Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
“Cold, love?” Caius asks, voice deceptively sweet and caring. “Come here.”
Right.
We’re playing our parts.
Knowing contact with Megan is at stake, I lean willingly into his strong, warm body. He wraps his free arm around me, hauling me closer so that I’m squished against him. I’m not exactly hating it, which annoys me. I hook my jean-clad leg over his thigh, snuggling closer while precariously holding my flute so as not to spill it all over my “boyfriend.” With my head resting on his shoulder and cozied up against him, I could almost pretend we’re a real couple.
Gareth marvels aloud about the “badass” yacht. The mustache man who greeted us appears with a tray of stuffed mushrooms and what looks like caviar. He sets it on the table between the sofas before getting trapped in a conversation with Gareth. I sip my champagne, pleasantly surprised at how delicious it is, and try not to inhale Caius’s equally delicious scent. It’d be much easier to hate him if he didn’t smell so good.
We both finish our drinks, and as if having eyes in the back of his head, the mustache man discreetly relieves us of our glasses, while never missing a beat of talking to Gareth.
Voices resound in the bar area, and I strain to listen. A female one can be heard loudest. Her cackle of laughter has Caius’s entire body tensing. Naturally, this has me on high alert. Who’s the woman?
Moments later, a voluptuous woman with vibrant, long, wavy, red hair and piercing green eyes enters the space. As soon as she sees Gareth, she grins. Four young teen girls follow behind her, plainly dressed in comparison to the sexy older woman.
“My favorite Crowne,” she croons, voice raspy like that of an old-time jazz singer. “Good seeing you, hon. How are you?”
Gareth rises to his feet and pulls her in for a hug. “Better now, Ms. Herring.”
She cackles again. “You’ve seen me naked, sweetheart. Ava. You’re to always call me Ava.”
Their exchange is weird, to say the least. I glance at the girls behind her, but none of them even look up. They’re all silent and sullen. It’s unsettling.
“Have you met Caius’s woman?” Gareth asks. “This one’s serious.”
Caius pats my hip and I know that’s my cue to play along. I untangle myself from his hold, hopping quickly to my feet to offer my hand.
“Romy Langston. Nice to meet you.”
Ava blinks her thick lashes several times as if she’s calculating something in her head but it’s not computing. “My, what a surprise.” Her green orbs cut over to Caius, who’s now standing. “I didn’t think your cold heart had an ounce of warmth.” She smirks. “From the looks of it, though, you’ve practically robbed the cradle.”
Caius casually wraps an arm over my shoulders, pulling me close. “You’d know all about that, wouldn’t you, Ava?”
She bursts into more obnoxious laughter, covering her full, cherry-red lips with her dainty hand. “I can’t help it if younger men are attracted to me.” She winks at him. “You’re the only one who could ever resist me.”
I’m starting to really get grossed out by this woman. If she’s anything like her creepy buddy Solomon, she’s probably plucking those young “men” from the boys’ homes for her own pleasure and amusement. The thought makes me want to gag. It also has my attention darting over to the group of teenage zombies.
“Your children?” I ask, not pulling my gaze from the girls.
One of the girls, with jet-black hair, lifts her head and stares at me—brown eyes empty and apathetic. It makes the hairs on my arms stand on end.
“They’re my girls,” Ava says, stepping in front of the strange girl, blocking my view with her curvaceous body.
I want to ask more, but Caius’s hand on my shoulder tightens. It feels like a warning.
“They’re pretty,” I blurt out. But look nothing like you, lady.
“I should hope so for as much trouble as they are.” Ava’s smile never falters, but I don’t miss the edge of irritation in her tone.
Before we can continue this bizarre encounter, the mustache man proclaims our rooms are ready.
“The cabins are on the level above this one,” he says to us. “However, Mr. Crowne and his lovely lady will be rooming in one of the VIP suites above that on the owner’s level.”
Special treatment.
I’m not sure I like the idea of being on the same deck as Solomon Grayhawk.
Ava herds her odd girls out of the room and down a hallway. Gareth saunters after the older woman, playfully chatting her up along the way. Caius drops his arm and then takes hold of my hand. The mustache man shows us to a door that leads to a private staircase. Caius goes up the steps first, tugging me behind him. We go up two levels and exit into a large lounge complete with a pool table, another bar, and multiple low sofas.