Page 11 of Below the Deck

‘Nick?’ she whispered into his ear.Oh shit, that was probably a bad idea.Hereallydidn’t like being woken up like that. She’d learned that after their first night together, ten years ago. She’d had too much Prosecco, but she’d known with sober precision that she wanted to go to bed with him more than she’d ever wanted anything. They’d only met a week before, in a bar – but she was intoxicated. The heat between them; the way his eyes moved across her body in her red dress as though he wanted to devour her; the soft parting of his lips as he watched her mouth; the weight of his forearms looped around her waist as he pulled her towards him …

When she’d woken the next morning in his flat in Oakwood, deliciously sore yet aching for more of him, she’d snuggled in close to his sleeping body and begun to plant gentle kisses on his cheek, his earlobes, his neck. He hadn’t stirred. So she’d whispered his name in his ear – and that had done it. He’d bolted upright in bed with a shout, looking as if she’d just been holding a knife to his throat, rather than her lips.

‘Jesus Christ,’ he’d said. ‘You just gave me the shock of my life.’ She’d apologized, giggling – and as she started her kisses again, it was all quickly forgotten. A drawback of working in the police, he’d explained. His dreams were full of whatever unsettling incident he’d been called to that day, or whatever violence he’d witnessed on the streets during his patrol.

Ever since then, Eleni tried to avoid waking him abruptly. But it was too late now; Nick lifted his head up from the plush pillow and squinted at her. He was about to drop back downagain when the sound of louder, more irritable mutters from the corridor dragged him, finally, from sleep. ‘Who’s out there? What time even is it?’

‘I don’t know. But whoever it is sounds … I’m not sure.’ Eleni swallowed. ‘Pissed off? Worried?’

Nick groaned as Eleni pulled back the covers and stepped out of bed. She reached for a T-shirt and wide-legged silk trousers from the wardrobe, threw them on over her silk vest, walked to the cabin door and opened it.

‘Captain Taylor,’ she said. The captain stood close to the entrance to the crew’s quarters, talking to Johanna. ‘Is everything okay?’

The captain’s eyes flickered behind Eleni’s shoulder, to where Nick was now standing, bare-chested and squinting. ‘What’s going on?’ he asked.

Captain Taylor cleared her throat. ‘Ah, nothing for you to worry about. Just – well, I’m afraid Michaela doesn’t appear to be able to take on her usual duties this morning,’ she said.

Is that all?Their smiling, bubbly, energetic chief stewardess was … what? Unwell? Off duty? It wasn’t the end of the world, surely. They still had Johanna. Behind the captain, Sam, Rory and Talia had gathered in their doorways opposite, all half-dressed and groggy. She glanced to her left, to Lucy and Mark’s cabin, just as the door opened and both of them poked their heads into the corridor.

‘What’s happened?’ asked Mark, voice thick with sleep.

‘Michaela’s … indisposed, apparently. She’ll be up and back to work soon, surely,’ said Rory, making no attempt to hide his irritation. ‘No need to make a fuss about it, eh?’

Eleni thought back to the last time she’d seen Michaela. It had been yesterday evening at dinner, hadn’t it? She was as helpful and accommodating as she had been since they stepped on board theLusso.

‘Well, maybe she just needs a bit of a break,’ said Talia irritably.

‘I wouldn’t be surprised,’ added Rory. ‘How many hours a day exactly are your crew expected to work, Captain? The poor girl could probably do with a rest.’

‘In any case,’ said Talia, with a quick glance at her husband, ‘I expect our service to be maintained to the same standard.’ Eleni made a show of nodding in agreement.

‘Absolutely, Mrs Ashworth,’ said Captain Taylor. ‘I apologize for the disturbance this morning, and please don’t be concerned. Michaela will be back on duty shortly. Please, do all head back to your cabins until you’re ready for breakfast.’

After she’d dressed for the day, Eleni checked her reflection in the mirror of the en-suite; stared into the round brown eyes that always made her think of her beloved father. Her hair didn’t look right, though she was using her usual products here, and she’d had fresh highlights last week. Maybe she’d slept funny. She frowned – she liked it to bejust so.

‘You ready yet?’ Nick called out to her from their bedroom. ‘I can hear everyone going upstairs. I’m starving – can you hurry up?’

Eleni smoothed down her bright pink maxi dress, turned away from the mirror and opened the bathroom door. ‘I’m coming – look, I’m good to go,’ she said, giving him a twirl, then taking in her handsome husband – the tiniest touches ofgrey that threaded his jet-black hair, the deep tan that had developed on his arms, his broad, muscular shoulders.

He let out a soft whistle as she moved towards him, then pulled her close and wound his arms around her waist. He leaned down to her ear. ‘Mmm. You’re wearing that perfume I like. And have I told you lately you’re the most stunning woman I’ve ever met?’ he whispered, between soft kisses on her neck.

Eleni shivered. ‘I think you might have mentioned it once or twice,’ she murmured. He pressed his firm stomach more deeply against her, began moving his hands up towards her breasts. She grabbed hold of them and moved them away. ‘But now’s not the time for getting distracted, no matter how stunning I am,’ she said teasingly. ‘As you just told me – you’re starving, and it’s time for breakfast.’

Nick pulled away from her with a sigh. ‘Damn,’ he said. ‘Well, I’m looking forward to picking up from here in about, ohh’ – he checked his watch – ‘thirty minutes’ time.’

Eleni gave him a long, deep kiss. ‘That sounds like a recipe for indigestion,’ she said. ‘But if you insist …’ Then – her heart finally starting to slow in her chest – she grabbed her beach bag and took Nick’s hand as they walked upstairs and to the table under the awning on the main deck. They were the last to arrive; there were only two seats left – next to Lucy; that definitely wouldn’t have been Eleni’s first choice – so she sat down in one and patted the other for Nick. Mark, Sam, Rory and Talia were drinking coffee and chatting.

‘Good morning,’ said Johanna. Her voice didn’t have quite the same buoyancy as yesterday; Eleni noticed light purple circles visible beneath the concealer under her eyes. ‘Can I getyou something to drink? We’ve got croissants, fruit and toast here.’ She gestured to the table. ‘And I can ask Leilani to make you a cooked breakfast too – anything you like.’

‘Ooooh, yes! I’d love a cappuccino, please!’ Eleni beamed.Too much, Els. Tone it down in front of the others. Remember your banter at lunch yesterday went down like a lead balloon.‘And, ah, some eggs Benedict would be simply divine.’ Johanna nodded and turned next to Nick. As he placed his order, Lucy shifted in her chair. She was still looking peaky this morning, pushing some toast around her plate and taking the occasional nibble.

Eleni turned her back to Lucy and addressed Talia across the table. ‘You look lovely today!’ she said. ‘That dress is so gorgeous – where’s it from?’

Talia arched an eyebrow and placed her coffee cup delicately back on its saucer. ‘It’s Gucci,’ she replied coldly. ‘I picked up a few things in Harrods before the trip.’

‘And I’ve got the credit card bill to prove it!’ Rory bellowed.

Eleni smiled. ‘Well, it’s stunning.’