Two if by Sea by Marie Carnay Read Free Book Online

accomplices.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    “And Jenkins?”
    “Yes?”
    “I want him caught.”
    “Yes, sir.” The head of security strode out of the room and Tony turned back to the screen. He typed in a few codes and shots of the hallways and spa appeared. He scrolled back in time until he found her.
    Daphne.
    She’d left the spa agitated, her fingers drumming on her arms as she waited for the elevator. Tony frowned. The spa was meant to loosen her up. Make her want to stay.
    If she hated it, what chance did they have of her showing up for dinner?
    He cursed to himself. Women didn’t do this to Anthony Gareaux. Was it the fire-colored hair or the rosy lips and cheeks? The just-enough curves or her ‘back-off, buddy’ attitude?
    No . It was the whole package. The way she sized him up the minute they shook hands. How she slipped on a perfect smile that hid everything behind a mask. He wanted to tear that mask away and see the real Daphne Meadows. The woman underneath all those proper clothes and direct words.
    The one who had shivered when he touched her. She wanted him, she just needed to admit it.
    Escorting her off the ship in the morning wouldn’t do. He wanted her naked and moaning in his bed that very night.
    Tony fast forwarded the video until he hit real time. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. The seconds sped by and he chewed on his cheek. He checked his watch and smoothed his hair. She should have left ages ago to make it to dinner on time.
    As he reached out to shut the live feed off, her door opened. Tony’s world lurched like the ship had run aground. Long black dress. Hair piled up on top of her head. Diamonds glittering between her breasts.
    Daphne was one gorgeous woman and he needed to haul ass to the restaurant. He had a dinner date.
----
DAMON
    “You don’t think she’ll stand us up, do you?” Damon dragged his glass of scotch around on the lacquered table and watched the entrance to the restaurant.
    “Relax. She’ll be here any minute now.” Tony leaned back in the booth like he didn’t have a care in the world.
    Even after all these years, Damon had never understood the man’s confidence. No matter what was going on, Tony always acted as if he’d planned the whole thing. “Don’t you care whether she shows up?”
    “Of course I care. I told you, she’s coming.”
    “Fine.” Damon finished his drink in a single gulp. Alcohol would take the edge off. He motioned for the waitress to bring him another when a blonde with fake boobs and too much lip filler bounced up to the table.
    Great . Just what they needed.
    “Hi!” She flashed them a mini wave and smashed her breasts together with her arms. “Are you guys here alone?”
    Damon snorted. He knew what she was after. “Let me guess, you want to know who we are.”
    Her blue eyes went wide and her plumped lips turned into a duck bill. Was that supposed to be sexy?
    “Gosh, it must be you.” She leaned on the table, her cleavage shoved in their faces like a pair of inflatable buoys. If the ship sank, she wouldn’t drown. “You’re the owners aren’t you?”
    Tony spread out in the booth and hooked his arm behind the seat. “We are.”
    “Oooh!” The duck bill intensified. “It’s an honor to meet you. All the girls on the ship are talking about you.” She bit her lower lip and Damon wondered if it would spring a leak. “Is it true what they say?”
    Tony graced her with a smile. “What would that be, exactly?”
    “You know, about the women.” She motioned with her hand, but Tony only shook his head. The bastard. He’d decided to toy with her.
    “I shouldn’t say anything.”
    “Don’t be a tease. Ask what you want to know.”
    She grew bolder. “That you pick a lucky woman to spend the week with you every cruise.”
    Damon wished he had the heart to let her down easy. “You shouldn’t trust the gossip you hear around the ship.”
    Her face fell. “So it’s not true?”
    Tony straightened up and adjusted his shirt sleeves.