Read Online Murder of a Needled Knitter by Denise Swanson - Free Book Online

starving.”
    Wally growled softly, then grabbed her and pulled her onto his chest. His hands tunneled into her hair and angled her mouth for his kiss, making her forget her growling stomach.
    It was quite a while before she and Wally got around to ordering room service. Skye wasn’t unhappy with the delay. Being a glass half-full kind of gal, she figured that in the interim she’d burned enough calories to splurge on Belgian waffles and whipped cream.
    As they finished their breakfast, Wally looked up from his perusal of Tuesday’s
Diamond Dialogue
and said, “There’s a presentation about the shore excursions for St. Maarten in the theater at nine.”
    â€œIt might be a good idea to go to that.” Skye took one last sip of her coffee and put down the cup. “What time is it now?”
    Wally checked his watch. “Eight forty.” He got up and pulled Skye from her chair. “If you don’t mess around with your hair or put on makeup, which you don’t need, we can get there with a few minutes to spare.”
    Skye appreciated that Wally loved her as she was, but there was no way she was going out in public without a little cosmetic enhancement. With the seconds ticking down, she ran to the closet, threw on tan shorts and a black-and-beige-print top, and slid her feet into flip-flops. “We probably should decide which tours we want to take before they fill up. I hear the good ones go fast.”
    â€œUh-huh,” Wally agreed distractedly as he searched for his sandals. He’d already put on a pair of cutoffs and a navy T-shirt with S CUMBLE R IVER P OLICE S OFTBALL L EAGUE printed in red across the front.
    After sweeping her hair into a loose twist on top of her head, applying a little concealer under her eyes, and brushing on a few strokes of mascara, Skye picked up her purse and met Wally at the cabin door.
    Grabbing Skye’s hand, Wally led her at a jog through the maze of corridors. Their suite was located at the very back of the ship, so it was a long walk to the theater, which was all the way in the bow. By the time they arrived, Skye was panting and the speaker was testing the microphone.
    They walked down the aisle looking for empty seats until Trixie popped up from a row near the stage and motioned for them to join her and Owen. After exchanging quiet hellos, the two couples settled in to listen to the lecture.
    The shore excursion manager gave a brief overview of St. Maarten, and then for nearly half an hour she highlighted all the ship-approved stores. Finally, with only fifteen minutes left, she went over the available tours. For the adventurous, there were riding Segways along the waterfront boardwalk, participating in a yacht race, scuba diving, and snorkeling. The more sedate could choose sightseeing buses or sunbathing on a quiet beach.
    After the presentation, Wally, Skye, and the Fraynes discussed their preferences. Skye’s choice, visiting the St. Maarten Park and Zoo, was outvoted when Trixie joined the men in lobbying for the Rhino Rider Boat Adventure, which consisted of driving a two-person inflatable motorboat, a beach stop, and snorkeling.
    The idea of being in the middle of the ocean on what was really no more than a rubber raft scared Skye, but Wally said, “Besides being fun, this excursion has an added advantage that I’m sure you’ll agree is worth considering.”
    â€œOh?” Skye tilted her head, thought about it for a second, then grinned. “Because no way will my parents decide to take it?”
    â€œRight in one.” Wally tapped Skye’s nose. “Your mom would never do something that might mess up her hair. So how about it?” he coaxed.
    â€œLet’s give it a whirl.” Skye rose to her feet and tugged Wally up. “The shore tour manager said that capacity is extremely limited so we’d better go book it now.”
    Trixie glanced at her watch and stood. “Bingo starts in