Waves of Passion (Kimani Romance)

by Linda Hudson-Smith

  “Yes, ma’am, it is. We can’t report back to duty until we’re treated. I don’t know if it’s been mentioned or not, but all of us crewmembers are assigned to the same dorm.”

  “Thank you. That’s helpful. Relax and give me a few minutes to get everything set up.”

  “None of us are in a hurry, Dr. Grinage. We just want to know what’s happening.”

  * * *

  Cameron had called a brief staff meeting in the small conference room. Once everyone was seated, he stood.

  “Good morning, crew. Thanks for attending.” He laughed. “As if you had a choice! No, none of us had a choice. What we have is an emergency to deal with. We have to continue pulling together to get our crewmembers taken care of. You’re doing great with the patients and all medical procedures, and I appreciate each of you. Dr. Grinage has something to say, which is the main reason we’re meeting.” Cameron presented Gabrielle then took a seat.

  “Good morning. I’m glad you’re here today. What I heard from one of the crewmembers may shed some light on this medical dilemma. All the crewmembers out there are from the same dorm. There may be contamination and possibly cross-contamination. It may be as simple as a cold or flu passing among them. It could be something much worse. We already know it’s contagious. Without running lab tests, no one can be certain of what needs to be dealt with. We may have to go the whole nine yards on this one, guys. Thanks for your attention.” She yielded the floor back to Cameron.

  “Thank you, Dr. Grinage. Knowing they’re all from the same dorm is important information. However, crewmembers mingle, and many of them work in food preparation. Blood and urine tests will have to be given to every crewmember and anyone else who comes in with the same symptoms.”

  Cameron explained that one part of the clinic was closed off to everyone but the members of the crew that lived in the same dorm. The passengers would be seen in the front treatment rooms, along with crewmembers from other dorms who didn’t exhibit the same symptoms. He told his staff that he’d fill out a number of lab slips indicating blood and urine samples and that all specimens should be brought to him for immediate testing.

  “Before drawing blood or taking urine, make sure the crewmember’s name and dorm number is on the lab forms, blood vials and urine cups. We’re a team, one of the best medical teams in the fleet. Let’s get out there and do what we do best.”

  The staff moved into the middle of the room then joined hands. As hands broke free, they raised their arms high and shouted out a cheer. It was a show of solidarity.

  Gabrielle and Cameron stood back and watched the departure of the medical staff.

  Cameron smiled. “We have a dedicated team. You’ll see their greatness over time.”

  “I’ve already seen it over and over. They work well together and they’re not hung up on titles or who’s in charge. Both the men and women aren’t afraid to jump into a problem without knowing what they’re dealing with.”

  Cameron nodded. “Great assessment, Gabrielle. I couldn’t have said it better myself.”

  * * *

  Gabrielle was seated on the sofa, thinking about the clinic’s business of the day. Both shifts at the infirmary had become overrun with crewmembers from the same dorm. Everyone had missed lunch and not one person had taken issue with it. The situation had called for undivided attention, and that was exactly how the crew had gone about doing their jobs.

  All blood tests and urine samples had come back negative. X-rays had been negative for TB. White counts were elevated, pointing to signs of infection. They had identified specific bacteria that proved influenza was more than likely the cause. No quarantines had been warranted, and antibiotics had been given to manage the infection.

  Each crewmember was scheduled to return to the clinic for a recheck before the next embarkation in Galveston. The first hours in home port would keep the clinic staff very busy, because everyone had to be medically cleared for each sailing.

  Gabrielle knew the next few days would be hectic, but for now she had to get ready for Marjorie’s party. She dressed in slim black pants with a wide belt and a lovely white top and looked into the mirror to make sure her apparel was appropriate for a party. Marjorie had informed her that a private party would be held in a reserved section of the main club, Paris after Dark.

  There weren’t a huge number of medical staff members, but she thought they’d have a good time. She got along well with the nurses and she and Cameron got along only too well.

  As Gabrielle turned the corner to reach the clinic’s reserved section in the club, she was surprised by a burst of noise and cheering from her coworkers. They yelled “Congratulations on your first cruise” in unison. Lightbulbs flashed, loud clapping thundered, and wolf whistles and boisterous cheering rang out.

  Gabrielle was stunned. As her eyes adjusted to the flashing lights and brightly lit disco ball, she saw a sparkling banner with her name emblazoned in gold lettering. Her hand went up to her heart and tears came to her eyes. Marjorie hadn’t said the party was for her—and she was totally bowled over by it.

  Dressed in black dress slacks and a lightweight white sweater, Cameron came out to meet Gabrielle. As they came face-to-face, he extended his arm to her. “Let me escort you back to our table. You really looked surprised—and you are stunning. I’m glad this party was kept under wraps, since the majority of our surprise events get leaked.”

  As Gabrielle took Cameron’s arm, she looked him over. She laughed when she saw that they wore the same colors. It was as if they had planned it.

  Gabrielle suddenly felt a burst of energy. Her eyes grew wide from the excitement of the moment. “This is unreal. Do all new employees get a party? It’s hard to express myself right now, I feel so honored.”

  “You’re the main focus, but we do include new clinic crewmembers in our surprise gatherings. Their banner is hung a little farther back. You’ll see it when you get closer.”

  “Who planned this?” Gabrielle asked.

  “Marjorie and I put our heads together, because you’re special and we wanted to convey our feelings and appreciation. We’re especially proud of how you’ve handled your first week. Every new clinic crewmember has had one thing or another to complain about, but not you. We haven’t heard you make a single disgruntled remark. That in itself is remarkable.”

  Full of emotion, Gabrielle shook her head. “Why am I not surprised that Marjorie was involved? I’m so moved by the wonderful gesture, Cameron. But I’m only doing the job I was hired to do. I truly appreciate the recognition, and it means a lot to me.”

  “I can see how much it means to you.” Cameron gently squeezed her hand.

  Once they’d reached the back of the room, the staff swarmed Gabrielle. Many reached out to give her a warm hug. She couldn’t stop the tears from streaking down her face. Her coworkers had gone to great lengths to honor her and the new nurses.

  Gabrielle received warm greetings from two clinic doctors she hadn’t worked with but had met during staff meetings. Both men were tall, very handsome, and had supersweet personalities. They were also both single and eligible.

  Dr. Phillip Sumner and Dr. Patrick Patterson were every bit as dedicated to the medical profession as she and Cameron. She was scheduled to work with each physician on the next itinerary, and Gabrielle was thrilled about the upcoming sailing, which included Jamaica.

  Once the greetings and warm hugs were out of the way, Cameron led Gabrielle to the reserved table that had a great view of the dance floor. Gabrielle took pleasure in sizing up the glitzy club that promised a great night of music, dancing and fun.

  Marjorie and Tristan stood side by side in front of the decorated table. The couple warmly embraced the new friend they’d so easily made in Gabrielle.

  Marjorie looked sheepish. “Sorry I duped you, but we really wanted to surprise you.”

  Gabrielle laughed heartily. “Mission accomplished.”

  Marjorie and Tristan escorted her to a nearby table, where a b
eautiful sheet cake iced in yellow and blue sat on a pedestal. Large letters spelling out congratulations, and Gabrielle’s name had been penned on the cake with blue-and-yellow icing. The full sheet cake served beautifully as a centerpiece for an array of delicious looking finger foods. Another sheet cake was decorated with lavender roses and yellow piping, and the names of the three new nurses were written on it.

  “This really is too much,” Gabrielle said excitedly. “The cakes are beautiful. Thank you, guys, so much. I feel extra special, not duped.”

  “You are extra special,” Marjorie said, giving Gabrielle another hug.

  “I second that,” Tristan said.

  Cameron slipped his arm around Gabrielle. “We have a third confirmation here. Do you want to sit down or mingle?”

  Gabrielle smiled. “I should mingle. After all, this is my party, too. The new nurses and I should hang out together for a while.”

  “Joanie, Candi and Carolyn will love it. Enjoy yourself, and I’ll be right here when you get back,” Cameron assured her.

  As Gabrielle walked away from the table, she couldn’t stop smiling. Inside she was quivering and her heart was full. Besides her family, no one had ever thrown her a surprise party or shown her how much she was appreciated after only one week. Her coworkers were extraordinary. If she stayed true to herself, she’d make many friends aboard the ship.

  Cameron’s words from his orientation speech echoed inside her head. We’re all one big happy family. Her eyes glistened with moisture. So true, she thought. She missed her family more and more with each passing day, but she now had a second family to help ease the separation.

  Before Gabrielle could begin mingling, Phillip Sumner took her hand and whirled her onto the dance floor. She was surprised, but she couldn’t embarrass him or herself by turning back. Yet the last place she wanted to be was on an empty dance floor with a colleague she didn’t really know.

  It’s all in fun. This is a party and I’m one of the honorees. Anything could happen.

  * * *

  The look on Cameron’s face wasn’t exactly a happy one. As he watched Gabrielle dancing with Phillip, a jealous streak ripped at his heartstrings. Never before had he experienced anything akin to envy. He didn’t like the way it made him feel, yet he understood these new feelings. The woman he called his friend was so much more than that to him. She had stolen his heart without any effort on her part.

  Rephrase that, pal. You willingly ripped out your heart and donated it to Gabrielle.

  * * *

  The other partygoers clapped, cheered and whistled for the dancing couple. Phillip had some great dance moves, and Gabrielle’s were none too shabby. Her slender body rocked and gyrated to the pulsating rhythms of the blaring music, and it wasn’t long before she just relaxed and let her hair down.

  Gabrielle saw Patrick come onto the dance floor without a partner. When he cut in on Phillip, she blushed from embarrassment. They were the only two people on the dance floor, which meant they were the center of attention. The thought unnerved her, and she hoped Marjorie would rescue her.

  Gabrielle changed partners through four fast-paced songs, then all the ladies in the house rushed onto the dance floor and quickly shooed the men away. After pulling together as a group, they began one of the newest line dances. The music was rocking and the women loved it. As though they’d rehearsed the dance together, they stayed in perfect sync while effortlessly executing the complicated dance steps.

  Gabrielle was so grateful she already knew the steps. Otherwise, she would’ve been mortified at looking clumsy until she’d caught on. She didn’t even think of leaving the floor, since it was a fun dance, as most line dances were. Like the others, Gabrielle had no problem keeping up.

  Songs were constantly spun by the DJ without any noticeable gaps, until a slow song suddenly came through the speakers. Men flocked back to the floor, pairing off with ladies of their choice. Phillip headed straight for Gabrielle, but stiff competition beat him to the punch.

  Cameron brought Gabrielle into his arms, holding her close. “You’re something else,” he whispered into her ear.

  “Want to define that statement for me?” she whispered back. As her lips had come into contact with his ear, she felt a strong physical reaction.

  “I see that you have skills in quite a few areas,” he flirted. “There’s much more to you than meets the eye. I wonder what other areas of expertise you haven’t unleashed on me yet. You sure know your way around the dance floor, and you possess some serious hip action. Some of the men were practically drooling.”

  Gabrielle laughed, deciding not to respond to Cameron’s last comments. He was the only man in the room she’d love to have drooling over her. As for her hips, they’d shake, rattle and roll for him at any given time.

  “Commander, you may never know the vast number of skills I possess. But if you stick around, you might discover more,” she said. “Dr. Gabrielle Grinage is not an open book, and to read and understand my autobiography will take endurance and patience. Think you have what it takes?”

  As usual, when he was around Gabrielle, Cameron’s heart reacted to his ever-growing feelings for her. “The answer is a resounding yes. First off, I’m long on patience. I’ve been referred to as an offspring of father patience. And your story isn’t something I’d have to endure—it’d be my pleasure. I definitely have a strong interest in learning more about the things that fascinate me.”

  Her eyes blinked a few times. “Wow! I’m going to have to drink that in slowly so I can savor every word.”

  Gabrielle’s heart reacted to Cameron the same way his did. Being this close to him was always pleasurable and agonizing at the same time. That’s the way it was when the heart was compromised. Gabrielle realized she had no control whatsoever over the feelings that had taken up residence in her heart. What she felt was strong and undeniable. Serving an eviction notice on her feelings wouldn’t do any good, either. Cameron had cut through her pain and had somehow made her feel whole again.

  With a cordless microphone in her hand, Marjorie stood in the center of the dance floor. “I need your attention for just a moment.” She turned to see if Tristan had been successful at corralling Gabrielle, Joanie, Candi and Carolyn in one spot. He gave her the thumbs-up sign once he had them all together.

  “Thanks to Tristan, we have all our new employees in one place.” She called each of the four women by name. “This is our way of honoring you and welcoming you to our special crew. It has been a pleasure working with each of you on this itinerary. Please join me in giving these ladies a heartfelt welcome aboard.”

  There was thundering applause throughout the club.

  Marjorie tapped the microphone, drawing attention back to her. “One more thing before we let you go back and party the night away. Dr. Grinage, can you please come forward for a special presentation? Dr. Quinn, I’ll need you, too.”

  On rickety legs Gabrielle made it up front and stepped to the left of Marjorie. Cameron crossed the room in a hurried manner, and Marjorie handed him something. Cameron accepted four small packages from Marjorie, and took the microphone and walked over to Gabrielle. He gave her a kiss on each cheek, infusing color into her complexion. He then made the same warm gesture to the nurses.

  Cameron held up a gold anchor on a sparkling gold chain. “Our entire crew presents these gifts to you for your dedicated service and unwavering professionalism. Your willingness to stick with your crew and to help out through thick and thin has endeared all of you to us. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts!”

  Dr. Quinn first circled Gabrielle’s neck with a beautiful dainty gold chain holding an engraved 24-karat gold anchor. Loud cheers and heavy rounds of applause filled the club. “The date on the anchors coincides with your first day at sea. Your crew and I stand behind all of you. Good luck!” Cannon hugged Gabrielle then moved on to the nurses.

  No sooner had Cameron moved away to reclaim his seat, than the line leading up to the honore
es began steadily growing. He wasn’t surprised that his entire crew was in line. They had taken to the ladies like bees to honey, and had frequently expressed to him how much they thoroughly enjoyed working with the new ladies.

  However, for Cameron, Gabrielle was the biggest hit, but it wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen this coming. He’d constantly watched her with crewmembers and passengers.

  Gabrielle had touched the hearts and souls of many in such a short span of time.

  * * *

  Starting to feel the fizz draining from her fizzle, Gabrielle was ready to turn off the lights on the disco ball. If she danced through one more song, fast or slow, it wouldn’t have surprised her if her feet blew up. Her statement about staying at the club only for a short time rang in her ears menacingly. She had lasted a lot longer than she had imagined, but then again, she was an honoree.

  Gabrielle scanned the dance floor, hoping to catch up with Marjorie to tell her she was leaving, but Marjorie was nowhere to be seen. She’d just have to explain it to her on duty tomorrow. It seemed to her that the three honored nurses had also left the club, and in fact, there were very few people still in the reserved section.

  It took what little strength Gabrielle had left to get to the nearest exit. To keep from putting her full weight on her feet, she walked gingerly. As she reached one of the exit doors, she closed her eyes momentarily and smiled. No matter how tired she was, this had been a great night—and she’d been honored in such a lovely way.

  Chapter 7

  The moment Cameron had seen Gabrielle practically dragging herself toward the exit, he began to worry. He wasn’t sure if she was sick or just plain tired from the earlier emergency in the clinic. It had been a long day for his staff, and most of the crewmembers had departed, so he decided to leave the club to see Gabrielle home safely.

  He quickly caught up to her. “Are you okay?”