Page 27 of Not that Sea-Rious
This was her chance.Marisa shimmied her shoulders and sat up straighter.This was the perfect opportunity for her to pitch a chance for her to wear her fabulous dress.
“Great options,” she began.“But we’ve just spent the day in the sun.We are super tan.I say we get gussied up in our finest and hit the nightclub.”
Carolyn pointed in her direction, wearing a broad smile.“We have a winner.”She leaned on her elbows over the table.“I have to make sure none of you are going to embarrass me on the dance floor at the reception,” she teased.
“Get ready for disappointment,” Tina mumbled into her cocktail.
“What are you talking about?”Joyce turned toward Tina.“You danced beautifully at your wedding.”
Tina chuckled.“Yeah, because Cynthia made me take lessons beforehand.It was all scripted, and I’ve forgotten the steps.”
“Okay, well then, now we have to,” Carolyn said as she rose to her feet.“We may need to get you some lessons.We are running out of time.”
“But”—Joyce looked between them—“the comedian.”
Carolyn flittered her hand.“Another night.”
Beau
Making the best of a bad situation was Beau’s motto for the evening—hell, the cruise in general.So, he decided a fun game would be to sample every martini the ship had on every menu.He tried all the choices, from a classic vodka martini to his favorite chocolate, as well as an espresso martini, cosmopolitan, and everything in between.
He was feeling no pain as he swayed his way through the decks.Furrowing his brows, Beau turned in a circle, realizing he hadn’t been on this part of the ship before.At least, not during normal hours.Flashing lights and a repetitive thumping beat came from an opening.The club music intrigued him, and he bopped his head along with it as he sipped at his sour apple martini and ducked inside.
Beau wasn’t the best dancer in the world, but he could hold his own when he had to.The martinis in his system were definitely helping him in the rhythm department.Well, in his mind, they were.For all he knew, people watching him thought he looked like he had a seizure.
Eh.No one around him seemed concerned.So, he kept on bobbing his head and bopping as he finished the final ’tini.What to drink next?
Surveying the other dancers, he noted most of the men held bottles in their hands.He wrinkled his nose at that idea.Nope.He wasn’t a beer drinker.The women, though, they had the fancy hurricane glasses.Maybe he should mix it up.He’d had all the martinis the ship offered.What other choice did he have?
Decision made.A sharp right had him weaving through the other club-goers with the crowded bar in his sights.Scanning up and down, he hoped to find an opening to squeeze into when he arrived.
Like a moth drawn to a flame, he spotted her.Stumbling as he went, Beau nearly tripped over his own jaw as it fell at the sight of Marissa.She’d pulled her long, straight chestnut hair in a bit of a twist, making her neck look that much longer and very bitable—if he were into that sort of thing.
The short black dress with the lace overlay clung to the dangerous curves of her body, accentuating her generous and grabbable hips.When she turned, his dick rose.She’d painted her lips with a luscious ruby color, and they begged him for a kiss.
Though the actual showstopper was the scalloped lacing along the deep V of her neckline.It plunged so deep into her ample cleavage it met the thick black belt cinching in her waist.There was no possible way she had a bra on.Yet her breasts were as perky as the twenty-something beside her.
This woman made his mouth water.
With a mind of their own, led by his cock, Beau’s feet carried him on over to her, despite there being no space at the bar near her.He’d make it work.Besides, she had one of those pretty hurricane glasses in her hand.It even had a nifty little umbrella and cherry decorating it.He definitely wanted whatever she was having.
16
Marissa
Somehow,Marissahadlosther friends.The nightclub was loud and crowded.She’d danced along with them, shook her caboose, and threw her arms in the air.Unfortunately, after the hustle and bustle and that side quest to the restroom, she’d been separated.Which seemed to be the perfect opportunity to seek a refill of her cocktail.She was on vacation, so sobriety was optional.
Standing at the bar, scanning the mass of writhing bodies amid the flashing lights and artificial smoke, she sought the bridal party.If there was one place they’d make their way back to, it was where they kept the booze.Camping out here seemed like the most logical place to find them.
Nibbling on her bottom lip, she silently cursed herself for turning down a bathroom buddy.What was she thinking?Never head to the ladies’ room alone was in the gal pal rules.She’d never have done something this stupid in college.Traveling in packs was safer, or at the very least, in pairs.How had she forgotten that at thirty-two?
To be fair, she hadn’t gone clubbing in ages.It was a young woman’s game.She was far past her prime and much preferred lounging on her couch, binge-watching her favorite canceled TV series on whatever streaming service had them.
After blowing out a heavy breath, she brought the sugary straw to her lips and filled her mouth with some Bahama Mama.The sweet beverage danced on her tongue as she swiveled her hips to the sound of the heavy beat.
“Fancy seeing you,” the familiar male voice drawled.
Doing her best not to spit out the overpriced cocktail, Marissa twirled.Beside her, wearing a Hawaiian print button-down, tan cargo shorts, flip-flops, and a beautiful smile, was Beau.
