Ghostly Seas

by Lily Harper Hart

  Quinn’s heart did an involuntary roll at the words. He knew Rowan didn’t mean anything by the offhand statement, but he was antsy enough about her safety given the current predicament with her father that he didn’t enjoy even a half-hearted joke.

  “Let’s not go there,” he said. “You’re right about it being vague, though. There’s a reason for that.”

  “What’s the reason?”

  “Just wait. The show is over in three minutes. You’ll find out exactly why he said what he said in thirty seconds.”

  Rowan wasn’t convinced, but she listened anyway.

  “The death that stalks this ship is the sort that leaves a mark,” Brady intoned, his features grim as the light shining on him turned a ghastly shade of blue. It lent an eerie ambiance to the room. “It will rip out the soul of an unsuspecting woman – perhaps more than one, the spirits are shy tonight – and shred it before the great beyond lays claim to an innocent angel.”

  Rowan rolled her eyes. “That is ridiculous.”

  Quinn held up a finger to silence her. “Just wait.”

  “Death is a fickle beast, though,” Brady continued. “Time isn’t set. The future isn’t written. Things can be changed.” He delivered the last line with a dramatic flair as he drew out the final word. Then he straightened and fished a stack of cards from the inside pocket of his suit. “If you’re worried you’re the unfortunate soul who is in danger, I will be telling individual fortunes by the pool for an hour in the lobby and on the deck tomorrow afternoon. For a nominal fee, of course.”

  Rowan pressed her lips together as she snagged Quinn’s gaze. He was smirking.

  “He’s a charlatan,” Quinn explained. “He makes his money through a very particular grift. He’s hardly the first guy to do it.”

  “I thought he might be real since we’re on a ship full of ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts,” Rowan admitted. “I guess we didn’t get that lucky, huh?”

  “I guess not.” Quinn exhaled heavily. “I increased patrols on the deck tonight. I don’t know what else to do. We have nothing else to go on.”

  “You can’t do anything. We’re stuck.”

  “Then let’s be stuck together in bed,” Quinn suggested, grinning when a wicked light filled her eyes at the unexpected double entendre. “I didn’t necessarily mean that, but I’m always up for whatever adventure that evil brain of yours comes up with.”

  “That makes two of us. Let’s get out of here.”

  “You read my mind.”

  5

  Five

  Zander was still feeling abandoned when he made his way to the lido deck after dinner. He faked a smile and waved when Harper and Jared said goodnight, but in truth, he was miffed.

  In his head, he understood that Harper and Jared needed time alone. They were newly engaged, head-over-heels, and quite often schmaltzy. That didn’t irritate him nearly as much as it used to.

  In his heart, though, he was frustrated. When they planned the trip, it was just supposed to be Harper and him. At the time, neither of them were dating – and Zander was convinced he would never find anyone to settle down with – and it seemed like the perfect vacation. They could network and enjoy a tropical destination. He never expected their lives to change so much over the course of a single year.

  In that time, Harper and Jared met and turned into magnets, always drawn together. From the first moment he saw them together, Zander knew their lives were going to change. Jared was the one for Harper almost from their first shared breath. He expected it … he just wasn’t comfortable with change.

  Jared was good for Harper – Zander would never say otherwise – but the fact that the amiable police officer was always there, a permanent fixture in their lives, and often a replacement for Zander, was a bitter pill to swallow.

  Zander wanted Harper to be happy … but he would’ve preferred she was happy with him (and only him) during this particular trip. Since he couldn’t blame Harper – she was his best friend after all – he had no choice but to blame Jared. Surprisingly enough, he was fine with that.

  “Men are stupid,” a woman announced as she took a seat at the bar next to him. Zander was thrilled with the ambiance of the club despite the kitschy name, All That Jazz, and the timely opening for conversation only drove home that point.

  “Men are definitely stupid,” he agreed, sipping his violet gin and tonic. It was purple, and the lighting made it glow, which gave it a fairy quality that left him feeling giddy. “Are you on vacation with your boyfriend?”

  The woman eyed him for a moment, suspicion obvious. “Um … .”

  “Don’t worry. I’m not hitting on you.” Zander waved his hand in a flippant manner. “You’re not exactly my type.”

  She narrowed her eyes further. “What is that supposed to mean? Is it because I’m too fat?”

  The question caught Zander off guard. “Um … no. You look perfectly proportional. Although, if I were you, I probably wouldn’t wear pleated shorts. They make your hips look a bit wide. That’s easily fixed, though.”

  The woman’s mouth dropped open. “W-what?”

  “I forgot what question you asked,” Zander admitted, taking another sip. He was only on his second drink, but it was going straight to his head.

  The woman stared long and hard, and then it was as if a lightbulb went on over her head. “Oh. You’re gay.”

  “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  “Oh, no.” Mortified, the woman fanned her face. “It’s not a bad thing. I’m all for it. You know … man love.” She pumped her fist in such a manner that Zander couldn’t stop himself from laughing.

  “Oh, you’re funny.” He extended a hand and introduced himself. “What’s your name?”

  “Tasha Vale,” she replied when she recovered from her laughing fit. “I’m so sorry for doing that ‘man love’ thing. I realized when I was saying it that I sounded like a loon, but it was already too late. I have this thing where I stick my foot in my mouth and sometimes I lodge it so far in there I can’t get it back out.”

  Zander snorted, amused. “You sound just like me. That’s how I am, too.”

  “Do you ever wish all men would be shipped to an island and kept there, too?”

  “Not if I have to stay on the island. If I can remain with the women – only the sane ones, not the PMSing ones or anything – then I would totally be for it … but only if the island found a way to keep bossy cops from inviting themselves along on private vacations.”

  Tasha nodded. “I’m sure we can work something out.” She lifted her chin when the bartender stopped in front of her. “What is that purple thing you’re drinking?”

  “Violet gin and tonic.”

  “That sounds fun. Can I have one of those?”

  The bartender bobbed his head. “Coming right up.”

  Tasha waited until he was out of earshot before continuing. “So, tell me everything about yourself. I’ve had a terrible night and want to hear something happy.”

  “I’m not sure my night has been any better. I’m on vacation with my best friend and her boyfriend. I’m the official third wheel … and it’s absolutely no fun.”

  “That doesn’t sound so bad.”

  “You don’t have to watch them constantly pet one another. I swear, they spend a full hour every night saying ‘no, you’re prettier’ and that’s on top of the mirror they have over their bed so he can admire his muscles while he’s doing filthy stuff with my best friend.”

  Tasha openly gaped. “They have a mirror over their bed? Is it gilded?”

  “It’s a funhouse mirror.”

  “Truly?”

  Zander smirked. “No, but I like messing with him. He has freakishly large nipples. No joke. It drives him crazy when I comment on them.”

  “Which means you comment on them constantly.”

  “Oh, you have no idea.”

  “Well, the psychic at dinner said I was going to die, which annoyed my group members – one o
f whom I’m desperately in love with – so I could use some funny stories about large nipples.”

  “Ask and ye shall receive.”

  ROWAN MANAGED TO SLEEP, BUT it wasn’t exactly restful. Quinn’s eyes were already open and on her when she shifted her chin on his shoulder to stare at him the next morning.

  “Did you sleep at all?”

  He nodded. “I got a solid six. How about you?”

  Rowan wasn’t sure she got a solid anything. “I slept.”

  “That was a bit evasive.”

  “I slept,” she repeated. “I could’ve slept better but … that’s not the world we’re living in right now. I’ll sleep when we figure out what’s going on.”

  Quinn’s fingers were gentle as they brushed her auburn hair away from her face. “No ideas?”

  “No. I don’t know what to do.”

  “I have an idea, if you’re interested.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Rowan’s eyes lit with interest. “I’m willing to listen to any suggestion you have right now.”

  “Your father.”

  That wasn’t the answer Rowan expected and she shifted a bit so she could prop herself on an elbow. “Huh. That didn’t even occur to me.”

  Quinn honestly wasn’t surprised. Rowan was still coming to terms with the new realities of her life. Paul Gray disappeared right before she graduated from high school, leaving her to fend for herself through college and what came after. She thought he was dead – the father who raised her would never willingly abandon her, or so she thought – and she mourned him hard for years.

  Since her mother died years before, Rowan was well and truly on her own. She managed to make it through college thanks to help from her uncle, although she didn’t know he was miraculously making scholarships available to her at the time. Then she got a job as a photographer in Detroit and remained close to home for years, until she was laid off.

  After that, she saw an ad in a newspaper, interviewed, and promptly found herself making a new life on The Bounding Storm. Things shifted quickly after that, Quinn and Rowan fell in love just in time for her father to miraculously rise from the dead. He had run because he was trying to protect her and the things she could do. He was working hard at regaining her trust, but their relationship was still a work in progress.

  “I don’t think it could possibly hurt,” Quinn offered. “He has a phone now thanks to Nick. You’re allowed to call.”

  “But can I call from the ship when it’s at sea? I mean … I’ve never called anyone while we’re on a cruise … mostly because I didn’t have anyone to call. I don’t know how that works.”

  Quinn’s grin was lazy. “Well, I happen to have a special hub that will allow you to use your cell phone, although I think it might be easier for you to use the computer and do a video chat.”

  Rowan raised her eyebrows. “Seriously?”

  He nodded. “Nick and I set it up before we left the mainland. We both think having a regular way for you guys to communicate while we’re out and about is important. You don’t have to talk every single day, but you don’t have to be in the dark while we’re at sea either.”

  “Wow. I can’t believe you did that for me.” She snuggled closer. “That’s really sweet.”

  “I’m a sweet guy. Essentially, I’m the candy corn of men.”

  She barked out a laugh, legitimately amused. “I’m going to start calling you ‘candy corn’ when I’m in the mood for romance.”

  “I’ve been called worse things.”

  “Oh, yeah, Candy Corn?”

  Quinn arched an eyebrow. “Ah. It’s romance time. I’m so excited. In fact … .” He was cut off by his ringing cell phone, causing him to swear under his breath. “I swear someone hates me.”

  Rowan pressed her lips together to keep from laughing at his hangdog expression. “There, there.”

  “No, it seriously sucks.” Quinn pressed his phone to his ear and gritted out a greeting. He listened for a long time before pressing the heel of his hand to his forehead. “You’re kidding. Where?” He waited again. “Give me twenty minutes. Try to cordon off the body so the guests can’t see it. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  All thoughts of romance vacated Rowan’s mind when she recognized the change in his demeanor. “Someone’s dead?”

  He nodded. “We don’t know anything other than that right now, so I don’t want you getting worked up.”

  Rowan was well beyond that. “I’m going to call my father while you’re up dealing with that situation. As soon as you can share information … .” She left the sentence hanging.

  “You’ll be the first person I call.” He gave her a deep kiss. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Candy Corn.”

  “Geez. I’m never going to live that down.”

  “Not even a little.”

  HARPER FELT LIKE A MILLION BUCKS when she woke, Jared wrapped tightly around her. He was shirtless, his face pressed to the back of her neck, and he made adorable purring sounds as he slumbered.

  Harper was used to them but still grinned whenever she woke before him and could listen. She had no idea her life would turn out the way it did, but she couldn’t have imagined a better outcome.

  “Do you know that your body tenses when you’re smiling?” Jared murmured, tickling her ribs and causing her to squirm.

  “I thought you were asleep,” Harper protested, giggling as she shifted in his arms so she could drink in his handsome face and morning stubble. He was criminally attractive on a normal day, but the stubble sent him through the stratosphere. “You’re awake, though.”

  “I am.”

  “You’re really pretty, too.”

  His lips curved. “I’m nowhere near as pretty as you.”

  “I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.” She brushed her lips against his and snuggled close. “Do you want to know something funny?”

  “Always … unless you find clowns funny. If it involves clowns, I don’t want to hear it.”

  Harper made a face. “Like I would want to talk about clowns.”

  “Then tell me, my future wife.”

  Harper’s grin widened. “I slept really well. It was like the waves rocked me all night.”

  “Heart, I was the one rocking you.”

  She gasped when he tickled her. “You definitely rocked my world. It was a different sort of rocking, though. It reminded me of the hammock. By the way, did you see they have hammocks up on the main deck?”

  “Are you serious?” His eyes widened to comical proportions. “We haven’t hammocked since the fall. You have no idea how much I missed it.”

  “You know that’s not really a word, right?”

  “I know that hammocking is my favorite – er, second favorite – thing to do with you.”

  “You’ve such a gutter mind,” Harper complained as she poked his side. “Still, I’m a fan of hammocking. I thought we could spend some time doing just that this afternoon.”

  “You had me at hammock.”

  “Somehow I know that.” She gave him a soft kiss. “We have to spend time with Zander this morning, though. That means breakfast and doing something he wants to do. I know that’s not high on your list but … .”

  He silenced her with another kiss. “Heart, it’s okay. I know we need to spend time with Zander. I’m not going to give you grief over that.”

  “You’re not?”

  He shook his head. “It’s okay. Let’s get ready and pick up Zander for breakfast. If we do this the right way, he’ll be sick of us by the time lunch rolls around.”

  “Just in time to hammock.”

  “You read my mind.”

  HARPER WAS FLUSTERED BY THE time she reached the deck with Jared. Zander wasn’t in his room, and it wasn’t like him to be up with the sun after a night of drinking. Harper was convinced he spent the first thirty minutes of his solo bar night complaining about her. Once he calmed down, though, he would be more than willing to make friends and play nice with o
thers.

  That didn’t explain why he wasn’t in his room.

  “I’m sure he’s having breakfast,” Jared reassured her, his hand on the small of her back. “He’s probably hungover and needed the protein.”

  Harper wasn’t convinced. “If he went to breakfast, he would’ve knocked on our door to get us. He’s loud and obnoxious. He would’ve wanted to make me feel guilty for leaving him last night.”

  “Maybe he’s growing as a person.”

  Harper arched a challenging eyebrow. “Seriously?”

  Jared held his hands palms out and shrugged. “It was a thought.”

  “Well, something is wrong. I know it. I … .” She trailed off when she caught sight of the small group of people milling about on the far side of the deck. They were close to the railing and looking at something on the ground. “What do you think they’re doing?”

  “I don’t know.” Jared honestly wasn’t all that interested in what was happening on the other side of the deck. “Let’s head to the dining room. I’m sure Zander is there, ready to pounce on us for being bad friends.”

  Harper merely shook her head. “No. There’s something over there.”

  “What?”

  “I … .” Her heart rolled painfully when she finally made out the object on the ground. “That’s a body.”

  “What?” Jared focused on the area more closely, his head moving back and forth. “No, I … .” He trailed off when he realized Harper was right. “Well, crap.”

  “We have to go over there.” Harper started moving in that direction, but Jared grabbed her arm. “Stop it.” She slapped at his hand. “What if it’s Zander?” Tears filled her eyes and tore a hole directly through his heart.

  “It’s not Zander,” he said automatically.

  “You don’t know that.”

  He opened his mouth to argue and then snapped it shut. Technically she was right. “Stay here,” he said, collecting himself. “I’ll see what’s going on. You know the odds of that being Zander are astronomical, right?”