Page 16 of Too Far To Sea
Dana: Who?
Brit: The officer who interrogated you?
Not cute. Handsome.
Dana: Doesn’t matter, he is an employee.
Brit: Hmmmmm.
Dana: Good night. It is past bedtime here.
Brit: Night. Sweet dreams… of ship’s officers.
Dana dropped her phone on the bed. She didn’t need her friends encouraging this. Whatever it was. She was here for Cheyanne’s wedding. She needed to focus on being a good sister and bridesmaid, not mooning over a security officer like some romance novel heroine.
Giving up on reading, Dana turned off the app and dreamed the exact dreams Brit wished upon her.
6
The small lobbyoutside the ship’s exclusive upscale restaurant screamed ambiance. Dana joined her sister and the other bridesmaids in the corner of the waiting area. Like her, they’d all worn their little black dresses for dinner. The elevator opened and Chandler stepped off with the groomsmen. The other elevator opened, and the parents of the bride exited chatting. Cheyanne’s father approached the podium, and the group lined up behind him.
The hostess looked at her screen, then back at the group. “Sir, your reservation is for fourteen. There are fifteen here.”
Sheila looked behind her and counted. She stopped when her eyes met Dana’s. “I did not invite you to this event.”
Cheyanne’s mouth dropped. “What do you mean? Of course, Dana is invited. She is my sister and a bridesmaid.”
“But she isn’t in the room with you and we used your room dining credit for part of this meal.”
“She was in the room until you kicked her out.” Cheyanne’s voice rose.
Dana hopped a step forward and put her hand on her sister’s arm. “It’s okay. Obviously, a mistake was made. I’ll go eat elsewhere.”
“You shouldn’t have to. You are all dressed up after our spa day.” Cheyanne turned to the hostess. “Can you add an extra chair?”
“No, she can’t.” Sheila cut off the hostess’s response. “It would be an odd number.”
Chandler’s cousin Carlotta waved her hand. “I’m not really in the bridal party…”
“Nonsense, you’re Chandler’s family. You must stay.” Sheila narrowed her eyes at Dana as if daring her to point out that she was family, too.
Filet mignon, or whatever else was on the menu, wasn’t worth the fight and the bad feelings that would continue throughout the meal. “I really should go ice my ankle soon. I’ll just grab a quick bite at the buffet. Go, enjoy.”
Cheyanne pursed her lips and leaned closer to Dana’s ear. “You shouldn’t give in to her on this.”
“Sometimes it is better to retreat. It is only a dinner.” Dana watched Cheyanne and the rest of the group enter the restaurant in the reflection of the mirrored wall. She closed her eyes for a moment, willing the pain that had been her constant companion since she was five-years old to go away. She wasn’t that hungry anyway.
“Miss Knight?” An officer she’d noticed entering the restaurant earlier approached. “I’m Officer Alvaro, head of Security. I would like to extend my apologies for having Officer Worth investigate you.”
Dana managed a small smile. “No problem. Actually, it turned out quite helpful to discover I could order ice whenever I needed it.”
“I noticed a bit of commotion just now from my seat at the captain’s table, that left you without dinner.” Alvaro’s voice had a mild soothing accent to it. “The captain’s table is one guest short due to sea sickness. He asked me to issue an invitation for you to join us. Officer Worth, is also with us, so you will know another face.”
“After the trouble I’ve given you, I should say no.”
“I would consider it a crime for a beautiful woman dressed for a celebration to eat alone,” Chief Security Officer Alvaro coaxed.
Dana adjusted her crutches. “I wouldn’t want to commit a crime onboard. I already have security suspicious.”
