Page 18 of Knot for Sale

He flinched, the movement barely detectable. “Here’s the thing. I don’t know the details myself—and even if I did, I’m not sure they’d be any of your business. But it would be best if we can keep Cade Huntwell away from my friend Emma. There’s, um,some history there, even if I’m not clued in to exactly what it is. She didn’t know he and his father were going to be here, but after that performance, I get the distinct impression they knewshewas going to be here. And I can’t say I like that idea very much.”

I nodded thoughtfully. That ‘nonzero chance’ was looking more and more likely. “I see.” A steward approached us, coming up the stairs from C-deck. I flagged her down. “Excuse me. Where might I find Dr. Metzer?”

“He should be in his quarters on the crew deck, sir,” the steward replied. “Cabin C9.”

“Thank you,” I told her.

She dipped her chin and hurried away on her previous errand.

The omega glanced in the direction of the guest cabins, chewing his lower lip for a moment before he let it slide free of his teeth. “I should go check on Em. Just in case that creep Cade went looking for her directly rather than getting the doctor like he was supposed to.”

It was interesting that he considered such a possibility to be likely. Still, omega instincts were finely honed, especially when it came to danger.

“Very well. You do that. I’ll pay cabin C9 a visit and ensure Huntwell doesn’t tag along for the examination—assuming he did, in fact, go to retrieve the doctor as ordered. If he didn’t, I’ll join you at your friend’s cabin. Which one is it?”

I watched him waver... saw the moment he decided he needed an ally badly enough to take a leap of faith regarding my trustworthiness.

“B-5. Second from the end on the left.” He licked his lips. “And, um, thanks again for doing this.”

“Go,” I told him, tipping my chin in the direction of the guest suites.

He nodded and hared off at a fast jog. I dragged my eyes away from his model-perfect body and started down the stairs to C-deck, wondering if there might be something useful to glean from this strange interlude after all.

Cabin C9 was buried behind the crew amenities—kitchen, dining room, break room. This section of the ship was utilitarian rather than luxurious, but it nevertheless gave the impression of being a cushy berth for those crew members who could successfully land a job here.

The entire ship was clean and well run, a shining example of the sort of thing extreme wealth could buy—or at least rent—for the week. When I approached cabin C9, the door was ajar and male voices emerged from within. It seemed my target had indeed gone for the doctor rather than making a beeline for the private room of a female model.

I cleared my throat and knocked lightly on the doorframe to announce my presence. A thin, bespectacled beta man in his sixties craned around, his bushy eyebrows drawing together.

“Yes, may I help you, Mr....” the doctor began in a pronounced Germanic accent. He trailed off, his eyebrows rising in a question. The iron-gray caterpillars seemed to possess and independent life of their own. It was rather hard to look away from them.

“Rosencranz,” I said, making the effort. “Forgive me. I was hoping for a private word with Mr. Huntwell.”

“Can’t right now, mate,” said Cade, barely sparing him a glance. “Got this model chit to check up on. You heard.”

I stared at him.

Dr. Metzer stared at him as well, his eyebrows twisting into a new, perplexed configuration. “Normally, a doctor confers with his patient privately,” he said.

Cade looked momentarily confounded. After an awkward beat, he rallied. “Well, you don’t know what cabin she’s in.”

And you do, I thought.How interesting.

“Cabin B5,” I said helpfully, giving the pair my best urbane smile.

“Ah, thank you.” Dr. Metzer looked between us for a moment as though unsure what exactly was going on between us. Then he gathered up his doctor’s bag and straightened, giving a small cough. “If you would excuse me?”

It was clear he didn’t particularly want to leave either of us in his unlocked quarters, and I couldn’t blame him. I stepped aside, clearing the doorway. “By all means.”

He and Cade exited, Metzer closing the door firmly behind him. I let him slip past me, and then turned, cutting the younger Huntwell off before he could follow.

“Now, about that private word,” I said.

Cade shot me a frustrated glance, lifting a finger in a ‘just a minute’gesture.

“Casick will expect a full report on the girl’s health!” he called after the departing doctor.

Metzer raised a hand in acknowledgement that he’d heard.

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