Chapter 6
The Vasper was a nice boat.
Vanessa wasn't lying. With a Navy blue hull, Arctic white trim, and windswept lines, it wasn’t a bad place to spend a few weeks, or a month, or a lifetime.
Tyson escorted me down the dock to see me off. We stood at the stern of the massive boat, admiring it for a moment. “Have fun. Don’t worry about anything here. I’ve got everything under control.”
“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
He chuckled. “I’ll be just fine. Take as long as you need.”
“You’re the best.” I gave him a hug and squeezed tight.
“You call me if you need anything. Or if you get homesick.”
“I miss you guys already.”
“Something tells me you’ll forget all about Coconut Key the minute you step on that boat.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. “You saved my life.”
“Jack saved your life.”
We broke apart and shared an awkward moment.
“I’ll see you in a few weeks. Have fun. That’s an order.”
I gave him a mock salute before grabbing my bag and crossing the passerelle.
A cute deckhand greeted me as I stepped into the beach club.
It was spacious with a full bar. When underway, it retracted.
The deckhand took my luggage. It wasn't much, just a large roller case.
I had obsessively whittled it down to the basic necessities, while still bringing enough to cover every possible situation.
“I’m Pete,” he said with a smile. “You must be Teagan.”
“That’s me.”
“Welcome aboard. If there is anything you need, just ask. The crew is here to serve.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll take this to your cabin. It will be waiting for you.”
I climbed the molded-in steps to the aft deck. It was a sprawling space with an alfresco dining area, a bar, a TV, and a hard sunshade.
Vanessa rushed to greet me. With a wide smile, she shrieked with joy and gave me a tight hug. "We are going to have so much fun!"
She stepped back and looked me up and down. "You look fantastic!"
That put a slight grin on my face. I'd been feeling like total ass for the last several weeks, so it was nice to know I was hiding it well.
"You're as gorgeous as ever."
Vanessa smiled. "I know."
We both laughed.
“Is that him?”
“Who?”
“Your boss.”
I nodded.
“He is hot.” Vanessa waved to Tyson, still on the dock.
Tyson waved back, then walked toward the parking lot.
Vanessa fluttered her hand in front of my face. The rock on her ring finger was larger than a small planet. It sparkled in the Florida sunshine.
My eyes rounded at the size of it.
"It's nice, isn't it?"
"It could be a little bigger, don't you think?" I teased.
She sneered at me, then examined the ring. "Maybe it is a little small, but it's the gesture that counts." Then she burst into laughter. "I want you to meet him." She took my hand and dragged me across the aft deck.
Declan was talking to a deckhand.
"Babe, this is my friend, Teagan."
With a smile that could sell toothpaste, Declan extended his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Welcome aboard."
"Thanks for having me."
He was every bit as good-looking as Vanessa had made him out to be. Mid-30s, wavy dark hair, intense glacial blue eyes, and a square jaw that was perfect for TV. With an athletic figure, he could easily have been on the cover of a men's magazine.
"Vanessa told me so much about you," Declan said.
"Oh no. That's not good."
He laughed.
"I'm sure she left out the really juicy stuff," he whispered, leaning in, “Vanessa tells me you’re psychic."
"Vanessa likes to lie.”
"I do not," she said. "She used to get these visions in high school. She always knew who was going to win the big game."
"She's exaggerating. If I was psychic, we'd have graduated with straight A’s, and I'd have a yacht of my own."
Declan laughed.
"She's being modest," Vanessa said.
"No. It's just not something I want in my life."
"Why is that?" Declan asked with a knitted brow.
"Let's just say some doors shouldn't be opened.”
"Sounds spooky," he mocked, fluttering his hands. "Don't tell me you believe in ghosts and things like that?"
I gave him a flat look. "No. But I do believe there's more to this world than meets the eye.”
"I can't say that I disagree with that." Then he muttered aside again, "But if you get a really good stock tip, you let me know."
"By the looks of things, you’re doing just fine."
Declan grinned. "Let's just say I've been blessed."
"Declan's being modest," Vanessa said, grabbing a magazine from a nearby table. It was one of those business mags.
Declan was on the cover. The teaser read: At 32 billion and counting, Declan Valmont says he’s only getting started.
“He's worked very hard for everything he's accomplished," Vanessa said.
He slung his arm around her. "Well, thank you, babe.”
"It's true. I don't know anybody who works harder than you do."
"Don't listen to her. I'm not all work. I like my fair share of fun. And I promise you, we're going to have a blast. So just relax. Don't worry about a thing. Vanessa told me you've recently been through a traumatic experience. We’re going to do everything we can to make this fun for you.”
I gave her a look.
"Oh, was that supposed to be a secret?” he asked.
I forced a smile. "No. I just need a little time to unwind and get back to myself."
"Well, this is the perfect place to do it. By the time you get back to Coconut Key, you'll feel like a million bucks. You already look like it."
Vanessa smacked his arm playfully. "Hey now!"
"Don't worry, babe. I only have eyes for you.”
She grabbed his cheeks and made a kissy face and baby-talked him. "That's why I love you."
"You guys are disgusting," I said.
"I know, we’re so cute, aren't we?" Vanessa replied.
“I'll have Julie show you to your cabin. Then you can meet us on the sky deck for a cocktail as we set sail."
He waved Julie over and made introductions.
She was a perky blonde with a pixie cut, tawny eyes, and an adorable face with dimples when she smiled. Light on her feet, she moved effortlessly across the deck. She was in just the right place at just the right time. She had learned to anticipate Declan's every desire.
"Julie is our Director of Fun," Declan said. “That's an official title, by the way.”
"Welcome aboard," Julie said. "I'll show you to your cabin and get you situated.
If there's anything you need, just let me know. I’ll give you my cell number.
Call me anytime, day or night. With the satellite, we've got good connectivity most of the time. Every now and then, comms go down. If you can't get in touch with me, I’m usually putting out fires on deck somewhere. Not literally, of course.” She laughed.
I said my goodbyes to Declan and Vanessa and followed Julie into the salon.
"Is this your first time aboard the Vesper?"
I nodded.
"It really is a remarkable vessel. Designed by Rafael Vellori, with interior appointments and furnishings by the famed Italian designer Francesco Castiglione. No expense was spared in the construction of this ship. It really is the finest in its class.”
She led me past the sweeping salon with floor-to-ceiling windows that flooded the room with light. There was a full bar stocked with top-shelf liquor. A machine dispensed frozen margaritas and daiquiris. Beyond the salon was a formal dining area.
Julie escorted me through a passageway to a central staircase that spiraled up and down.
"The galley is to port. There are three meals a day, and the chef will make you anything in between if you need a snack. Feel free to help yourself anytime, day or night. There are sandwiches in the fridge for late-night snacks. Forward is the VIP master stateroom. There are more staterooms below deck, as well as crew quarters with a separate entrance. The sky lounge on the bridge deck is a great place to relax after dinner, and the sky deck has wonderful sun pads, a full bar, and a Jacuzzi. There are sun pads on the foredeck as well, along with another alfresco dining area. If you feel like exercising, there is a weight room and sauna. Feel free to utilize any of the facilities during your stay.”
I followed her down the main steps toward my quarters at the aft of the ship. We passed another VIP stateroom along the way. A chill ran down my spine, and I shivered.
Julie looked back at me as I stopped in my tracks. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I just got cold for some reason.”
“I can adjust the temperature, if you’d like. And you have full climate control in your cabin.”
I smiled. “No. I’m fine, thank you.”
She inserted a key, opened the door, and presented the room. "You have a queen berth with an ocean view. There's a 65-inch flatscreen TV, a private en suite with stone countertops and a full shower, and a walk-in wardrobe locker behind the bed. I hope this meets with your approval."
"This is perfect," I said with a smile. “Thank you.”
Julie handed me the key. "I'll leave you to get settled. As I said, don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything. Extra pillows, blankets, whatever."
"Thank you."
She darted away, and I stepped into the room. My luggage had already been delivered. Impressive.
I closed the door, took in the opulent appointments.
Voices from the next cabin filtered through the bulkheads.
Curiosity got the best of me. I stepped into the en suite to hear better. The faint murmur seeped through, spilling from the air vent. The content of the argument was indecipherable, but the tone was clear. The two women were at odds.
I decided it was none of my business. I stepped out of the en suite and flopped onto the bed. I stretched out and exhaled, determined to let the past go. This was my fresh start. My cue to let Earl Vernon Maddox fade away. This was the first day of the rest of my life.
That’s what I kept telling myself.
The Universe had other plans.