Read Online Portside Peril (Cruise Ship Christian Cozy Mysteries Series Book 2) by Hope Callaghan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Hope Callaghan
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windows.
Millie wished she hadn’t been so nervous. It would be cool to stand there and check out the view. All that water. The amazing thing was - the captain knew exactly where they were at – and where they were going.
Millie wished she felt the same. She had no idea where she was going. Probably home.
Captain Armati set the binoculars on the top of the counter. He shifted his body, his gaze coming to rest on Millie. The sweat had traveled from her armpits to the top of her forehead as beads of perspiration formed on her brow. Millie was so freaked out, she didn’t even wipe it away. Soon it would be trickling into her eyes. No matter. She would be history and this whole moment of sheer terror forgotten.
The captain skipped the pleasantries. “Millie Sanders. Follow me.” He didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he abruptly headed to the other side of the bridge - the opposite end from where Millie had just come in. She picked up the pace and trailed along as he walked down a small corridor. At the end of the small hall was a gray metal door marked “Private.” Above the silver door lever was a key pad.
Captain Armati punched in a code and opened the door. He stepped inside and held the door. “Please. Come in.”
Millie let out the breath she’d been holding. He had said “please.” Maybe she wasn’t in as deep of doo-doo as she originally imagined.
There was no time to dwell on the please part. Millie looked around. She was in some sort of private apartment. Her eyes widened as it dawned on her that this had to be Captain Armati’s private quarters!
It was a masculine space. A dark, gray sofa sat against the far wall. In front of that was a round wooden coffee table. On the other side of the room was a flat screen TV that hung on the wall.
Next to the TV were two floor-to-ceiling bookcases, crammed full of books. A wingback chair was directly in front of the bookcases and a tall lamp with an ornate, Victorian shade hovered over the top of the wingback.
It was the perfect spot to read a book, escape the hordes of passengers or avoid complaining crew.
It was definitely a cozy retreat.
Beyond the living room was a small kitchenette. Millie couldn’t see the whole thing. Only enough to know there was a small stove, a sink and enough counter space to cook a gourmet meal.
Millie didn’t want to seem as if she was snooping. She lowered her eyes and studied her fingernails. Her palms were sweating. She rubbed them on the front of her pants.
Captain Armati stepped past the living room and stopped in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows on the other side of the room. Millie, unsure what she should do, followed him. Plus, she wanted to check out the view. This was a whole lot different from her little hole in the wall. Windowless, claustrophobic hole in the wall. Still, she was grateful for her job.
Which was in jeopardy. The fear came rushing back as she followed the captain’s gaze and stared out the window, certain this was one of the last times she would have a view such as this. There were absolutely zero views like this in the suburbs of Grand Rapids!
Captain Armati put his hands behind his back. He nodded out the window. “I love the ocean.”
Millie nodded. “Me, too.”
He glanced at Millie. “It’s in my blood. You know, my father was a captain.”
She didn’t know that but Millie nodded anyways.
He went on. “Spent his whole life sailing the world.” He abruptly changed the subject. “Do you like working on the ship?”
“I-uh. Yes, sir. I mean, yes, Captain Armati.” The words stuck in her mouth like six saltine crackers without a drop of water to wash them down. “I love the job,” she admitted. There. It was out. He could fire her, but at least he would know he was destroying her dreams!
He held up a hand. “Stay here.”
He didn’t wait for an answer. He
Millie wished she hadn’t been so nervous. It would be cool to stand there and check out the view. All that water. The amazing thing was - the captain knew exactly where they were at – and where they were going.
Millie wished she felt the same. She had no idea where she was going. Probably home.
Captain Armati set the binoculars on the top of the counter. He shifted his body, his gaze coming to rest on Millie. The sweat had traveled from her armpits to the top of her forehead as beads of perspiration formed on her brow. Millie was so freaked out, she didn’t even wipe it away. Soon it would be trickling into her eyes. No matter. She would be history and this whole moment of sheer terror forgotten.
The captain skipped the pleasantries. “Millie Sanders. Follow me.” He didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he abruptly headed to the other side of the bridge - the opposite end from where Millie had just come in. She picked up the pace and trailed along as he walked down a small corridor. At the end of the small hall was a gray metal door marked “Private.” Above the silver door lever was a key pad.
Captain Armati punched in a code and opened the door. He stepped inside and held the door. “Please. Come in.”
Millie let out the breath she’d been holding. He had said “please.” Maybe she wasn’t in as deep of doo-doo as she originally imagined.
There was no time to dwell on the please part. Millie looked around. She was in some sort of private apartment. Her eyes widened as it dawned on her that this had to be Captain Armati’s private quarters!
It was a masculine space. A dark, gray sofa sat against the far wall. In front of that was a round wooden coffee table. On the other side of the room was a flat screen TV that hung on the wall.
Next to the TV were two floor-to-ceiling bookcases, crammed full of books. A wingback chair was directly in front of the bookcases and a tall lamp with an ornate, Victorian shade hovered over the top of the wingback.
It was the perfect spot to read a book, escape the hordes of passengers or avoid complaining crew.
It was definitely a cozy retreat.
Beyond the living room was a small kitchenette. Millie couldn’t see the whole thing. Only enough to know there was a small stove, a sink and enough counter space to cook a gourmet meal.
Millie didn’t want to seem as if she was snooping. She lowered her eyes and studied her fingernails. Her palms were sweating. She rubbed them on the front of her pants.
Captain Armati stepped past the living room and stopped in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows on the other side of the room. Millie, unsure what she should do, followed him. Plus, she wanted to check out the view. This was a whole lot different from her little hole in the wall. Windowless, claustrophobic hole in the wall. Still, she was grateful for her job.
Which was in jeopardy. The fear came rushing back as she followed the captain’s gaze and stared out the window, certain this was one of the last times she would have a view such as this. There were absolutely zero views like this in the suburbs of Grand Rapids!
Captain Armati put his hands behind his back. He nodded out the window. “I love the ocean.”
Millie nodded. “Me, too.”
He glanced at Millie. “It’s in my blood. You know, my father was a captain.”
She didn’t know that but Millie nodded anyways.
He went on. “Spent his whole life sailing the world.” He abruptly changed the subject. “Do you like working on the ship?”
“I-uh. Yes, sir. I mean, yes, Captain Armati.” The words stuck in her mouth like six saltine crackers without a drop of water to wash them down. “I love the job,” she admitted. There. It was out. He could fire her, but at least he would know he was destroying her dreams!
He held up a hand. “Stay here.”
He didn’t wait for an answer. He
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