904 A.M.
OLIVER
Day four of the voyage was off to a rocky start.
The oppressive heat and lack of sleep meant both the staff and guests were low on energy.
It was still early, and it was already obvious it would be another scorcher.
Oliver, who was tasked with serving breakfast this morning on the al fresco dining deck, had assumed Travis would order the captain to turn the yacht around and get the hell back to Split.
Staying aboard a floating sauna seemed like pure insanity.
Only Travis ordered them to dock just off Cres Island instead, just off Kamenjak Cape, where a group of monk seals had been spotted a few days earlier.
It was a protected area, but Oliver knew Travis would happily pay whatever ‘little fine’ the Croatian government would dole out if the seals happened to pop their heads up.
Oliver stood behind the bar where this morning’s meal had been set up, buffet-style, willing the seals to disappear deep into the sea for the day.
Most of the guests hadn’t made it down for breakfast yet.
Only Antonia had arrived, wearing one of those awful, flowy, slightly see-through dresses over her grandma swimsuit.
He briefly wondered if maybe she stopped dressing like an old woman, her husband might stop screwing young ones.
As soon as the thought entered his head, he chastised himself for being an ass.
Obviously, her bad fashion sense wasn’t the cause of her husband’s lack of character.
She took a coffee and a miniature lemon poppyseed scone and thanked him vaguely before sitting down on the soft bench.
He watched as she broke off a tiny piece and slid it into her mouth, staring off at the cliffs and caves of the island, all surrounded by turquoise water.
Only, she didn’t seem to be enjoying the view at all.
She was most certainly a woman with a lot on her mind.
He walked over with a pot of coffee and topped up her mug. “It’s an amazing view, isn’t it?”
“Hmm?”
“The view? It’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?”
“Oh, definitely. World-class.”
“You all right? Do you need anything?” He stared at her, hoping to provide some comfort, even if it was just another scone.
“I’m…totally fine. Thank you very much, Oliver.”
Mercy arrived just at that moment. She was wearing a striped t-shirt dress and oversized sunglasses.
He could see she wasn’t her normal graceful self this morning.
Her shoulders were slightly hunched instead of back and she wasn’t gliding like she usually did.
She got herself a mug, then looked behind the bar for the carafe, which was in his hand.
He hurried over. “Here you go, Mrs. Bishop.”
“Thank you. You’re a life saver.”
He poured her coffee, then watched as she added some cream and sugar. “Oliver, would you be a doll and take a tray to the Taggarts? They’re in need of some time to themselves this morning.”
“Absolutely.” He filled a small carafe for two, then quickly plated up some fruit, pastries, and everything they’d need to enjoy breakfast in their room.
He hurried up the stairs and through the lounge, just in time hear Ted, who was in the corner on his phone. “Stop avoiding me, Enid. I know goddamn well you’ve got your phone next to you. Call me back immediately or you’re fucking fired.”
Ted glanced over at him as Oliver walked by.
Ted glared. Oliver gave him a satisfied smile that said, Yes, I absolutely fucked you over at cards last night and I loved every second of it.
When Oliver got to the room, he set the tray down on the floor and was about to knock when he heard the distinct sounds of love-making.
“Nope,” he muttered to himself, picking the tray back up and walking back to the bar.
Charlotte opened her door just as he was passing by her room. She looked pale, but her eyes lit up when she saw him. Stopping, he said, “You okay?”
Shrugging, she said, “Meh, you know.”
“I bet. Stay strong. You’ll get through this.”
She walked toward the dining area with Oliver right behind her. As soon as they were outside and she saw the view, she gasped.
“Amazing, right?”
She nodded. “What do you think my chances of swimming all the way to that island are? You know, bring my passport and make my escape? The thought of another two nights on this floating hell is making me sick.”
He tilted his head. “It’s farther than it looks. And this side of the island is uninhabited, unless you count birds. But just in case you make a break for it, why don’t you have something to eat first? Give you a little energy.”
“Sounds smart.” She stopped walking when she saw Antonia, but the older woman patted the seat next to her and offered her a small smile.
How she could stand to be in the same space as Charlotte was beyond Oliver’s comprehension.
Not his business, however, he told himself, setting the tray down on the counter behind the bar.
Mercy walked over and pointed at the tray with a confused look.
Oliver lowered his voice so only she would hear. “They were otherwise engaged.”
Mercy held up her coffee mug to him, and said, “Cheers to that,” before having a sip.
Travis arrived just at that moment. “Oh, there you are. Mr. A/C Wizard himself.” He laughed at his own joke. “I’m just kidding, of course. The truth is, I’ve decided air conditioning is for sissies. Real men like us can take the heat, can’t we, Ollie?”
“Yes, definitely, sir.”
“Oh! Look! In the water!” Antonia called.
Everyone walked over to the starboard railing, only to be gifted with the view of two curious seals popping up to look at the yacht.
Oliver’s heart dropped as he watched Travis’s face spread into a wide grin. Grabbing a fistful of bacon off the tray, he said, “Ollie, get the spear guns ready.”
Antonia gasped.
Mercy said, “Travis, no!”
“Oh, yeah.” He took off for the stairs and met up with Ted at the entrance. “Come on, man! We’re going spearfishing!”
Ted shook his head. “I can’t. I’m waiting on an important call.”
“Ted, I am offering you the experience of a lifetime and you want to wait around for a phone call?” He snapped his fingers at Oliver, who was still standing behind the bar, completely appalled.
“Well, come on. I’m not paying you to stand there and catch flies with your mouth.
We need snorkeling gear and spearguns, pronto! ”