"Like that title, Getting Naked, lots of possibilities." His glance ran up and down the length of Red's body.
She stifled a giggle.
He stood. "Last chance."
"Nope, I am going to sit here and read and when the muster is over, I'm going to read some more. Do you know where you're supposed to go for the lifeboat drill?"
"Yup, checked it out before breakfast this morning. Catch you later." He waved good-bye and wandered toward the shuffleboard area.
Red grabbed a strawberry and bit into it as she used her other hand to turn on her e-reader. Swallowing the berry and reaching for another, she lost herself in the story until the call for muster interrupted her. She packed and hurried to the Promenade Deck, thankful this cruise didn't insist on wearing life jackets during the drill.
Having been through muster on other cruises, she wandered along like a sheep following the instructions and wishing the whole thing was over. When the drill was over, she hurried back to her spot and was pleased to find no one had claimed it. She settled into the chair, slathered on more sunscreen and turned to chapter six.
Her stomach had just announced it was lunch time when a waiter walked up. "Excuse me, would you like order lunch?" He held out a small menu.
I love cruises. Waited on like I'm a queen. As it should be. Red scanned the menu. "I'll have a Chicken Caesar Salad and a Diet Coke."
A few chapters later, the waiter deposited her meal. Reading and mindlessly munching her salad, she poked the fork into the bowl a few times and came up empty. Shifting her focus from the story to the salad, she found she'd eaten all of it. Picking up her Diet Coke, she continued reading. When she reached The End she leaned back and closed her eyes.
A water droplet landed on her cheek and startled her. She wiped it and opened her eyes. "Welcome back sleepy head." Chopper wiped his hand on his shorts and placed the glass of water on the table.
"Have I been out long?" She looked at her watch and wondered what time she'd fallen asleep.
"I've been here about five minutes." He jumped up. "OK, now that you're awake, I just have to tell you. This song popped into my head and it's driving me crazy."
Red dropped her e-reader into her beach bag and waited for him to continue.
"It's the Red Riding Hood song. I think Sam the Sham and the Prophets sang it. It's from like the mid-sixties."
She shook her head. "Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. And it took you long enough to get there. Most people start cracking jokes within minutes of hearing my name."
"I wasn't focused yesterday. But today, I'm Michael Jackson!" He stepped right and left and snapped his fingers.
"Little Red Riding Hood.
You sure are looking good.
You're everything that a big, bad wolf could want."
He spun around and posed, one arm at his crotch and flung the other up in the air. "Owooooooo!"
Trying to keep a straight face, Red asked, "You aren't going to send in an application for American Idol, are you? Oh, and maybe not for that dance show thing, either."
"What, you don't like my dancin'?" He shook his knees in and out and flapped his arms like a chicken, then made two-handed stirring motions, like he was in front of a large cauldron. "Why are you laughing? I'm just getting started." He leaned forward and jerked up his right hand. "It's called the lawn mower. But, if you do it this way…" He straightened and repeated the pulling motion. "Then it's called the chain saw. Oh. Oh. And now for the big finale. The Moonwalk."
He slid his right foot back and popped his left heel, then slid that foot back. Red had to admit he did a good version of Michael's famous move – until he backed into the waiter and knocked a tray of drinks onto the passengers seated near her.
Trying to catch her breath, Red watched him try to apologize and help wipe the drinks off the annoyed couple. After the waiter told him, for the sixth time, that he could deal with the situation, Chopper took the hint and sat next to Red. "What I came over to ask was, there's a Tango class in about ten minutes and I've always wanted to learn it." In his best Antonio Banderas imitation, he said, "It is the dance of love."
Trying to catch her breath, Red managed to gasp out, "Do you think it's safe?"
"For who?" There was a hint of suspicion in his voice.
"For me, of course."
"I promise I won't step on your feet more than five, eight, ten times tops. Please don't make me beg. I don't want to be some grandmother's tango partner."
She stood, held his hand and said, "I'm all yours."
Thirty minutes later class was over and Chopper had only stepped on her toes seven times, moved in the wrong direction countless times, bumped into other couples five times and had been on the actual beat – once – by accident.
"That was fun. I wasn't too bad was I? Lie if you have to."
She exaggeratedly limped in the direction of the nearest bar and sat on a stool. "I'll have a Slow Screw."
"And I'll have a One Night's Stand." He settled on the stool next to her. "So, to continue my Red Riding Hood theme—"
"You aren't going to sing again?"
"I might. Obviously you're Red Riding Hood. I'm the woodsman, which is funny because that's my name."
"This is me laughing." She took her drink from the bartender and had a sip. "Mmm."
"Your grandmother's here, so all we have to do is find the wolf. And I think I know who it is?" He popped his eyebrows up and down. "The guy who says he's a fashion photographer, you know, Wilhelm Olf."
Red choked on her drink. When she stopped coughing, she said, "You've been out in the hot sun way too long. I think your brain is baked."
Ignoring her sarcasm, he continued, "I'll bet he's one of those guys who goes on cruises and looks for people to rob. He's way too smooth, a Scandinavian last name--Olf and a Latin lover image going on, but he sounds—"
"American. I know." Red began to see some sense in Chopper's ramblings.
"That makes him the bad guy, which is the wolf. Wolf? Look at his name. W. Olf."
Red crinkled her brow in confusion and took another swallow of her Slow Screw.
"Ok, teacher time. Sound out the word – w – olf. Put the sounds together and what do you get?"
"A punch in the nose."
"Wolf. Can you say wolf?" He checked right and left. "I've seen him stalking around the ship, hiding in shadows, watching people."
Rolling her eyes, Red said, "Drink your drink. You've lost your grip on reality and need alcohol."
"Yea, well, when your diamond tiara is missing, don't come running to me."
In her best bored aristocratic voice, Red said, "No one ever brings diamonds on a cruise. Emeralds maybe, but not diamonds." Like I have either. "The ladies would love it if you'd join us for supper tonight."
He gulped his drink. "Meet you in the dining hall in thirty minutes."
Red returned to her cabin, showered, French-braided her hair, applied some make-up and slipped into her red cocktail dress. The back was cut to the waist and the front dove dangerously low. Slipping on a pair of black heels, she checked out her tan lines.
Having only brought one necklace and one pair of earrings, her choice of accessories was limited. She shut the clasp on the gold chain and let it fall close to her cleavage. The big gold hoops rubbed her shoulders. Looking in the mirror, she said aloud. "This is as good as it gets." She spun around and exited the cabin.
Red spotted Chopper dressed in a shirt and dress slacks, very different from the loud Hawaiian shirts and shorts he'd been wearing for the past two days. When he turned his head, a smile broke across his face as he spotted her. "You look great."
"Thank-you. Follow me. I see grandma." After greeting everyone, Red tucked her chair under her, and sat between her grandmother and Chopper.
"Glad you could join us this evening." Beverly winked at Chopper. "Did you get your work done?"
"Yes, got all the tests graded and marks sent off. I'm a free man."
Red started to spe
ak, but stopped herself.
Her grandmother tapped her arm. She turned. "I brought my emerald necklace. I think it would look wonderful on you. Bring out those green eyes of yours. And maybe light a fire in someone's heart."
Red gasped. "I've always loved that necklace."
"A gift from your grandfather." Her smile had a trace of nostalgia in it. "It's in the safe in my cabin."
"What's the code?" Red kept her voice low.
"That day."
Red closed her eyes and tried to stop the memory of that horrible day. The day forever burned in the memory of the Hood women.
Sara handed her the cabin key, Red put a hand on Chopper's shoulder. "I'm just going to get something. I'll be right back."
Entering her grandmother's cabin, she could smell a trace of perfume. It took her back to when she was a little girl being hugged and smelling the fragrance on her grandmother's wool sweaters or silk blouses. It was a scent that reminded her of family love.
Pressing the buttons, 0,2,1,4, she waited for the safe to unlock. Nothing. She reversed the numbers, 1,4,0,2. Click. It released. She opened the door and pulled out a black velvet covered jewelry box. Holding her breath, she lifted the lid and gasped at the beauty that lay on the dark cloth, brilliant emeralds strung together with gleaming gold. She laid the box on the dresser, and with trembling fingers replaced her jewelry with her grandmother's gorgeous necklace and earrings. She smiled at how they enhanced the color of her eyes.
As she walked back to the dining hall, her hand rested on the emeralds. With my luck the clasp'll break and they'll fly off into the ocean.
Whew, made it back. She walked over to the table.
Chopper's grin spread from ear to ear. "Wow, look at you. They're beautiful."
Dinner was filled with good conversation and great food. Red made three laps around the dessert table and returned with a Crème Brûlée, Chocolate Mousse and a vow to hit the gym the next morning.
When the Conductor announced the orchestra would be playing a Tango, Chopper jumped up and held out his hand.
"Are you sure?" Red asked.
"I practiced in my cabin before supper." He escorted her to the edge of the dance floor, then recited, "Stand facing your partner – that's you. Place your right arm on her lower back. So, this goes here. Weight on the balls of your feet. I didn't know my feet had balls."
Red dramatically rolled her eyes.
He continued, "Extend your left arm up and to the side, grasping your partner's hand. No, not your left arm, my left arm. Come on, you know you have to cut me a break."
"Sorry."
"You should actually sound apologetic when you say that."
She giggled. "Sorry."
"Now for the hard part, step forward with the left, step forward with the right, place the…oh, crap the music's starting." Chopper took a big breath, grasped Red and stepped forward with his right. "Crap. Crap. Crap. Let's try this again."
Red tapped his leg. "This one's your left."
"Little Miss Brainiac. I got it this time." He tried to catch the beat of the music. "One, two, three, go."
Dancing movement was achieved. Awkward and slightly off beat, Red and Chopper tangoed their way around the dance floor. He managed to avoid not stepping on her toes or bumping into other couples. Red had just begun to relax in his arms, when he stumbled and landed on the floor.
"Are you ok?" She stuck out a hand to help him stand.
"Totally humiliated, but I think so." He grabbed her outstretched hand pulled himself up, yelped and dropped back to the floor. "On second thought, I think my ankle's hurt." Two waiters raced over to assist him. "No. I got it." He stood and hobbled toward the exit. Red followed. "No, you stay here. I'm going to limp to the ship's clinic and then drown my humiliation in booze in my—" The door swung shut.
A red rose was presented to her. Looking up, Red's eyes met Will's gaze. "May I have this Tango?"
Something about the sexually enticing danger of a predator made her nod.
"Place the rose in your mouth."
She started to protest.
"The thorns have been removed. I would not risk pricking those luscious lips. When I dip you, we will pass the rose between us."
Why is it suddenly so hot in here? Did someone turn off the air conditioning? And how the hell am I suppose to pass him the rose, if he's holding my hands?
Given no time to ponder, she found herself skillfully pulled close to him and guided effortlessly--and on the beat--around the dance floor. His movements were clean and precise. "Your necklace is half as beautiful as you," he whispered in her ear. "Against your white skin, the jewels look like kisses from an angel."
He stepped back, spun her and dropped her into a deep dip. Bending down his mouth neared hers. Their lips met. A moan escaped her as the rose passed from her lips to his. For the brief moment that the tips of their tongues met, Red felt her body tingle with desire.
Lifting her out of the dip, Will and Red continued dancing. As the final chords sounded, he spun and dipped her. With tongue teasing and soft sighs, the rose was passed back to her. He straightened up, held out his arm and escorted her to her seat. Halfway back, she remembered the rose, took it from her mouth and held it in her hand.
"You dance so wonderfully, Will," said Maggie.
Without taking his gaze from Red's, he said, "The way to a woman's heart."
Trying to decide whether to faint or rip his clothes off, Red forced herself to sit and reminded herself to breathe.
"Care to join us?" Sara asked.
"I am afraid I must leave." He lifted Red's hand and brushed his lips across the back. In a moment he was gone.
Red looked at the rose. Was he playing with her heart? Like a cat toys with a mouse? How could he be so cruel? Maybe Chopper was right. Will was a wolf. A wolf in sheep's clothing. Not to be trusted.
She fought back the tears and when she was calmer, she raised her head. "I'm going to bed. Grandma, do you want this now?" She reached up to remove an earring.
"No. Go put them back in my safe. Here's my key card."
Red hesitantly reached for the card. "But you won't be able to get into your room."
Sara held out a second card. "I lost my card earlier. They gave me a replacement and then I found it. Exactly where I thought I'd left it. Strange. So now I have two. Go put that away, leave the card on the dresser and be off to bed. And don't worry love, it'll be alright."
Red kissed her grandmother's cheek. "I love you."
"I love you too. Good night."
She moved as if in a fog, not paying attention to whom she passed or where she was, her mind struggling with the confusion of the evening. Chopper, so like a puppy. Will, definitely the wolf. Chopper makes me laugh. Will makes me wet.
She stopped in front of cabin door 1231, shook her head and remembered why she was there. Slipping the key card into the lock, she waited for green light. Turning the handle, she entered. Red placed the card on the dresser next to the jewelry box and reached up to unclasp the necklace. A rustling sound made her turn. "What are you doing here?"
Everything went black.
Chapter Five
Red moaned and rubbed her forehead. Her eyes briefly fluttered open. It was dark. She was uncomfortable and cold. Her wrists hurt and--wow--did she have a headache. She adjusted her position. That didn't help. Whatever she was lying on felt cold and hard. Had she fallen out of bed? Without answering her question, Red drifted off to sleep.
The pain in her shoulder woke her. She tried to stretch and yawn, but couldn't seem to move. What the…? She opened her eyes and sat up. Her head spun, her stomach clenched as she fought the urge to throw up. Where the hell am I? Crap my head hurts. Why is it so friggin' dark?
She reached out with her right hand to grope around to try and discover where she was, but her left hand followed her right. Puzzled, she moved her left hand back to her side and her right hand moved along with it. Thinking through the ache in her head, it--figurati
vely--hit her. My hands are tied? The cramping in her legs made her try and shift positions. My legs are tied? She wiggled herself up to a kneeling position and felt around in the darkness. Shelves. Cool to the touch. Metal. Bottles. Plastic. She unscrewed a cap and sniffed. Cleaning stuff. Her eyes watered. Eww, industrial strength.
Reaching forward, she placed the palms of her hands on the edge of a shelf, touched it and moved a bit to the left. She worked her way around, patting the shelves and trying to delineate her space. Her hands slid across a smooth surface. Door. They touched another shelf. I'm in a closet. What the hell am I doing in a closet? How drunk did I get last night?
Rolling off her knees until her butt hit the floor, Red wiggled forward until she reached the door. Reaching up with both hands, she grasped the handle and turned. No joy, it was locked. Ok, think. For some unknown reason I am tied up in a closet and my head friggin' hurts! She sat in the dark. At some point isn't some brilliant idea supposed to come to me about how to get out of here? No ideas pushed their way through the pain in her head.
She yawned. I'll just have a little nap and maybe my head'll clear.
The images in her dreams were blurred and disconnected. A puppy. Her grandmother. Green shiny stones. Dark eyes staring. A rose. Pain. Lips pressed against hers. Music. The smell of sunscreen. The smell of a man. A growling wolf.
Her eyes opened. Damn. Wanted to wake up in my room. Sliding around, she sat up and leaned against the smooth surface of the door. Mom sent me on a cruise. Oh, I'm on a ship. It's a closet in a ship. Ok, we're getting somewhere. She sent me to look after grandma. Grandma gave me her emerald necklace. I danced with Chopper. And Will. Then I wanted to go to bed. I was in Grandma's cabin. Why? The necklace! Her hand reached for her neck. Damn it! He took it. The bastard.
So why was he in grandma's room? He just wanted the necklace. He wasn't interested in me. How could I have been so stupid? She banged the back of her head on the door. Ow! Fuck. Stupid. She paused and fought the nausea for the second time. Gawd, my brains must be mush. Get someone's attention, pound on the damn door. She wriggled over to a shelf, got back up on her knees and pawed about in the darkness, hoping to find something hard enough to bang on the door. Her hand passed over cloth, soft plastic bottles and stacks of paper. Nothing felt hard enough to hit with. The side of her hand touched a harder plastic. She ran her fingers up and down it, gripped it and crawled back to the door.
Sexy Red Hood Page 4