Page 6 of Not that Sea-Rious

Beau

I t could’ve been the chocolate martinis or winning quite a bit of money at the roulette wheel, but Beau’s good mood was probably because of the company.

Somehow, after two hours, he chuckled more than he’d ever anticipated he would aboard this ship.

The group of women around him were a hoot and a half.

He’d like to meet the person who couldn’t enjoy their company.

Especially the ball of fire beside him, Marissa. She had long, straight brown hair, magnetic and joyful brown eyes. Her smile brightened the room. Her quick wit and sharp tongue often had him laughing despite himself.

Unfortunately, it seemed the bride and one maid might have had too much fun that night.

Joyce, the lady with the pink chips, could barely keep her eyes open.

Carolyn swayed on her stool, and her novelty veil barely hung on.

Really, it was a mystery how that thing was still in her hair.

Tina, the lone sober person, definitely kept her afloat.

Beau leaned into Marissa. “I think it might be best for your friends to head to bed,” he whispered. Disappointment lurked in his chest as the suggestion left his lips.

Snickering, she peered over at them and pursed her lips. “Yeah. If not, someone will revisit dinner.” She shivered. “No one wants that.”

“Do you need help to get to your room?” he asked louder so the entire group could hear him.

“I can walk,” Carolyn slurred incredulously.

Tina, Marissa, and Beau exchanged looks. Maybe she could, but her steps definitely wouldn’t be in a straight line.

“Cash us out.” Tina made a circular motion with her hand.

The dealer nodded, and Beau realized he’d been included in that order. To be fair, he’d just offered to go with them, so the dealer collecting his chips to exchange them made sense. Though he wasn’t quite sure what he’d do with the rest of his night.

“What time is it?” Joyce grumbled.

“It’s got to be like four in the morning.” Carolyn circled her arms around Tina and leaned into her. Beau wasn’t convinced this was intentional.

“It’s ten thirty,” the dealer announced.

Carolyn gaped. “What?” She looked around at her friends. “That is way too early.” Her disappointment was palpable. “It’s my bachelorette weekend.”

Her whine tugged at his heartstrings. To be fair, he didn’t want the night to end, either. This was the best evening he’d had in ages.

“And if we go to bed now, we can possibly avoid tomorrow’s hangovers. We have a full day of celebrating ahead of us,” Tina reminded as she patted the bride’s arm.

Carolyn broke free of her friend and stumbled closer to the table. “No. I want to gamble some more.”

Joyce groaned. “I’m tapping out.” She waved a hand, turned, and stumbled her way out of the casino.

“Um.” Beau pointed, unsure of what to do. “Should someone follow her?”

Tina sighed. “We’ll catch up. She actually knows where she’s going.”

“Alright then. So, the three of us will help you get back to the room,” Marissa said as she blew out a breath and turned her attention to Carolyn.

“No,” Carolyn whined. “I’m not done yet.”

Unfortunately, gravity was done with Carolyn. Her drunk lean kept on leaning. Her hand slid from the roulette table. Beau, Tina, and Marissa sprang into action.

Thankfully, Beau caught her. Though she squirmed, he was able to get her feet under her and back to standing upright—albeit with a bit of sway.

“Alright, you’re done. I’m calling it,” Tina declared.

Carolyn swooped her arm over Beau’s shoulders, turned, and booped his nose before giggling wildly.

“I’ll walk with you,” he offered with a chuckle. If being around these women meant he could laugh, he’d stick with them for all it was worth.

Anyway, they wouldn’t be able to handle the bride on their own. Well, he’d let them try if they protested, but something told him they might need him.

Tina scrubbed a hand back and forth through her short, spiky hair as she contemplated their situation.

Marissa threw her hands up. “Let’s go.”

Carolyn shoved her free arm out. “Charge!”

Tina rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

From the look on her face, being the adult in the room drained her. Having served in that role a few times, he’d bet her position within the group would be quite tiresome after four days. Hopefully, the rest of the crew would let her cut loose occasionally.

As they walked, Carolyn decided it was the perfect opportunity to sing a medley of pop songs off-key. At least, he thought they were pop songs. The words didn’t always seem to fit right, but he was pretty sure he heard some Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Lizzo in there.

Either way, it was enough to keep the smile on his face as he did his best to wrangle Carolyn back to her room without having to drag or carry her. Her feet may not have fully cooperated, but she was able to at least remain upright.

To his surprise, the women were on his deck. As they walked down the long hall, he realized they were on the other side of the boat and getting closer to his room. “What’s your cabin number?”

“We have the captain’s suite!” Carolyn declared proudly.

“I don’t know where that is,” he said, glancing toward the two sober women.

Tina pointed ahead of her. “In the back.”

No shit. Him too. He wondered how close they were.

Hauling Carolyn with him made Beau walk slightly slower than normal, which had Tina and Marissa ahead of him a few paces. They were murmuring among themselves. With Carolyn’s singing in his ear, he couldn’t make out what they said.

It wasn’t his business, anyway. He was just being a Good Samaritan. Anyone with any sense of manners would’ve done the same thing.

As they strolled, Beau couldn’t resist the temptation. His eyes wandered down the long strands of Marissa’s hair, which ended at the small of her back. His gaze kept on going to the roundness of her denim-covered ass.

Marissa was blessed with an ample behind, wide hips, and a soft body that no doubt had more dangerous curves than the Pacific Coast Highway. He blinked to himself, and his cheeks heated with a slight blush. Where had that thought come from?

Yes. Marissa was an attractive woman, but that didn’t mean he could ogle her. What kind of degenerate drooled over a woman so soon after asking a different one to marry him?

He snorted to himself.

The kind who recently walked in on his fiancée getting banged doggy style by his former best friend.

There may be nothing wrong with appreciating a woman’s attributes, but he didn’t have to be so obvious or vulgar about it. Clearing his throat, he diverted his gaze when they stopped.

Marissa stuffed her hand in a pocket. Then the other. She patted her ass, and Beau swiped his tongue along his bottom lip.

“Shit,” she hissed. “I think I left my room key at the roulette table.”

Twisting in his hold, Carolyn cooed. “Ooh. It’s okay, honey. We’ll just go back and get it.”

Struggling to keep his grip on her and prevent her from smashing her face into the wall, Beau glanced at the other women.

Tina stepped up. “Come on,” she said, taking hold of the bride. “I’ll tuck you in. Marissa, do you want me to go with you after I get her to bed?”

“I’ll do it,” Beau said.

The two sober women turned their stunned expressions to him.

“What?” Did they miss how he was a nice guy?

Marissa, hesitating slightly, chewed on her bottom lip as she gazed up at him through her lashes.

Between her innocent expression and the flush in her cheeks, which could be from the drinks or some sort of embarrassment related to losing her room key, she was adorable. The urge to comfort her surged through him, but he kept it at bay. That would definitely come off wrong.

“Give me five minutes,” Tina said as she pushed the heavy cabin room door open.

“No!” Carolyn gripped the frame. “It’s not bedtime yet. It’s too early.”

Beau fought back a laugh. Five minutes his ass.

Waving a hand, Marissa sighed. “No, it’s alright.” Her attention returned to Beau. “You’ll walk with me?” she asked.

“Absolutely.” He turned slightly and placed a hand on his hip so his elbow was out, offering it to her. “I shall escort you, m’lady.”

Snickering, she accepted and rested her hand in the crook of his arm. “Good, because I wouldn’t know how to get back here if I tried. I’d be roaming the ship for the rest of the trip, trying to find our room. I have the worst sense of direction.”

Beau clicked his heels and tipped an imaginary hat. “I’ll be your guide and keep you safe.”

Tina rolled her eyes and finally shoved Carolyn into the room. “Be good, kids,” she called before the door slammed behind her.