Love Overboard

Chapter 35

“HOW DID WE MANAGE TO talk all night?” Lacey shifted her body against the solid man at her side. “I have to be at work in”—she checked her watch—“three hours.”

The twinkle lights cast their romantic glow over Cloud Nine as Lacey sat next to Jon on the plush bench. A blanket was wrapped around them both, providing a soft, comforting barrier against the early-morning chill.

“Do you want me to walk you to your cabin?” Jon asked.

She snuggled deeper in their fleecy cocoon. “What for? I’m already dressed for duty.” She twisted her lips at the scuffed navy pumps on her feet and swatted his chest. “Next time, give me fair warning when you’re about to pull out the fancy stuff. I’ll come decked out for the occasion.”

Jon’s fingers tugged at the strand of hair by her ear. “You take my breath away no matter what you wear.”

She snorted. “That was a little corny.”

“But true.” He wrapped his arms tight around her waist. “Have I told you how much I love you?”

“I recall you mentioning it.” She crossed her legs at the ankles.

“That’s good.” Jon cleared his throat. “Did you have anything particular you wanted to say in return?”

Lacey stilled. Her ankles uncrossed, and she stared at her sensible shoes.

“Something short?” he said. “Three words long?”

She slowly raised her head. His mouth was smiling, but his eyes held a question. Did she?

Of course she did. How could she not love a man as gorgeous, compassionate, and caring as Jon? Still … saying the words was a leap off a cliff. Something she could never take back.

Goose bumps rose on her arms, but they weren’t from the cold. She opened her mouth. “I—”

A shrill ring sounded from Jon’s pocket. He pushed the blanket off and pulled out his phone.

“Who’s calling me at four in the morning?” Jon tapped the screen. “Security. I’d better answer this.”

Lacey scooted away.

He wrapped an arm around her hip and dragged her to his side. “Stay here. It only takes one hand to answer the phone.”

She giggled and laid her head on his shoulder.

He accepted the call and held the phone to his ear. “This is Jonathan King.” He tensed. “What did you say?” Jon withdrew his arm and stood. “I’ll be right there.”

“What’s wrong?” Lacey looked up at him.

“It’s the Shippers.” The hand holding the phone dropped to his side. “They’ve been arrested.”

Lacey and Jon sped down the narrow hallway. A husky security guard in a black uniform stood at the end, blocking a beige door with Brig posted on it. He moved aside as they approached and then took a ring of keys off his belt. After unlocking the door, he pushed it open and led them inside. They walked through an even smaller hallway with scuffed linoleum flooring and opened the door at the end.

Blue padded walls greeted them as they entered a plain space about the size of a suburban second bathroom. A tangy odor filled the tiny area—magnolia perfume mixed with sunblock and butterscotch. The lone piece of furniture was a single bed, on which sat four senior citizens dressed from head to toe in black—looking, for all the world, like a group of naughty children in time-out.

“They claim they were trying to change two duty rosters to match.” The guard stuck the keys in his pocket. “Said it was more romantic or … something. Do you suppose they’re going senile?”

Jon’s breath stuttered. Lacey eyed him as he pressed his lips together and rolled them inward, his chin twitching. She reached behind him and pinched his back.

“This is serious,” she whispered.

He nodded his head, his mouth still quivering.

“I’ll leave you to it.” The guard stepped out and shut the door.

Lacey propped her hands on her hips. “Was it worth it, ladies?”

Althea’s and Daisy’s lower lips protruded. Gerry hung her head.

But Emily raised her chin and stared Lacey down. “It was for a worthy cause.”

“Worthy enough to go to jail?” Lacey flung her arms wide. Her fingertips almost reached the width of the cell.

“You can’t prove anything,” Althea said. “It’s our word against the security guard’s.”

Jon scrunched his face. “They have camera footage of you entering my office.”

Her eyebrows dipped. “That … that wasn’t me. I might bear a passing resemblance to her, but you can’t identify who it was under the sunglasses and scarf.”

“I never said what she was wearing.”

“Nice going.” Gerry gave her the stink eye.

Althea bit her lip and wrinkled her nose.

With her arms crossed, Lacey hovered over Emily. “Since you’re the ringleader, it’s your fault the Shippers are locked up.”

“Pish-tosh.” Emily sniffed at the barren room. “It’s not so bad. There aren’t even any bars on the door.”

“We can have some installed if you plan to make this a habit.”

“Heavens, no!” Daisy said. “We’ve learned our lesson.”

Althea held up her right hand. “We promise, baby. No more—”

“Don’t let her bully you.” Emily stood straight and tall. “We know this is all for show. It’s normal protocol to lock unruly passengers in their cabins. You must have arranged this to keep us in line. Am I right?”

Lacey gritted her teeth. The woman was scary smart. If only she would use her powers for good instead of matchmaking. “Emily”—she forced her voice to stay calm—“all you have to do is stop these crazy, convoluted plots.”

“But we want you to be happy, dear.” Emily sat back on the bed with the heartbroken expression of a spanked child.

“Gah.” Lacey thrust her hands in the air and curled her fingers. “How can I get through to you?”

“Lacey.” Jon captured her elbow. “We should come clean.”

“Shhhh!” She jerked her head at the Shippers.

“Look at them.” He motioned to the four aging prisoners on the narrow bed. “I’m afraid they’ll get in real trouble if they keep going.”

Lacey glanced at the Shippers. The obstinate tilt of Emily’s chin guaranteed future meddling.

Lacey pursed her lips and flicked a gaze at the ceiling. “You’re right. Tell them.”

Gerry folded her arms. “Tell us what?”

The hand Jon placed on Lacey’s elbow slowly slid down her arm, and his fingers interlocked with hers. He faced the women. “You win, ladies. Lacey and I are officially together.”

Emily side-eyed him. “What do you mean by ‘together’?”

Jon placed his free hand to his chest. “I offered my heart, and the fair lady has accepted me. We are in a committed romantic relationship.”

Five seconds of shock followed.

Then …

“Hallelujah!” Althea jumped up and did a Sunday-morning shuffle by the bed.

Gerry slapped the blue padded wall and nodded her head. “I knew something was fishy.”

Daisy sneaked a handkerchief from the pocket of her velvet robe and pressed it to her mouth.

And Emily sat silent and still. But her eyes betrayed her happiness. The joy welled and spilled out of them in shiny little drops.

Lacey regretted her churlish behavior at the sight of tears. But she’d make it up to the stubborn old matchmaker, who’d been right all along. It was stupid to run from love. Lacey should have stopped sooner. No more avoidance. Jon was a permanent part of her life, and that meant there was an important task she had to complete.

Whether she wanted to or not.