by Peggy Dulle
“Let’s play this,” I told Tom.
“I’m going to play a few hands of Blackjack,” he said.
“Okay, I’ll be here.” I got some quarters and started dropping them into the machine. I soon had a tray full of quarters. Tom was back a few minutes later.
“Done already?” I asked.
“Yep, I lost my twenty-five bucks.”
“You want to play with me?”
“No, I think I’ll walk some more. I’m not used to eating so much food, so late at night.”
“Okay.” I put another quarter in, the lever pushed it off the shelf and three more quarters fell into the bin. The next time I looked up Tom had left.
And then the quarters were going in with nothing coming out. Tom should have stayed because, within minutes, I was done.
As soon as I stood, someone took my place. It was a very popular machine. When I got just two feet away, I heard a large number of quarters falling into the bin. Damn, I shook my head. Either I should have bought more quarters or walked away faster!
Now what? I left the Casino and walked in the direction Tom had gone. That’s when I heard Tom’s voice. Where was it coming from? I went around the corner and his voice got louder. He was singing? It was Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” and he did a very nice job. We’d been together for months and I had no idea he liked to sing. When he finished, people clapped, and a woman started screeching Respect by Aretha Franklin. Tom was in the karaoke bar?
I peeked around the pillar in front of the bar. Tom looked at a binder, wrote on a small piece of paper, and then handed the paper and a CD to the woman next to the karaoke machine. Was he going to sing again? This I had to hear, but if I went inside, would he just leave with me?
There were some seats across from the bar that were partially hidden by the pillars. I sat down and pulled a chair over for my feet.
I felt someone standing behind me.
He grabbed my shoulder.
I caught my breath and let it out in a scream.
Chapter 16
“Easy, Liza,” Dorian said, pulling his hand back.
“Sorry, Dorian,” I said when I finally could breathe. “You startled me.”
“An attractive woman like you should never be sitting alone,” he said and slid into the seat next to me, putting his feet next to mine on the chair. “Where’s your bulldog?”
“I assume you’re asking about Tom.” I kept my tone calm, even though my body reacted immediately to Dorian’s closeness.
He grinned. “That would be the one.”
Tom would not want me to say anything to Dorian about him singing in a karaoke bar. All that testosterone just gets in the way sometimes. So I told a half-truth. “I was in the Casino and Tom went for a walk. I lost my money, so I came out here to wait for him.”
“What did you do after you left the balcony?”
“I browsed in the stores.”
“Did you buy anything?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I tried on a black evening dress that caught my fancy, but changed my mind. And then we had dinner. It was fabulous.”
“The meals here are very good.”
“And you?”
“Spent some time with Tiffany.”
“Oh, is that the child’s name?”
Dorian chuckled.
“Do you mind if I ask you a question?”
He shook his head. “I have no secrets.”
I started to speak, but he continued, “and I never lie. So, ask whatever you’d like.”
“How old are you?”
“I turned 53 on my last birthday.” He smiled. “I’ll not ask your age, it’s impolite.”
“I’m 32,” I didn’t care if people knew my age. It wasn’t that important to me. “So why are you attracted to such juvenile women?”
His grin deepened and his dark eyes sparkled. I’m not sure that’s possible, but his did. Tom’s dog, Duke, has that same look when he sees Shelby. Right before they romp off into the pine trees together.
“Wait.” I held up my hands and smiled. “Let me rephrase that. Let’s go beyond the obvious physical characteristics. I don’t want to hear about their magnificent bodies or lovely hair.”
He reached over and pushed my hair behind my ears. “They don’t hold a candle to your beauty, Liza.”
I blushed and worked very hard to keep myself from drooling over this man.
Dorian’s eyes flashed fire. “A woman is so much more attractive when she doesn’t consider herself a beauty, even though she is.”
“Are you dodging my question?” I asked when I finally found my voice.
“No.” He shook his head. “I find my young companions entertaining and an interlude from my real goal.”
“Which is?”
“Finding a woman who can match my passion, intelligence, and love of life.” He leaned over and brushed a kiss on my cheek.
Sticking my finger in an electrical socket would have given me less of a jolt than his lips on my face.
“Would you like to be that woman, Liza?” He whispered in my ear.
I would like to have answered. In fact, I would like to have been able to breathe, too.
Dorian pulled back and stood. “There are a million possibilities in that single moment of hesitation, Liza.” He bowed his head. “Again, I apologize for startling you.”
And he was gone.
Twenty minutes later, I could breathe, my pulse returned to normal and I was mad at myself. It wasn’t my intention to lead Dorian on by not answering his question. I just couldn’t control the way my body reacted to his touch. I’d bet a million dollars that standing in a raging volcano’s center would cause less heat!
Tom sang again, a song I’d never heard before that told about singing someone to sleep after making love to them. I leaned my head back and listened. That would be nice, I thought. Now that I knew the man could sing, I might ask him to sing to me. He finished, people clapped, and then a group of girls sang a song from Grease.
Suddenly, I felt very tired. It was time to call it a night. If Tom wanted to sing some more, then I’d crawl into bed without him. As I stood up, Tom came out of the bar and slid something into his pocket.
I waved and called, “Tom.”
He came right over. “Lose all your money already?”
“Yes, actually, I lost it pretty soon after you left me.
“Oh, I’m sorry, honey.” He glanced back into the bar. “I just stopped to have a drink and listen to the singers.”
I smiled. A little knowledge is a powerful thing. “That’s okay. I’m ready to turn in, how about you?”
“Sure,” Tom said.
“Nothing else you want to do?” I asked.
“No.” He shook his head.
I put my arm around his. “Then, let’s call it a night.”
We walked toward our room. I hummed the last song he’d sung.
When we got into the room, I changed into my nightgown and climbed into bed.
Tom changed and slid in beside me. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me on the neck. “Have a good first day?”
“You mean besides being threatened in person and with a note?
“Yeah, besides that.”
“I had a great day. I think I’m going to like cruising.” I snuggled into Tom and started humming again.
“What are you humming?” Tom asked.
“I’ve got a song stuck in my head and I just can’t get it out.”
“Was the guy in the Casino singing it?” Tom asked.
“No.” I shook my head. “But I did hear someone singing it tonight.”
“I’m great at song lyrics. Tell me what you remember and I’ll be able to figure out what song it is.”
I repeated the lyrics I heard him sing.
“It sounds like, ‘After the Lovin’.”
“Who originally sang it?”
“Engelbert Humperdink.”
“Do you know the rest of the lyrics?”
<
br /> “I think so,” Tom said.
“Tell me.”
Tom repeated the lyrics.
“Now, how about singing them?”
Tom raised his eyebrows. “I don’t sing.”
“Okay, that’s impolite. You’ll sing in a room full of total strangers but you won’t sing to me?”
“You heard me?” He averted his eyes.
I pulled his face back, so I could look into his eyes. “Yes, and I know we’ve only been seeing each other for a few months, but how did I miss that you had a wonderful voice and were obsessed with karaoke?”
“I’m not obsessed with karaoke.”
“Do you carry your own CDs?”
He nodded.
“That’s an obsession.” I patted him on the arm. “How long have you been singing karaoke?”
“Five years.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Where?”
“I have a small system at the house.”
“I’ve never seen it.”
“I put it away when you come.”
“Why?”
“Some people think it’s weird. I didn’t want you to think that about me. Pamela used to hate it, so I didn’t want to take any chances with you.”
“I don’t hate it, but it is a little weird. You have a wonderful voice.”
“Thanks.” He smiled. “Want me to sing to you?”
“Of course, I do,” I told him and snuggled back against him, then turned before he started. “Do you take requests?”
He laughed and quietly sang me the entire Englebert song. Then we made love. We had it backwards, but it still worked.
In the morning, Tom’s clothes arrived, neatly folded and pressed. We went to the gym and exercised. Well, Tom exercised; I couldn’t find the book I’d started yesterday, so I got a new one. It was a good thing I brought three. I rode a bike set on level 1, and read the book. It was about a woman who’s a ghost and walking around San Francisco. It was actually better written than the last, so I was glad I switched.
Afterwards we went back to the room and showered.
“What time are you having your virtual golf game with Jack?” I asked.
“We tee-off at eleven.”
“I didn’t know you played golf, either.”
“I can’t say what I do is exactly playing golf, but I like to go out and hit the ball sometimes,” Tom said as he put on his shoes.
“Do I really know that little about you? First karaoke and now golf?”
He came over, tilted my head upward, and kissed me on the lips. “You know the important stuff.”
“Like what?”
“I love you.”
“I know, but is there anything else about you that’s going to come as a surprise?”
Tom shook his head. “Nope, I think that’s all my secrets – karaoke and golf.”
“Good, I wouldn’t want to find out you’re a closet taxidermists because I couldn’t stand all those stuffed animals in my house.”
He laughed. “How about some breakfast?”
“Oh, yeah.” I rubbed my stomach. “I’m definitely ready for my next wonderful meal. But let me give Emily a call and set up a time to go to the spa.”
Emily answered on the first ring, “Hello.”
“Hi, Emily. It’s Liza. I’m calling to find out what time you want to go to the spa.”
“I already made our appointments. We’re going at eleven, the same time the boys head off to hit the little white ball with the skinny stick.”
“Great.” Then I thought about my pocketbook. “What did you sign us up for?”
“We’re both getting a massage with hot rocks. They’re fabulous.”
“How much is this going to cost?” I asked.
“My treat, Liza.”
“No, I can pay for my own spa treatments.”
“You’re saving me from doing it all by myself. Every time Jack goes off to play golf or lose money in the casino, I’m always stuck someplace by myself.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, meet me at the spa a few minutes before eleven.”
“Okay, Emily, thanks.”
“You’re welcome. See you then.”
I hung up the phone. “She’s paying for my spa treatment.”
“Jack’s paying for my golf, too. According to Jack, his company has clients all over the country. He’s writing it off as a security consult since I’m in law enforcement.”
“Emily’s a teacher, we don’t get to write off things like spa treatments.”
“I think they can afford it, Liza.”
“Maybe, but it feels weird letting someone else pay for it.”
“Buy her a nice gift as a thank you.”
“That would make me feel better.”
Tom nodded. “Good, now let’s go eat.”
I jumped up and hurried to the door. “You don’t have to ask me twice.”
We had fabulous Eggs Benedict for breakfast. We played bingo and went to a talk about shopping in Mexico. Afterwards we walked on the deck. It was warm and sunny. People were already staking out their lounge chairs and applying suntan lotion.
At 10:45, Tom took off to play golf and I found my way to the spa, only getting turned around twice. Emily stood outside waiting for me.
“How was your morning, Liza?” Emily asked.
“Great. We exercised, had a wonderful breakfast, then lost at bingo, and listened to the shopping talk. What about you and Jack?”
“On our way back to the room last night, Jack stopped in to play a few hands of blackjack. Three hours later, I dragged him out. So we slept in and ordered room service.” She smiled.
“That sounds good, too.”
She linked her arm in mine. “Let’s go get our bodies rubbed.”
A spa clerk led us to a room where we could take off our clothes and gave us a large white towel to wrap around our bodies. A few minutes later she came back and led us to a room with two massage tables.
“They usually use this for couple’s massages,” Emily said. “But I booked it for you and me.”
“I’ve never had a massage,” I told her.
“They’re great, especially this one with the hot rocks. The only thing I don’t like about them is that they want you to be quiet, listen to the music, and relax. I’d rather have someone to talk to.”
“I’m your girl. I don’t think I could spend an entire hour just relaxing.”
Emily grinned. “I knew we’d get along.”
As soon as two masseuses came in, Emily told them we’d be talking to each other during the massages. They frowned, but Emily ignored them and looked over at me. “So tell me how long you and Tom have been dating?”
“We met over spring break. I took a vacation up north and he was the town’s sheriff.”
“Did he have to arrest you?”
“No.” I laughed. “He stayed at the local inn because his house was being remodeled. We met there.”
“That’s cool. What made you guys decide to go on this cruise?”
I told her about my parents and how they’d taken this trip every year.
“So did you follow in your mom’s footsteps? Was she a teacher, too?”
“Yes.” I nodded.
“Didn’t want to follow dad?”
“No, he was a lawyer and I don’t think he liked it very much. He spent most of his time flying his plane and collecting clients for the firm.”
“Jack prefers gallivanting around and getting new clients rather than sitting in his office, too.”
The masseuses asked us to turn onto our backs. We obeyed.
“Are you a true Californian or are you a transplant?” she asked.
“I was born in Texas but we moved to California when I was three.”
We spent the rest of hour talking about everything to fill the silence left by the two masseuses. They barely said a word the entire hour. Mostly they frowned at us for talking. Emily would roll her eyes, laugh, and ask me another question. Sh
e was easy to talk to. In between the questions, I closed my eyes and enjoyed having my muscles pampered.
When the massages were over, we showered, dressed and left the spa.
Emily waved. “I’ll see you at dinner tonight.”
I didn’t want to hurt her feelings but I’d promised Carmelita that Tom and I would join her tonight for dinner. “Tom and I are eating at the Supper Club tonight.”
If it bothered her, I didn’t see it. She smiled. “That’s great. You’ll love its intimate nature. So I guess I’ll see you around the ship.”
“Are you going to the show tonight?”
“I think so,” she said.
“Tom and I are going to play bingo before the show, so I’ll save you and Jack a seat.”
“Great. Thanks, Liza.”
“Thanks again for the massage.”
“You’re welcome.” Emily waved and left.
When I got back to the room, Tom wasn’t there. Virtual golf must take longer than an hour. I forgot to ask him how long he’d be. I checked the daily schedule and didn’t see anything that interested me. There was always the Casino but I didn’t want to be trapped inside on such a nice day. I changed into my swimsuit, applied a layer of suntan lotion, and left Tom a note. I put on a cover-up, stuffed the beach towel that was in the room and my book into my bag, and took the elevator to the pool deck.
I found an empty lounge chair, ordered a Diet Coke, and read my book. It was wonderful just to relax. I’d talked so much in the last hour, my voice was tired. Emily knew almost everything about me from the day I was born until today, although I did leave out the part about my adventures with the clowns and the eating contest. But now that I thought about it, I didn’t learn all that much about her. She asked all the questions and I answered them. That was rude of me. I’d have to make it a point to ask her about herself and Jack.
I read for a while, then closed my eyes and took a little nap. I awoke when something slammed into my lounge chair. A man carrying a stack of lounge chairs stumbled and the stack fell toward me.
He caught his balance and stood up straight. “Sorry, miss. I must have tripped on something.”
“That’s okay.” I opened my book again and began reading.
A few minutes later, Tom walked up. I smiled, set my book down, and asked, “How was golf?”