Chapter One
“Excuse me, Miss?”
Jenna “Mac” Mackenzie had to stifle her annoyance. One day she’d learn to take a flight home instead of the cruise ship. Too bad she was terrified of flying. But right now, she was tired and hungry, and the passengers who had just boarded were not her problem.
She turned to the man, intending to tell him no, but then did a second take. The man was tall and lanky, though his shoulders looked broad enough under the oversized Hawaiian shirt he was wearing. His legs were long and lean, like those of a runner. She had a nice view of them under his board shorts. He had a handsome, chiseled face, but what threw her was the oversized glasses that he had to keep pushing up his nose from the sweat that was gathering under the plastic frames. He looked like a man trying to fit the part of a vacationer but didn’t quite pull it off. He reminded her of a college professor. Or maybe a high school English teacher. A sexy one.
“Yes?” She looked up into his deep brown eyes. A woman could drown in their deep depths; they were so dark, despite the glare on the clear lenses from the bright sun overhead.
“I don’t suppose you work here?”
Her mouth twisted in a wry smile. She was a sucker every time. And she supposed she did work here. “I do. Can I help you?”
The tall man took a step closer. “I was wondering if you could help me.”
Jenna saw the man’s pale skin turn a little green. Figures. He was seasick and they’d barely gotten underway. It wasn’t often a man caught her attention, so she continued to let her eyes wander. She was on vacation, after all, and he was cute. But she had no use for men without sea legs. Too bad.
She gestured toward the stern. “I’ll get you fixed up. First time on a ship?”
The man followed her as her long, tanned legs ate up the distance between there and sick bay. “That obvious?”
Jenna climbed the stairs to the upper deck. “Sorry, but yes.”
She opened the door to sick bay and pulled the tissue paper over the exam chair. “Have a seat.”
The man sank into the chair, his pallor still green. “What’s the prescription? Antihistamines?”
She glanced over at him as she pulled a box out of the cabinet without looking at it. “Did you throw up?”
He shook his head and turned a darker shade. “Not yet.”
Since he wasn’t complaining, she let herself feel a little sympathy. “I don’t like drugs, unless they’re all that helps. We’ll fix you up with the wristbands. If they don’t work, I’ll give you pills to take with you to try. You can get more at the gift shop.”
The man took the box from her so he could read it. “Acupressure, huh?”
She could tell he was skeptical. “It helps some people. Not everyone. But it’s better than a pill that will make you tired. You’re on a cruise ship with the most beautiful view in the world. You don’t want to sleep through it.”
The man handed her back the box and looked her in the eyes. “It is a beautiful view.”
Jenna stared at him. He looked to be memorizing her face. It was a cheesy line, but the look that accompanied it made her heart beat a little faster.
She cleared her throat. “Right. Thanks. You wear them like this so that the pressure is on the inside.”
He watched as she took them out and adjusted them. “They’re pink.”
She huffed a little. “Not manly enough to wear pink?”
The man laughed, which was not the reaction she was expecting. “I guess I’m going to find out.”
Jenna took a step back. “Seasickness may or may not pass. I’ll get you a couple of packs of the pills in case the wristbands don’t help.”
He stayed where he was sitting, his eyes on her.
She pulled a couple of packs out and handed them to him. “Here you go. Instructions on the back, but hopefully it won’t come to that.”
The man tucked them into his pocket. “Thank you, Miss—"
“Jenna.” She gave him her real name instead of the nickname everyone else called her.
“I appreciate it, Jenna. I’m Sean Cameron.”
Oh, boy. Jenna knew that name. That was the name of the client who had hired her to take him out into the Florida waters to search for some old sunken ship. She had hitched a ride on the cruise ship to beat her client back to the office. She’d been visiting her grandparents and was on her way home. She hoped he found his sea legs. Otherwise, he might cancel on her. Though given her reaction to him, that might not be a bad thing. She didn’t consort with clients. She didn’t really consort at all. She simply didn’t have the time. But he made her think of moonlight kisses and walks on the beach.
She took a step back when Sean slid off the chair. “You might also want to get a little something in your stomach if you haven’t eaten. Nothing heavy. And if you do throw up, stay in your cabin. The cool air will help.”
He followed her outside, back into the bright sunshine. “Can you point me in the direction of the restaurant?”
Jenna found herself leading the way. “Come on. It can take a little while to get your bearings.”
He walked beside her this time, instead of behind. “What do I owe you for the bands and the pills?”
He did look a bit silly in the hot pink bands. She hadn’t looked at the color when she’d pulled them out. “On the house, since it’s your first cruise. And the ship’s maiden voyage, at that.”
He mumbled a thank you as they entered the covered restaurant. It was open-air, but the shade would get him out of the sun.
“Hi, Paul. Two cups of potato soup and a couple of baguettes for my friend and me.”
“Sure thing, Mac.”
“You don’t have to watch over me.” Sean followed Jenna as she led him to a small table.
Jenna caught his annoyed tone. “What? Don’t want to share lunch with me?”
He dropped into a chair. “I’d think you wouldn’t want to share lunch with me. I assume you’re on the clock.”
Jenna flipped her long golden braid over her shoulder. “I’m not working during this voyage, though I do work for the cruise company. I’m on my way home.”
Paul dropped off the two cups of soup and bread. “Anything else?”
Jenna thanked him. “We’re good. Thanks.”
Sean eyed the cup of soup. “Cream can’t be good for a sour stomach.”
Jenna spooned up a bite. “Perhaps not. But the potatoes are. And the bread. Other than crackers, I’m not sure what else might be in the kitchen.”
Sean fished out a bite of potato. He ate it. Waited. Then took another. “This is good.”
Jenna tore off a chunk of the bread and soaked it in her soup. “So, what brings you on a cruise ship?”
Sean mirrored her and tried the bread. “My parents. It’s their fortieth wedding anniversary. Mom wanted to go on a cruise. Dad grumbled but gave in. It’s easier to let Mom have her way. Mom saw this ship in an ad and thought it was perfect. It’s a small ship and it doesn’t sail too far out into the ocean.”
“And you came with them?”
He nodded as he ate another piece of bread. “Mom insisted since I paid for it. Never mind that it cost more for me to come, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
Jenna found she liked the timbre of his voice. He had a bit of an East Coast accent, but it wasn’t prominent. She guessed he lived there but wasn’t born there. “You’re not sharing a room with them, are you?”
Sean made a face. “Gross. No.”
Jenna giggled. “Good.”
Sean leaned back in his seat. “I feel better. Thank you, Jenna.”
She leaned back in her seat. “You’re welcome.”
We hope you are enjoying the book so far. To continue reading...
Copyright © 2025 All Rights Reserved
Please log in to recommend or discuss...
