Waves of Deception (Samantha Rite Series Book 1)

by Hope Callaghan

  In the main part of the cabin were two twin beds. A mini sofa and glass coffee table were tucked into the corner on one wall. On the other side was a desk and chair. Just beyond the beds was a sliding glass door that led out to the balcony. She popped her head out the door to look around. It wasn’t very big – just large enough to hold two chairs and a little round table.

  Wow! I’m not sure Debbie and I would have survived each other if we had to stay in such a small room together for a week!

  After a few more minutes of inspecting the room, she decided it wasn’t so bad after all. It had plenty of storage and how much time was she really going to spend in her room anyways?

  ********

  Frowning, Lee squinted up at the massive cruise ship. Forgot my darned sunglasses.

  He probably forgot more than that. Everything he brought (you couldn’t really call it packing) was shoved into the backpack he was carrying.

  He’d had approximately 24 hours to arrange a flight, find a hotel and book a cabin on this ship. He was lucky he’d even remembered his passport. Never one for spontaneity, his frown deepened.

  No sense in dwelling on something you can’t change. Lee sighed deeply as he made his way into the cruise terminal.

  ********

  Sam spent the rest of her day attending the mandatory muster drill and working out her new dining arrangements since she was now cruising by herself.

  The maître d’ convinced her to join a large group for dinner. He patted her hand. “You will enjoy dining with others. No one should eat alone.” Secretly, she decided she would try it but if it didn’t work out, she wouldn’t go back.

  After finalizing all her changes on board, Sam ordered a Virgin Pina Colada at the bar on the Lido deck and walked over to the railing for the ship’s sail away. As the ship drifted away from the dock, Sam felt all her tension and anxiety disappear. She vowed to truly enjoy this trip, to try new things and maybe even make some new friends.

  She stood at the railing long enough to catch a glimpse of popular South Beach. She scowled as she thought of Anthony. She shook her head. He had no place here – on her vacation!

  Now was a good time to explore what would be her home for the next week. The main show lounge was grand – a soaring two-story theatre with a large stage. On closer inspection, she noticed it even had an orchestra pit!

  Next, she discovered what surely must be the most popular place on the ship. It was a long and expansive stretch of open area lined with shops and restaurants from one end to the other. There was even an ice cream shop with a wine bar next door. It reminded her of a small town main street – only indoors! Large groups of people were swarming about. It seemed to be a favorite hangout, especially with the kids onboard.

  The spa and gym rounded out her list of places where she planned to spend some time. She scoped out the gym and then wandered over to the spa which was right beside it.

  There was a pile of brochures laying on a table outside the door. She reached over and picked one up. There were lots of different services – and prices. She took a closer look. The list included a seaweed massage, hot oil and warm stone therapy, detox…..

  “Can I put you down for a massage?”

  Startled, Sam looked up to see a smiling dark-haired lady. She shook her head. “I-I’m just not sure yet.” She folded the price sheet and tucked it into her front pocket.

  “I’m going to take this with me and come back later…when I’m ready to book,” she finished. Truthfully, she had never been to a spa before. It was a bit intimidating and a little overwhelming.

  On the way back to her cabin she stumbled upon the Solarium. Excitedly, she looked around. It was so quiet and peaceful – the complete opposite of the Lido deck. An adults-only retreat with glass walls and a retractable glass roof covered the small pool. It reminded Sam of a luxury hotel pool, complete with comfy-looking deck furniture, a bubbling fountain, tropical plants and some interesting works of art. The perfect spot to spend an afternoon reading!

  She made a mental note of its location. I’m definitely coming back here!

  Her quick tour complete, she headed back to her cabin. Now what to do about dinner? Eating with strangers did not sound the least bit appealing.

  She impulsively decided to order room service. After a quick glance at the limited menu, she settled on a tossed salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette, Honey Sesame Chicken Wings and the Seared Chicken Breast with sundried tomato pesto. Won’t hurt to splurge a little since I only had a salad for lunch.

  When her dinner arrived, she carefully carried the tray out onto the balcony. Dining al fresco with magnificent views of the ocean. What could be better?

  By the time she finished eating, it was after 9. She changed into her pajamas and crawled into her very comfy bed. Within minutes, she was sound asleep.

  Chapter 5

  Sam slowly opened her eyes. It was pitch black and her bed was shaking – bump-bump-bump. She lay there for a moment, trying to figure out what was making her bed vibrate. Her foggy brain registered there was no tick-tock of her old wall clock and Duke was not laying on top of her, waiting to take his morning jaunt to the backyard.

  Suddenly, it dawned on her that this was the first full day of her great adventure. She was on a cruise! Daylight was burning - time to get up and finish exploring the ship!

  She threw back the covers and scrambled out of bed. Minutes later, she was standing in the shower, warm water cascading over her head. The shower was tiny but it did the trick. Afterwards, she pulled on a pair of new denim shorts and bright turquoise button down blouse. She ran a comb through her hair and was ready to head up to the Lido deck for a much needed cup of coffee.

  Although it was only 7:30, there were large groups of people crowding around, waiting in long lines to reach the impressive breakfast buffet.

  She was in no mood to join the masses but couldn’t resist glancing at the offerings as she passed by. There were almost too many choices. Any kind of bread or roll you could possibly imagine followed by fresh fruit, thinly sliced layers of cheese and deli meat. Next in line were mounds of piping hot scrambled eggs, crispy piles of bacon, a huge tray brimming with sausage links, baskets full of buttery toast, stacks of pancakes and waffles followed by a variety of pastries.

  She paused for a second as she passed by the cream cheese pastries. They looked so decadent - and so fattening. As if that wasn’t enough, they had an omelet station – made to order eggs. Too many choices in Sam’s opinion. And too many calories.

  Instead, she grabbed a bagel and a bowl of sliced fruit. On the way back out, she spied the coffee machines. Her breakfast now complete, she headed out to the open deck and settled into a padded lounge chair overlooking the vast ocean. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. She leaned back in her comfy chair. Ahhh, serenity.

  She thoughtfully chewed on her Cinnamon raisin bagel. Eating alone wasn’t that bad. Fresh ocean air must make you extra hungry. Sam quickly devoured her breakfast and was ready to start her day.

  Hopping out of the chair, she made a hasty decision to head up to the sports deck for a brisk walk around the jogging track. If she kept eating like this, she would definitely need to fit in some exercise every day.

  The ocean view was inspiring and Sam quickly finished her first lap around the track when she noticed a man sitting on a bench off to the side. As she passed by him, the hair on the back of her neck stood up. He was studying her. Remembering the creep that was stalking her in the hotel the other night, she wasn’t about to take any chances. Up ahead was a set of steps leading down to a lower deck and without hesitation, she ran down them, putting as much distance as possible between her and the staring stranger.

  It took less than a minute for Sam to decide what to do next. She strode back to her cabin, grabbed one of her books, a pair of sunglasses and hat and headed up the stairs to enjoy the sea air and sunshine. She couldn’t wait to start her new book.

  As she rounded the c
orner of the Solarium in search of what she hoped would be a quiet reading spot, she nearly collided with someone coming from the opposite direction.

  She took a step back and mumbled an apology. When she looked up, she realized she was face-to-face with the staring stranger from the jogging track.

  Up close, he was well over six feet tall – and drop-dead gorgeous. His hair was jet black and wavy. He had a chiseled jaw and the most beautiful blue eyes she’d ever seen. That were now focusing right on her.

  Definitely a hottie. Her face turned red. As if reading her thoughts, he leaned back and shoved his hands into his pants pockets. It was obvious he was well aware of his effect on women.

  Sam absentmindedly chewed on her bottom lip as she tugged on the edge of her blouse.

  Noting her obvious discomfort, he took a step back but not far enough to get rid of that same odd sensation from earlier.

  A slow grin spread wide across his face. This encounter did not make him the least bit nervous. He was actually enjoying it - he was laughing at her!

  Sam regained her composure as she crossed her arms and snapped, “Watch where you’re going!” This only made the beautiful stranger smile even bigger!

  Her eyebrows knit together, her lips tightened into a thin line. “If you’re going to keep looking at me with that ridiculous smile on your face, you can at least tell me what your name is!” She blurted out.

  Without a moment’s hesitation, the blue-eyed dream murmured, “Michel. Michel Lebeau. I smile because the heavens are smiling down on me at this moment. To meet such a beautiful lady on my first day.”

  Oh no! Not only was he gorgeous, he had a sexy French accent! Clutching her bag tighter, Sam took a step back. “OK Michel. Uh…I would love to stand here and chat but I’m running late to meet someone.”

  Michel’s face fell but he quickly recovered. “Perhaps we will cross paths again. If you are free later – before dinner…” His voice trailed off, not sure how she would react to another encounter.

  It was too late. He was talking to thin air. Sam had already turned around and walked back in the direction she just came from.

  Ahh… if only he could hear the conversation she was now having with herself. What is wrong with you? A handsome stranger shows an interest in you and you practically bolt.

  With a mental scolding not to be so paranoid, she once again set out to explore the ship and figure out what to do to pass the time until dinner. What she really wanted to do was find a quiet spot and read but she couldn’t go back to the Solarium now and chance another run in.

  Chapter 6

  Hours later, Sam stood in front of the mirror, dressed for dinner. She was having another one of those I-can’t-believe-you’re-doing-this-conversations with herself. Why on earth did I let the maître d’ talk me into eating with a bunch of strangers? Her shoulders hunched over in a sign of defeat. She grabbed her sweater and slowly shuffled to the door. Looking at her, one would have thought she was heading to some unimaginable torture.

  Thankfully, all her fears were unfounded and Sam ended up having a wonderful evening. She thoroughly enjoyed all of her dinner companions. Well almost all of them.

  First, there was Jimmy and Vivian, a thirty-something couple from Southern California with two young children they left at home. They loved to talk and it didn’t take long to find out they were on the cruise, celebrating their five-year wedding anniversary.

  Next were Beth and Emily, a mother and daughter from Orlando, Florida. They were also celebrating. Emily had just graduated from nursing school.

  Last but not least was Lee. He was on the cruise by himself. There was no wedding ring so Sam assumed he was single. Of course, you never could tell these days – there were so many cheaters out there . . . she immediately thought of Anthony.

  Lee was the most interesting one at the table and the one who spoke the least. Sam found him extremely attractive with his short blonde hair and piercing green eyes. Even though he was sitting down, Sam could tell he was quite tall.

  He was wearing a collared polo shirt with a tattoo peeking out from under the edge of his right sleeve. She couldn’t quite make out the shape and didn’t want to make it obvious that she was trying to see it. Bulging muscles were accentuated by his dark toned and tanned arms. He didn’t look like the type to work outside. Whatever he did, he obviously worked at keeping himself in very good shape!

  Admittedly, she was curious as to why such an incredibly good-looking man would be on a cruise by himself.

  The dinner started out uneventfully once everyone was seated – well, Sam thought it was everyone. Her first clue should have been the two empty chairs.

  The waiters, Sutali and Alberto, quickly brought everyone’s drink order. Sutali glanced around the table. “Will Miss Gabby and Miss Julia be joining us tonight?”

  The group started shaking their heads. With that answer, Alberto shrugged his shoulders and began taking dinner orders.

  “WHOA!” “WAIT a minute! Y’all can’t eat without us!” Everyone at the table looked up. Shimmying towards them was a sight to behold. Gaudy was the first word that popped into Sam’s head. A slightly roundish bundle of a woman, squeezed into a teensy-weensy neon lime green Spandex dress was heading towards them.

  The woman couldn’t have been more than 5 feet tall but the 6” silver glitter Stiletto heels gave her a little boost. She was trying to move quickly but those heels were not cooperating and her ankles wobbled precariously with every step she took.

  When she finally reached the table, an up- close encounter revealed flaming red hair and a mass of curls that seemed to shoot out in every direction possible.

  By now, Sam was able to get a good look at her outlandish outfit. The tight, skimpy dress was accentuated by a deep V-neck and short, short hemline. She had on more make-up than Sam would ever dare to wear. Her bright red lipstick was almost the same color as her hair.

  Sutali pulled out her chair and motioned for her to sit. “Glad you could make it, Miss Gabby.”

  He pulled out the chair next to her. “Nice to see you, too, Miss Julia.”

  With Gabby’s overpowering presence, it was easy to overlook her companion, a plump brunette wearing bookish glasses. She was dressed a whole lot more conservatively in a printed skirt, pink top and white sweater.

  Gabby could take a few pointers from Julia, Sam mused.

  Gabby sat down right next to Lee and immediately began flirting up a storm. “Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes!”

  Lee grinned from ear-to-ear. It was the first time Sam had seen him smile!

  That was all the encouragement Gabby needed. As she leaned forward to say something to him in a low voice, her voluptuous chest spilled out of the dress and came to rest on the dinner table.

  Lee didn’t bat an eye – he didn’t seem to mind in the least. In fact, he seemed to spend more time talking to her than he did the rest of the group.

  Sam snorted in disgust. Guess you gotta dress like a floozy to get that guy’s attention.

  Gabby pretty much monopolized the entire dinner conversation. She was obviously used to being the center of attention. It was extremely annoying and whenever possible, Sam tried to tune her out.

  Suddenly, Gabby pushed her chair away from the table and stood up. She grabbed a spoon and started tapping her water glass. “Attention! Attention everyone!”

  She continued. “I’m singing Karaoke later this week in the lounge. I’m actually one of the finalists and the winner gets 200 bucks plus 25% off a future cruise.”

  With one hand on her hip and the spoon still in her other hand, she looked around the table. “You all have to show up and cheer me on!”

  Sam leaned back in her chair as she raised her eyebrows and glanced over at Julia. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  She looked back at Gabby innocently. “What are you going to sing?”

  Gabby turned to focus her attention on Sam. “I’m not sure,” she admitted. “But I’m thi
nking maybe Pat Beamatar.” She paused before continuing. “People say I sound just like her.” After giving everyone the details, Gabby sat back down and turned her attention back to Lee.

  Sutali returned to the table and took everyone’s dessert order. Sam was more than a little relieved dinner was almost over.

  When the coffee arrived, Gabby finally dragged her eyes away from Lee as she looked around the table at the rest of the group.

  A broad smile crossed Sam’s face. One of big mouth’s very long, very fake eyelashes had started to come off and was now dangling precariously in front of her left eye. She started blinking rapidly. The more she blinked, the looser it became.

  The artificial appendage suddenly fell off and dropped into her cup of coffee.

  Sam sucked in her breath and began giggling. Do NOT laugh! She commanded herself. She quickly glanced around, wondering if anyone else had noticed.

  Just then, Sutali arrived with their desserts. When he got to Gabby, he gave her an odd look but said nothing. She was still babbling on a mile a minute, completely unaware of the loss.

  Sam looked down at Gabby’s coffee cup. She was torn. I really should say something.

  Just when she opened her mouth to speak, Gabby lifted the cup to her lips and took a sip.

  Sam’s eyes grew wide. She tugged on a stray strand of hair and watched as Gabby set the cup back down on the table.

  The fake lash apparently had a little sticky stuff left on it because it was now attached to her upper lip. She looked like Charlie Chaplin with a dose of Lucille Ball.

  Amazingly, no one at the table pointed it out right away. They were either outright laughing or had grabbed their dinner napkins and covered their mouths.

  Julia, who was sitting next to Gabby, was the last to notice as she finally turned and saw the ‘stache. Without saying a word, she reached down and pulled a mirror from her little purse, opened it up and handed it to Gabby.