Page 108 of Love Overboard
Lacey dug in her heels. “Even if you could make that happen, I wouldn’t know what to say to him.”
Emily stopped pushing and walked in front of her. “Answer me one question. And if you say no, I’ll drop it. Do you want to be with him?”
Lacey swallowed. “Yes … but I’ve hurt him. More than once. And … he’s a millionaire. Jon can do better than me.”
Emily smacked her arm hard. “Stop right there. It’s a wonder he doesn’t trip over all the hearts and flowers shooting out of his eyes. Jon will never find a better girl than you, and I bet he’ll agree if you give him a chance.”
Lacey blinked through a watery haze at the greatest cheerleader of her life. Hope surged inside of her. Was Emily right? If so …
“I’ve got to get off this boat.”
Emily clapped her hands and studied Lacey’s white knee-length skirt. “Put your slacks on, dear. You’ll need to climb off the ship into something smaller.”
Her eyebrows shoved together. “You’re not planning on stealing a lifeboat, are you?”
“Too much trouble.” She shook her head. “In times like these, old friends are the best.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Leave the details to me.” Emily was pushing again. “You get ready to reenact one of those romantic airport scenes Gerry loves to write. I’ll take care of the rest. It’s been far too long since I visited the captain.”
“Wait. How are you … Forget it. If you can get me back to Cozumel, I’ll sign a lifetime contract for full-service meddling.” Lacey slipped off her dress pumps and stood there in her stocking feet. “I’d better change my shoes too. I might have to make a run for it.”
CHAPTER 49
EMILY ENTERED THE BRIDGE, WHEREa row of large glass windows fronted two raised leather seats commanding a view of the bow of the ship. One chair was empty, and Peter sat on the other. He hopped down as soon as he saw her. The washed-out first mate looked like they never let him see the sunlight. His skinny face rivaled the whitecaps dancing on the ocean behind him.
“Mrs. Windsor.” His voice squeaked even though he was well past the age of puberty. “Did you come to visit me?”
“Good afternoon, Peter.” She propped her cane against a control panel. “Is the captain away?”
“He went to the mess for a bite to eat. Could I be of help?”
“I came to ask a favor.” Emily walked over and gave him a hug.
He squeezed her tight. “Anything you want. Name it.”
She eased back and eyed him. “Stop the boat.”
His thin lips gaped. He lowered his arms and stepped away. “But, Mrs. Windsor, that’s against the rules. We’ve got to make it to the next port by sunset.”
“Pish-tosh. We always arrive an hour early and sit around waiting for an available pier. You know that.”
“Even so”—he shook his head—“the captain told me to hold the course. He’ll put me on bread and water if I go against him.”
“I’d be asking the same favor of the captain if he were here. But it’s you, so you’ll have to do it.”
“But, Mrs. Windsor, there’s no brakes on a ship. It’s a complicated process. You have to stop the forward momentum. And … and achieve thrust reversal … the propeller—”
“Peter”—Emily held a finger to his lips—“I don’t need a sailing lesson. I need you to Stop. The. Ship.”
“But, Mrs. Windsor!”
“Please stop butting me, young man.” She reached out, took his hand, and placed it on the control. “And crank that nice lever to the Stop position. This is an emergency.”
Peter’s eyebrows rose. “Is someone sick? Not one of the Shippers.”
“No one is ill, unless you count being heartsick. But it’s easily remedied if you’ll do what I ask. You remember Lacey Anderson, don’t you?”
