Page 32 of The Situation Ship
They’d needed this dose of normality. Mina didn’t seem as on edge, even deciding to go to the pool alone this afternoon. Until now, she’d clung to Poppy’s side, making Isaiah wish Poppy had some of her self-preservation instincts.
He was currently sitting beside Poppy in the comfort of the nail boutique. She was reclining in a white leather lounge chair, her eyes closed in blissful relaxation. Isaiah, on the other hand, was bored and restless. The manicurist had left them in peace for a moment while their hands were moisturising in heated gloves.
“Don’t you think you’re putting on a bit too much of a show with this whole act?” he asked, scrunching his nose at the overpowering aroma of the salon. The potent mixture of floral fragrances and chemical scents lingered in the air, dulling his senses.
“If I spend any more time in the pool, I’ll turn into a prune,” Poppy said, wriggling her fingers in the gloves. “We’ve already been to the cinema twice and the bowling alley. I don’t want to hang out inside bars or casinos because the other guests want to talk to me, and I’ll lose my mind if we go back to the suite.”
The manicurist reappeared.
“Have you picked a shade, Ms Roe?” she asked Poppy, removing the gloves from her hands.
“I think ‘Summer Fling’ is the perfect shade of red,” she replied, matching the colour to her sundress.
“Excellent choice!” The manicurist smiled as she filed Poppy’s nails.
Isaiah tried to settle into the lounge chair beside her, his hands submerged in a glass bowl filled with slices of lemon and cucumber. Despite the comfortable chair, his back was killing him from sleeping on the couch. He felt like a fish out of water in this environment. All the women in the surrounding chairs were staring at him like fresh meat.
“Are you comfortable, sir? Can I get you a coffee or herbal tea?” the manicurist asked him as he fidgeted.
“I’m fine, thank you,” he responded, not wanting to be rude.
“Ignore him. He isn’t used to such pampering,” Poppy said, not even trying to hide her amusement.
“Don’t get too comfortable. I might start thinking you’re doing this to annoy me,” Isaiah muttered, resigned to his fate.
“I’m simply making sure we’re ready for the opera tomorrow. I thought you could use some relaxation. Next time, I’ll send you for a massage instead.”
“Nice try, but I wouldn’t leave you for so long.”
“Maybe a couple’s one, then,” she said, delighted. He’d noticed that flirting with him brought her the most amusement.
“Absolutely not. I’m on duty, and being naked face-down isn’t exactly the best position to be in when faced with a threat.”
“Do you ever not think about work?”
“No.”
“Is your masculinity being threatened?” Poppy teased, side-eyeing him while the manicurist pretended not to listen.
“I’m very secure in my masculinity, thank you,” he said, annoyed and amused, “but I don’t want to have to reach for my gun with my hands covered in lotion.”
Poppy’s laughter caught him off guard. It was the best noise he’d heard since they’d got on board, though he wished it wasn’t at his expense.
“You could’ve come here with Mina, and I could’ve waited outside,” he pointed out.
“She wanted to go to the pool, and that’s progress for her. Also, she found out a Formula One driver, Francis something, that she likes is on board, and I can’t blame her for not wanting to pass up on that opportunity,” Poppy said.
Isaiah snorted. He doubted Levi would be happy about Mina flirting with another man aboard his ship. Still, Isaiah wouldn’ttouchthat situation with a twenty-foot pole. He was in charge of keeping her alive, not keeping her away from men.
“You look irritated. Is there something going on between you and Mina?” Poppy cut through Isaiah’s thoughts, her tone carrying a hint of suspicion.
Isaiah shook his head. “Are you jealous?”
“No!” She snapped, not meeting his eye. “But it would explain why you were worried about her. Feel free to leave and go check on her.”
“There’s nothing between Mina and me. Eckells wanted me to look out for both of you; I told you that already,” he stated firmly.
“Can I ask how you know Mina’s boss? Are you a frequent visitor of the Heaven’s Heart club?”
