Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
Suddenly Single—What a Trip!
H ey there, adventurous readers!
Are you ready to help me embark on an unforgettable journey through the tropical paradise of the Bahamas? I’m more than ready to set sail! I’m already looking forward to so many things like diving into the gorgeous culture and flavors of the Bahamas by trying local delicacies like conch fritters and drinking coconut water straight from the source! And I certainly plan on taking a leisurely stroll on those pristine beaches. After all, there’s no better way to embrace island life than with your toes in the sand and a Bahama Mama cocktail in hand!
Let the adventure begin. Here’s to making the most of every sunny, sandy moment!
XOXO Trixie
The Florida sun casts a golden glow over the Emerald Queen of the Seas , and I can hardly contain my excitement just looking at this majestic beauty as Bess, Nettie, and I make our way up the gangway. Soon enough, we set foot right where we belong, onto the gorgeous ship that just so happens to be our home.
No sooner do we step on board than I take a deep breath, savoring the fresh, sea-scented air. The polished deck glistens under the sunlight, and I can hear the distant sound of seagulls mingling with the chatter of excited passengers.
This is paradise.
There’s something magical about the first day of a cruise. The freshly scoured ship sparkles and gleams so bright you can see your reflection in every brass railing, the rush of the collective adrenaline from every last passenger eager to start their adventure fills the air, and the bubbling excitement within me—mostly for the culinary delights on the immediate horizon—is almost too much to contain.
I can’t wait to get to my cabin and offload my suitcase. And as soon as Bess, Nettie, and I do that, we’ll head straight to the lido deck to hit the buffet. We’re not ones to dawdle when it comes to the tasty offerings on this great ship. But first, there’s a certain someone I need to say hello to.
I crane my neck as the crowd around us swells, looking to find the reception line.
“First one to the buffet wins,” Bess says it like the dare it is and I make a face her way. She knows how dangerous it can be, serving up a dare to Nettie.
Bess Chatterley and Nettie Butterworth are my constant companions here on the ship. They’re both somewhere in their eighties and have been living on board the Emerald Queen for years now. Bess is a retired teacher who dyes her short locks a lovely shade of amber. And Nettie is a diehard hippie whose hair looks like a gray tumbleweed wobbling over her scalp. Both are witty, wealthy, and wise. And my life wouldn’t be the same without them.
They’re the ones that convinced me to call this ship home to begin with. And even though they’re both retired, I’m still gainfully employed by the Emerald Queen herself. I happen to teach art classes here on board a couple of times a week. It works out well for me because I get to combine my two passions. The first is doing what I love, which is art in just about any medium. And the second is to keep as far away from my ex-husband, Stanton, as possible. And now that I’ve achieved both, I can honestly say my life has been a success so far.
And as far as husbands go, I’m about to gain another one. I glance down at the sparkler Ransom placed on my finger last night when we docked and I can’t help but smile.
“First one to the buffet wins, huh?” Nettie pushes up the sleeves of her blouse. “I’m in. But only if the prize is more food.” She elbows me in the ribs. “I’ve got my eye on those chocolate fountains.”
“You stay away from those chocolate fountains,” Bess is quick to reprimand her. Although, let’s be honest, the chocolate genie is already out of the bottle—or fountain as it were. “The only thing you seem to do with those things is land inside of them.”
“I can’t help it.” Nettie’s shoulders sag a moment as if admitting defeat. “A chocolate fountain is a siren song to my soul.”
“Mine, too,” I say as the crowd continues to grow in size. “But I think I’ll start with a vanilla soft serve cone before we hit the buffet. The lava cake will meet my chocolate needs later. This humidity practically demands I have a cone every twenty minutes.”
“Look at us.” Bess shakes her head. “We’ve hardly stepped on board, and we’re already planning our culinary conquests. And you don’t have to remind me that I started this party.”
“Well, someone’s gotta make sure the food is up to par,” Nettie says as she leads us back into the crowd. “It’s a matter of quality control.”
“Oh, they’ve got plenty of quality food here,” Bess says as we follow along. “The problem is, we don’t seem to have any control.”
We share a quick laugh just as the crowd parts and we spot the usual lineup of a few crewmembers welcoming the passengers on board.
Captain Crawford, Wes as he prefers, stands tall in his all-white uniform with brass buttons running up and down the front of his jacket. He’s wearing a matching hat with just as much hardware, and just about everyone is more than eager to take a selfie with him.
Next to him is Tinsley Thornton, the cruise director who for whatever reason I’ve never quite bonded with. Basically, Tinsley had a thing for both Wes and Ransom, and well, ever since I’ve boarded the ship, I seem to have garnered the attention of both of those men, much to her chagrin—and red-hot ire, too. Suffice it to say, Tinsley has a temper and she’s not afraid to wield it in my direction.
I look past her and my heart lets out a sonic boom.
There he is, tall, dark, and lethally handsome.
Ransom Courtland Baxter has thick dark hair with matching dark stubble strewn across his far too handsome face, eyes the color of a tropical ocean, and a body built for destruction. His nature is brooding, he hardly ever smiles, and he can spot danger more than half a planet away. He’s a retired FBI behavioral analyst, he’s the head of vessel security, and he just so happens to be my shiny new fiancé.
“Hello, Captain,” I say, passing Wes by. “Tinsley.” I don’t bother looking her way either. Instead, I’m immediately engulfed in Ransom’s strong arms as he lands a kiss on my lips and spins me around.
“Hello, beautiful,” he murmurs right over my lips. He’s dressed to impress in an inky dark suit and holds the heart-stopping scent of musk and spice. “Why does it feel as if I haven’t seen you in eight weeks?”
“It’s been less than eight hours,” I counter.
He lifts a dark brow. “Far too long.”
A wicked smile curves on my lips. “I wholeheartedly agree.”
“All right, you two,” Tinsley grunts. “I’m close to losing my lunch. Can you turn down the volume on that hot-to-trot routine, or do I need to shove you in the nearest swimming pool to cool off?”
“Don’t listen to her.” Wes nods our way and sheds an easy smile. “Congratulations once again on your upcoming nuptials. I’m guessing the two of you have a lot of wedding planning to get to.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Nettie says. “But first food . Come on, Trix. We’ll nail down the dirty wedding deets at dinner. The lido deck is starting to fill up.”
“Trixie, normally I’d swat her for you,” Bess says. “But with this heat, I can really use a big glass of sweet tea. I’m sure the details will come to you in time.”
“Every last wedding detail is in Trixie’s hands,” Ransom says, giving me a squeeze. “I defer to your wisdom.”
“My wisdom in that department is pretty rusty,” I say with a laugh. “Besides, I’d love it if you were a part of it. I say we tackle it together.”
His eyes crinkle with a warm smile all their own as he looks at me. “I’m honored to be a part of the process. But most important to me is that all of your wedding dreams come true. The sky’s the limit. Let it be known, there’s no budget for this shindig.”
I bite down a smile. Ransom is ridiculously wealthy, and it’s sweet of him to want to shower me with whatever my heart desires but?—
Before I can say a word in protest, a boisterous group of women screams at the top of their lungs as they head our way.