Read Online The Bridal Bargain by Emma Darcy - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Emma Darcy
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way of spotting trouble-makers and diverting trouble before it can develop. The guy is really smart, you know? Not just a pretty face?’’
A nervous little laugh gurgled from Hannah’s throat. “I haven’t thought of Tony King as pretty.”
Megan grinned. “You mean...more a knock-out hunk? Gotta say he’s not bad for an older guy.”
“Not bad,” Hannah agreed, wondering precisely how old Tony was. Early thirties? The phrase, “older guy” hadn’t even occurred to her. On the other hand, Megan was only nineteen, making the age gap bigger.
“Anyhow, you just relax now,” the younger girl advised. “You won’t see those two again until lunch-time, and you can bet your boots Tony will be right on their tails, making sure you don’t get hassled out of focusing on cooking. Duchess is his baby, you know. Got to have the food and everything else for it just right.”
“A hard boss?” Hannah queried, worrying now that she might not measure up under the stress of being accessible to Jodie and Flynn. Did they have to keep spoiling everything for her?
“No. He’s very fair. You can count on that. He expects you to be fair to him, too. That’s okay in my book.”
Hannah nodded, though she bitterly wondered if there was any fairness in this world. Why did Flynn and Jodie have to visit Port Douglas at this time and book a trip on Duchess today of all days? If they had any decency, they’d stay away from her. Just let her get on with this job since it was her choice. They’d certainly made their choice.
Amazingly that seemed to happen. Or Tony King made it happen. They made no re-appearance in the saloon at all, not even for lunch. Keith, the first mate, brought down an order for three lunches of barramundi and salad. Hannah cooked the fish, Megan served the salads, and the lunches were taken up to the upper deck, along with a chilled bottle of Chardonnay.
“See?” Megan commented smugly as she helped Keith stack the tray. “Tony’s got those two eating out of his hands. No problem.”
Except what they might be giving him in exchange, like personal information Hannah would prefer to keep private. She was utterly powerless to stop that and the thought of her past history being laid bare— especially to Tony King—made her feel vulnerable on too many levels.
It took considerable willpower to keep herself operating on a professional level, chatting to the passengers, ensuring what they ordered was cooked to perfection, delivering with a smile. Her inner tension eased somewhat once the lunch rush was over. No mishaps. No complaints. No problems apart from those in her head.
The afternoon wore on. Duchess left the outer reef at three o’clock for the run home. Most of the passengers trailed into the saloon, their scuba-diving and snorkelling finished for the day. Hannah forced herself to repeat the exotic fruit presentation which formed a pleasurable and refreshing wind-down during the ninety minutes it took to get back to Port Douglas. Tracy and Jai offered to man the bar and serve drinks, freeing Megan to take samples of the fruit to the upper deck.
Nothing was actually said, but Hannah sensed the whole staff had been worded up to shield her from the Lovetts. Ironically, this probably meant Flynn and Jodie had received five-star service all day, watched over and handled with kid gloves. All Tony King’s doing, of course, though Hannah was under no delusions she’d be paying for it, one way or another.
If Jodie and Flynn didn’t pounce on her the moment she walked off Duchess, Tony would, wanting to know what else in Hannah’s background might raise an ugly head to disturb the smooth running of his ship. She tried not to think about it until she had to. Maybe everything could be avoided, relegated to the past where it belonged.
It was a vain hope.
They docked at the marina on schedule. The passengers streamed off, heading for transport back to their accommodation. The crew cleaned up after
A nervous little laugh gurgled from Hannah’s throat. “I haven’t thought of Tony King as pretty.”
Megan grinned. “You mean...more a knock-out hunk? Gotta say he’s not bad for an older guy.”
“Not bad,” Hannah agreed, wondering precisely how old Tony was. Early thirties? The phrase, “older guy” hadn’t even occurred to her. On the other hand, Megan was only nineteen, making the age gap bigger.
“Anyhow, you just relax now,” the younger girl advised. “You won’t see those two again until lunch-time, and you can bet your boots Tony will be right on their tails, making sure you don’t get hassled out of focusing on cooking. Duchess is his baby, you know. Got to have the food and everything else for it just right.”
“A hard boss?” Hannah queried, worrying now that she might not measure up under the stress of being accessible to Jodie and Flynn. Did they have to keep spoiling everything for her?
“No. He’s very fair. You can count on that. He expects you to be fair to him, too. That’s okay in my book.”
Hannah nodded, though she bitterly wondered if there was any fairness in this world. Why did Flynn and Jodie have to visit Port Douglas at this time and book a trip on Duchess today of all days? If they had any decency, they’d stay away from her. Just let her get on with this job since it was her choice. They’d certainly made their choice.
Amazingly that seemed to happen. Or Tony King made it happen. They made no re-appearance in the saloon at all, not even for lunch. Keith, the first mate, brought down an order for three lunches of barramundi and salad. Hannah cooked the fish, Megan served the salads, and the lunches were taken up to the upper deck, along with a chilled bottle of Chardonnay.
“See?” Megan commented smugly as she helped Keith stack the tray. “Tony’s got those two eating out of his hands. No problem.”
Except what they might be giving him in exchange, like personal information Hannah would prefer to keep private. She was utterly powerless to stop that and the thought of her past history being laid bare— especially to Tony King—made her feel vulnerable on too many levels.
It took considerable willpower to keep herself operating on a professional level, chatting to the passengers, ensuring what they ordered was cooked to perfection, delivering with a smile. Her inner tension eased somewhat once the lunch rush was over. No mishaps. No complaints. No problems apart from those in her head.
The afternoon wore on. Duchess left the outer reef at three o’clock for the run home. Most of the passengers trailed into the saloon, their scuba-diving and snorkelling finished for the day. Hannah forced herself to repeat the exotic fruit presentation which formed a pleasurable and refreshing wind-down during the ninety minutes it took to get back to Port Douglas. Tracy and Jai offered to man the bar and serve drinks, freeing Megan to take samples of the fruit to the upper deck.
Nothing was actually said, but Hannah sensed the whole staff had been worded up to shield her from the Lovetts. Ironically, this probably meant Flynn and Jodie had received five-star service all day, watched over and handled with kid gloves. All Tony King’s doing, of course, though Hannah was under no delusions she’d be paying for it, one way or another.
If Jodie and Flynn didn’t pounce on her the moment she walked off Duchess, Tony would, wanting to know what else in Hannah’s background might raise an ugly head to disturb the smooth running of his ship. She tried not to think about it until she had to. Maybe everything could be avoided, relegated to the past where it belonged.
It was a vain hope.
They docked at the marina on schedule. The passengers streamed off, heading for transport back to their accommodation. The crew cleaned up after
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