Page 34 of Sailor's Delight

Jenn was about to order something cheap and nonalcoholic to settle in to wait, when she saw Trey sit down at a table across from none other than the bohemian princess, the young woman from dinner.What was her name? Chloe?!

“Son of a bitch,” Jenn whispered breathlessly.

“We get that a lot, actually,” the bartender said humorously.

“Shut up,” Jenn snapped. She was in no mood for games or jokes right now.

The bartender walked away, too professional to snap back or mutter within earshot. Jenn ignored him, staring out the window at Trey, who was talking rapidly with his hands, while Chloe listened with what Jenn could only describe as simpering sympathy. Her whole demeanor conveyed empathy and understanding. Her beautifully sculpted and furrowed brows, her flawless yet sympathetically-creased forehead, her full and pouty lips puckered beautifully in sympathy for whatever Trey was saying.

Jenn hated to realize it, but this attractive young woman was perfect. Jenn found her own gaze being pulled to the curve of her lips, the softness of her ribs, the way her dress clung to her in all the right places. She recalled Chloe’s giggles at dinner, her calm confidence and quiet gentleness, and understood what Trey saw in her.

Which only served to make Jenn all the more angry with him.How dare he show interest in someone so attractive!

The thought didn’t make any sense, and she knew that on some level, but it didn’t mean it didn’t feel right. When Chloe reached across the table and quietly took Trey’s hand, then proceeded to say something obviously heartfelt to him, Jenn felt a flutter in her own stomach that quickly turned to rage.

Grateful that she hadn’t yet begun drinking and therefore retained all her faculties, Jenn made the decision to leave. She wouldn’t confront Trey here, in public, and embarrass them both more than they already had up to this point. She couldn’t take any more public scrutiny.

She rushed out of the club and back to the elevators, fuming all the way up to Deck 12 and her corridor.

Ricardo, ever diligent, was just finishing up with something in an adjacent cabin and floated out into the hallway, his courteous grin fixed on his face.

“Ms. Jenn!” he called quietly. His grin faltered slightly when he saw her face. “Everything okay?”

Jenn stopped beside him, her hands instinctively going to her hips. “I’m going to need something from you, Ricardo.”

Ricardo blanched visibly, but his smile didn’t dim this time. “What you need, Ms. Jenn?”

Jenn nodded toward Trey’s door. “I’m going to need you to let me into room 12360.”

Ricardo’s eyes went wide.

Trey’s walk back to his room was a lighter one than the walk to the bar to meet up with Chloe. Chloe really was a great listener, and she’d offered him some great support without Desire there to hold her back from it. She’d helped him rekindle his zeal for reaching out to them in the first place.

It was all about Jenn. Jenn was the reason they were here. Jenn was… standing at the foot of Trey’s bed, an expression of murder on her face.

Trey let the cabin door swing closed behind him, his mouth hanging open.

“How did you…” he began.

“Oh, no!” Jenn cut him off. “I’ll be going first, and I’m not here to swap excuses, so you’ll just be listening.”

Trey couldn’t resist the swallow that made his Adam’s apple bob. His mouth was suddenly very dry. His eyes were suddenly drawn to the open safe in the closet, and he couldn’t stop the groan that escaped his throat.

Jenn held up the black velvet bag, the heavy metal contents inside swinging lazily from the drawstrings.

“Yeah. I know about this.” She dropped the bag at his feet, and Trey flinched.

“I know all about your little meet-ups with Chloe, too!” There was heat behind Jenn’s words.

Trey’s eyes went wide.

Jenn paused briefly, as if she expected him to jump in with an explanation. Trey was still too shocked to utter a word.

“Does Desire know?” Jenn’s voice was a dangerous whisper.

Trey could only manage to form the words, “About what?”

Jenn gave him a clear look of disgust.

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