Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
R ansom tenses beside me right here at the Jolly Jester Lounge.
“Stanton,” Ransom says with a flat tone. And I can tell by the way his elbow is twitching that he’s feeling for his gun.
“Don’t you Stanton me,” he grunts and his high-octane breath nearly takes us all down.
“He’s been drinking,” I say, stating the obvious just as Tinsley, Neelie, and Elodie start in on a new song, one with much more oomph that gets the whole bar moving and grooving.
“That’s right, Trix,” Stanton bellows and slurs his words. “And when I drink, I say what I’m thinking. What are you doing, fooling around with these two men? A glorified security guard and some half-baked captain who thinks a uniform makes him king of the seas?” He waves his arm at the two of them and nearly knocks over every cocktail in reach. “You always had a thing for bad choices, but this little circus you’re running with these two broke jokes? It’s a whole other level. You deserve better, and yet—look where you’ve ended up.” He waves his arm around at the room once again.
His words hang in the air like an unpleasant stench, and I can feel Ransom stiffening beside me.
“You got some of that right,” I say. “You’re the one and only bad choice I made. ”
Stanton takes a bold step in our direction and Ransom stands to meet him and so does Wes.
Ransom nods his way. “You need to leave before you embarrass yourself any more than you already have.”
“Oh, you think I should leave?” Stanton laughs in his face. “You hear that, Trix? This wall of muscles you’ve got stalking you thinks I should leave.” He butts his chest to Ransom’s.
“You don’t have to leave, Stanton,” Ransom says, low and smooth. “I can always remove you myself.”
Stanton’s eyes darken, but he forces a laugh. “Oh, big, bad boy with a badge thinks he can threaten me. Always with the threats. One might think you’re compensating for something.”
“Oh, please .” I jump out of my seat and push Stanton right off Ransom before those bullets find a new home. “Ransom has nothing to compensate for, and you can practically ask any woman.”
It’s sort of a fact that Ransom was a playboy before he met me. All I care about is that he’s not one after me. Unlike Stanton.
“Is that what you want?” Stanton grabs me by the elbow. “Some gigolo who’s been around the block with who knows whom?”
“No, that’s what I got with you,” I spit the words out as I try to yank my arm free, but he strengthens his grip on me.
“That’s it, buddy.” Ransom carefully removes Stanton’s hand from my body before pulling back his fist, and just as he’s about to deck him, Wes practically jumps onto his arm.
“Don’t do it, Ransom,” Wes shouts as the room devolves into screams. “He’s drunk. Put him in the brig.”
Ransom growls as he wrestles Stanton’s arms behind his back and quickly lands him in cuffs before shuffling him out of the room.
“ You’ll regret this ,” Stanton shouts as he’s escorted out of the lounge. “And you’re going to regret marrying this lunatic, Trixie! He’s a first-class goon! And I’m going to sue you all.”
“So much for the perfect night,” Wes says as he wraps an arm around my shoulder.
“It was perfect,” I say with a sigh. “I’ve always wanted to see Stanton hauled off and screaming. I’ll consider it an early wedding gift.”
“You might just be too easy to please.” He tilts his head to the side. “How about one more stop before bed?”
“If there’s lava cake involved, I’m in.”
“No lava cake. Do you have a ring for Ransom?”
I suck in a quick breath. “Oh my word, I don’t have a ring! I don’t have a dress .”
“I’m sure Elodie can help you with the latter, but I asked the jeweler on the ship to wait around for us tonight. I thought it might give you a moment to pick something out.”
We say goodnight to Bess and Nettie and wave to the divas on the stage as we head for the Queen’s Mall where the Captain’s Treasure Chest is staying open late just for me.
Wes helps me peruse the offerings and I settle on the perfect piece for my handsome, strong husband-to-be. A simple silver circle made of what the jeweler boasts is the strongest metal—tungsten carbide. The same metal they make bullets from.
The strongest metal for the strongest man I know.
It seems fitting.
It is perfect—just like him.