Starboard Vow

by K. M. Jackson

  Aaron frowned to himself as he thought of the grueling hours of filming and retakes and how if he had Jules to return to or by his side during those long days and nights, how much more tolerable they would have been. He’d missed her so much over the past year. More so when he’d return home from shooting, alone, the silence of his apartment only reminding him of their last night together. Jules burned him up. Making love to him as she did that last time as if she knew it would truly be their last time. He guessed she did. He was the one who found out too late that she’d overheard the conversation between him and Morris about the studio thinking it would be best if he’d kept the fact that he was married to Jules as hush-hush as possible. That it would be better for their plans and his career if he appeared as a single man about town.

  The worst was that a part of him got the logic, and he was stupid enough to admit that to Jules. But they had positioned him as a renegade bad boy with a secret heart of gold. Supposedly both unattainable and completely obtainable at the same time. The fact that he was selling himself as every woman’s or man’s fantasy, well he could see how having a wife might stall things a bit. Especially with the 16-25-year-olds who were just discovering him. Hell, it might even screw with over fortys that he hoped to obtain as fans too. But none of that mattered to him. At least not really and that’s what he’d told Jules. What he’d tried to make clear. He guessed he was nowhere near clear enough though.

  The next day, when he’d come home from the gym, all that remained of Jules was a Dear Aaron letter telling him to pursue his acting career whole-heartedly without any encumbrances. She being the unnamed but eluded to encumbrance. She’d told him that she was taking an offered job with a new cruise line and would be gone for four months. That he should put his all into his work and not mention the fact that they were married, to anyone. He guessed as some form of placation she’d added that she’d contact him once she returned, but when the time came and he thought, no hoped, she’d be back, all he got instead of his wife was a set of official divorce papers to warm his bed and his heart.

  Aaron didn’t sign and he wasn’t warmed.

  If he had signed the papers, it would have pretty much nullified their marriage with absolutely no demands or restitution requirements on either of their parts. Signing would make it as if their marriage had never happened, as if their love had never happened. All without giving him any chance to say his peace.

  But what would he say to her? The papers felt so final. It was as if she had already given up on him, and it scared him like nothing ever had before. So, Aaron ignored them. Crap move but it was all he could do to both hold on to Jules and get through the grueling schedule set on him by the studio.

  Yeah, he’d made small gestures to try and get in touch with her. A few calls and some texts. But they went without a response. No longer.

  Now he was here, and he was saying what he had to say to her. Face to face. That way there would be no ignoring, dodging, or beating around the bush for either of them.

  Aaron glanced up at the big, white ship with a powerful sleek design, and pulled out his shades to cover his eyes, feeling the need to put some sort of physical barrier between himself, the outside world, and his emotions.

  “You okay, man?” came Morris’s voice from by his side. “Like I said, don’t worry. Jules is probably still not tripping. It’s been over a year. Surely she’s not still upset about what happened.”

  Aaron felt an anger he tried to long bury bubble up anew with Morris’s words. Of course, Jules was still angry. Hell, he was too. Sure, it wasn’t all Morris’s fault. It probably wasn’t his fault at all, but the fact remained, it was the overheard conversation with him that had sparked Jules’s leaving. And worse yet, Morris knew beforehand that Jules was leaving Aaron and didn’t alert him. Instead, his manager let him go to his final callback with the Starboard director and studio execs, and he missed Jules’s departure and his last chance at keeping her by his side.

  His gaze slid Morris’s way. “I wouldn’t bank on that. Jules is not one for forgetting or lightly letting things go.”

  Morris cleared his throat nervously. “Well, if anyone can convince her then it’s you.”

  Aaron shrugged and strode forward. “We’ll see about that won’t we.”

  Chapter 3

  There was no time to back out now, even though everything in Jules was telling her to run. Yep, it all was fine and good when Aaron was just a memory she was sending divorce papers off to via international post, but now he was striding toward her in flesh and bone and looking somehow more attractive even than when she’d last seen him.

  His shoulders had gotten broader, though Jules told herself that was possibly a trick of the sunlight glinting off the bow of the ship. His hair was longer than she’d expected it to be. Inky black with a slight wave, it was cropped in the back from what she could tell from where she stood but slightly past his ears on the sides and in the front, long. It went to the point of covering the top of his dark aviator-style sunglasses that thankfully protected her from what was no doubt the devastation of his dark eyes.

  The sunglasses, with his shoulders, his dark denim jeans and a black Tee covered with a leather motorcycle jacket, not to mention his confident long-legged stride, had him looking like every bit the box office draw he reportedly was.

  It was then that Jules noticed the rest of the crew as they exited the other vehicles. Oh boy, it looked like they were being invaded by a sea of Hollywood coolness as the pack made their way toward them in muted colors of blacks, tans, and greys, toting backpacks and duffels that were overstuffed but seemed to have seen their fair share of travel. Immediately, from the bored, almost unimpressed looks on their faces, Jules knew this would not be an easy bunch to satisfy and, on top of dealing with Aaron’s presence, she’d have the added pressure of entertaining this lot. She almost sighed. There was the Starboard crew, their fans, and some special VIP press who were handpicked to cover the Starboard peeps during their downtime. The whole thing had to give off an air of being carefree and natural while still being choreographed and staged to within a hairsbreadth.

  No matter, she was up for the challenge. When she’d taken the Elegance position, she signed on for this kind of excitement and if her husband, well, soon to be ex-husband, wasn’t a part of this particular sailing she’d be downright giddy over the challenge. Jules smiled. She could do this. She would do this, because she had to, she thought, trying to not let her smile falter. Because before she was Mrs. Aaron Manning, she was just Jules Monroe, assistant cruise director. After this journey, she’d still be Jules Monroe, and she hoped she’d still have the title of chief social director to go with her name.

  It was with that thought that Jules heard Aaron’s name. It came high and musically pitched from a voice no one could escape if they were anywhere near any form of media. “Macaroon,” Poppy Roberts yelled as she ran up on him from behind. “Wait up!”

  Jules watched as a slim, petite woman with reddish-blond hair sprinted on impossibly high heels and linked arms with Jules’s husband.

  She mentally kicked herself for having the thought. Her husband. Crap. She had to stop thinking that way. If she was going to have any success convincing Aaron to sign the divorce papers, she had to get the thought of him as her husband out of her mind. So really, Poppy was doing her a favor by giving her this memorable image at the very start of their voyage. Though he didn’t come right out and say it, maybe the rumors were true, and Aaron was actually up for this divorce. Could it be he figured the time to move on was now, as well?

  Jules’s frown deepened and she felt a hardness come to the set of her mouth as she stared at the duo and the way Poppy latched onto Aaron while looking up at him adoringly. She flashed Aaron a bright smile, the same one that earned her numerous marketing endorsements, and she scrunched up her pert little nose at him with a laugh.

  Jules bit back a growl, and right on time because when she blinked, Aimes Webber, the movie’s director,
stood before her. “Hello,” she said, blinking once again, to clear the image of Aaron and Poppy away and focus instead on the unassuming man in the wrinkled khakis, vest and Zeppelin T-shirt.

  “I’m Jules Monroe. The ship’s social director. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to make your stay with us more enjoyable, Mr. Webber.” Jules would have known the famous director even if he wasn’t wearing his signature vest. He was pretty much a celebrity in his own right but still, there was no dismissing the all-seeing look in the man’s direct dark gaze. Something told Jules that there was little that got past him.

  He looked at Jules seriously at first before his stern features morphed into a wide smile. “Jules Monroe? Like from the sitcom? And you’re the ship’s social director? Like a cruise director. How clever,” he chuckled out with a twinkle coming to his eye. She’d never thought of her name as clever by any means, not with the job she had. But at the least it was an icebreaker, though most times it was the butt of countless jokes.

  Aimes turned to Brenden. “So, are you Gopher?” he asked, giving the name joke more time than it deserved.

  “No, sir,” her co-worker said. “I’m Brenden, the chief stew. Thankfully I’m not quite as bumbling as Gopher, though honestly, I always fancied myself more of an Isaac type.” He tilted his head and gave Aimes a sheepish look. “But maybe I’m just being a tad too lofty in my thinking.”

  Aimes Webber grinned at this and continued his way down the crew line, finally stopping in front of the captain.

  “Oh, I always loved Isaac. Thank goodness for reruns,” came that high voice again and Jules wanted to kick herself for momentarily taking her eyes off Aaron. If that was Poppy, then Aaron was probably not far off.

  “Nope. Julie Monroe was always my favorite,” came Aaron’s voice from way too close. “She always knew exactly how to satisfy the passenger’s needs.”

  Jules looked up and there he was. Looking down at her from a spot where she could, with the barest of steps, lean forward, uplift her chin and practically kiss him. It was tempting, so very tempting, even though his expression was deadly serious despite his playful words, which were meant to come off as a lighthearted joke, but Jules knew were anything but. No, the set of Aaron’s jaw and the look he gave her told her there was not a hint of playful in him. This man was all about his business right now.

  “Somehow, I think you’re both too young to fully appreciate a show like The Love Boat,” Aimes Webber chimed in from where he stood.

  Aaron smiled down at Jules, his full lips spreading way more easily than they ought to after the way they had left things. He gazed at her smiling, showing even white teeth while his eyes seemed somehow a hint predatory. And her heart damn near stopped. Getting smiled at by him, in that sweet, sexy but slightly dangerous way was like getting bitten in just the right spot.

  “Maybe,” he replied to Aimes while still staring way too intently at Jules, “but thank goodness for reruns. Sometimes things are better the second or even third time around.”

  And with that he was gone. Down the line with the rest of the crew ending in front of the captain.

  Jules felt the most embarrassing pool of saliva forming in her mouth along with a rush of air letting her know she was staring with her mouth open like one of his groupie fans.

  “You gonna close that mouth anytime soon?” Dina teased.

  “I thought it was closed,” Jules replied, looking down where Aaron was smiling at the captain as if he didn’t just turn her world on its axis.

  “Nope. Open and wide.”

  Jules slammed her mouth shut and looked at her friend. “Well it’s closed now.”

  Dina laughed and gave her a nudge. “You handled that perfectly. Smooth as silk.”

  “Yeah sure,” she said. “If by silk you mean the exact opposite. Then fine.”

  Jules shook her head and fought to get her composure. She swallowed and plastered her usual smile back into place to prepare for the next incoming passenger. But wait, what was the captain saying? “Please get settled and don’t hesitate to ask any of the staff for anything you may need, no accommodation is too small. We’re here to serve you. Look forward to hosting you all at my special captain’s dinner tonight.”

  Out of her periphery she felt when Aaron’s gaze landed on her and their eyes clicked. He grinned this time, not quite his star melting smile but in no way any less dangerous. She nodded at him. Trying her best to give back as good as she got. This was no time for weakness or emotions.

  But crap. The Captain’s dinner. As the social director she had to make an appearance and with this group of VIPs she knew there would be no excuse too big to get her out of it.

  Chapter 4

  Aaron made his way to his cabin led by a steward and followed by Morris. On the way he did the usual nodding and smiling at the ship’s staff who lined the narrow hallways. He purposely kept his demeanor friendly but slightly closed off, ignoring the overtly sexual glances he got from some of the female and male staffers.

  When they made it to his cabin, his housekeeper, a cute brunette, feigned surprise and offered him a quick apology over not being quite done with readying his room, though at brief glance around showed nothing out of place in the spacious cabin.

  “Thank you, Maribel, that will be all,” the steward said pointedly to the housekeeper, who showed little sign of exiting the room. She looked from him to Aaron to Morris, cleared her throat and smiled back at Aaron again.

  “Of course,” she said, still not moving. “It’s very nice to meet you sir. I’m a huge fan.”

  Aaron smiled at her but kept his expression neutral. He knew that look. She was a fan and a harmless one, but he had to walk that fine line between distancing himself and being insulting. Plus, he also needed to realize there was no need to take his current mood out on Maribel. She was just being nice. “Thank you. Maribel. That’s kind of you to say.” At the use of her name the housekeeper’s grin widened.

  “Please, if there’s anything that you need, anything at all, don’t hesitate to call me. All you have to do is press the button here,” she drawled out. Taking her time to animatedly point out the clearly marked service button by the cabin door. “Or text me via the ship’s app at 4473 and I’ll be happy to assist you,” she finally said, her breath light and flirty.

  Morris pulled a face over the way Maribel said assist. Maybe she wasn’t as harmless as she seemed.

  Thankfully the steward cleared his throat again and motioned toward Aaron. “The rest of your bags should be here momentarily, Mr. Manning. Mr. Swift, if you’d follow me, I’ll show you to your room. It’s right across the hall.” He turned to Maribel. “I take it Mr. Swift’s room is ready? If you’d just come with me for a last check.”

  Maribel seemed to get the hint, blinking out of the trance she was momentarily in. Or maybe it was she realized taking a chance on Aaron wasn’t worth risking her job. He could assure her it was not.

  Aaron was relieved when the door clicked, and he was finally alone in the cabin. He let out a long breath and looked out past the large double bed, the sitting area, the huge balcony doors and onto the view of the Miami sound beyond. What was he doing and how in the world was he going to be able to keep his shit together when he was barely able to hold on to his cool after just one brief encounter with Jules?

  His Jules. At first glance she didn’t seem anything like his Jules at all. Honestly, it had scared him for a moment. Like ice water shot fast through his veins. Though she looked very much the same, he could tell she was somehow changed. Her once bright and welcoming eyes now seem more subdued, still friendly but the shining innocence that was once there was now gone. And it wasn’t just that, her full cheeks and the round softness of her body, though no less alluring, had taken a subtle muscular curvature that spoke to intense workouts, something she would’ve never given time to in the past. Then there were her lips. Aaron practically grimaced thinking of them and the way she had smiled at him, making his mind go t
o all sorts of past days and long to feel them sweet and pliable beneath his once again.

  He ran a frustrated hand through his hair letting out a groan. “As if there was any chance for sweet kisses with the look she’d given me,” he mumbled to himself.

  Aaron started to doubt this whole idea of coming aboard and trying to win her back as he went to his duffle and pulled out the small jewelry box he had stashed there. Flipping open the black velvet box he looked down at the perfect square-cut diamond surrounded by smaller baguettes. He’d noticed immediately how Jules’s hands were still unadorned. She still wore no rings on her left finger or any finger.

  Their own wedding, a hasty one, held just off the shore of Antigua on the one day in which they were docked, and they were able to get their special license. She was ringless then too as they made their vows on the sand officiated by the captain of the Cordania, the ancient private cruise yacht they used to both work on. The moon and the old ship as their romantic backdrop. But Jules swore then and there under that bright moon and the shining stars that he was all she needed to last her lifetime, not some ring.

  Seeing her now, he wondered if he’d ever truly been enough. Hell, at the very least she should have had a ring to remind her of the love they shared during the year they were apart.

  Peeking out of his now open bag, almost mocking him, was a manila envelope and her latest attempt at divorce. In her letter, though brief as it was, she once again made herself the martyr. Saying this was for him. So he could keep going with his life unencumbered. Aaron snorted just thinking of her ridiculous words. Without her he hadn’t had a peaceful unencumbered moment. Why she didn’t realize that he didn’t know.

  But just then for some reason, the image came to his mind of that steward, the annoyingly good-looking one, in the too tight uniform who stood next to her just a little too close and got the only genuine smile he’d happened to glimpse from her as she’d made her introductions. The hairs on the back of Aaron’s neck prickled in a most uncomfortable way as insecurity and jealousy veered up unexpectedly. What if she was already attached? What if it was her who really wanted the clear break and to get on with life? They had been apart for a long time and she had been the one to leave him, to serve him with papers. The prickly hairs stood even higher and he told himself to get it together.