Page 38 of Sailor's Delight

Casey’s eyes went wide. “Really?”

Jenn nodded, swallowing thickly.

“Oh…” Casey stared down at the tabletop and proceeded to chew his lip nervously, as if deep in thought. Finally, after the waitress had dropped off and Jenn had finished the water in her glass, Casey started, glancing at the waitress as she walked away.

“What if April came with us?”

Jenn started. “April? Who the hell is April?”

Casey pointed with his thumb toward the departing waitress. “April. What if she came with us? Would you come see the waterfall then?”

Jenn’s mouth was an open “O” of surprise.

“What’s up with you and this waterfall?”

Casey faltered, clearly flustered. “I don’t know. It’s just supposed to be world-class, really beautiful. I’ve just always thought things like that were more enjoyable with someone to share it with.”

Jenn nodded in absent agreement. She nodded toward April, now behind the bar. “What about April? Believe me, she’s interested.”

Casey was already shaking his head. “I have a policy: never date coworkers.”

“I thought this wasn’t a date.”

“It wouldn’t be with you,” Casey countered. “With her, it would be. Alone, I mean. If she’s the third wheel…” Casey gave a thumbs up. “No mixed signals there.”

Jenn stared again, trying to figure out this enormous, beautiful, talented puzzle of a man.

“All right. If April comes, I’ll go with you to see this waterfall.”

Casey tapped his hands on the tabletop, his grin infectious. “Fantastic. I’ll meet you at the gangway, or the plank, or whatever you call the place where you get off the boat.”

“Sounds good.”

Casey patted the table once more, grinning, then stood up and walked to the bar, disappearing through a staff door leading further into the ship.

Jenn stared after him, still mildly turned on yet more than anything confused about just what Casey’s intentions toward her might be.

Chapter 11

Trey barely slept that night. At multiple points, he considered barging across the hall and pounding on the door until Jenn let him in. But he knew she’d hate that. He’d hate that. And so, minute by minute, he waited.

He didn’t realize he’d fallen asleep until he woke up to the sound of a knock on his cabin door. He scrambled out sleep, the illumination of the numbers on the alarm clock the only light in the room. He searched for the door blindly, finally finding the handle and pulling it open. He blinked in the sudden glare of the light from the hallway.

Ricardo stood there, his face conveying his obvious displeasure at having to initiate this interaction with Trey.

“Mr. Trey, I was told to give you this. From Miss Jenn.” He handed Trey an envelope without another word, then walked rapidly away.

Trey held the envelope in one hand, blinking groggily down at it. He stepped back into the room and closed the door.What is this about?

He clicked on the cabin light and sat down on the bunk. His eyes sought out the alarm clock more intentionally now, and he froze.Is that really the time? Shit!He’d slept far longer than he’d ever intended to. The ship had likely already docked, and Jenn debarked. He was facing another full day of this excruciating waiting and ruminating.

He looked back down at the envelope and his brow furrowed. It wasn’t Jenn’s handwriting on the front. Trey slid his finger beneath the flap and tore through the adhesive.

As he scanned the contents, his eyes went wide, his face went white, and his breathing came in quickening spurts through his nose.

Trey darted to the safe and fumbled with the buttons, punching in the code he’d set upon getting settled. The lock clicked, he yanked the door open, and snatched out the black velvet bag, dumping its contents into the hand still holding the letter and envelope.

It was a bracelet, a 1920’s art deco piece, Trey had learned through his lazy attempt at research. The many sections featured intricate gold inlay designs accenting the gaudy rhinestone set into the center of each piece. At its middle, one large section featured a low pyramid shape, each of the four faces adorned with four different gems, each a different color.

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