“What about JT’s proposal?” Andrea asked Jordan.
“JT planned a romantic get-away to Mackinac Island at the Grand Hotel,” Jordan said, smiling shyly over at him. “After a day of riding bikes and exploring the island, he filled the Jacuzzi tub with lots of bubbles and sprinkled rose petals over the floor. He had a bottle of champagne with two glasses already poured and waiting.” She covered her sudden giggle with her hand. “I almost swallowed my ring!”
“You weren’t supposed to gulp it down, Jordan!” JT chastised.
“I know, honey. I almost ruined your perfectly laid out plans,” she soothed, rubbing her hand on his cheek. “But it was still wonderful. I said yes, didn’t I?”
“Yes,” he sighed and gave her a peck on the lips.
“You guys are making me sweat it out,” Royce said. “And here I thought I had it in the bag.”
Madalyn elbowed him in the ribs. “And it’s still not over. Andrea has to tell us about Paul’s proposal.”
“Remember how I told you that Paul and I met on the football field of our high school?” Andrea said. “We go back for the homecoming game every year. The high school band is amazing and puts on a fantastic half-time show. They’ve won all kinds of competitions.”
Paul hid behind his hands. “This is so embarrassing. Do we have to do this?”
“You weren’t embarrassed when it happened,” she said, pulling his hands down. “So right after the band played "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" by Stevie Wonder, the cheerleaders unfurled a huge banner that said ‘You’re the Sunshine of My Life Andrea—Please say YES!’ I turned to Paul in shock. He got down on one knee in the stands and asked me to marry him. The crowd was chanting ‘say yes, say yes’. So of course I had to say yes.”
“If I had known that would happen,” Paul said, “I would’ve proposed some other way.”
“It was sweet and I loved it,” Andrea said. “I wouldn’t have changed it for the world.”
“I loved all of the proposals,” Madalyn sighed. “They’re all winners.”
“Looks like you guys get to keep your twenty bucks,” Royce said as Dale approached the table with their meals.
Madalyn recognized the sweet fragrance of the béarnaise sauce. The filet mignon was cooked to perfection, with a touch of pink visible. Her knife cut through the meat like butter and the moment she bit into it, it melted in her mouth. The texture was smooth and the flavor complex. She closed her eyes with each bite and sighed in guilty pleasure. She looked over at Royce and smiled as he wiped away the butter dripping down his chin from the green beans.
He finished the last of dessert and turned to her, gently laying his head on her shoulder. “I couldn’t eat another bite,” he moaned. “Why do I do this to myself night after night?” He sat up and rested his hands on his stomach.
“Need to unbutton your pants?” Madalyn asked, giggling. She was glad she had only nibbled off his dessert or she would be feeling overstuffed as well.
“Do I ever.”
“Royce,” Madalyn said, “I hear the entertainment begins in about an hour.”
“Well,” he said, “we certainly don’t want to miss that!” Pushing back his chair, he stood up and held out his hand to her. They wished everyone a good evening and walked hand in hand back to her stateroom.
Chapter Ten – Getting To Know You
Madalyn gazed in wonder at the sunlight streaming through a hole in the massive rock formations surrounding them. Royce wrapped his arms around her, the warm ocean water gently lapping against their hips. It was so clear, she could see straight down to their feet.
“What a hidden treasure,” she said, shifting her gaze to Royce. “I’ve never heard of the Baths of Virgin Gorda before. It’s so peaceful.”
“We need to get you out more often, Mrs. Spencer,” Royce joked, smiling down at her.
“Is that so, Mr. Spencer?” she said, listening to the sound of his surname rolling off her tongue. They were alone for the moment in this little piece of heaven so she could fantasize all she wanted about being Royce’s wife.
“Where would you take me?”
He cradled her face in his hand. “Well, if you think this is a hidden treasure, we’d have to go see the Puerto Princesa Underground River in the Philippines. The pictures are amazing, though I’ve never been.”
“Never heard of it.”
“Have you been to any of the national parks in the US?”
“No. My family didn’t leave the Detroit area,” Madalyn sighed. “My parents had the bakery and three young girls to feed. There wasn’t much time or money for travel. We occasionally enjoyed short weekend camping trips.”
“Then I’d suggest starting with Yosemite or the Grand Canyon.”
“Have you been?” Madalyn asked. She was hungry to hear about his life.
“Yes,” Royce said. “My father was an advocate of nature. We traveled all over the world each summer when I was a child, visiting the natural wonders. He always said when you’re on vacation, you shut off the world and live the experience, really take it all in.”
“Sounds like you were very fortunate to have such a generous father.”
“True,” he said and chuckled. “But don’t get the wrong idea. My father didn’t raise spoiled brats. I cut a lot of lawns in my teenage years. He taught us early on that you have to work hard in life to earn the right to enjoy nature.”
Madalyn smiled, “He sounds a lot like my father. There were no little princesses running around our house. We all helped out in the bakery at one point or another.”
“Of course I didn’t appreciate the opportunities my father gave me at the time,” Royce admitted. “But as I grew older, I learned to appreciate our trips more. Now I look back on them fondly and see them for the treasures they were. If he was here today, I’m sure he’d still be traveling each summer. He always made the time for vacation and he knew how to disconnect from work.”
"Looks like it rubbed off on you," she said, laying her head on his chest. Madalyn hesitated a moment, uncertain if she should ask what was really on her mind. “How did your father die, Royce?”
He stiffened for a fraction of a second.
“It’s okay,” she soothed, “we don’t need to talk about it.”
“No,” he said, “it’s fine. I think my father would’ve liked you, Madalyn. He had a strong sense of right and wrong too.” He gave her a quick squeeze. “My father was killed in a freak incident five years ago. He left the office late one evening and was accosted by a homeless person. Multiple stab wounds in the chest.”
Madalyn couldn’t suppress her horrified gasp. “Oh, my gosh! That’s horrible and senseless!” She pulled away to look up at Royce, caressing his cheek. Her heart ached at the pain he must have gone through—was still going through—at such a loss. Madalyn didn’t like to think about the day her parents would no longer grace the earth. It was impossible to imagine.
He leaned into her hand, nuzzling it while he closed his eyes and spoke. “No worse than the shootings at the Batman premiere in Aurora Colorado, or the Sandy Hook Elementary school in Connecticut. The homeless man that killed my father suffered from a delusional disorder. He claimed that my father was after him, intending to kill him and take his home and family.”
A tear streamed down her face. “I’m so sorry, baby.”
Royce wiped it away with his finger. “His home was a cardboard box in a nearby alley. His wife had left him two years before.”
“How do you move on from something like that, Royce? It’s devastating to lose a loved one to old age, but under these circumstances, it unconscionable. Please tell me he’s in jail.”
“No,” he said, grabbing her hand and leading her back out onto the beach to sit down on their towels and soak in the soothing, hot sun. “He’s in a mental institution. My father wouldn’t have wanted me to seek revenge. He would’ve wanted to find a cure. And that’s what I’ve been doing for the past five years.”
“You�
�re a better person than me,” Madalyn said, turning on her side and propping her head on her hand to watch him. “I’d want to toast the son-of-a-bitch!”
The corner of Royce’s mouth twitched. “Believe me, I wanted nothing more than to bury the guy at first. But the more I researched, the more I became convinced that we needed to find a cure. There are too many similar stories in the news. These people are mentally ill and we need to do something to cure them. Keeping weapons out of their hands is useless if you don’t cure the sickness in their head.”
Madalyn sat upright, legs folded Indian style, listening intently to him. “Is that possible, Royce?”
“Anything is possible. The trick is finding a formula that works without having too many side effects, or that does more harm than good. Have you heard the side effect warnings of prescription drugs? We’re close to having a viable medication that uses more natural ingredients.”
Madalyn sat and watch Royce in awe. He was so passionate and driven to change the world. She had no doubt he would succeed at whatever he endeavored.
“Have you ever wanted something so bad, you were willing to do whatever it took to get it?” he asked, raising a brow at her.
Madalyn nodded her head. “It’s not a fair comparison, but that’s how I felt about going to college. My parents couldn’t afford much. I had to work hard for an academic scholarship and I endlessly researched grants.”
Royce buried his toes in the warm sand and sat hunched over with his forearms resting on his bended knees. “I admire your tenacity, Madalyn. We’ve had two encouraging clinical trials, but the FDA agent is dragging his feet. The process is frustrating, but I know we’ll get there in the end.”
“I’m sure you will, Royce,” she said, laying her head on his shoulder. She felt him turn his face towards her. She lifted her head and smiled at him. It was time for another burning question.
“Tell me why you’ve never been engaged.”
His chest rumbled from his deep chuckle. “You’re so greedy for information today, Mrs. Spencer. How could I never have been engaged if I’m married to you?”
“Nice try, but I’m not buying it. I want to know how a gorgeous and humorous man like you avoids marriage. I can’t imagine a single woman alive who would not love to be on the receiving end of a proposal from you.”
He lifted his right brow at her statement, causing her heart to beat frantically in her chest. Had she perhaps revealed a little too much of her feelings in her eagerness to learn more about him?
“It’s simple really,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “I haven’t found the woman I could envision waking up to every single morning. I set a high bar early on in life for marriage. My parents were passionate about each other and were the perfect role models. I aspire to what they had. Why settle?”
“Why indeed?”
Passionate. Madalyn couldn’t agree more. Passion had definitely been missing from her relationship with Charles. Truth be told, her relationship with Charles had mirrored her own parents’ relationship—quiet and respectful. It was all Madalyn had ever known. Until now. And she much preferred passionate.
“I think we better pack up, baby,” Royce said. “The ferry heads back to St. Thomas in about 30 minutes. We have just enough time to gather our things and get there. I’m starving! Let’s grab a bite to eat in town.”
• • •
They stumbled across Greengos Caribbean Cantina in Charlotte Amalie and ducked inside. The skeleton décor, dark wood beams, and stone walls lent it a medieval flare. Madalyn sat in the high-back wooden chair and perused the menu, which featured southwestern, Soncran-style Mexican seafood.
“Looks like we need to try the tequila,” Royce said and gestured to the wall covered in various bottles of tequila and rum—each a different size and shape.
Madalyn inhaled deeply. “And taste the food. It smells delicious.”
A waiter approached them and set down chips with homemade salsa, ready to take their order. He was a small, friendly looking man with dark olive skin and black hair cropped short.
Madalyn ordered four shots of tequila and two Coronas, and giggled at Royce’s wide-eyed stare. Hadn’t he said they needed to try the tequila? He ordered a wet burrito and quesadilla for them to share.
Royce turned to Madalyn with a mischievous grin. “The adult comedy show is tonight. I thought we could find the gang and head over together. What do you say?”
“Four more tequilas, please,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “Cool. I stand ready to be enlightened.”
Royce leaned forward and dug into the chips and salsa. “I love how open you are to try new things. We have to organize that Euchre tournament for tomorrow. I was thinking we could search for a few more couples. Make it high stakes?”
Madalyn grabbed a chip and bit off the edge. “How much are you thinking?”
“One hundred bucks per couple,” he said. “If we start off with eight teams, we’ll have an eight hundred dollar pot. That’s almost as good as winning bingo but with much better odds.”
“Are you any good at Euchre?” she asked. Madalyn wasn’t a fan of wasting her hard-earned money.
Royce laughed. “You’re such a drain on my ego, Madalyn.”
She giggled. “Someone has to keep it in check. Are you paying the ante?”
“Always,” he said, winking at her.
“Then, great idea!”
The waiter returned with their drinks and set a bowl of sliced limes down along with the guacamole. “Enjoy!”
Madalyn pulled a shot towards her and pushed one to Royce. “To those we have loved and lost, may they always look down upon us and guide us.” She tipped her head back and let the hot liquid seep into her bones.
“Hear, hear,” Royce said, downing his shot and chasing it with his beer as he grabbed the second shot and toasted. “Here’s to an outrageously gorgeous spouse with a loving heart and hot tongue.”
“And great sense of humor,” she interjected. “I can drink to that.”
Madalyn shuddered when the second shot slid down her throat, leaving a burning trail in its wake. She immediately felt the effect of the two shots. Her insides warmed up and tingled, making her bold. There was still so much she wanted to know about Royce.
“Do you have a close relationship with your brother?” Madalyn asked. She reached for a chip and loaded it up with guacamole. It tasted rich and creamy, with just the right amount of tomato and onion.
“I’m not sure I’d use that term,” Royce said, pursing his lips. “My brother is six years younger, so growing up, we hung out with different crowds. We seemed to grow closer after he graduated from college and joined the family business. But after my father died, he distanced himself from me and our mother.”
Royce downed the last of his beer. “I guess it was his way of dealing with my father’s death.”
“But he offered up the Lavender Lady to you,” Madalyn pointed out. “You must still talk and hang out occasionally.”
“We work together,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “He’s the head of the research department, so of course I see him regularly. But outside of work, we don’t hang out much.”
Madalyn’s brow cocked up in challenge. “Does he really have a daughter?”
Royce laughed and flashed a smile. “Yes, he does! Her name is Madison. She’s a sweet girl.” He fished through his wallet and pulled out a picture of them sitting cheek to cheek next to a birthday cake. “This was her 10th birthday party.”
“She has your dark, wavy hair,” Madalyn said delighted. “She’s beautiful.”
“It’s my mom’s hair,” he said. “God help my brother when she grows older. He’ll be fighting off the boys.” Royce smiled, gazing at the picture. “I feel sad for Madison. Her parents divorced when she was a toddler. Mark met her mother, Angela, in college, and she got pregnant very young. They tried to make it work, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
“Did you really take her to the Carley Rae Jepson conc
ert?” she teased.
“Yes, that story was true,” Royce said. “Do I look like the kind of guy that listens to Carley Rae Jepson? I try to take my niece out once every other month.”
Madalyn sighed. Royce was so sweet.
He reached for a chip and guacamole, stuffing his mouth with the rich and creamy mixture and then washed it down with a sip of beer. “It was an unfortunate coincidence that Jennie picked up on the connection of my proposal to the song. I had to throw her off my scent with my joke about having the song commissioned for you. I told you telling lies can be a tricky business.”
Madalyn drank her beer and giggled. “But you’re a natural at it. I can’t believe how quickly you responded to her comment. I would never know you are full of shit if I wasn’t in on it.”
“Hey, I’m a motivated guy,” he said, smiling at her. “I’ve a wife to please you know. Happy wife equals happy husband.”
“Oh, yes,” she said, digging into the food that the waiter set down in front of her. “I’ve heard of a similar saying before. But I seem to recall that you promised more than just making me happy. You promised to rock my world!”
“And so I did,” he laughed, bringing a bite of his quesadilla to his mouth. “I’ll have to get right to work once we get back to the ship.”
Madalyn couldn’t remember another time when she had cleared her plate so fast.
• • •
“Do we have to go?” Madalyn whined. She lay face down on the bed.
Royce whacked her bottom and then rubbed it to take out the sting. He bent over and kissed the bright pink spot for good measure.
“Hmm … ” she groaned. “Do it again.”
“Get up,” he laughed. “There are other lessons to be learned tonight. We have to go meet the gang at the comedy show. You don’t want to miss this.”
“No,” she clarified, “you don’t want to miss this. I’m sure it will give you lots of ammunition for teasing me in the future. I’m only thankful they’ll dim the lights so you won’t be able to see the many shades of red my virgin ears will turn.”
Little White Lies Page 12