Chapter 9
"I'm not familiar either," I said, removing Luciano’s hand.
He smiled and surveyed me for a moment. "You seem genuine and caring. You help people. You’re a nurse.”
“No.”
“Hmm. You're in the service industry.”
I lifted a curious eyebrow. "I manage a bar.”
He shook his head. "That just won't do. You are capable of so much more.”
"I like my job, and how do you know what I'm capable of?”
"I have a good sense about people. I see greatness in you, if you will allow it to flourish.”
"And just how do I allow it to flourish?" I asked, playing along.
"You should come to Italy and see the villa. Take a tour of the vineyard. I'm always looking for outstanding people to help build my empire. I think it would be a fit for our organization."
"I thought your business was shipping.”
"Yes, but Sophia and I have a passion for wine. I like to diversify my investments. I don't like keeping all of my eggs in one basket.”
There was that hand on my thigh again.
I removed it. “I'm happy where I am."
"But there is a world of opportunity."
"How does Sophia feel about your diversification?"
"Sophia has interests of her own," he said, glancing across the table, watching her flirt with Sebastian. "Come for a visit. You never know. You might like Italy. You could go from serving wine to distributing it.”
"Food for thought," I said. "If you'll excuse me, I need to powder my nose."
"Hurry back," Luciano said.
I pushed away from the table and stood up. By that time, almost everyone had finished their desserts.
"I say we all adjourn to the salon for a cigar and a game of cards," Declan said.
“Excellent,” Luciano said. “Gives me an opportunity to win my money back.”
“Or lose more,” Declan said.
They all chuckled.
"FYI, the captain tells me we might run into some rough weather a little later, but nothing to worry about. If you are prone to seasickness, like my wife," he said with another chuckle, "we have Dramamine and seabands, if you find that kind of thing helpful.”
We left the dining area as the waitstaff cleared our plates.
The second deck salon was designed for entertaining. There was a poker table, a pool table, a large flatscreen display, comfortable couches, a full bar, and a dartboard. Sliding glass doors opened to the bridge deck aft, which was home to another bar and alfresco dining area.
Sebastian was more than eager to get into the poker game, and so was Sophia. She struck me as the kind of woman who could hold her own at the table.
"Teagan, are you in?" Declan asked.
"Thank you, but I'll leave that to the professionals.”
"Are you sure?”
I nodded and took a seat at the bar. I figured I’d hang out for a bit, then sneak out when no one was looking.
Jimmy was there to take my order. "What can I get for you?"
"Nothing. I'm fine."
"How about a glass of wine?”
"Are you trying to get me drunk?"
He chuckled and raised his hands innocently. "How about a small one?”
With an exaggerated sigh, I said, "Okay. Twist my arm.”
"I won’t have a job if I don’t have someone to serve. It's not like you have to drive home.”
"You're a bad influence," I said.
Jimmy smiled. "I'm a good bad influence.”
He poured a glass of red, and it wasn't as small as he promised. But I wasn't going to complain.
Hannah joined me, and Jimmy poured her a Chardonnay.
"I feel like the odd man out," she said.
"I know what you mean.”
"I'm glad you’re aboard,” she said. “Now I have someone to commiserate with. This game has been going on every night this week.”
“Poker’s not your thing?”
She shook her head. “As far as I can tell, Luciano is into Declan for a million.”
"Those stakes are way too high for me.”
"I have no doubt Luciano is going to win it all back.”
"Why do you say that?”
"Just a hunch. Luciano doesn't like to lose. I think he's letting Declan get comfortable. Then he’s going to take him big time. Just in time to walk off the ship.”
I studied her for a moment. "You're the quiet type.”
"Excuse me?"
"The kind that sits there and watches everybody. Nobody thinks you're paying attention, but you see and hear everything.”
She smiled. "I knew I was going to like you.”
We clinked glasses and sipped our wine.
"What about Sebastian? Is he winning or losing?”
"He's pretty much even. He's not much of a gambler.”
"How long have you two been together?”
"A couple of months now.”
"Is this your first trip together?"
She nodded. "We've had little weekends here and there. But yes, this is our first extended run."
"He seems like a great guy.”
"He really is," she replied, looking at him with doe eyes from across the room. "I just hope I can be enough for him."
"I'm sure you’re more than enough. And if he doesn't recognize that, he's not the right one."
She smiled, and we clinked glasses again. We chatted over a drink, and she said, "Well, I think I'm going to retire early. I've had enough to drink to last two lifetimes." She smiled. "I guess I'll see you at breakfast tomorrow.” Then she added, “I'm glad you're aboard."
"Me too."
"Can I interest you in another adult beverage?" Jimmy asked after I finished my glass of wine.
"Jimmy, what did I tell you about being a bad influence?”
"You're right. My bad. I guess I'm headed to the unemployment line."
I gave him a flat look.
He stared me down, smiled, and poured another glass of wine. He slid it across the counter.
"I'm officially cutting myself off after this one."
I lost count of how many drinks I'd actually had. I was still able to stand, walk, and talk, so I figured I wasn't that far gone. I’d just sip this one. Maybe not even that. Maybe I would just leave it there for looks. He couldn't refill a full glass.
I stayed there for a bit, watching them play poker.
I was about to go back to my room when a gorgeous redhead took a seat next to me.
I hadn't met her before. She wore a slinky red dress that looked painted on.
The plunging neckline was so low, I was sure there would be a wardrobe malfunction.
How nothing spilled out defied the laws of physics.
Her fiery hair danced just above her shoulders in a stylish cut, and her emerald eyes sparkled.
"I'll take the usual, Jimmy," she said.
"Coming right up." He poured a vodka martini and slid it across the counter to her.
She took it with appreciative eyes and wrapped her full lips around the glass, staining it with gloss.
"We haven’t met. I’m Teagan.”
She gave me a curious look. "I'm Kate," she said, extending her hand.
We shook.
"I didn't see you at dinner.”
"I wasn’t really feeling myself, but I decided I needed to get out of the cabin and get some fresh air.”
"I'm sorry. I hope you’re feeling better.”
She looked at me like I was crazy, then laughed.
"I like your perfume,” I said, trying to be nice. “What is that?"
"Thank you. It's Ambition. You can borrow it if you want to try it out.”
"I might take you up on that.”
She pulled a pack of cigarettes from her purse, drew one out, then produced a Zippo and struck it up. The flame danced. As an afterthought, she said, "It’s not going to bother you if I smoke, is it?"
I didn't really care for secondhand smoke, but I didn’t want to be rude. "No. Not at all." Then I added, "Is smoking allowed?"
She laughed again. "They're smoking cigars.”
I glanced at the poker table. They chewed on cigars, and a cloud hovered overhead.
"Besides, how can I be expected to drink without a cigarette in hand? I thought about quitting once. I mean, these things will kill you, but I'm not really worried about that at the moment.” She took a drag, filling her lungs, then exhaled toward the ceiling, being courteous. "You know, everybody goes through life worrying about tomorrow. But what if tomorrow never comes? I say live for the moment. The moment is all we have. There is no past. There is no future. There is just the present. Live for today. That’s what I say.”
“I try to do that, but I worry about the future. Probably too much.”
She looked me dead in the eye. “And where does all that worry get you?“
I sucked my lips and shrugged. “It certainly doesn’t change anything, does it?”
She took another drag, then said, “I’m of the mind that we are all just dominoes in a long string. Everything is mapped out from our birth to our death, and we all just fall down like we’re supposed to.”
I frowned. “That sounds pretty bleak.”
“Honey, life can be bleak.”
"Are you friends with Declan or Vanessa?”
She thought about it for a second. "That's an interesting question. I'm so glad you asked.”
Kate never answered. She was in her own world for a moment.
She was kind of strange and aloof.
"How long have you been aboard?"
She gave me another annoyed look. "Are you going to continue to ask me stupid questions, or are you going to ask me something of substance?"