Chapter 18
18
Dana broke the bun in half. This had been the most perfect first or second date she’d ever experienced. They had breakfast at the Pump room. The tea was as good as Brit claimed. After breakfast, they ran over to the Jane Austen Centre and purchased gifts for Jen and McKay’s mom. He said that Gracie was too young to appreciate anything with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy on it and she had more than enough gifts. They picked up two take away buns from Sally Lunn’s as they left town. Neither of them had room for the buns in their carry-ons, so they ate them as McKay drove.
She handed McKay a section spread with clotted cream.
“I hope there isn’t a law against eating and driving in the UK.”
“No idea. You drive well on the left side of the road.”
“You should have seen me going out to Lyme Regis on Thursday afternoon. I haven’t driven in six months and between not driving and left-side roads, I thought I was going to be in an accident.”
“I’m glad you figured driving out. The trains aren’t bad, but a car means much less carting of luggage all over. You know why they drive on the left, don’t you?”
His mouth full, McKay shook his head.
“Oxen and knights.”
“Huh?”
“In medieval times, knights traveled with their sword arm out to defend themselves, putting their right arm at the center of the road. Obviously in America we were past that era of history, but we were expanding and people got huge covered wagons to do that. Oxen were better for pulling the heavy wagons, but they like to be lead, which most people preferred to do with their right hand, but to see what was coming they wanted to walk in the center of the road and not in the muck at the side of the road. So Americans had their left arm to the center of the road and by the time cars came around both countries did what they were used to doing.”
“What about south paws like me?”
“I assume they weren’t knights?”
The silence that filled the car as they ate was comfortable. The awkwardness left sometime in the early morning hours.They’d stayed up talking and walking half the night. The Royal Crescent by moonlight was magical. The Assembly rooms were closed of course, but it had been fun thinking of a time when its doors would have been open until the early hours while members of society danced and flirted.
If that was their first date, then this was their second, and so far, it wasn’t the mess Brit and Simone predicted. Of course, they had yet to get on the flight.
All too soon, they’d checked in and started the long walk through the terminal. McKay had the privilege of an extra security screening. He finished his screening and sat back down next to her, his arms full of things that didn’t fit back into his carry-on.
“That was fun, taking everything out after I worked so hard to get it all in.” McKay re-packed his bags.
“Any idea what they found suspicious?”
“Nope. But then they had so many of us come up that it could have been anything.”
“We should be boarding any minute so you can relax.” Dana covered a yawn.
“That late night is catching up to me, too.”
“You don’t look tired.”
“Ship hours. I am used to getting four hours of sleep here and there.”
“Can you sleep on planes?” Dana rolled up a t-shirt for him.
“Usually. Have we run out of things to talk about yet?”
“I hope not. I still don’t even know your favorite color.”
“Green. I still don’t have your phone number.”
The speaker overhead crackled and announced their boarding. Dana rolled up another shirt. “We can exchange numbers on the plane. We better get you repacked first.”
Finishing just as their boarding section was called, they joined the line.
“Dana, I thought that was you.”
She turned her head to see who called her name. “Amy-Kate, what a surprise.”
“I should have known you’d be with him. He probably put you up to it.” Amy-Kate hoisted her backpack over her shoulder and fell into step behind them. Her designer perfume overwhelmed the crowded space.
“What are you talking about?”
“You and him breaking the rules. No dating crew members. It was all over the place. And you two are sneaking around.”
“We only talked on the ship. Nothing inappropriate.” Dana scanned her pass.
Amy-Kate put her phone over the scanner. “That’s what?—”
The gate agent interrupted Amy-Kate mid-sentence. “Miss, it is not your boarding time if you will please step aside and wait until you are called.”
“But—”
Dana didn’t turn around to see what happened. She took the window seat, leaving McKay the aisle. The premium seats Brit had arranged gave them blessed privacy, with only two seats across so no one else would be in their conversations.
Onboard, she put her backpack under the seat in front of her as McKay stowed his bags above.
“Do you know what Amy-Kate was talking about? I was so careful not to do anything that might get you in trouble. Did the day in Galway cause you problems?”
A muscle twitched in his jaw. “I have an idea, and I promise I am not trying to be evasive, but she has things mostly wrong, and it has to do with Mr. Fairfax and an ongoing investigation.”
“An investigation into Chandler? This isn’t going to come back on Cheyanne, is it?”
“No. Please don’t worry about your sister. She had nothing to do with the problem we discovered.”
Dana nodded. Years of training kept her face neutral, but she wasn’t a fan of vague secrets, especially when they had something to do with someone she loved. In her industry, the wrong secret could be dangerous.
As dinner was served, Dana replayed the events leading up to the discovery of Chandler and Amy-Kate in the passageway near her room. Questions filled her mind. Ones she’d ignored while consoling her sister.
“Was there anything wrong with my original room?”
McKay looked up from his mini roll he was buttering with a bamboo knife, “No.”
“Was it your idea to move me?”
“I opposed it.”
He knew about the plan. Dana picked at her asparagus, removing the rosemary leaves. “Why me?”
McKay paused for a long time. “I don’t think I can tell you.”
Dana stuffed the cheese wedge in her mouth to keep from saying anything until she thought it through. Most of the questions she had would likely fall into the ‘unanswerable’ category.
“Were any other passengers moved?”
“No. There really had been a problem with that particular cabin when we sailed. They were not able to solve it until we reached Galway, when a part was delivered. No one was disturbed by moving you.”
“Oh.” Dana finished her meal in silence. Each bite tasted like cardboard in her increasingly dry mouth. After the trays were collected, she excused herself to go to the restroom. Two other people stood in line.
Amy-Kate came up behind her. “I thought with your standards—” she used air quotes. No one used air quotes, making her sister’s former friend even more annoying. “—that you wouldn’t date someone who lied to you.”
“I really don’t think you have much to say at this point.”
“Entrapment?”
“What do you mean?”
“Mr. Hot Security Dude had to know Chandler and I were there. He must have sent you down the hall hoping you would cause a scene. If you hadn’t caught us and started the fight, they couldn’t have done anything since we were just kissing. They needed Chandler to assault you. Face it, they used you. And you are so desperate for a guy to like you that you fell for it.”
“Why would they do that?” She fought to keep her emotions under wraps.
“Because security realized a crew member must have told Chandler about the spot that no camera could see. They wanted to know if someone was selling information, as if it matters. I got questioned by INTERPOL like I was a criminal. And if you hadn’t made a scene, no one would have ever known.”
A passenger exited the restroom and squeezed his way past them. Dana waited a moment before continuing.
“Chandler purchased the information about an onboard meeting place where there were no cameras?”
“Yes. Although I wished I had just gotten an extra suite so we could have really been alone. He said he didn’t want to be tempted. Not as if we hadn’t shared a bed before. But he said we couldn’t during the cruise.” Amy-Kate rolled her eyes.
Didn’t she even care what she had done to Cheyanne? Or that someone else could have purchased that information?
“That is so wrong.”
Amy-Kate scoffed. “He loves me more than Cheyanne. She is such a prude. He says he’ll come get me as soon as his father forgives him.”
The next restroom became available and Dana stepped inside, glad for the privacy to think. Her reflection in the mirror looked composed, but inside her thoughts were seatbelt-yourself-in-and-and-grab-a-sick-bag turbulent.
McKay had offered to walk her back to her room that night. That was the only time since he helped her when she was on her crutches. Officer Alvaro had ordered him to do so the first night. Had he also ordered him the night she found Chandler. She hadn’t thought it too odd at the time, as she enjoyed their conversation and his touch. A sting operation with an unknowing accomplice. Why hadn’t McKay trusted her enough to include her in the plan? She wouldn’t have told Cheyanne if that was what they were worried about.
Dana used a damp paper towel on her face, trying to cool the heat of betrayal rising in her cheeks. Had Officer Alvaro encouraged McKay to stay close to her just for this operation? Was that the real reason she hardly saw him after they caught Chandler? They had taken advantage of Dana’s skills without her knowledge. Hastings Security would have worked with the cruise line. She would have. Trust was essential to a relationship. If under orders, McKay could have apologized even without giving her details. She would have accepted an “I’m sorry.” She would have been even more curious, but she would have accepted it. Second date mess? This was way beyond that.
There was only so little he was authorized to tell her. What could he say to Dana in the next six hours that could make things right? Nothing.
McKay scrolled through the movie selection. His finger hovered over each title without really seeing the titles. Avoidance was possibly his best course of action. Although he doubted Dana would say anything that would jeopardize the ongoing investigation, there could be someone on the plane who might overhear. The same protective instinct that made him good at his job now kept him silent. Once he was home, he could contact the cruise line legal department and get permission to disclose more of the details. Once Dana knew why they needed to talk to Chandler, she would understand. She had to.
Dana returned from the restroom. McKay stood so she could get back into her seat. The indicator light showed one of the restrooms was empty. Better to go now before they hit angry seas, or rather, air turbulence. They felt a lot the same. Dana’s tight smile indicated they’d already hit them.
When McKay returned to their seats, Dana was leaning against the window, wrapped in a blanket with a sleep mask on. The mask couldn’t hide the tension in her jaw. He counted her breaths. She wasn’t sleeping.
Still, he wouldn’t bother her.
McKay scrolled through the movies again. Why were there so many Hearthfire romances? He found an action movie and settled in for the duration. The first movie ended and he searched for another. Romances. Why so many rom-coms? There was nothing funny about finding someone you were interested in and having it blow up in your face.
Dana “woke” shortly before landing and stretched. “I love the extra leg room, don’t you?”
This was how she was going to play it? Polite chatter. It cut deep. “Yes. Did you sleep well?”
“As well as could be expected. Didn’t you?” She pointed to his screen.
“No, I couldn’t.” He was sure she hadn’t slept much at all. He wouldn’t call her a liar, since her answer could be interpreted in multiple ways. McKay tucked his headphones into his pocket while Dana put away her things.
The flight crew commenced their usual announcements. Then went on to remind passengers to pick up their luggage after customs and ensure it made their connecting flights.
Dana covered a yawn. “I hope the customs line isn’t long.”
“It usually is. At least you don’t have another plane to catch.”
The pop and whine of the landing gear vibrated through the plane.
Dana leaned her head back and looked at the ceiling. Her knuckles whitened against the armrest.
“You don’t like landings?”
“Not much.”
“Anything I can do to distract you?”
She shook her head.
McKay swallowed back a sigh. A continent away, she’d laughed at his jokes, shared his food, and trusted him. Nine hours ago, he was sure she would have let him distract her or at least hold his hand. If only he could tell her more.
The plane touched down with a gentle bump. The queuing of tired passengers began. Few people spoke, including them.
When they reached the terminal, Dana turned, “Thank you for everything. I had a wonderful time.”
She ducked into the bathroom.
McKay debated waiting for her. And decided against it—he had a flight to catch. The lines at customs were shorter than the last time he’d flown in. He didn’t see Dana again before he was through and out the other side. He should text her goodbye.
Wait. He never got her number.
He waited for a moment for Dana to emerge. The digital clock above the departure board reminded him he couldn’t. She could stay inside for hours. Some distances were meant to stay uncrossed.