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Dragging herself up, she stood under the shower, dressed, and tiptoed out of her room, up the back stairs, and—joy of joys—into her office undiscovered.
She soon lost herself in the busy clamor of coordinating the entertainment for the next cruise. It was only when her deputy walked in that she remembered how easily she might have been replaced. Forever.
“God, what a nightmare,” Darren, her deputy, said after an awkward silence. “I’m so glad everything was sorted out. I couldn’t believe the accusations, none of us could.”
“Everyone knew?” Michaela asked.
“Sorry. You have to admit, it was pretty good gossip.”
Michaela sighed, and then a laugh bubbled to the surface. It was true. Juicy gossip was gold on board. “I guess it was—me seducing some boy, practically still a teenager.”
Darren snorted. “I was pretty impressed. I mean, you’re hot for sure, but that’s a lot more cougar than I thought you had in you…”
The two of them dissolved into laughter, and Michaela felt the tension of the previous evening start to dissolve. Relief affected people in different ways, she realized. Despite her vow to leave the ship, she was very relieved that she wasn’t being forced off.
When Darren left and Michaela had finally got over the giggles, she turned back to her computer. Opening a file marked “personal,” she scanned through six years of photographs, thank-you letters, and mementos of her time on board. “I’ve got a good job,” she said aloud.
A great job. She was still young—young enough to inspire seduction stories. Clicking the files closed, she made a decision. She wasn’t leaving just yet.
The captain had so easily dismissed her abilities because she was a woman. No doubt he’d relished having an excuse to get rid of her. Jealousy was a powerful drug, and the way the captain had looked at her had illustrated just what a nasty enemy he could be if she wasn’t careful.
Well, he wouldn’t be able to brandish his power again. She would be the picture of professionalism, and that meant no more Dylan.
They hadn’t even spent a whole evening together, yet the thought of not talking to him, not admiring him as he danced—of being his boss and nothing else—turned her heart to concrete.
But she could avoid him. He hardly needed her to watch over him. Performing would be easier for him on the next cruise, Michaela knew. The nerves would only be there to provide adrenaline before stepping on stage, and the routines would be more familiar. She’d seen this situation before—once the team got into a groove, the shows just got better and better.
“Better and better,” she muttered. He was already spectacular, so seeing Dylan at his peak would be something else.
Michael couldn’t help but think about Dylan getting better in the bedroom, too. Even though it had been a few days since their moment of passion, her skin still tingled whenever she thought about their time together in the shower. And his smile…
No. She would keep her hands to herself and her eyes on her work. He hadn’t promised to sweep her off her feet and take her away from all this. Quite the opposite, he seemed excited about being onboard—more excited even than the younger dancers. He was probably just looking for someone to keep his bed warm while he worked out his passion on stage. Then, when he’d had his fill, he’d leave the cruise business—and her—for good.
Then where would she be?
Still onboard and alone.
But still, here was better than nowhere, and that, she realized with a shiver, was where she might well have been if the young man’s story hadn’t been disputed.
She strode out of her office, determined to focus on work, but as she pushed through a door she discovered Dylan right in front of her. He leaned over the railing, talking animatedly on his cell.
“God damn it, you were the one who told me to get out of the way for three months. This isn’t my problem, remember? Not unless you want it to be all of a sudden.” Dylan paused. “Of course I’m not going to step in. You were right, I’m not the marrying type.”
The concrete in Michaela’s heart crumbled a little, an edge breaking off and lodging itself uncomfortably in her stomach. He had told her he wasn’t keen on marriage, but she’d thought maybe…maybe she would stop the captain being an ass, keep her career, win Dylan’s heart, and live happily ever after? Good one.
She looked for an escape route, but if she opened the door to go back into her office, Dylan would have noticed she was there.
“Put them on then.” Dylan’s posture changed, the anger that had held him rigid softening as he pushed back from the rail and stood up. “Hey, you guys looking after Mommy?”
A child? Children? Michaela reeled. He’d said he liked kids, not that he already had them.
“You need to look after her. Yes, I know, it’s a bit hard at the moment, but it’s going to get better, you’ll see. Yes, I’ll come visit you again soon. I know you don’t like it when I’m not in town, but Brian is there now. You looking after him? Good. Yes, I said I’d see you soon. Promise. Okay. Yes, love you too, bye.” He finished the call and swung around. “Michaela.”
She’d turned, pushing through the door and fleeing into her office.
“Michaela, wait.” He pushed into the room.
“You can’t be in here.” She tried to shove him back out the door, but he took both her hands in his.
“Stop. You weren’t supposed to hear that.”
“Obviously.”
“I didn’t mean it like that.” He dropped her hands and rubbed his jaw, clearly considering what to tell her. Michaela tensed, irritated with herself because even though she’d just heard him talking to his kids and dissing their mother, she still wanted to touch him.
“How much did you hear?” he asked.
“Enough to know that you’re not a very good father.”
“Father?” Dylan laughed. Laughed! She couldn’t believe it.
“I’m not a father.”
“Sure sounded like it to me.” Michaela knew she was being defensive—possessive, even—but she didn’t care.
“Sit. I should have told you about this at the beginning.” He led her forcefully to a chair and sat down beside her. “They aren’t my kids. They’re my brother’s. And I’m not really a dancer. I run our family company.”
Michaela was too stunned to say anything.
