Everything’s okay. I’m sorry that the incident marred your arrival. To make amends, I’m authorized to upgrade you to one of our most desirable suites.”
“That’s big of you,” Cole said, his voice tight.
Emma was pretty sure he wanted to say a lot more, but he wisely refrained from needling the guy further.
That couldn’t stop her speculations. Was this really about an animal escaping? Or were they actually shooting at people? And why?
“Let me show you to the suite,” Ben said, cutting off the question and answer session. Turning, he stepped out of the reception area.
Cole reached for Emma’s hand, as they followed him. Ames brought up the rear. An escort? Or a guard detail to make sure they didn’t stray from the approved route?
She kept her gaze down, trying to look submissive as she inspected the carpet.
When she saw a large, fresh stain that she thought was a pool of blood, she stopped short.
Cole followed her gaze, then tugged on her hand.
She started walking again, seeing more droplets of blood on the wall.
Which meant that at least part of Ben’s explanation was a lie. They hadn’t shot at an animal with blanks. They had shot and wounded or killed it. Or perhaps it wasn’t an animal. Did they really have big cats on the boat? And how would one have gotten out?
Ben escorted them to an elevator that was bigger than she’d seen in many apartment buildings. Their original room was supposed to be on Deck Five, but the suite was two levels higher.
When they reached Deck Seven, he turned right, leading them down a corridor.
“You’re in the front of the ship,” he said. “With a magnificent view.”
Bending, he swiped a key card in a reader, and the door opened.
Emma had been in ships’ cabins before, but nothing as luxurious as this . They stepped into a living room furnished with comfortable contemporary sofas and tables. Beyond she could see a large bedroom where their bags rested on two wooden luggage racks.
Ben led them through, showing them an enormous bathroom with a double marble sink counter, a tub and a shower. The toilet was in a separate little room. But she was hardly taking any of it in. She was too shaken by the shooting incident and the implications. And by her feelings for Cole that she could no longer repress.
“The book on the desk will give you the layout of the ship and tell you what you need to know about the Windward . We have regular seatings in the dining room, but you can order room service any time. And there are several casual restaurants in various locations. You can also have room service in any of the playrooms. Do you have any questions?” he asked as though he were a bellman in a luxury hotel—instead of someone who was obviously on the security staff.
Unable to rein in her emotions, Emma blurted, “We’d like to be alone now.”
“Of course,” he answered, switching gears immediately. “I’ll just leave your key cards on the desk.” He set down two cards, then turned and strode toward the door to the suite.
Cole followed him, waiting until he was outside before closing and locking the door.
When he came back to Emma, she melted into his arms.
“He’s lying,” she whispered. She was about to speculate about his role on the ship when Cole shook his head.
“Yeah, but let’s not talk about it,” he said, a warning note in his voice, and she realized that she’d forgotten the conversation in the car about microphones. That seemed like a thousand years ago. When they’d been in the normal world. Not this place that had turned deadly almost as soon a they’d stepped on board.
She was sure someone had been killed. But who and why?
When she made a choking sound, Cole tightened his arms around her, running his hands up and down her back.
He was the only thing she could cling to in a universe that had gone mad.
“That was frightening,” she murmured, sure that any normal female guest would have a similar reaction. If she were
“That’s big of you,” Cole said, his voice tight.
Emma was pretty sure he wanted to say a lot more, but he wisely refrained from needling the guy further.
That couldn’t stop her speculations. Was this really about an animal escaping? Or were they actually shooting at people? And why?
“Let me show you to the suite,” Ben said, cutting off the question and answer session. Turning, he stepped out of the reception area.
Cole reached for Emma’s hand, as they followed him. Ames brought up the rear. An escort? Or a guard detail to make sure they didn’t stray from the approved route?
She kept her gaze down, trying to look submissive as she inspected the carpet.
When she saw a large, fresh stain that she thought was a pool of blood, she stopped short.
Cole followed her gaze, then tugged on her hand.
She started walking again, seeing more droplets of blood on the wall.
Which meant that at least part of Ben’s explanation was a lie. They hadn’t shot at an animal with blanks. They had shot and wounded or killed it. Or perhaps it wasn’t an animal. Did they really have big cats on the boat? And how would one have gotten out?
Ben escorted them to an elevator that was bigger than she’d seen in many apartment buildings. Their original room was supposed to be on Deck Five, but the suite was two levels higher.
When they reached Deck Seven, he turned right, leading them down a corridor.
“You’re in the front of the ship,” he said. “With a magnificent view.”
Bending, he swiped a key card in a reader, and the door opened.
Emma had been in ships’ cabins before, but nothing as luxurious as this . They stepped into a living room furnished with comfortable contemporary sofas and tables. Beyond she could see a large bedroom where their bags rested on two wooden luggage racks.
Ben led them through, showing them an enormous bathroom with a double marble sink counter, a tub and a shower. The toilet was in a separate little room. But she was hardly taking any of it in. She was too shaken by the shooting incident and the implications. And by her feelings for Cole that she could no longer repress.
“The book on the desk will give you the layout of the ship and tell you what you need to know about the Windward . We have regular seatings in the dining room, but you can order room service any time. And there are several casual restaurants in various locations. You can also have room service in any of the playrooms. Do you have any questions?” he asked as though he were a bellman in a luxury hotel—instead of someone who was obviously on the security staff.
Unable to rein in her emotions, Emma blurted, “We’d like to be alone now.”
“Of course,” he answered, switching gears immediately. “I’ll just leave your key cards on the desk.” He set down two cards, then turned and strode toward the door to the suite.
Cole followed him, waiting until he was outside before closing and locking the door.
When he came back to Emma, she melted into his arms.
“He’s lying,” she whispered. She was about to speculate about his role on the ship when Cole shook his head.
“Yeah, but let’s not talk about it,” he said, a warning note in his voice, and she realized that she’d forgotten the conversation in the car about microphones. That seemed like a thousand years ago. When they’d been in the normal world. Not this place that had turned deadly almost as soon a they’d stepped on board.
She was sure someone had been killed. But who and why?
When she made a choking sound, Cole tightened his arms around her, running his hands up and down her back.
He was the only thing she could cling to in a universe that had gone mad.
“That was frightening,” she murmured, sure that any normal female guest would have a similar reaction. If she were
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