16. Salt Water
Chapter 16
Salt Water
Sam
A nders is next to me. Separating me from her. Two months of not touching her is going to kill me.
“You ready for this?” I ask her over the top of Anders’ head. He’s got the new control pad for the ship pulled up on his phone. A meteor could fall out of the sky—so long as all systems on the boat were in the green, Anders wouldn’t even look up.
Haley’s holding a tray of rolled towels, and Shayla next to her has a tray of champagne. Normally, the chief stew wouldn’t have to hold anything. But there is nothing normal about this season. I spent the wee hours of this morning on the phone, hoping we could get a replacement out for Brianna. But no such luck. I found a stew, but Rocky wants to go out far, so it will be two weeks before we can swing into a port and pick her up.
I haven’t told Haley yet. We haven’t been alone since yesterday. And it’s a good idea if it stays that way. Her coconut scent is drifting on the breeze straight to my cock.
“We’re ready. Right, Shayla?” Haley says, a twinkle in her eye.
“We’re going to rock this shit.” Shayla holds the tray like a pro, her hand loosely over the base of the glasses.
Four silhouettes approach from down the dock. The driver called me ten minutes ago, letting us know they were almost here.
“Rocky.” I grab his wrist and shake his hand. He pulls me into a hug. I knew he would. The big man is a hugger. My ribs groan from his pressure.
“Good to see you. How’s the little dinghy holding up?” He slaps my back.
“She’s a beauty.”
“She is! Can’t wait to get her out on the water.” He pulls his fiancée next to him.
“Candy, it’s lovely to see you.” I try not to cough from the cloud of perfume surrounding her. She kisses each of my cheeks like the Frenchwoman she wishes she was. “Let me introduce my department heads. Anders was with us last season on the Mermaid’s Tale . And this is Haley Brewster, our new chief stew. Dante, your chef, Zane the bosun, and Calvin, head of Engineering. Also, we have our stew Shayla, Waldo secondary deckhand, and Mitch the secondary engineer.” I catch Calvin shoving his phone into his pocket. I know it’s the new systems he’s looking at, but the guests don’t. I shoot him a raised eyebrow, and he looks away.
“Lovely to meet you, Mr. Rockwell.” Haley puts out her hand.
Candy steps in front of her fiancé, blocking Haley’s handshake.
Rocky laughs. “My Mrs-to-be is a little territorial.”
Haley shakes Candy’s hand instead. Candy gives one of those limp-wristed handshakes that give me the shivers.
“Hey, Captain Sam. This is my boyfriend, Brick Hanover.” Emily shakes my hand. She’s a ray of sunshine, and you couldn’t get more different from Candy if you tried. She’s wearing cutoff jeans, cheap flip-flops, and a white T-shirt with a hand-painted design.
“Nice to meet you.” Brick stops and shakes my hand. He looks like a dudebro straight from a movie. But then again, we are on a yacht. He completely clashes with Emily’s vibe.
“Haley’s going to show you the boat. She’ll give you a complete tour.” I nod at the four of them.
“Where’s my brother?” Emily spins in a circle.
“He told me to say this exactly.” Haley clears her throat. “‘Tell the rug rat I’m working and can’t listen to her babbling until dinner.’”
“Oh, hell no he didn’t.” Emily places her empty champagne glass on the tray. “Thank you.” She smiles at Shayla. “Where is his lazy ass?”
“Down one flight in the Fortune suite.” Haley smiles.
Candy gasps. “He’s not supposed to stay in there. He’s supposed to be in the Golden Tire.” Candy snaps her fingers for Shayla to fill her empty glass. I’m not sure it’s possible to dislike a person more. “Why is he in there? I sent specific instructions. I don’t care what the shrew wanted in the past. I want him in the Golden Tire suite.”
I have no idea what she’s going on about, but I’m guessing it has something to do with Rocky’s ex, Susan. I turn to Anders, and he shakes his head. He was the one who gave the preference sheets to the heads of the departments. But I read them.
“I’m sorry, Candy. I didn’t see any instructions on cabin assignments.” Haley’s smile is demure.
Candy snorts. “Typical.”
The whole “the owner is always right” philosophy doesn’t always float with me, not when they are being dicks for no reason. “Candy.” My tone drops. “Haley wasn’t part of the boat provisioning team. Anders and I received the preference sheets.”
Candy shakes her finger. “He needs to be in the Golden Tire room. That’s his suite.”
“We can prepare that suite for him, and he can move if he wants.” Haley smiles. “Now if you’ll follow me, I can show you your glorious owner’s suite. I know you’re going to love it. It’s the prettiest one I’ve ever seen.” Haley ignores Rocky, putting all her attention on Candy. “If you’ll follow me.”
“I think I’ll tag along.” I give a quick nod to Anders, who looks at me like I’m crazy. The rest of the crew has scurried off to change out of their formal uniforms and get ready for launch. Normally I would go to the bridge too, but I’d bet all of our tip money that Candy is going to have kittens when she discovers that three quarters of her decor is gone. I texted with Rocky about it, and also about Brianna. But if things go true to last season, he didn’t tell her.
The main salon looks amazing. It’s a lot easier to appreciate all the woodwork when it’s not hidden behind boxes.
“It looks good.” Candy touches the base of one of the largest horse statues. The thing took three men at the shipyard to carry on board. It’s specially mounted on the frame of the ship to keep it from tipping over if we lose stabilizers. Which is bound to happen at some point. Last year’s model of this ship had actual issues with the air-conditioning stealing all the power and knocking the stabilizers off. The shipyard promises they fixed the issue. Stabilizers are important, especially on a top-heavy boat like this one. “But I ordered more horse statues. Little ones to surround the big one on the floor. Where are they?”
“On the floor?” Haley’s got her stew face on. “I see. Well, boating standards don’t allow for things on the floor. If the boat tips, they become projectiles.”
“That’s what the builders said. And I told them I don’t care. I want more horses.”
“It could endanger the safety of the passengers and crew,” Haley repeats in a more direct way.
“Where did you put them? Where’s Brianna? Why wasn’t she out on that stupid receiving line?” Candy, finishing her second glass of champagne in a gulp, puts the glass on the bookshelf and turns to Rocky. But he’s abandoned the tour. Actually, both Emily and Brick have too. It’s just Haley and me following the raging lunatic around.
So Rocky hasn’t told her about her niece or the donation. But then, I didn’t expect he would. I hoped he had.
“Candy, your niece assaulted another crew member. I have let her go.” I don’t bring up the restraining order. Easton can do that if he wants to. Which I’m guessing he doesn’t, or he already would have.
“Assault? That’s absurd. I’m sure the other girl started it.” She waves her arms about.
“I didn’t say it was a girl.” I stare down at her. As far as trophies go, Candy isn’t much of one. She’s not much to look at and has the personality of a rusted jack hammer. But even though the man has made billions, he’s not willing to stand up to her.
“Didn’t you? Of course it has to be a girl. Men love Brianna.”
Haley’s nodding away.
“She’s not welcome on board. I’m sure Rocky can give you the details when you ask him about it.” I cross my arms over my chest.
“I’ll do that. You know, you’re not the only captain of yachts. Where’s my cabin?” She glowers at Haley.
I stand there and cock my head slightly. Then I give her a quick nod. She’s right. They have other options. Few would put up with her. And while I believe you should never talk badly about a former employer, I’ll make sure no one I know ends up with this commission. Right now, I’m counting, because my mother taught me never to swear at a lady. And she’s the owner’s soon-to-be wife.
But Anders was right. He suggested we look for a new boat. I suspect he’s been looking for a new one for a while now, on his own. Which is the way of yachting. I didn’t expect him to be my first officer forever. He’s more than ready for his own boat.
I lucked out getting in with Rocky five years ago. This is my third new boat with Rocky but the first that was new from the shipyard. I can find a new position on another yacht next season, if it comes down to that. Because I’m not going to be her punching bag. I’ve got a great resumé, and nowhere on it does it include “yes-man.”
“This way.” Haley is motioning when Shayla magically appears with an espresso martini.
“Oh. Now this is what I’m talking about. I like this one.” She smiles at Shayla, whose hair is curled up short with a white headband that matches the shimmering paint of the Rock Candy .
Shayla smiles and zips back to the butler’s pantry before Candy can draw her into a conversation.
I can leave them alone now. Candy seems like she’s not going to cause any permanent harm to any of the crew, and especially not to Haley. I reach for my phone to fake a getaway when Candy gasps.
Don’t say it, don’t say it.
“What’s wrong?” Haley responds out of reflex, and I can see her kicking herself for reacting.
“Oh, nothing. The bedroom—I mean the cabin—it’s lovely. Without any of that stuff that Susan picked out.” Candy spits out the name of the woman she replaced. The cabin is stunning, and the stews have fresh flowers matching Candy’s preference sheet in multiple places around the room. The bed faces the bow of the ship, and it has a 180-degree view.
Candy lies down on top of the ivory comforter. Multiple layers of horse pillows engulf her head. Her drink sloshes over onto the comforter, but she doesn’t pay any attention.
Haley is there with a towel, immediately dabbing at the large spot.
“Oh, leave it, Kaley. I’m going to sit here and watch the ocean.” She takes a big sip of her drink and puts the glass on the nightstand. “Unpack my bags for me and press everything.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Haley smiles and doesn’t say a thing about Candy getting her name wrong.
“I’m not old enough to be a ma’am,” she yells. “Call me Candy.”
“Anything else you need, Candy?”
“Yes, tell your captain to get the boat moving. I’m waiting.”
How drunk was she coming on board that she forgot I’m in the room? “We’ll be underway shortly.” I leave the stateroom and follow Haley out. We march in silence to the butler’s pantry.
“Wow,” Haley says. “Just so you know, Shayla and I reached out to your chief stew from last year. I hope you don’t mind. I DM’d her. She said our only hope is to keep Candy’s glass filled up with espresso martinis. They put Candy to sleep. And to order more sheets.”
“Good plan. I asked Kerri to come back, but she said she’d rather die from a thousand paper cuts than set eyes on Candy again.” We head up the stairs to the main salon deck where the bridge and kitchen are.
Haley laughs. “I guess you’re glad you didn’t lead with that when you interviewed me.” She cocked her head.
I’m not a dishonest guy. I don’t lie. But I might not have described the owners in great detail. I wanted Haley to take the job. Plus, Kerri, while a professional stew, takes everything too personally. She spent a good amount of time hiding, crying over things Candy said to her.
“No, I’m glad I didn’t either.” My eyes rake over Haley’s body.
The butler’s pantry is first, then the kitchen. I can hear Shayla talking to Rocky and Brick on the aft deck. Maybe there is a benefit to not having so many stews. I nudge Haley into the butler’s pantry and shut the door. It’s seven feet long and wide enough for cabinets on both sides and not much more. A long closet, a long closet with no cameras. I shut the door and flick the lock. It’s meant to keep the door from banging on rough seas. It won’t keep anyone out. But with Haley pushed against it...