Faking It(6)

Captain Harper introduced himself to Ada and I, “Welcome aboard, Mr. Harcourt,” he said with a firm handshake, “These are the crew that will take good care of you for the next few days.”

He moved us on down the line, introducing each crew member as we went. The others had all shaken hands with everyone by the time I got there. I met a beautiful thirty-something redhead called Sarah, who welcomed us by offering tall glasses of champagne. Next, a slender and long-legged brunette called Tanya, who flashed me an alluring and slightly suggestive smile, was introduced, followed by the third steward, Misty. For a microsecond, I could have sworn she eyed me up and down with pure contempt. Then suddenly, her eyes lit up and a dazzling smile appeared. She looked so beautiful in that instant, I swear she made my heart skip a beat.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Harcourt,” she curtsied. I couldn’t help myself and sneaked a peek down the front of her shirt as she bent forward. It must have been a shade too obvious, because Ada sharply tugged my hand, pulling me to her.

“If you’d like to follow me, I can quickly show you around our boat,” said Sarah, before leading us off below decks. Still, I couldn’t draw my eyes away from Misty. Her long blonde hair ran down past her shoulders, perfectly framing her gorgeous face. Her sparkling blue eyes dazzled me and her full lips looked intoxicating. I felt like a dumb teenager meeting a playboy bunny. She stood with the other staff, smiling warmly at me every time she saw me staring at her, until I was dragged out of sight.





Misty

Got him, I thought to myself.

He’d noticed me, that much was obvious. Honestly, I was a little surprised. Seeing that Asian goddess on his arm, I never expected him to seem so interested in me. I wondered if this Ada just might be the most completely attractive woman I’d ever seen in my life. Exactly what I’d expected to see with him. In person, though, he was far more handsome than I’d anticipated. It didn’t worry me. I still hated him. I just never expected to find myself even a little attracted to him.

Aphrodite had been underway for an hour, the guests were settling into their quarters, and Sarah and I were helping Tarquin prep for lunch when Tanya stumbled into the galley, giggling.

“Oh, my God! I just passed by D Cash’s room. All three of them are fucking like mad!” she squealed. “You can hear that black girl moaning and that skinny blonde screaming right up on the sundeck.”

“Well, they’re paying guests. No harm in them enjoying themselves,” Sarah said absently, concentrating on pairing a cucumber for the salads.

“Speak for yourself, Sarah,” cried Tanya. “If I have to listen to any more of that, I’m either joining them or I’m gonna need that cucumber and a twenty-minute break in my bunk!”

“Oh! How crass! You are a filthy slut, Tanya,” teased Tarquin.

“Look who’s talking!” she teased him back. Here we go again, I thought, having seen this scene play out once or twice before.

“Can’t you just stop being gay for a second and do me a favor?” Tanya cornered the chef against the walk-in freezer, where he mimed frantic shock and panic. “Please, Tarquin, ‘me so horny’!” she flipped around, lifted her skirt, and exposed her G-string clad behind, “Puhlehehease… stick it in… just for a second… it won’t hurt a bit, I promise!”

“Do you see this, Sarah? This is sexual misconduct of the highest order!” wailed Tarquin, as Tanya ground her nearly naked butt against his crotch, “Vile temptress! Get thee to a nunnery!”

“That’s enough, Tanya,” Sarah scolded her, still smiling.

Tanya pouted and made herself decent. “It’s still not fair, though, is it?” she whined, “We slave away for them, no booze, no sex, while the whole weekend they get to have the time of their lives.”

“Just think about that fat tip waiting at the end, darling,” reassured Tarquin, before rushing over and diving into one of his ovens. “Dozy cow, you nearly made me burn my meat!” he pulled out a lightly smoldering tray of pork cutlets.

“I thought that was what she was trying to do,” I murmured, and the other three burst out laughing again.

“Well, someone’s got an admirer,” said Azure from the galley doorway. We all jumped a little.

“Christ!” breathed Tarquin, indicating desperate heart palpitations. “How long have you been there? I hate when she does that.”

“Who?” I asked, ignoring Tarquin’s theatrics. “Has Tanya found another heart to break?”

“No, silly!” said Tarquin. “We all saw the way the primary was looking at you.”

“Yeah, he didn’t even see me,” Tanya whined. “Which is a pity. He’s hot, I’d jump him in a second...”

“Of course you would, darling,” Tarquin teased again. “Right, this is too much! I see I’m going to have to take one for the team. C’mon, Tanya, you’re disturbing everyone. We are going into that freezer to sort you out. Back in five, Sarah darling, just make sure there’s a hot towel and a fresh appletini ready for when I emerge.” He grabbed Tanya’s wrist and made to drag her off, as she fanned herself and made ‘oh my!’ faces.

I normally loved watching my shipmates messing around and laughing. This time, though, I was distracted. I was thinking hard. Tyler really did seem to like me as soon as he saw me. No one in his position has done that since my family went broke. And he was very good-looking... Come on, Misty! Stop it! I shouted inside my head, him, his family, and all his greedy, arrogant friends. They’re the reason you lost your father, the reason you lost everything.