All Hands Below by Lelani Black Read Free Book Online Page A

you, despite your plans and schemes.”
    Evangeline gulped, melting inside even as indignation bubbled on. “Hopes and dreams,” she sniffed.
    “Okay—hopes and dreams.” His hand curved around her arm. His eyes searched hers. “Will you do me one favor?”
    “No. Maybe.”
    “There are as many weirdos on a floating city as there are on shore. While the ship is equipped with security measures, you are still a woman traveling alone. I couldn’t bear to see you hurt while on your—er, quest.”
    “Husband hunt, you mean?” she huffed, further offended by the addictive heat of his palm. Dislodging his touch from her skin, she took a breath and pulled herself together. “I’m taking a break from my quest to explore the ruins in Tulum tomorrow. I’ll try to keep out of trouble while I’m in Mexico.”
    She didn’t like the thoughtful assessment of his gaze. “Stop looking at me like that. I have no regrets about the way I’ve lived my life. And if what you’ve learned about me hasn’t been to your liking? Well, I’m not sorry!”
    He lifted an eyebrow. “Do I act like a man avoiding you? Afraid of you?”
    That tugged a little smile out of her. If anything, he was now a man in pursuit.
    “What I did to you on that deck was wrong.” His mouth tightened. “Rather, what I didn’t do. I see that now—and frankly? I love that you’re woman enough to hold out for what you really want. You may not believe this, but I thought I was doing the right thing at the time, for reasons of my own.”
    “Well, spare me your reasons. It’s not important now.”
    “Would you like some company tomorrow?”
    “No,” she lied, but knew it was the best answer.
    His smile was tinged with regret. As it should be, she thought, trying to be a hard-ass, even as she longed to take him up on his offer. She didn’t trust him, and she trusted herself far less.
    “Make sure you wear lots of sunblock. Take care of that beautiful skin of yours.”
    “Well, there goes my topless tan,” she sighed. “Despite what you think, there is more to me than the airhead out to snare a husband.”
    “I don’t think of you as an airhead,” he murmured. “And for the record—masturbating after denying myself your pussy? It sucked.”
    The elevator stopped. Her heart skipped a beat.
    She wished the elevator doors wouldn’t open. That the ship would lose power and leave them stuck inside. As her mind urged her to run from him and the outrageous things he was saying, the rest of her ached for an excuse to linger in his wicked presence. “Wow. That makes me feel so much better, Liam.”
    He chuckled. “If you don’t find what you’re looking for, come see me, hmm?”
    “If every man on board dies from a plague, I’ll think about it.” Was he crazy? She’d see him all right—as a last resort!
    Evangeline swallowed back her longing to take him up on his offer. There’d be other cruises. Other opportunities. But what if her Christmas wishes could come true on this cruise? She stood to gain everything she ever wanted—if she could just stay away from him.
    The elevator doors slid apart.
    “Enjoy your day,” he called after her as she slipped away.
    ****
    Evangeline found Maisy back in her stateroom.
    “I waited an hour for you, Evangeline. When you didn’t show, I returned to my suite to get into my swimsuit, which I seem to have misplaced.” Maisy bustled around in search of her swimsuit. “They’re offering aqua exercise classes that I don’t want to miss.”
    “I’m sorry I let you down, Maisy. I overslept. Then I went to the Veranda Café instead of the International Bistro.”
    The older woman studied the shadows under her eyes, curious. “What on earth were you up to last night?”
    Evangeline sighed. “You don’t want to know. Anyway, let me make it up to you. I made reservations for a mani-pedi and a spa treatment. How about you join me?”
    “I’d love to! But I don’t have reservations.”
    “I do. For