Chapter 12
Captain Kendra’s Log: Hey, sailor. Looking for a wench?
I paced the employee locker room several more times before splashing water on my face and trying to fix my hair. It was a lost cause. Nothing would keep it together. I was about to meet my soulmate’s intended with skanky hair and a wrinkled outfit.
The cool water felt good on my puffy eyes. I hated crying like that in front of anyone. But somehow, crying in front of Rowan made it worse. He seemed to see me in all my hot mess glory, no matter what I did.
I grabbed a few scratchy paper towels to blot my face dry, but I realized I had soaked my shirt.
“Damn it,” I muttered, grabbing more paper towels and trying to dry my blouse.
It was no use. The white shirt was practically see-through at this point. Pegleg Pete’s Pirate Extravaganza was primarily for adults, but the occasional family joined the dinner cruises. Flamboyant fabrics and colors caught my attention from the corner, and I shuffled over to the rack of uniforms.
There was one in my size, and I shook my head. No. No way in hell.
I went to leave the employee locker room and stopped dead in my tracks before the full-length mirror. My see-through shirt revealed my 20-year-old bra, which was also nearly see-through.
It was nipple-o-clock.
I looked back at the uniform rack and groaned.
Nipples or pirate wench?
Decisions. Decisions.
Rowan’s eyes widened as he saw me in my pirate wench-ness. “Oh, Kendra.”
“Save it, Boss.” I linked my arm through his and faked a smile. “I had an incident in the bathroom, and this was the only thing in my size.”
He cleared his throat and shifted on his feet. “You look—”
“Ridiculous,” I huffed. “I know.”
“I was going to say too hot for this dinner cruise,” Rowan answered. “Go put on what you were wearing before.”
I leaned closer and whispered in his ear. “My white shirt got wet, and you could see my nipples. If you want me to wear that around the boat, I can change, Boss.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed. He opened his mouth and closed it a few times.
“That’s what I thought.” I threw back my shoulders and turned toward the dining room. “Let’s get this over with.”
We pushed through the doors and walked into the dining room.
Long tables were filled with chattering guests clinking glasses of grog and wine.
Tonight’s dinner was Chilean Sea Bass with a bunch of vegetables I can’t remember.
I could remember the dessert, though. Chef was a whiz with cakes, and tonight’s was an almond rum cake. I hoped the crew saved me a piece.
It didn’t take long to find Jesse and True crammed into the end of a long table. She spotted us as we approached and stood up to hug me.
“Kendra!” She shouted in my ear. “It’s so good to meet you finally! Jesse talks about you all the time!”
Even though True was a few inches shorter than me, she was freakishly strong. She also smelled like flowers and chocolate. Damn it. I liked those things. Jesse then pulled me into a hug. And I got another whiff of that sulfur smell, lighter than yesterday but still there. It stung my nostrils.
“Ken!” Jesse said as I pulled away and stood beside Rowan. “I can’t believe it! You. Getting married.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, about that—”
“It’s just so unlike you,” Jesse laughed. “It’s so fast.”
“Not that fast,” Rowan answered.
“Fast for Ken, am I right? She hates making decisions,” Jesse said. “Remember how long you took to decide the name of your charter?”
“Well, I—” I stuttered.
Jesse leaned into Rowan. “I ended up choosing for her. Otherwise, we’d still be waiting for her to decide.”
Rowan glared at Jesse, and I shrugged. “That’s true,” I admitted. “Sometimes decisions are hard.”
“That’s what she said,” Rowan whispered to me.
I snort-laughed and accidentally spit on Jesse’s face. “Oh, My Lanta!” I reached for a napkin. “I’m so sorry!”
“Here you go, honey.” True handed Jesse her napkin. He wiped off his face, and they sat back down at their cramped table spots.
Rowan smiled wolfishly at me, and I slapped him on the chest. Then, I immediately shook out my hand, which may be broken. When would I learn the man has boulders in his upper body?
“When did you know he was the one?” True asked me.
“Well,” I reached for the words.
Rowan pulled me toward his body, and I caught a whiff of metal, leather, and spice. I squeezed my legs together. “When you know, you know. Right, Goldilocks?”
I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
“Goldilocks? That’s cute,” Jesse said. “What’s her nickname for you? Kendra calls me Barbie. Because of my last name. Barbot. And I call her Ken. Ken and Barbie. We’ve been friends for a long time.”
Rowan turned to Jesse. “Oh, I don’t think it’s about the length of time you know someone, but the quality. But hey, I don’t need to tell you, right Barbie? You and True have known each other, how long?”
“A few months,” True answered, and my heart plunged into my stomach.
“Well, congratulations,” I said. “I’m looking forward to the wedding events.”
“It’s going to be such a whirlwind this coming week,” True said. “Bridal fittings, engagement party, celebration of life, bachelorette party, and, of course, the wedding.”
“Celebration of life? Wait. A funeral?” I clutched my hands to my chest. “Who died?”
“My grandmother. She raised me after my parents died,” True said.
“I know. It’s weird having a funeral in the middle of a weeklong celebration, but we knew the end was near.
She demanded I have her celebration of life before my wedding.
Said it would give her eternal peace since she couldn’t walk me down the aisle.
Plus, most of the extended family is in town for the wedding anyway. ”
“It’s weird if you ask me,” Jesse muttered.
“Yes, honey,” True sighed. “You’ve said that many times.”
Rowan blessedly changed the subject. “How about we give you a nice relaxing meal before you kick off wedding week?”
I glanced at my fake fiancé. He was up to something and this wasn’t where I hoped this conversation would go. What the hell was he getting at?
“Really?” Jesse snorted. “Here?” He waved his hand toward the rest of the dining room and nearly knocked over a waiter bringing the cake.
“Almond rum cake for you, ma’am?” The waiter began to set a plate in front of True.
She recoiled. “Oh, no. I’m allergic to almonds.”
“Sorry about that, ma’am,” the waiter said, putting a plate in front of Jesse. “Here’s yours, sir.”
Jesse thanked the waiter and then dug into his cake.
“Anyway, I was thinking we should invite you both over for dinner,” Rowan said. “At our place.”
I nearly choked on my own spit that time. “Wh-What?”
“Don’t worry, Goldilocks. I’ll do the cooking.” Rowan squeezed me. “Tomorrow night? How does six-thirty sound? That gives us time to watch the sunset.”
True’s smile told me they’d accept.
And I had nearly 24 hours to murder my new boss and figure out where to hide the body.