2
Marco stood at the window near Café Espresso on Deck Five, watching the gangplank below as passengers swarmed up and disappeared into the ship. Embarkation always seemed like such controlled chaos. Everyone was searching for their muster stations, flashing their SeaPasses, then hustling off to their cabins to drop off whatever luggage they’d sought fit to drag with them before hitting the poolside bars. Knowing they’d be invading his peace and quiet at any moment, he plastered a wide, welcoming, practiced smile on his face.
His comm buzzed, and he tapped his earpiece to answer. “Marco.”
“You’re wanted at the Guest Relations Desk, Marco.”
“Already? I would have thought the headaches wouldn’t start for at least another five minutes.“
He laughed and clicked off. And so it went. As Cruise Director, he oversaw all the entertainment and much of the guest relations staff, planned activities for the passengers like bingo, trivia, karaoke, shuffleboard, ping pong, and such. He wondered what problem had caused the concierge to call for him already.
“Why, Marco! How lovely to see you again,“
an older woman dressed in a rainbow-colored caftan cooed at him as he neared. Gray hair framed a familiar, round face with crinkled blue eyes and a wide smile. She was holding hands with another woman, thinner but just as gray, who wore cargo shorts, a T-shirt that read “Sapphic Reads,” and oversized, red-framed eyeglasses.
A pair of names came to him. They were serial cruisers, practically spending their lives aboard ship, hopping from one cruise to the next. “Jo and Patti! Welcome aboard again! What number cruise is this?“
He accepted a handshake from each of the women.
“Number thirty-two! And you look just adorable, as always. Anyone special in your life yet?“
Jo asked, grinning at him.
“Jo! We talked about this. Leave the poor man alone.“
Patti hushed her wife.
Jo waved Patti off. “Oh, posh. Tell me, Marco, are you married yet? I don’t see a ring.”
Marco laughed, although it sounded a bit forced to his own ears. “No, I remain as single as the day I was born. I’m sorry, but I must run. You ladies need anything?”
“No, No,“
Patti said, and tugged on Jo’s arm. “We’re fine. You go ahead. We’ll catch up with you later.”
Of that he had no doubt. The two older lesbians were constantly trying to set him up with various men they deemed worthy of his attentions. He knew it was because they cared for him, and loved the pair of them for it, although he’d never taken any of their recommendations. He gave them a genuinely affectionate grin as he left them.
He made his way quickly down to Deck Three where the Guest Relations Desk was located. Melanie was manning the desk this morning, a brunette with a high wattage smile and a winning personality. She was one of Marco’s favorites for dealing with stressed passengers.
Also at the desk was a tall drink of water with dark, curly hair. A familiar looking one, at that. Where did he know this guy from? He racked his brain. From the depths of his memory, he recalled a liquor-drenched night full of wild sex and laughter. Once upon a time he’d had a one-night stand with the man, he was sure of it!
The man looked upset, and slightly fidgety. Something wrong with his cabin? With his SeaPass card? Whatever the problem was, Marco was sure he could fix it.
He turned on his best smile as he walked up to the desk, wondering if the man would remember him. “Good morning, sir. I’m Marco, the Cruise Director. What can I help you with today?”
Melanie answered for him, to Marco’s disappointment. He’d wanted to know if the man’s voice matched his dark good looks. “This is Mr. Evan Sharpe. The airline lost his luggage and he’s in dire need of help. He has nothing with him – no clothes, no toiletries…nothing.”
Evan. That sounded very familiar. But Evan didn’t look as if he remembered Marco. A blow to Marco’s ego, for sure.
Marco crossed his arms, then tapped his chin with one finger as if considering the problem. It wasn’t the first time he was faced with such a dilemma, although it was the first time he felt like getting personally involved in finding a solution. Marco was remembering a bit more about Evan, and sex had definitely been in the mix. “I understand. We have several shops aboard ship that sell everything from T-shirts to formal wear, but none of the stores open until we’re three miles out to sea in international waters. I can have a basic toiletry kit sent to your cabin, though.”
The man spoke up in a soft voice. “I—I wouldn’t say I’m in dire need. I just wanted to know where I could buy what I need to get through the cruise.“
He paused. “I’m sorry, but you look very familiar. Have we met?”
Oh, that voice was pure butter. And had that been the briefest flash of interest in those pretty eyes? It caused parts of Marco to stir that had no business stirring. “I think we may have. Do you cruise often?”
“No, this is my first time. I have a podcast I’m reviewing the cruise for.”
Marco gave him a once over, trying not to let on how much he enjoyed the show. He gestured toward Evan’s shirt. “Well, perhaps I just have one of those faces that always looks familiar. But you’ve had a bit of an accidental spill,“
he said, pointing to the offensive stain on the gaudy Hawaiian shirt Evan wore. “I’m sure I can procure something for you to wear until the stores open.”
“That’s not necessary—”
“Nonsense. It’s my job. Why don’t you retire to your cabin.“
He glanced at the computer screen on the desk. “7166, is it? Inside cabin. Oh, I’m sure we can find something better for you. Melanie? Can we upgrade Mr. Sharpe?”
Melanie’s fingers flew over the keyboard. “I have a veranda cabin available. 8310.”
“Excellent! Melanie will give you a new SeaPass card. Go relax in your cabin, and I’ll be there shortly with a change of clothing for you. You take a…let me see…a large shirt and thirty-two waist shorts?”
Evan arched an eyebrow. “You’re good.”
“I have an eye for details. Comes with the job,“
Marco replied, and shrugged a shoulder. “I will see you shortly.”
“Thank you,“
Evan said, and offered a small smile.
He’d take what he could get. Marco gave him a wider one and watched as Melanie handed Evan a new SeaPass card, and Evan walked away, enjoying the view of Evan’s butt hitching in his cargo shorts.
“Melanie,“
Marco said in a hushed voice. “What’s the idea? You could’ve comped him dinner someplace and he could’ve waited until the stores opened. Why involve me?”
She huffed quietly and pointed at her screen. “Like he said, he’s a reviewer. I didn’t want to chance the ship getting a bad review because we didn’t supply good enough customer service.”
“Well, well, well, Mr. Evan Sharpe. I think I’m going to need to keep a closer eye on you than I originally thought. I guess it’s a good thing we upgraded him. They should’ve booked him a suite in the first place.“
He was smiling as he hurried off to fetch the clothing as promised. He’d been lucky in guessing Evan’s sizes. He’d grab a couple of shirts and a pair of shorts from one of the stores. Maybe take him shopping later and figure out if Evan remembered that one night stand they’d had. Evan Sharpe was going to get the full white-glove experience, and surprisingly, that made Marco a very happy man.