It’s beautifully written, and you won’t guess who did it until the very end.” He brought her a copy. “Let me know when you’d like something to eat or drink.”
“After the breakfast I had, I won’t have to eat for days, but a cup of tea would be wonderful.”
“Give me a moment.”
He disappeared behind the desk and soon returned with hot water in a white teapot decorated with the Ortiz Line insignia and a wooden box filled with a wide variety of teas. He poured hot water into a pretty china cup, set it on the table beside her and waited for her to select a tea. “Ah yes, the orange spice is particularly good.”
“Thank you. I’m not used to being waited on so attentively. Please don’t let me distract you from whatever you usually do.”
He closed the box. “I keep the library neat, order new books, and offer suggestions to anyone requesting them. I have plenty of time to read, so in my view, this is the best job on the ship.”
He left her to read, and from the first page she was hooked. She didn’t look up until Maria returned and suggested she might enjoy going to the tearoom for tea. “Is it afternoon already?” She glanced at her watch and discovered it was already past three. She’d brought her cell phone with her but hadn’t heard from Alejandro. She supposed there was nothing to say, or he would have called long before now. Her world had changed so quickly, and if he lost his father, his would too. She’d continue being a loving wife, although that didn’t seem like it would be nearly enough. “All right, tea sounds lovely. I’ll see you tomorrow, Mr. Mendoza.”
“Take your book. You’ll want to read more tonight,” he suggested.
“Do you need my cabin number?”
He walked ahead of them to open the door. “I know who you are, Miss Santillan.”
She thanked him but felt very foolish. Many people recognized her, while a great many didn’t, but his smile had been friendly rather than condescending.
The tearoom was beautifully decorated to look as though it had been plucked from a small town in the English countryside. The furnishings were delicate, all in white and blue, and the air was scented with cinnamon and cloves. Maria rolled her to a small round marble-topped table and said she’d wait for her outside. Ana had just picked up the menu when Linda Suarez appeared.
“Are you all alone?” the psychologist asked. “Where’s that gorgeous husband of yours?”
“He was called away.” He hadn’t warned her not to mention his father’s health crisis to avoid a stock market catastrophe, but she knew better than to provide any such intimate news. Linda would have no idea who Alejandro’s father was, but she still wouldn’t confide in her. “Would you like to join me?”
“Yes, thank you.” Linda’s navy blue slacks and seductively loose navy blue sweater complemented her curvy figure. She sat and rested her arms on the table. “Do you mean ‘called away’ like off the ship?”
“Yes. I’m ordering the little sandwiches. Do you want to order something sweet, and we can share?”
Linda glanced at the narrow menu card. “I’d like the fruit tarts.”
Their waitress’s dark curls were topped with a ruffled cap. “Let me bring you a pot of the lemon zest tea. It will brighten your afternoon.”
“Thank you. I ran around the deck this morning and worked out in the gym, so a few fruit tarts won’t hurt me. How do you manage to stay so slim?”
After questions about her hair, fans always wanted to know how she maintained her weight. “I’m nearly six feet tall, so I burn more calories than most women, and I prefer vegetarian fare.”
“I’ve heard vegetables are the key, but can’t give up bacon. Is your husband going to rejoin you soon?”
“He may.” Ana sat back as the waitress appeared with their order and poured their tea. Linda was too inquisitive for her tastes, and she was sorry she’d have to see her later at dinner. The tea had a definite zing, which she surely needed. She took a bite of a tiny watercress sandwich. “These are good.”
“Everything on board the ship is good,” Linda replied. “I expected the captain to be somewhat older. Not that I’m complaining.”
A woman and her little girl approached their table. “My daughter insists you’re Ana Santillan, but I wasn’t sure.”
Ana smiled at them. “Yes, I am.” She pulled the small notebook from her purse and tore out a page. “I’ll write you an autograph. What’s your name?”
“Julie.” Her eyes grew wide as she watched Ana write. “You’re so pretty. You ought to have dolls like Barbie.”
“Thank you so much. You’re very pretty too.” She waited for the pair to return to their table before taking another bite.
“Does that happen often?” Linda asked.
“Yes, but I don’t mind.”
Linda edged one of her fruit tarts onto Ana’s plate. “Was it difficult to get used to?”
“I’ve modeled most of my life, so it’s what I know.” She took a couple of bites of the fruit tart, and it was so good she finished it. “I didn’t realize how tired I was when I came in. Will you excuse me, Linda? I need to go back to my room.” She rolled her chair to the foyer where Maria met her. Even without looking back, she could feel Linda watching her. When she reached their cabin, she checked her cell phone, but Alejandro hadn’t called. Maybe his father was clinging to life after all.
Gabriel Reyes came to her cabin to escort her to dinner. She’d put on the long black sheath and shawl she’d almost worn for a Goth girl dinner with Alejandro. Tonight, the somber outfit suited her mood perfectly.
“Thank you, but you needn’t come for me yourself, Captain.”
“Humor me, Mrs. Vasquez. We have an especially fine dinner planned for tonight, and I wanted to make certain you’d be there.”
“Are you always this enthusiastic?”
“I’m happy to be of service to you, but general enthusiasm is part of my job. We’ll be passing through a storm later and my presence tonight will reassure everyone they’re in no danger.”
“Is it the truth?”
“
Yes, it is. The Mediterranean Siren is a beautifully engineered and constructed ship, all the Ortiz ships are. I’m sorry our dinner company isn’t more exciting.”
They were the last to be seated at his table. Linda Suarez looked between them and frowned, but Ana had no romantic interest in the captain, and obviously, Linda did. Ana smiled and greeted everyone. The table linens last night had been a near eye-blistering white. Tonight, they were the heavenly blue of the Ortiz Line logo and the centerpieces were filled with bouquets of fragrant white carnations with accents of blue.
“How pretty everything is,” Ana exclaimed.
The dentists nodded and smiled. The Lopezes agreed and hugged each other. “Where is your husband?” Joseph Lopez asked.
“He was called away,” Ana replied. “I spent most of the day in the library reading. What did everyone else do?” She was relieved when the others recounted their day. They were served a delicious sherried onion soup with saffron topped with sliced almonds and parsley, and she concentrated on swallowing with silent sips.
Memo Talleda looked up from his bowl. “How could your husband have been called away? Isn’t he still on board?”
The captain answered before Ana could. “We arranged for a helicopter. Now tell me if the lamb isn’t the best you’d ever tasted.”
Linda thought the roasted lamb with red onion salsa looked incredibly good and took note as Ana was served menestra, a dish of spring vegetables. “Is the vegetarian food good?”
“Scrumptious,” Ana replied, but by the time everyone finished the sorbete de limon for dessert, she was thoroughly tired of her dinner companions.
The captain rolled her chair away from the table, but when the others had left, he turned her wheelchair around and pulled up to the closest chair. “Give me a minute please, Mrs. Vasquez. Your husband told me he wanted the wedding we’d planned for tomorrow to be a legal ceremony he could register, because you couldn’t recall your first wedding.”
