LITMIR.BIZ

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no. I’ve never stayed in a cabin as luxurious as yours, but I’m sure the travel agent mentioned something about a personal butler. Did you ask him?”

      “Yes, and he basically said the same thing. I just thought it a little strange. I’m not used to being catered to.” She’d never get used to it because she liked her privacy too much.

      “I know what you’re thinking. Don’t read more into this. All I can say is, enjoy it while it lasts. We’ve a heavy-duty filming session for the upcoming fall season. Speaking of which, I’d give anything for a bit of cool weather. It’s humid as hell today. What about you?”

      “I’m in the middle of nowhere, Mandy. The weather is”—she paused—“warm and sunny. Tell Christina I called. I’ll check in sometime tomorrow. “Remember, don’t let her out of your sight, and make sure you’re there when she exits the ride.”

      “She’s fine. Tell me about the captain’s dinner. Did you meet anyone worth mentioning?”

      She knew Mandy wouldn’t be satisfied without getting every detail she could. “I slept through the entire evening. I think I was . . . overtired. Plus, I had a Dramamine. So, no, I didn’t meet anyone worth mentioning.”

      “Anna, please get your rear end out of that room and mingle. You can sleep later. Do you know how many women would love to trade places with you? You’re out of your mind if you don’t take advantage of all those single guys.”

      She rolled her eyes, glad that she was alone. “I’m going to the dancing contest tonight. I have to be there at seven, so give my girl kisses, and I’ll talk to her tomorrow.” Before Mandy could say another word, Anna disconnected the call. Now wasn’t the time for a sermon. She felt bad enough as it was, wasting the entire evening, embarrassed that George had to deliver breakfast—rather . . . brunch—to her room. With that in mind, she returned to her room and unpacked. She hung all her dresses in the closet, put her lingerie in a drawer, and used another for her shorts and T-shirts. Before she did anything else, she took the bottle of Xanax out of her cosmetic bag and placed the bottle in the small safe in the back of the closet. She followed the instructions and assured herself the medication was secure, out of temptation for her or anyone else who entered her suite. Not that she didn’t trust George. Worse, she didn’t trust herself not to toss a couple pills in her bag, and at the first sign of a panic attack, pop them into her mouth.

      Not wanting to go there, she decided she’d have a bath before the evening’s big event. She filled the tub with hot water and lowered herself into the sweet warmth. This was perfect. She used the Guerlain bath salts, the scent reminding her of a perfume her mother had worn. She knew it was still around but couldn’t recall its exact name. Later, she might research it, but now, all she wanted to do was soak her worries away, get all glammed up for the evening, and just enjoy being here. Mandy had taken the time to make all these arrangements with the travel agency. Her special coffee and the Norman Love chocolates she was so fond of. She was right; anyone in their right mind would envy such a luxurious vacation.

      Anna was about to drift off when she heard a noise. Unsure if George would wait for her permission to enter, she eased out of the tub, wrapping herself in a towel, and went to the cabin’s main entrance. She waited but didn’t hear anything else. Deciding it was some sort of normal ship noise that she wasn’t aware of, she turned away and headed for her room and she heard the noise again. She stopped and waited.

      Metal jiggling. Like keys in a pocket.

      Could my stalker have followed me to the Caribbean?

      It was probably someone passing her room who just happened to have keys in their pocket. Anna made a mental note to tell George not to enter her rooms when she was there unless she called for him or there was an emergency. While she appreciated the personal touch, she didn’t want to have him just walking in whenever he wanted. Sure, this wasn’t the cruise line’s policy, but she still needed him to know she had boundaries.

      Back in her room, she picked out a lemon-yellow dress, a leftover from last summer but still stylish enough to wear that evening. She spent the next twenty minutes drying her hair, then twisted it into a sophisticated topknot. She added a powder foundation and a bit of blush and mascara. A touch of sheer lip gloss was enough. She wore so much makeup when they were filming, it would be good for her and her skin to have a break from all the heavy-duty stuff. This was her glam for the night.

      Anna took out a small silver clutch and added her cell phone, just in case, the lip gloss, and her room key. No need for cash, a credit card, or an ID since her room key would be scanned, and all charges added to her final bill at the end of the cruise. She couldn’t imagine what damage she’d allowed Mandy to do to her bank account for this trip, but she’d live with whatever it was. With a smart financial advisor, Anna had secured not only her future but Christina’s, too. Her daughter would be able to attend the college of her choice provided her grades were up to par. Anna would never allow herself to become dependent on Christina or anyone else for that matter. She’d worked her ass off to be in this position, and no one would ever take it away from her.

      A bit proud of her own success, she left her cabin, and decided that, come hell or high water, she was going to enjoy the evening.

      Chapter 4

      The Splendor of the Sea was beyond magnificent. The brochure didn’t do it justice. Glass elevators, giant chandeliers, and large, cushy sofas and plush chairs invited one to lounge in sumptuous comfort.

      Anna didn’t remember the stats of the ship, but surely, it could easily house a few thousand people. How in the world would she or anyone else find that one special person in such a large pool of singles?

      Exiting the glass elevator, she was amazed at the quiet, especially knowing this wasn’t just some deep-sea fishing boat of the kind, with only a few passengers, that her father had captained. She’d expected to be bombarded by crowds.

      There was still an hour before the contest, so she decided to have dinner before the festivities. The main dining room, the Compass Royale, accommodated all guests in the more luxurious cabins, without them having to bother to make a reservation. Delicious scents guided her to a stunning room overlooking the water. There were round tables scattered throughout the room, adorned with crisp, white-linen tablecloths, and surrounded by lush gold-and-maroon seats that appeared as cushy as those in the main atrium. Not sure of the procedure since she’d spent her first night at sea passed out, she spied a giant lectern with two men dressed like George. She approached the pair, smiling. “Uh, hello. Am I too early for dinner?” She looked around, seeing only a sprinkling of guests seated sporadically throughout the large dining space.

      “Not at all, ma’am,” said one of the men in a heavy Spanish accent. “Please, follow me.”

      Anna followed him to a table overlooking the aquamarine Caribbean Sea. “This is stunning,” she said, sitting down in the chair he pulled out for her. “I had no idea,” she added, more to herself than him. She knew the waters of the Caribbean were much different from those of the Gulf of Mexico, but until actually seeing them, she hadn’t realized how dazzling they were. Obviously, she’d slept through their arrival to the Caribbean.

      “Excuse me,” a deep male voice said, interrupting her reverie.

      Anna turned her gaze from the blue water to a pair of striking sapphire eyes. Momentarily taken aback, she couldn’t help herself. This man was gorgeous. With thick black hair a bit long, he reminded her of a Viking. He was tall—at least six-three—with a with broad and muscular chest, obvious given the tight white dress shirt he wore. He was so handsome, it disturbed her in ways she’d long forgotten.

      “Yes?” she asked, feeling slightly embarrassed for staring but thinking he was probably used to it, given his good looks and body.

      He smiled, and again, she felt physical sensations that’d been dormant for years.

      “Forgive me for staring, but aren’t you the Anna Campbell?” he asked. “From Lubbock?”

      Relief

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