Page 19 of Sailor's Delight

Trey turned to look at her. Her cover was blown.

“What’s wrong?” Trey asked quietly.

She went impassive, willing herself not to blow up.

“While you were gone, someone messaged you. They wanted to know where you wanted to meet up.”

“Oh!” Trey buried his face in his burger, taking a large bite. He chewed slowly, grunting quietly in appreciation and nodding slightly. When he swallowed, he pointed at his food. “That’s a good burger.”

He pointed at his phone. “Probably some guy from this morning, another early bird. He wanted to get drinks this evening.”

“Really?” Jenn plastered an expression of mock disgust to her face in an attempt to conceal her doubt. “He sounded super needy.”

“Did he?” Trey picked up the phone, his eyes scanning the message. Jenn watched him closely. “Wow. You’re right. He soundssuperneedy.”

“You gonna meet up for drinks?”

“Probably not,” Trey said. “I think I have other plans.” He winked, then went for another bite of his burger.

Jenn decided, then and there, that regardless of whomever was on the other end of that clinging text, Trey was going to be very,verybusy this evening.

Trey knocked quietly on Jenn’s cabin door. When she pulled the door open, he couldn’t help the smile that grew across his face, nor his eyes from taking her all in.

Her makeup was done for the evening, smoky cat eyes and a bright pink lipstick giving her an alluring appearance. She was wearing a long, black, only slightly translucent coverup reminiscent of an old Hollywood evening gown.

“Wow. What a look!” He hesitated. “Are you sure we’re only going to a pool party?”

“I’m sure,” Jenn purred. “You haven’t seen half of it, yet.”

“Well, I look forward to the big reveal!” Trey offered her his arm. “I feel a tad underdressed!”

Jenn pulled her door closed as she accepted his arm. “It’s only a pool party.”

“Yeah, well—,” Trey gestured to all of her appreciatively.

“Shall we?” Jenn glided through the hall, the train of the coverup billowing out behind her.

“Oh, that’s just not fair,” Trey gasped.

Jenn smirked. “Don’t be jealous. You could wear one, too, I suppose.”

“Yeah, but I wouldn’t fill it like you do,” Trey whistled.

“It’s cute that you don’t think so.”

Trey looked up, smiling at the quip. He chuckled at the good-natured ribbing. “O-okay,” he said. “Message received.” He smacked his belly lightly. He was rewarded with Jenn’s quiet laugh.

“Let’s do this,” he said, smiling.

They heard the pool party long before they reached it. The bump of bass and the metallic ring of steel drum pans echoed slightly throughout the atrium as they exited the elevator.

As they headed for the sliding doors that led to the pool deck, the sounds of the crowd and partygoers alternately muffled and echoed as the doors opened and shut as passengers passed through them.

Trey gave Jenn’s hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m incredibly lucky to be going to this with you.”

Jenn gave him an affectionate smirk. “I know.”

She let go of Trey’s arm and walked through the doors alone with a walk that would have been the envy of European models.