“Really?” Rowan couldn’t contain her excitement. “He’s staying here?”
Quinn nodded. “Yeah. And, ironically enough, your father has the other penthouse in the same building. It seems they want to stick close to each other but still have their own space. I’m probably not supposed to tell you that because they’re meeting us for dinner in ten minutes, but you can act surprised and no one will be the wiser.”
Rowan let loose a little squealing sound that was halfway between a laugh and a cheer. It made him smile. “I can’t believe they’re both staying.”
“I can’t believe your uncle is selling us that beach house for such a good price. Now when we’re docked we don’t have to stay on the ship. We can get away two days a week — every week — and it will be our own little vacation.”
“That is pretty cool,” Rowan agreed, dusting the seat of her shorts off as she stood. “I can’t believe how well things are working out. Speaking of that, though, I forgot to ask about tomorrow’s cruise. I’m behind. Is there anything I should know about it?”
“It’s just a normal cruise for a change. No theme in sight.”
“That’s actually good. I’m over the themes.”
“That makes two of us,” Quinn confirmed, accepting the hand she held out to help him to his feet. “Basically we’ll be dealing with mostly couples on vacation and the occasional honeymooners.”
“That’s my kind of cruise.”
“I’m right there with you. A few weeks of peace and quiet is just what the doctor ordered. I think we’ve earned it.”
“Oh, we’ve definitely earned it.”
Two
Maddie was in awe of the sprawling ship when they arrived the next morning. Nick, who insisted on being gallant, trailed behind as he struggled with their luggage. Maddie spent a full three minutes staring and talking to nobody in particular – just anybody who passed in close proximity – until she realized Nick wasn’t with her. When she tracked him down, she was more than a little annoyed.
“You could’ve just let me help with the luggage,” she chided, annoyance obvious.
He shrugged, rueful. “I was trying to be chivalrous.”
“That’s sweet, but I can carry my own suitcase. There’s no reason for you to struggle like this. I mean ... come on. I was talking to myself for five minutes. People probably think I’m crazy.”
Amusement, quick and bright, flitted through Nick’s eyes. “I’m actually glad people think you’re nutty. I hope that rumor spreads around the ship really fast, in fact, because the second you get in your bikini I’m going to be beating off the other men with ... well ... whatever is handy on this ship. I’m not armed, which feels weird.”
Maddie sent him an odd look as she grabbed the handle of her suitcase. He was a police officer back in their hometown of Blackstone Bay, a small hamlet in northern Lower Michigan. She hadn’t really thought about him missing his job until this very moment ... and now a few things made sense.
“Oh,” she bobbed her head in understanding. “That’s why you’ve been watching the news every night. You feel disconnected from the real world.”
Nick balked ... and then he turned sheepish. “That’s not exactly true,” he hedged. “Have you ever considered I’m just watching to make sure your grandmother hasn’t done anything ridiculous in our absence?”
Maddie smirked at the suggestion. Maude Graves, Maddie’s grandmother, lived in a converted garage apartment attached to the same house Maddie and Nick called home. They were a happy, if sometimes conflicted, trio. Maude wasn’t exactly known for following the letter of the law, something that made Nick distinctly uncomfortable at times.
“I don’t think you have to worry about granny,” Maddie said pragmatically. “She talks big, but she doesn’t have the energy she used to. I left your brother in charge of watching her — something he kicked up a big stink about, mind you — and he says that despite her proclamations about wild parties, she’s been in bed before midnight every night.”
Nick snorted, the sound derisive. “I hate to break it to you, Mad, but there are two entrances to that apartment. One at the front and the other at the back. Just because my brother hasn’t seen anyone go in the front, that doesn’t mean Maude hasn’t been trafficking them in through the back.”
Maddie opened her mouth to argue and then snapped it shut. As much as she didn’t want to believe it, she knew Nick was telling the truth. “Well, as long as she isn’t burning the house down, I’m fine with whatever she does ... mostly.”
Nick smirked as he slipped his arm around her shoulders and kissed her forehead. “I think it’s cute that you actually believed Maude was behaving herself. You’re still the little girl I used to go fishing with every weekend when I was eight. It’s adorable.”
“Ugh.” Maddie made a disgusted sound deep in her throat. “I’m just disappointed I fell for it.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Nick waved off her annoyance. “We’re on our honeymoon. We’re supposed to be having a good time. We even have one of the honeymoon suites ... although I’m willing to bet that essentially means our room is just a little bit bigger than a closet.”
“Who cares?” Maddie wasn’t going to let anything derail her honeymoon. “We’re basically going to be there for sleep and showers. That’s it.”
“Oh, we’re doing something else in there, too,” he teased. “What? Don’t look at me that way. We’re on our honeymoon, Mad. That sort of thing is expected when you’re on your honeymoon.”
“Yes, but you don’t have to talk about it so loudly.” Maddie glanced around to make sure nobody was eavesdropping, a reaction that had Nick guffawing in delight. “I’m being serious. People will think we’re deviants or something.”
“Oh, is there any doubt about why I love you?” He kissed her again and then inclined his chin toward the lobby doors. “Come on. We’ll check in and drop off our stuff and then I’ll buy you the world’s biggest piña colada.”
“That sounds like a plan.”
QUINN UNDERSTOOD THE CRUISE GAME better than most. That didn’t mean he wasn’t still annoyed by some of the things that happened ... like now.
He pasted a bright smile on his face even though he wasn’t really feeling it. “Ladies, if you could move away from the front desk, that would be great.”
The trio of flirty women standing in front of him either didn’t hear the admonishment or were ignoring it. He couldn’t decide which.
“Do all the security guards on this ship look like you?” Violet Boston, her eyes practically sparkling like the Mai Tai she had clutched in her hand, stared adoringly at Quinn. “I certainly hope so. Of course, you’re the original ... and I very much doubt there’s any improving on perfection.” She made a weird cat sound that made Quinn distinctly uncomfortable.
“Um ... well ... that’s possibly very nice,” he said after a beat. “That doesn’t change the fact that you’re causing a scene when others are trying to check in.”
“You didn’t answer her question,” her brunette companion, a woman named Lana O’Grady noted as she sipped from her own cocktail. Quinn knew all their names because they’d insisted on introducing themselves – complete with extra “touchy” handshakes – to him when he first approached. “Do they all look like you or are we going to be forced to fight to the death to see which one of us you choose?”
Quinn understood that people cut loose when they were on the ship. This was often a bonding exercise for groups of women — including the ones he was dealing with now — but he could already tell this particular trio was going to cause trouble. They were young, none over twenty-five, and they were fans of squealing and calling attention to themselves. That was never a good combination.
“I’m engaged,” he said promptly, opting to nip their flirtation attempts in the bud. “I don’t think you’re going to have much luck with me. As for the other security guards, I don’t generally judge them on their looks. You’re welcome to shop for anythi
ng you like, though.”
The third woman, Connie Johnson, jutted out her lower lip. “You’re engaged? Poo. We really like you.”
“There are plenty of other men out there for you to turn your attention to.” And sink your claws in, he silently added. “The thing is, you’re making a spectacle of yourselves and we haven’t even left port yet.”
“So what?” Lana made a face. “We’re on vacation. We’re allowed to have a good time.”
“You are,” he agreed. “The thing is, there are other people here on vacation who want to have a good time, too. Do you think they should have their good time derailed by your good time?”
“I have no problem with that,” Violet answered without hesitation. “If they know what’s good for them, they’ll join in with our good time.”
Quinn was at the end of his rope. “Listen, I don’t care if you guys want to be rowdy. There are numerous bars down on the promenade that cater to single individuals in your age range. I think you’ll have a great time there. This is the lobby, though, and there’s no need to create a disturbance here ... especially when we can still remove you from the ship without ramifications.”
The threat, no matter how smoothly delivered, hit home.
Connie, who happened to be the soberest of the three — which wasn’t saying much — understood better than the others what he was saying. “We paid for our tickets,” she said somberly. “You can’t just kick us off the ship.”
“You might want to read the fine print on those tickets a little more closely,” Quinn countered. “You basically signed away your rights when you agreed to follow the rules we set on our floating city. Don’t make me remove you. I understand you’re having a good time. This is the lobby, though, and you need to behave yourselves.”
The women exchanged dark looks and Quinn had no doubt the crushes they’d been harboring only moments before had turned into something else entirely.
“Fine,” Violet said finally, clutching her drink tighter. “We’ll go to the pool or something. We don’t have to stay here.”
“That’s all I ask.” Quinn’s smile was back. “We really do want you to have a good time. Just be careful that you don’t ruin anybody else’s good time in the process.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Violet offered up a dismissive wave of her hand. “Come on, guys. We’re not wanted here with Officer Stick-in-the-Mud. We’ll find a better place to hang out.”
“Yeah,” the other two echoed, shooting him annoyed looks. It was obvious they weren’t happy with the turn of events. “We’re going someplace else.”
He offered up a mock salute. “Have a good time.”
“We will.”
MADDIE’S EYES WERE AS BIG AS saucers as she looked around the ornate lobby.
“Look at this place,” she intoned as she moved in a small circle and eyed the opulent chandelier with something akin to delight. “I mean ... just look at this place.”
Nick’s amusement was obvious as he dug in the folder he carried, which happened to contain all their travel arrangements. He was an organized individual but traveling often made him edgy. “We’ll take a tour once we drop off our bags. Ah, here it is.” He came up with the receipt he’d printed months before and presented it to the smiling clerk behind the desk. Her name tag read “Barbie” and she seemed awfully chipper.
“Okay,” Barbie looked over the sheet, her smile never wavering. “This is great. Let me just get your room number from the computer here. I’m going to need some identification and to see your passports for the stops, too.”
“Sure.” Nick returned to the folder and grabbed both waiting passports before sliding his eyes to Maddie. “She needs your identification, love.”
“The passport can serve as both,” Barbie promised, accepting the small blue booklets. “Let’s see ... oh, you guys just got married. How great.”
“It is great,” Nick agreed. “I’m a very happy man.”
“I think you’re about to be happier.” Barbie’s smile grew in width. “I see there’s a note here. It seems you got upgraded from the standard honeymoon suite to one of the premium suites. That’s a big deal so … congratulations.”
Nick stilled, surprised. He wasn’t poor — not by a long shot — but the standard suite had been so expensive he couldn’t justify upgrading further given the price. “I don’t understand.”
“There’s a card here. Hold on.” Barbie winked at him before moving to a box at the end of the counter. She returned a minute later with what looked to be a greeting card in an envelope. “I believe this will explain things.”
Nick eyed the envelope for a moment and then took it, frowning at the unfamiliar handwriting on the front. “Mad, do you recognize this writing?”
Maddie turned her full attention away from the fancy lobby and focused on Nick. “Um ... not particularly. Why?”
“Because we’ve been upgraded to a special room and I think it’s a gift.”
“I don’t know from who.” Maddie took the card and opened it, her eyes going wide after a few seconds. “This is because of you, not me.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Read it.”
Slowly, Nick took the card and opened it. In hindsight, he realized he shouldn’t have been surprised. His parents wanted to pay for the entire honeymoon, but Nick insisted it wasn’t necessary. The upgrade was one of the few things they could manage and still keep it a surprise.
“Well, this is very nice,” he said finally. “My parents,” he explained to Barbie. “They wanted to give us something special.”
“Oh, they gave you something special.” Barbie was beyond bubbly. “Not only do you have one of the nicest rooms on the ship — I mean, it’s got a tub that’s shaped like a wine glass and the best bubbles anywhere — but you’ve also got the premium drink and food pass.” She handed over two armbands. “Just wear these while you’re on the ship and you don’t have to pay for a single thing. That includes whatever you might like in our stores. Your parents spared no expense.”
Nick was flabbergasted. “Oh, well ... .”
“Nicky, they wanted to do this for us,” Maddie chided. She could practically read the intent lurking in the depths of his eyes. He didn’t want to take anything he didn’t believe he’d earned. “They wanted to give us something and felt left out because we paid for the wedding ourselves. I don’t think this is so extravagant that you need to turn it away.”
Nick let loose a long sigh and then nodded. “I guess it will be kind of fun to live the high life for a few days, huh?”
Maddie enthusiastically nodded. “It’s going to be great. I can’t wait to call Granny and tell her about it. She’s going to be so jealous.”
Nick glanced at the clock on the wall behind the desk. “I’m willing to bet Maude had a very late night, Mad. She’s probably still in bed.”
“Why do you think I’m calling now?”
He had to laugh. He had no other choice. “Fine. We’ll check out the room and annoy Maude. Then we’re hitting the deck and celebrating with those fruity drinks that have the flamboyant umbrellas.”
Maddie returned his grin. “You read my mind.”
ROWAN DIDN’T CONSIDER HERSELF THE sentimental sort, but she couldn’t help but smile as she watched the obviously happy couple — their names were Nick and Maddie Winters and they were newlyweds — head toward the elevator. They were clearly having a good time, and there was nothing more beautiful than a couple in love.
As The Bounding Storm’s one and only photographer, it was her job to make sure the guests had lasting memories in the form of pictures ... that they had to pay for. She was so delighted by how adorable Maddie and Nick were, though, she made a mental note to catch them as many times as possible. They’d mentioned they had the inclusive package thanks to his parents, which included photos, and they were such an attractive couple it would’ve been criminal not to capture them as often as she could.
Unfortunately for Rowan, the man
behind them in line was something else entirely.
“Do you want your photo taken?” she asked him with faux brightness.
He was a young man, under thirty, and he had dark hair and eyes. The fact that he was brooding only made him look more unapproachable. Still, she had a job to do. She didn’t know what his deal was, but she was determined to at least make the offer. If he declined, that was on him.
“I don’t understand this ... thing,” he offered instead of responding, gesturing toward the brightly-colored cardboard backdrop. “That’s like a really small tiki bar. I mean ... it’s clearly not to scale.”
Rowan managed to rein in her temper ... but just barely. “I don’t think it’s supposed to be to scale,” she replied easily. “It’s just a fun backdrop. You don’t have to get a photo if you don’t want to.”
“I think it looks stupid.”
“Yes, well, there’s nothing that says you’re required to have your photo taken.”
“Okay.” The man was morose, and looked relieved about the photo, but he didn’t make a move to leave. Instead, he continued staring at the fake tiki bar. “Is there anything to do for fun on this ship?”
Rowan found the question off-putting. If there was anyone who looked like he was allergic to fun, it was this guy. “There are numerous bars, a pool, live entertainment, and some of the best seafood you’ve ever eaten. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised, Mr. ... ?” She wasn’t sure of his name.
“Benton,” he replied, extending his hand. “Dylan Benton.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Benton,” Rowan said briskly. “Are you here by yourself?”
“It’s supposed to be a therapeutic vacation ... whatever that means.”
Honestly, Rowan had no idea what that was supposed to mean either. “Well ... I hope you have a good time.”
Grave Seas: A Maddie Graves and Rowan Gray Mystery Page 2