Dinner was long since over. They were a pretty funny bunch, a bit older than the crowds he usually chilled with, but every bit as rowdy. Carmyn kept threatening to skinny-dip in the pool, and so far nobody had tried to talk her out of it. Should he stick around to see that, or maybe try to jet? It’d make him horny, and he’d probably embarrass himself. No way could he join in, and he’d look like a dork if he stood there watching. If he left now, maybe he could find some action down by the pool. He’d heard a couple of the cabana girls were damned ambitious.
That sounded kind of yuck to him. That was why he’d come on this cruise, though–to cut loose. Better to jet. He set his drink down on the patio beside his deck chair and stood. “Hey, I’d better run. I’ve gotta call my brother and let him know I made it okay.” It’d cost him a pretty penny to use one of the pay phones downstairs, but they were the only ones available. Privacy seemed like priority one on this ship.
“Oh, don’t do that!” Victoria stood up next to him. “I mean, you can use our phone if you want. They’ll charge you some ridiculous fee for the public phones.”
“That would be…nice.” Wouldn’t get him out of there, but he’d already spent enough on his fare.
Victoria swayed a little and then put her hand on the chair back. “Woo. Little too much wine. If you need internet access, we’ve got that here you can use too. I mean, the cybercafe downstairs is free, but this is more…private.”
“Thanks.”
“Here. I’ll show you where the phone is.” Victoria led the way inside, a little wobbly, but that was all good–her hips moved more now that she was tipsy. “You can use the one in the bedroom. It’ll be quieter there, and more, erm…private. I know I keep saying that, private, but I don’t want you to think we’re trying to get all up in your business or whatever.”
“Thanks. I’ll keep the call short.”
She smiled and looked at his eyes, then quickly away, before turning around.
He watched her kick her shoes off on the way back out. Nice feet.
He’d just call Daniel and then say his goodbyes, and go find some action downstairs.
“Hello?” Daniel sounded sleepy.
“Hey. You in bed already?”
Dan groaned. “It’s one here in LA.”
“So you didn’t go partying?”
Dan chuckled. “Oh yeah. I just started kinda early, so we finished early, if you know what I mean.”
“We?”
“Me and a couple chicks.”
“Did those chicks think you’re you, or me?”
“Don’t worry, bro. I’m not wearing the Dave-sguise. I’m me. Cali girls are just really easy to pick up in a rented Ferrari.”
“No doubt.” He could expect to see that charge on his credit card bill, too. Dan’s signature didn’t even come close to his, but nobody compared signatures when they looked so alike. “I just wanted to check in.”
“I’m doing fine. No worries, bro.”
Funny. “Well, that’s a load off. Talk at ya later.”
“’Night.”
Time to go thank his hosts and split.
Victoria’s shoes had landed next to the wall, one toe nestled into the arch of the other. Why was that sexy? Why were the giant daisies across the open toes sexy? He’d never been a shoe guy. Then again, he’d seen plenty of female feet, too, but he’d noticed her toes peeking out of those shoes, more than once. Maybe he could get a look at the complete feet before he left.
Maybe he liked feet so much because he hated shoes. He’d just slip his off for the rest of the time he was here, then carry them with him back to his room. It was a cruise, after all.
The pricey sneaks he’d gotten free as part of an endorsement deal parked next to Victoria’s, making hers look even smaller and more feminine. That couldn’t possibly be making him horny. Must still be hot and bothered from listening to talk about those pool girls. He shoved his socks into the shoes and stepped out to the still-warm concrete deck.
“Vic says there’s a veritable pack of passengers on who want to shag in public. Almost half the manifest.” Brett stood behind Victoria’s chair, rubbing her shoulders. “So the Lido pool is open water. Any time you wander down there, you’re likely to find somebody going at it.”
“I’m sure we’ll avoid the area with due diligence.” Mark smirked. His wife draped across his lap on a chaise, playing with his shirttail.
“Yes, well. Just another reason we’ve allowed absolutely no recording devices, aside from company-owned ones, on board. Oh, you’re back then!” Brett called out. “Come have a seat again. Care for another drink?”