“God, Britt. She’s probably making that up too. She’s a sensationalist. Who cares about Rafe? I never loved him. You know that.” She lowered her voice and raked her nails down his belly. “Besides, you’re twice the man he is, and much more skilled.”
He grinned down at her, his dimple out in full force. “You’ve a way with words.”
“Yeah, well. You’ve a way with me, you great English dork.”
It was apparent by the nasty stuff on that blog, somebody wanted to cause trouble between her and Britt. But who? Britt believed Andrea wasn’t aboard. What about Rafe? Would he stoop this low? This person was good with words. A writer? Maybe Mick. She needed something to occupy his time. Ah, she had just the thing. “Speaking of words, I’m going to have Mick shadow Captain Bekyros.”
“Christ. Poor Captain.”
Yes, perhaps. But despite their different exteriors, instinct told her the captain and Mick had something in common inside–something they might be able to share in.
“So you’re seriously not coming with me to judge the Cougar and Cub Dirty Dance-Off?” she asked.
“In light of our shipboard gossip columnist, do you think it wise?”
Hell. He had her there, for sure.
He offered her a gentle kiss, a soft smile. “Think I’ll tinker around the suite, tidy things up a bit.”
“That’s what housekeeping is for.”
His smile remained in place, but he didn’t answer. His gaze darted toward the patio door, where the shoe pile had grown, then back to her. Whatever he was planning, she didn’t have time to ask, or try and talk him out of it.
Chapter 13
Victoria paused outside the suite’s door. Male voices carried from inside. Laughter. Britt, and… Really? She keyed in the code and swung the door open.
Britt and David stood in the open space in front of the huge flat-panel TV, controllers in hand, playing Wii. The console rested on top of a suitcase below the TV. Very elegant, after Britt had made such a point of insisting all the cables and cords for the TV were routed through the wall.
“Oh, hullo, Vic.” He looked over at her briefly, then prepared to take a golf swing. “I’m walloping David here.”
“You wish,” David muttered. “Wait’ll you see me putt this hole.”
“Hi.” She lifted her hand and waved.
David offered a shy smile and a wink, then turned back to watch Britt’s ball onscreen.
Britt watched the replay and his chest puffed up. “I believe that’s an eagle, no?” He bumped shoulders with David, grinning.
Victoria shook her head and made for the bedroom to change.
Britt followed her to the doorway, where he leaned with his arms crossed over his chest, the smug bastard. Just waiting for her to ask. Well, she wouldn’t. He’d bust open and have to tell before long.
“Wii, Britt? Tell me you didn’t swipe it from the crew lounge.”
“Love. The staff has better things to do in that lounge. David and I can attest to that. Those buggers put the staff at the Mountain to shame! Besides, they’ve two more consoles down there, and no one has borrowed them. They’ll never miss this one.” He shrugged and stood there silently, no doubt still waiting for her to ask about David. Not a chance. “Care to join us for a game, then? Me and David, that is?”
The rotter.
“No. I think I’ll go relax by the pool.” It was almost three PM. Surely the deadliest of the sun’s rays were past for the day. If she slathered on plenty of sunscreen…
“Britt! Your turn!” David called.
Britt now, was it, instead of Brett? Interesting.
Britt pulled her into a fierce embrace and gave her a quick, tongue-y kiss. “Have it your way. I’ll see you out there later. The championship calls.” He turned on his heel and returned to his game.
Men.
Trash talk resumed, and they barely paused when she sauntered past in her little black bikini. Probably for the best. She could use some downtime, after the noise at that dance contest, and then giving Mick the temporary brush-off.
What the heck? She almost tripped over a duffel, and a suitcase she recognized as David’s from when he’d boarded. His stuff was all here. Another interesting turn of events which Britt must be dying for her to ask about. Rat.
Settling on a chaise, she took a bottle of sunscreen from the basket on the table. Hmm. Maybe while she relaxed out here, she’d take a look at the surveillance cams, see how things were going around the ship. Britt called her a control freak, and maybe she was–but hey, she wanted to know how things were working out, for planning next trip’s schedule. Before she got her hands all gooped up, she used the remote to access her security cams on the outside TV. There. The Lido pool was a good place to start. So far the public sex option was going over well.