Page 10 of The Admiral's Daughter

It’s clear she’s dismissing me, so I salute and about turn. The second the door clicks shut. I grab the opposite wall to steady myself.

It’s lunchtime, so all the girls will be in the dining hall. Boot never misses chow time. Racewalking, I make my way through the ship. As expected, Kit, Boot, and Cheddar are sitting together laughing. Boot is shovelling potatoes in her mouth like she’s never eaten before.

“Ladies,” I say as I sit down, forgoing my own lunch. I’m not sure I could keep anything down.

“Well, look who it is,” Cheddar calls.

“How’d it go, Rome?” Kit asks.

“Oh, you know. Benson volunteered me to be Cleo’s guide while she’s on board.”

They all look shocked, which I appreciate. Boot and Cheddar throw their heads back and cackle.

“Why am I friends with you?” I grouse.

“Because you fucking love us, and I help you get pussy.”

She’s not wrong.

Boot finally comes up for air. I don’t like the wicked grin on her face. “Did you happen to find out Cleo’s surname?”

“Why the fuck would I?”

Oh, the grin is getting bigger. That’s not good.

“It’s Carter. Cleo Carter.”

I stare at her. “Great, thanks for telling me.”

She shakes her head. “Romeo, put it together. You’re smarter than this.”

Rude.

Looking between my friends, I furrow my brows. What am I missing? Her name is Cleo Carter. Cleo. Carter. Huh, that’s the same name as the admiral. But that can’t be right.

Carter. Admiral Carter. The Admiral of the entire Royal fucking Navy.

The man who was standing three metres away from me on the flight deck while I mentally undressed his daughter.

The man I’m having dinner with tonight.

I feel my eyebrows reach into my hairline.

“There it is.” Boot laughs.

“Cleo Carter. As in Admiral Carter?”

Boot points at me and winks. “Got it in one, Romeo.”

By this time, Cheddar is bent over, almost hyperventilating with laughter. Kit is chuckling behind her glass.

“I…I fucked the admiral’s daughter!”

God fucking damn it.

4

Cleo