Destination Romance

by Barbara McMahon

  They sailed in silence, a peaceful, contented enjoyment of the quiet twilight, each lost in their own thoughts. Lexy jumped a little when Dominic switched on the running lights. She hadn’t realized the sun was gone. Would he sail all night? Want her to take a watch? It would speed up their journey.

  'You’re a restful person, Lexy,' Dominic said in the growing darkness. 'You don't jabber all the time.'

  She smiled at this, aware he couldn't see her. 'No, I guess I don't.' She turned to him. 'How do you want to work the watches tonight? Shall I sail her a bit while you sleep, do you want first watch, or what?'

  'You go and sleep if you can. I'll sail till two or so, then you can take over.'

  'Fine. See you then.' She rose and descended into the cabin. Before she turned on the light she stuck her head back out, 'Can I fix you coffee or something?'

  'No, I'm fine. Goodnight.'

  In the forward cabin Lexy took a few minutes to unpack her bag, utilizing the space beneath her bunk. Leaving her box of books for later, she slipped on her sleep shirt and crawled into the bunk. She set her watch for two and tried to sleep. She was alert to the chime of her watch, its soft insistence the only thing needed to bring her wide-awake. When she’d worked with Miles Jackson, they had usually worked different shifts and long hours, and she had developed the ability to drop off almost upon command. While it had been over two years since she had needed to, Lexy hadn't forgotten how, and she slept immediately. The small slapping sounds of the waves against the bow a monotonous soothing background, quiet and steady.

  At two she awoke on the first note of her alarm. Quickly dressing, slipping on a heavy sweater for the cool tropic night, she stopped in the main cabin only long enough to fix herself a quick cup of instant coffee, before presenting herself topside.

  'Lexy?'

  'Hi, I've come to relieve you. Everything okay?'

  'Everything’s fine. I've marked our course, just checked the compass; the wind's steady. It's all yours.'

  She looked over his chart, illuminated by a small red light, double-checked the compass and sat where he had been. 'Sleep well,' she said softly, gripping the wheel with her free hand.

  When Dominic went below, she gave a sigh of pure delight as she sipped the coffee. She loved sailing and clear beautiful nights were her favorite. The moon was quartered and low on the horizon. The stars were plentiful, seeming so close Lexy wanted to reach out to try to touch one. The sea was a gray mysterious carpet, looking smooth, yet sending a thousand sparkling reflections back as it mirrored the stars, or made a shimmering path to the low moon.

  Alexis loved sailing in the night, alone, but not lonely.

  At peace with everybody and with herself. Forgetting all the hurts and pain of the last few years, feeling very much as a child again, loved, cosseted, sheltered. She loved sailing alone with only her thoughts and slowly the hours passed as the ship glided on the gray sea.

  Dominic appeared on deck again shortly after seven, refreshed from his sleep, already washed and shaved. He scanned the sky, then wandered over to Lexy, checking the compass and looking at her.

  'All right?' he asked.

  She nodded. 'You want breakfast now?' as he sat beside her, enjoying the early morning coolness, the sun already warming the air.

  'In a little while. Listen up so you don’t get the wrong impression. I used the port bunk last night. I saw you had used the other. Since you were up here for the rest of the night, I used the bunk rather than making up the sofa bed. I won't use it when we are both sleeping at the same time—in port or at anchor. But I didn't want you to get the wrong idea if you noticed the bunk had been slept in.'

  She nodded. It made sense, as long as he didn’t think they would share the forward compartment. It was his boat. He could do what he wanted.

  They ran up the jib, catching all the wind they could, increasing the speed of the sloop. She stood braced against the slight swells and scanned the horizon. A clear beautiful day ahead. She grabbed her long-empty cup and went to fix their breakfast. Just as she was dishing up Dominic joined her in the cabin, shrinking the space, filling it with his presence.

  'I'll eat here,' he said, sitting on the forward bench by the table. 'I've lashed the wheel and the wind seems steady.'

  'Good.' Lexy placed their plates on the table and sat on the opposite bench, they both began eating. She kept her eyes on her food, not wanting to initiate conversation.

  'As long as the wind holds and we stay course, there’s no need for us to stay at the wheel all the time. Robin and I used to lock the wheel, then check the course every half-hour or so. You can feel if the wind changes or if the ship falters. At night, same thing, only we didn't sleep on watch in case we slept through the check time,' he said.

  Lexy nodded, understanding. It would be advantageous to have a little more freedom, to let the locked wheel do its job and only check it to correct errors. She looked up to find Dominic staring at her, his blue eyes constantly surprising in the dark tan of his face.

  'Do I have something on my face?' she asked, self-conscious from his regard.

  'No. It wasn't the dim light in the bar, though. You still look like a teenager.'

  She blushed very faintly and resumed eating, unsure of how to reply.

  Dominic smiled faintly then glanced out of the porthole. 'I'll start preliminary outlines this morning as soon as the breakfast things are cleared away, if you'll take the watch. I'll come up this afternoon to take over.'

  'Fine. It won't take me long to clean up.'

  In less than half an hour Lexy finished eating, cleaned the cabin and changed into a bikini to wear topside. It was white, and brief. Her honey skin was evenly tanned all over, the bikini revealing her curves and valleys. The softly swelling breasts filling out the top, the brief pants rode low on her hips, smooth thighs tapering into slim calves. While not tall, her legs were long in proportion and nicely shaped. She took her sunscreen and sunglasses, then hesitated, wanting a book, but was disinclined to open her box if they would be parting company in Bridgetown. She shrugged, maybe Dominic would have something she could read.

  Entering the main cabin, she found Dominic already in the midst of a pile of papers, jotting notes as he sorted through the data spread out before him, hunting for an elusive fact. Totally engrossed in what he was doing, he didn’t notice Lexy by the edge of the table until she cleared her throat.

  He looked up, scowling at the interruption. 'I said I wanted to work undisturbed,' he snapped.

  She raised surprised eyebrows at his tone, contritely apologizing. 'I only wanted to see if you had a book I could read. I'm really sorry. I won't interrupt again.'

  He frowned again, glancing at her attire, then turned back to his papers. 'In the compartment beneath the sofa, some books there. I'll call you when I want lunch.' He dismissed her and returned to his work.

  Meekly she grabbed the first book in the drawer and hurried topside. He certainly meant it when he said he did not want interruptions.

  Three hours later, Lexy was checking their course and correcting the wheel, and she glanced towards the cabin longingly. She was thirsty, but reluctant to annoy Dominic again. Tomorrow she would bring up a pitcher with something cool to drink, so as not to bother him during her watch. Shading her eyes until they adjusted to the interior light, she saw him still working hard, the steady click of the laptop a background for his writing. She bit her lip, deciding against going down for something, deciding against the risk of interrupting him a second time in one day. Tomorrow she’d plan better.

  The book she’d snatched up was an absorbing mystery she hadn’t read before. She was over half way finished. She looked at the number of remaining pages, not very many left now. Gazing out to sea, with the sun shining down on it, glittering on the restless water; sparkling and shimmering, the light bright and shining, she narrowed her eyes against the glare, scanning the horizon. In the far distance, off the port beam, she could see the outline of a large ship, too di
stant to tell if it were a cruise ship or freighter. Continuing her search, she saw nothing but a smooth horizon. They were alone in the vast sea, the ship on the port horizon even now growing smaller with each passing minute.

  She looked at the water close at hand. It looked so inviting, so refreshing, that she wished she could go over the side. When she had worked for Miles, after hours of gathering data, they’d anchored and swum each day, combining diving for samples or photos with just plain frolicking in the warm Caribbean waters. Lexy rose slowly and wandered over to the lockers on the deck; looking into each one. In the third one she found flippers, face masks and snorkels. No scuba equipment, however. She replaced the lid and checked the fourth one—just marine gear. She hoped they’d find time for a swim even just a brief one.

  Sitting back, leaning against the cabin wall, she idly watched the waves again, wondering if Dominic would stop at all before Bridgetown, or if he were in too great a rush to reach Barbados. She sighed. The day was pleasant and they would reach Bridgetown soon enough in any event. She reached for her book, soon lost again in the story, double-checking the clues leading to the denouement.

  'Lexy!' A roar came from in the cabin.

  She opened her eyes—at first unsure where she was. Recollection returned, she shook her head to clear it—she had dozed off. Rising stiffly, she quickly checked the sails, wheel and compass. They were fine, on course, and as she started to the cabin, she again heard Dominic's roar.

  'Lexy!'

  She started down the steep stairs. 'What?'

  He turned to look at her, taking more notice of her brief bathing suit than he had earlier, grinning in appreciation. His mood friendly and relaxed. On the counter beside the sink were sandwiches-and a couple of cold beers.

  'Lunch is ready,' he said, pointing to the food.

  'Oh, I thought I was supposed to do that,' she said distressed. First day on the job and she had slept through mealtime.

  'No problem, Robin and I often took turns. You'll have to eat standing up or on the sofa, I'm still working and didn't want to clear off the table.'

  Lexy reached for a sandwich and turned to survey the scatter of papers surrounding the laptop. She thought it looked an unholy mess, but knew from working with Miles that the author probably knew exactly where everything was.

  'Do you leave it like that while you work? All the time?'

  Dominic looked at the table, then shrugged. 'Mostly,' he agreed.

  'What do you write, what type of books? I haven't heard of any books by Dominic Frazer—do you write non-fiction?' she asked. She wanted to know more about her new boss.

  He hesitated slightly, slanting her a glance from beneath his dark brows. Carefully he chose another sandwich, pausing, as if weighing whether or not to tell her. Finally, 'I write fiction, but not under my own name.'

  'Why not?' She was surprised, her eyes narrowing suddenly, suspiciously, 'Unless you write trash and don't want to be associated with it?'

  He looked a little embarrassed. 'Not really, but my work will never rival Shakespeare. My first book was written purely for the money. I wanted my name to be associated with something really good,' he gave a short laugh, shaking his head in remembrance. 'Anyway, it sold well and my publisher wanted more.' He shrugged. “So now I’m stuck with the name.”

  'So you kept writing books that sell and were stuck with your pen name. Is it a secret?'

  'Lord, no, all my family and friends know what I do, who I am, so to speak. I'm only surprised the books keep selling so well.'

  She fixed her gaze on him, still waiting for his pen- name.

  Dominic cocked his eyebrow and grinned at her, still a trace embarrassed. 'Nick Roberts,' he obliged.

  Lexy looked at him consideringly for a further minute, nodded, then reached for her second sandwich; they were good, the bread fresh and the meat tasty.

  She took a bite and chewed it before speaking again. 'I've read your books,' she said calmly, reaching for her beer and tilting her head back as she drank directly from the bottle.

  Dominic waited, watching the smooth line of her jaw and throat, watching as she lowered the bottle and placed it back on the narrow counter.

  She glanced up at him. 'They're good, that's why they keep selling,' she stated as a fact, not an opinion. Nodding to the cluttered table, she continued, 'Do you always research everything so thoroughly?'

  'If you have read the books you'll remember they deal with different settings, different occupations. I have to research, I haven't traveled in the arctic, nor the Peruvian jungle, haven't been a Navy submarine captain, nor doctor.'

  'If I've read them?' She smiled. 'I've read them, Dominic, all of them. You've written thirteen so far and I've read them all, they get better each time. Do you research the love angle, too?' For a moment she was flustered. 'Sorry, I forgot you were married, does your love angle come from your wife?'

  His face became shuttered, his eyes hooded. He turned to the table, the camaraderie gone, his mood changed. 'My wife’s dead,' he said flatly.

  She stared at him, dumbfounded at her faux pas. 'I'm sorry. I didn’t know,' she uttered softly, but wasn't sure he heard her. He gave no evidence he had heard or that he was aware she was still there. Eyes on his laptop screen, he typed, oblivious to his surroundings.

  Regretfully, Lexy took another sandwich and her beer and went back on top. She should have asked about his wife before, found out something about her before teasing him about the love angle in his books. She wondered how long ago Mrs. Frazer had died. At least that explained why she wasn't on board, why Dominic had to hire a crew. She frowned in remembrance, had he said he was married, not had been? No, only that the boat was named for his wife.

  She ate her sandwich slowly, thinking of Dominic and his dead wife. Her death must have been recent, and as he was still not used to her being gone, he hadn’t made it clear that he was not married now. Idly she wondered what the dead Mrs. Frazer had been like, and she thought it unlikely that she’d ever know. Gradually she got over her embarrassment at the mistake. She would tread more warily in the future, but surely could be excused this one faux pas.

  As she watched the sea, her spirits rose. Imagine she was working for Nick Roberts, one of her favorite authors. His adventure stories were very absorbing, his settings well illustrated and his characters exciting and believable. While it appeared he wrote primarily for men, his adventuresome heroes always accomplishing their objectives against fantastic odds, she liked the books. There was always a love element in them, adding to the appeal the basic story held. Some of the sex scenes were rather graphic, and the hero and heroine often didn’t marry, but a happy, permanent ending was always the result. Knowing this did not detract from the books, the suspense was always gripping and enduring. What would this book be about, what would it be like? Would she get a chance to find out? Only if she stayed until he’d finished. Today hadn’t been the best start, but Lexy was ever hopeful.

  At four o'clock Dominic came up on deck. He spied Lexy lying in the slight shade of the cabin, and went to squat down beside her. 'The cabin's all yours when you want to fix dinner. I'd like to eat around seven, okay?'

  'Fine.' She still felt awkward about her mistake at lunch but Dominic seemed to have regained his friendly attitude and she didn't want to upset the applecart again today.

  Seeing as she had nothing to say, he sat gingerly down on the narrow deck, his legs extended, leaning on his arms. He eyed the far horizons.

  'Sorry I was touchy at lunch,' Dominic said at long last, almost as if he were talking to himself. 'Marybeth died a long time ago, just before my first book was published. She was. . . she was as different from the women in my books as it is possible to get. Kind and gentle and very shy. Very sweet.' He was silent a while. 'Now the gals in my books are more like you, Lexy–self-sufficient, in charge of their lives. Going off on some adventure confident things will always come right, yet with an aura of femininity and innocence about them that attracts the her
o.'

  Lexy closed her eyes at the unexpected tribute. Did he really see her thus? Self-sufficient, feminine, innocent? If he only knew!

  'You are restful and serene to be around.'

  She permitted a brief smile to come to her lips, opening her eyes to see his gaze on her. 'I work at it,' she admitted. Worried as to where the conversation might lead, she quickly changed the subject. 'How long before we reach Bridgetown?'

  He scanned the sky and sea before answering. 'Another four days, I figure.'

  Four days. Lexy had enjoyed the hours spent thus far on the Marybeth. If things continued smoothly, perhaps the arrangement could continue while he wrote this book. Several months' work on the Marybeth would be lovely. She’d need to get some more books in Bridgetown, to keep herself busy while he worked. If they anchored while he wrote, she‘d be able to swim each day as well. It would be an idyllic few months, more a vacation than a job. She hoped she could continue beyond Bridgetown.

  They sat in companionable silence as the afternoon breeze drove the sloop steadily northward to Barbados. Drowsily, Lexy felt relaxed and content.

  Life was slow and peaceful on the sloop. She’d pull her weight, do her share, and be left alone to spend her time as she wanted while Dominic Frazer wrote his book. Her past life seemed to fade as her hopes for a bright future arose. Was her luck turning?

  CHAPTER TWO

  Lexy pulled a T-shirt over her swimsuit before starting dinner. While a swimsuit was entirely suitable for deck wear, she didn't feel it proper for cooking and eating. By many standards, she was still greatly under dressed, but the heat in the cabin made further clothing excessive. She was cooking chops in a pan on the propane stove when Dominic came down.