Veritas

by Duncan, MJ

  She could not help but be pissed at Lauren’s presence on her boat, and she latched onto that anger as she pulled her phone from her pocket. She did not even have to look at the screen to pull up the number she needed, and she gritted her teeth as the call rang through. She knew that what she was about to do was not at all fair, but she was too upset to care. “You fucking suck,” she greeted her best friend the moment she picked up.

  Kelly Kipling laughed. “Sometimes, yes. But why, exactly, do I suck this time?”

  “Lauren Murphy,” Grey muttered, rolling her eyes and running a frustrated hand through her hair. “You were supposed to find me a goddamn chef for a couple cruises.”

  “And, judging by her résumé, I did. She graduated first in her class from the Culinary Institute of America. From the handful of people I talked to while checking her references, I can tell you that she’s widely regarded as one of the best sous chefs in New York, and everybody is expecting her to be given her own kitchen sooner, rather than later. Her bosses at Clarke’s have nothing but great things to say about her. I found you a better chef than you usually get pillaging the local hotel kitchens—mine included, by the way. She didn’t seem interested in relocating, but she looks so good on paper that I was hoping after a couple weeks down here she might be more open to persuasion. So, what’s the problem?”

  Grey chuckled darkly and shook her head. “She’s a redhead. Wild fucking curls, gorgeous fucking hazel eyes, the whole nine yards.”

  “Oh,” Kelly murmured. “Sorry?”

  “I thought you interviewed her.”

  “I did interview her, Grey. Over the phone,” Kelly said, her tone softening. “It’s not like I can jet up to New York to interview a chef for a short-term position like the one you were trying to fill. I mean, I do have three hotels to oversee on the island here, never mind the two on Saint John, and the one on St. Croix.”

  Properly chastised, Grey sighed and nodded. “Yeah, I know.” The Kipling family had been a fixture in the Virgin Islands for generations, and Kelly was the general manager for Kipling Resorts, overseeing the family’s empire. It was because none of the chefs for her hotels were available for the next few weeks that Grey had asked Kelly if she could help her find somebody to work on the Veritas. “I’m sorry…”

  “It’s fine, Grey, don’t worry about it. Look, you just have to make it through two cruises and then you’ll be rid of her. Just give her a chance, and don’t rip her head off just because she looks like—”

  “Don’t even go there, Kip.”

  “Fine,” Kelly sighed. Really, she should have known better than to try and say Emily’s name. “Look, I am sorry. About all of it.” She paused for a beat and then added, “So, you leave this afternoon?”

  “Yeah. We’ll be out for nine days. I’m just going to follow my usual loop through the BVI and back for this one, nothing spectacular.” Grey held her breath at the sound of footsteps making their way up the stairs to the bridge, and her heart thudded heavily in her chest when Lauren came into view. “I, uh, gotta go.”

  “She’s there.”

  Grey nodded, unable to tear her gaze away from Lauren, who flashed her an apologetic smile and quickly backed down the stairs. “Yeah. We need to go do some grocery shopping to stock up for the trip.”

  “Good luck. Call me when you get back. Or, you know, whenever you need to.”

  “Will do.” Grey blew out a loud breath and added, “Look, I’m sorry I went off on you. Thanks for listening.”

  “That’s what I’m here for,” Kelly murmured, her voice tinged with concern. “Be good.”

  Grey laughed, the sound devoid of any genuine mirth, but she was grateful for the normalcy of the quip when her entire world felt like it was spinning out of control. “When am I ever good?”

  “There’s a first time for everything, Wells. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Yeah. Later.” Grey shoved her phone into her pocket and started for the stairs, knowing that they really did need to get going if they were to get back in time to put everything away before the Muellers arrived. Lauren was sitting at one of the tables on the back deck that was sheltered by the bridge, and Grey’s breath caught in her throat at the small smile the redhead greeted her with. It was not fair that she should have to try and continue to survive, day after day, while being confronted with a reminder of all that she had loved and lost.

  “Sorry about interrupting,” Lauren said.

  Grey shook her head and glanced toward the salon. The ache in her chest was easier to ignore if she did not actually look at Lauren. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not a big deal. I was just talking to a friend. I’ll, um, just show you to the pantry so you can see what we’ve got, and then we can head out.”

  “I went ahead and found it on my own before I came looking for you. Hope that was okay.” When Grey nodded, Lauren continued, “Anyways, I have my list ready.”

  “Excellent.” Grey waved a hand at the dock and motioned for Lauren to disembark first. “Then let’s get going.”

  Chapter 4

  Lauren loved farmer’s markets. There was something about the combination of fresh air and interacting with people who were proud of the produce they had brought to sell that never failed to make her smile. It was difficult, however, for her to find any enjoyment in this particular trip. She did not like confrontation, but she found herself almost wishing for it as Grey continued to avoid her. At least then she would know what it was about her that irked the brunette so. She had given up trying to draw Grey into conversation after her eighth failed attempt, and they had ended up wandering the market in a tense silence that set Lauren on edge.

  She double-checked her list and glanced up at Grey, who was standing a good four feet away from her and looking like she would like nothing more than to drop the cooler full of fish she was carrying and run away. “I just need to pick up a few herbs, and then I’ll be done.”

  Grey nodded and looked around the bustling stalls around them, and Lauren sighed as she made her way over to a small table that was covered with different herbs. She set the bags of fruits and vegetables that she was carrying onto the ground, and began quickly sorting through the bundles of aromatics that were piled in small wooden crates on the long rectangular table. Everything looked to be at the peak of freshness, and it did not take her long to find what she needed. She stowed the herbs she had chosen on top of their other purchases in her bags as Grey paid, and she forced herself to smile when Grey turned toward her.

  Grey pocketed her change and looked at a spot that was just over Lauren’s right shoulder, grateful that the mirrored lenses of her sunglasses hid the fact that she was not looking her in the eye. “What’s next?”

  Lauren looked at her list again, even though she had checked it only moments before. “We have everything but the meats from the butcher.”

  Grey glanced at her watch. The polished steel hands stood out easily against the orange face, telling her that it was just after eight o’clock, and she nodded. “It all should be ready and waiting for us.” She had called the butcher and placed Lauren’s order while she drove to the market. The call served two purposes: first, the food would be ready when they arrived; and second, it gave her a few minutes respite from the tension that surrounded her and Lauren. She really was trying to behave as normally as possible, but she knew by the cautious glances Lauren kept shooting her way that she was failing miserably at it. Of all the chefs in the world… she lamented silently. She cleared her throat and waved a hand toward her car. “The butcher is on the way back to the marina.”

  Lauren nodded, picked up her bags, and headed toward the half of the parking lot that was actually being used for its intended purpose. She wandered toward the back row of the lot to where they had parked, and stopped behind Grey’s red Mini Cooper. She remained quiet as she stowed her bags in the back of the car, and glanced only once at Grey as she slipped into the passenger’s seat.

  More of the modern classical music Gr
ey had been listening to earlier poured from the speakers as Grey started the car, and Lauren sighed as she looked out the window. At least now there was some music to fill the tense silence between them. Despite her growing frustration, Lauren could not help stealing quick glances at Grey, who was staring purposefully out the windshield. Grey’s jaw was clenched tight, the corded muscles of her forearms visible as she gripped the steering wheel much harder than was necessary. It was obvious that she wanted to be anywhere else at that moment, and Lauren pursed her lips as she looked away again.

  Though she was doing her best to not look at Lauren, Grey did not miss the hurt that had flashed across Lauren’s face before she turned toward her window. Guilt swept through her, and she gave herself a sound mental head-slap. It was not Lauren’s fault that her mere presence was driving her insane. And, like it or not, she also knew that the two of them needed to be at least passably friendly with each other once the Mueller family arrived later that morning. “So, um…you’re a chef in New York?”

  “I am,” Lauren said softly. Her eyes flicked over toward Grey, whose grip on the steering wheel seemed to have somehow managed to become even tighter, and sighed as she looked back out her window.

  “What made you decide to do this?” Grey kept her eyes on the road ahead as she waved a hand to indicate the whole Virgin Islands, working-on-a-boat thing.

  Lauren shrugged. “I haven’t had a proper vacation in ten years and, well, I had a bunch of time saved up because the restaurant kept letting me rollover the days I didn’t take. The idea of doing nothing was not at all appealing because I’m one of those people who need to always have something to do. A good friend of mine had rented a yacht and cruised around the Caribbean last summer for her honeymoon, and I figured that signing-on as a private chef was a good way to get out of New York for a bit and still keep busy.”

  Grey chuckled. “So, you’re spending your first vacation in a decade working.”

  “On a beautiful yacht, sailing around the Caribbean, yes,” Lauren replied. “Kelly Kipling, the woman I interviewed with, said that I would have time to snorkel and explore whatever islands we make port at, and I actually love cooking, so it seemed like a win-win kind of deal.”

  “You will have plenty of time for all of that,” Grey said, daring to glance at Lauren as she pulled to a stop in front of the butcher’s. A small smile was tweaking Lauren’s lips, like she was pleased they had just managed to have an actual conversation that was halfway-normal. Grey’s heart clenched as she drank in Lauren’s profile, her eyes lingering on the rogue curl tickling the side of Lauren’s cheek, but she forced herself to ignore it as she quickly climbed out of the car. Now was not the time for her to worry about anything other than getting ready to sail later that afternoon.

  Grey nodded in response to the small, grateful smile Lauren gave her when she held the door to the butcher shop open for her, and turned her attention to the man who was standing behind the counter. Eddie Jones was wearing one of his typically gaudy Hawaiian shirts covered in big-breasted women wearing coconut bras and grass skirts, and Grey smiled when she recognized it as the one she had given him for his birthday the year before.

  “Grey!” Eddie hollered, a wide smile lighting up his face as Grey slapped his hand in greeting. “I have everything you wanted right here. You wanna have a look?”

  Grey glanced at Lauren and arched a brow questioningly. If it were up to her, she would just grab the stuff and go, but she knew from the way Lauren had dug through the produce stands earlier that she would want to see what he had pulled for them.

  “Yes, please,” Lauren said as she stepped up to the counter. She smiled at the appraising look the butcher gave her. “Hi. I’m Lauren Murphy.”

  “Eddie Jones.” He shook her hand. “You’re not from around here, are you?”

  Lauren shook her head. “New York, actually. I’m just down here for a few weeks.”

  “And you chose to work for this one?” Eddie teased, smirking at Grey.

  “Shut up,” Grey grumbled as she shot him a playful glare.

  Lauren glanced over at Grey. “I did,” she said, though the words sounded less assured than she would have preferred.

  “Smart girl.” Eddie winked and turned his attention to the pile of wrapped meats that were stacked beside him. “So, here’s what I have for ya…” He showed Lauren the steaks, sausages, ground beef, and chicken he had prepared according to Grey’s order. He carefully rewrapped each bundle after Lauren nodded her approval and set them into a large brown paper bag. When the last white-paper package was placed inside the bag, he folded the top over and slid it across the counter beside the register. “I’ll put it on your tab,” Eddie told Grey.

  “Sounds good, man. Thanks,” Grey said as she reached for the bag. She grunted softly as she hefted it off of the counter, and forced herself to smile as she glanced at Lauren. “You ready?”

  “Of course,” Lauren murmured. She looked back at Eddie and added, “It was nice to meet you.”

  Eddie nodded. “You too, Lauren Murphy. Good luck.”

  Lauren flashed him a small smile and nodded. “Thanks.” I have a feeling I’m going to need it, she added silently to herself as she looked back at Grey, who was already halfway out the door.

  Chapter 5

  Lauren was in the galley prepping the burgers she was going to make for lunch when the sound of excited voices spilled through the open sliding doors into the salon. The Mueller family had finally arrived.

  Lauren looked over her shoulder at the clock on the range, and was shocked to see that three hours had passed since she and Grey had returned to the Veritas. She had spent the time preparing as many of the ingredients she would be using during the next couple days as she could, while Grey stayed as far away from her as possible, checking and re-checking the boat’s mechanicals to make sure they were ready to sail. The break from the inexplicable tension that simmered between them had been a blessing, and Lauren sighed as she felt her stomach twist uncomfortably when she looked at Grey, who was already on the back deck greeting their guests. Whatever it was that had Grey behaving so strangely obviously had something to do with her, because the genuine smile lighting the brunette’s face now showed none of the strain that had been directed toward her earlier.

  Both of the parents and all three boys were smiling as they nodded in response to whatever it was Grey was saying, all of them obviously thrilled to be on the boat, and Lauren wiped her hands off on a dishtowel as she walked out of the galley to greet them.

  Though Lauren was sure that none of their guests noticed, it did not escape her attention that Grey’s smile dimmed the moment she set foot on deck, and she forced herself to act like she did not notice it as she approached the group.

  Grey took a deep breath and held it as she watched Lauren saunter out of the salon like she had done it a thousand times before. Lauren had changed into the shirt she had given her—a white ClimaCool polo with Veritas stitched in red over the right breast—and seeing her in the polo made Grey regret giving it to her. It was hard enough to look at Lauren and not be assaulted by the ghosts of her past when the redhead was in her regular clothes, but when she was in uniform… Grey sighed and focused her attention on the Mueller boys, who were dressed in matching blue and red patterned boardshorts and white rash guards and were practically vibrating with excitement. “This is Lauren Murphy.” Grey waved a hand at Lauren. “She’ll be the one preparing all our meals.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you all,” Lauren said, tipping her head in greeting.

  “I’m Will,” the husband introduced himself, smiling as he shook Lauren’s hand. “And this is my wife Kim, and our boys Reid, who’s five, and Peyton and Max, who are seven.”

  Lauren nodded and shook Kim’s hand before turning her attention to the boys. All three took after their mother with their honey-blond hair and bright blue eyes, though they had their father’s olive-toned skin. “How’s it going, guys?” she asked, holding he
r hands out and getting high fives from each of them. “You hungry?”

  “Starving!” Reid announced dramatically as his brothers nodded their agreement.

  “Great.” Lauren grinned at them and arched a brow questioningly. “How do burgers sound?”

  Grey smiled at the way the boys cheered and jumped up and down eagerly in response to Lauren’s question. Taking families out on cruises was always fun because the kids got so excited about everything. And the younger they were, the more amplified that excitement became, which made the trip all the more enjoyable for her.

  Because she knew that they were running on a tight schedule to get out of port before the seas kicked up later that afternoon, Grey clapped her hands and drew everyone’s attention back onto herself. “Well, while Lauren makes lunch, why don’t I show you guys to your cabins so you can unpack a bit. After lunch, we’ll leave for Saint Frances Bay. It’s a short sail, and you’ll have plenty of time to swim or explore the beach before dinner.”

  The kids needed no further encouragement as they ran off to find their rooms for the trip, and Grey chuckled as she led Will and Kim inside, giving them basically the same spiel she had delivered to Lauren earlier that morning. “This is the salon…”

  Lauren hung back on the deck and watched through the open doors as Grey showed the Muellers around, and only wandered inside once the family had disappeared down the starboard stairs to the cabins Reid and Will and Kim would be using. She smiled at Max and Peyton when the boys sprinted back into the salon to check out their cabins again, and she chuckled under her breath at the sound of them bouncing on one bed, running through the small bathroom that joined their rooms, and then jumping on the other bed.