Page 64 of Love Overboard
Lacey’s gaze snapped to the entrance. Her father and mother stood in line at the front doors, waiting to be seated.
“What are you doing here?” She hurried over. “We already ate together.”
Her father rubbed his stomach. “It’s not often I get to eat this good. I want to enjoy it while I can.”
Lacey glanced at her mother. “Are you still hungry, Mom?”
She looked at her husband. “I can drink a cup of coffee while your father eats.”
The man at the front desk approached. “Are these your parents, Lacey? I’ll give them a table by the window.”
“Thank you, Dennis.”
“Good evening, sir.” He bowed to her father. “I don’t know what we’d do without your daughter. She makes sure everything on this ship is perfect, whether it’s in her job description or not.”
“I expect nothing less from my little girl.” Ronald Anderson nodded. “Don’t you take advantage of her.”
Jon’s voice came from behind them. “Did I hear these are Lacey’s parents?” He approached the group—impressive in his dress white uniform with black-and-gold epaulets on the shoulders.
Dennis introduced him. “This is our cruise director, Jonathan King.”
Jon reached out. “It’s an honor to meet you both.” His warm tone welcomed them. He shook hands with Lacey’s father and mother.
Lacey stiffened from her knees to her earlobes. Her brain spun. How could she separate them before it was too late?
“You’re the cruise director?” Ronald leaned forward. “I had a question about the entertainment.”
“Not now, Dad.” She jumped in. “I need to discuss a matter with Mr. King. You and Mom enjoy your second dinner.” Lacey grabbed Jon’s arm and hauled him away from the pair. Dragging him from the dining room, she whispered, “I told you not to meet my parents.”
“They don’t know who I am,” he whispered back. “To them, I’m simply the cruise director.”
Lacey steered him to the elevator and pressed the button. The doors opened, and a noisy group spilled out of the car. She stepped aside to let them pass.
A man with a head-to-toe sunburn spotted them. The space where his sunglasses had sat gleamed white. “Hey, buddy.” He slapped Jon on the back. “I’m loving this cruise.”
“So glad we’re doing our jobs.” Jon returned the slap. “Be sure to use real sunblock, not the spray-on kind.”
The sunburned man guffawed. “You got me. I’ll remember that next time.”
Lacey and Jon entered the elevator. She pressed the button and then crossed her arms, her body angled away.
He ducked his head to see her expression. “Why is this such a big deal? All I did was introduce myself.”
She turned to him. “Do you have a good relationship with your father?”
One side of Jon’s mouth twisted in a bemused smile. “He’s my best friend.”
“Then you can’t relate.” Lacey drew closer and took his hand in both of hers. “Take my word for it—the less time you spend with my dad, the better. Please avoid him for the rest of the voyage.”
“Can you at least tell me why—”
She let go and faced the doors. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
The elevator dinged and opened. A woman in a burgundy sequined dress stumbled in. The smell told them she’d been enjoying the open bar for a while. She met them with a wide-mouthed grin. “Hi, y’all.” The lady grasped a box of popcorn as she swayed. She giggled at Jon and held out the box. “You want some?”
The popcorn tottered back and forth with its owner.
“Sure.” He grabbed a couple pieces and tossed the kernels in his mouth. “Thanks.”
