Page 53 of Love Overboard
Heads turned toward the cheerful voice.
Jonathan King stood in the main doorway, soaked to the skin. He searched the crowd until he found Lacey, gave her a nod, and swung a waterproof knapsack off his arm. His rain poncho dripped a puddle of water on the floor, but his smile filled the gymnasium.
“We missed you on board! So I commandeered one of the tender boats. Trust me, you don’t want to make that rough ride just yet.” Jon clutched his stomach with an exaggerated scowl. “I’m here to make sure everyone is taken care of until it’s safe to travel to the ship.” He strode through the room to the very center. “I realize this is a far cry from the dream vacation you imagined, but I promise I’ll have the chef whip up an exclusive meal for you the second we get back to the MSBuckingham.” He ran his fingers through the wet strands of hair hanging over his forehead.
“Wow!” A twentysomething with black lipstick giggled near Lacey. “They sent the cruise director for us.”
Impressed whispers volleyed around her. It didn’t hurt that Jon looked as if he’d stepped out of a shower-gel commercial. How had he convinced someone to let him take a tender?
Passengers crowded around him, and he listened to a catalog of stories and complaints. The peevish expressions dissipated under the charismatic force of his goodwill. He pulled gourmet chocolate bars from his bag and distributed them while he moved through the room. When he reached the little girl, he lowered himself to her height.
“I brought a friend to keep you company.” Jon set the knapsack on the floor and drew out a small teddy bear with a crown on its head and the Monarch logo on its right paw.
The child shyly accepted the gift and hid behind her mother’s dress again.
Jon stood and raised his voice. “These accommodations can’t compare to the MSBuckingham’s, but I packed a little music from home to help us relax.” He retrieved a small speaker from his bag and connected it to his phone. Before long, a soothing instrumental orchestration flowed through the gym.
Lacey recognized the mix. The ship played it in the early-morning hours, when they wanted the passengers to calm down and go to bed. She marveled at his thoroughness. He’d planned for every contingency. It would be a shame if he grew tired of his position and switched jobs again. This one made use of his many talents so well.
She shook her head as Jon joined her. “Do you happen to have a popcorn machine and a movie screen in that Mary Poppins bag?”
His eyes swept over her. “You look terrible.”
Her urge to swoon dissipated. “Thanks a lot.” She smoothed the bedraggled hem of her polo.
Would a kind word kill him? She’d been in a silent state of panic all afternoon. Her appearance had been the last thing on her mind. Until now.
He pulled a dark-blue sweatshirt with matching pants and a toiletries kit from the pack and passed them to her. “I’ll handle the situation here. You go take a shower.”
She wanted nothing more. But how could she leave him alone with the cranky passengers? “You don’t have to—”
Jon grasped her shoulders and spun her around. “Go.” He gave her a gentle push and turned to focus on the customers.
Lacey hugged the clean, dry sweats. They smelled of fabric softener and Jon. She’d never read a fairy tale where Prince Charming carried a miraculous backpack, but a change of clothes was better than a glass slipper any day of the week.
And the shower rivaled a European vacation. She allowed herself nine whole minutes of bliss under the hot spray before worries about the passengers prompted her to cut it short. The wet concrete chilled her bare feet while she dressed. She wrung the ends of her hair in a towel as she exited the locker room.
Jon waited for her outside the door. He grinned as he gave her the once-over. “My clothes fit better on you.”
Lacey tugged at the loose neckline. “Thanks for bringing them. It’s such a relief to be dry.” She peeked around his side at a welcome scene. The worn-out travelers stretched on their cots as a tranquil piano piece drifted through the air. A noisy snore sounded from the corner. “Where’s Emily?” she whispered.
Jon pointed at a slumbering figure near the sandwich table. “She’s a trouper. Helped tend to everyone else before she crashed.”
He took Lacey by the hand and led her to a small office off the main room. Inside were a single cot and blanket shoved against the wall. A sandwich and drink sat on a nearby table. Jon motioned to the food.
“You eat and get some rest. I’ll keep watch.”
Lacey sank on the floor next to the cot. She wrapped the towel around her thick mane of wet hair and squeezed. “I don’t think I could sleep. I’d be too worried the call would come that the storm’s over.” She stopped wringing the moisture out. “Speaking of which, howdidyou get here?”
“It’s too dangerous to risk the passengers’ lives, but I convinced the captain to let me drive one of the boats from the ship. I have the proper training and promised not to sink on the way.”
Lacey combed her fingers through her tangled locks. “Still, I’m shocked he allowed you to—”
“It won’t dry the way you’re doing it.” Jon sat on the floor across from her. He took the towel away and dropped it over her head.
The terry cloth shrouded her. She debated how to react, until two large hands settled on her scalp and began a furious massage.
“Ow.” Lacey peeked from under the cloth. “Are you trying to peel the skin off?”
