Page 88 of Tiger's Voyage

I smiled. “I knew there was a reason I liked you.”

He put an arm around me. “The feeling is mutual.”

Kishan suggested we all watch a movie. Randi agreed and sat on the couch patting the seat next to her when he strolled over. He deliberately sat in a recliner instead, snagged my wrist, and dragged me over to sit with him.

No one paid any attention to Randi, who sulked from the couch, and claimed she was bored after the first half hour. We gave up and decided to swim instead.

Kishan and I dove in and swam laps. Randi came over and sat on the edge of the pool, leaning back in the sunshine, presumably to soak up rays, but I believed it was actually a ploy to show off her artificial bosom.

At a break, I stopped near her and turned to watch Kishan stroke smoothly through the water.

“I’ll still get him, you know. Either him or the other one. I’ve never met a boy I couldn’t have. You really shouldn’t swim without a cap. The chlorine ruins your hair.”

I smiled falsely, nodded, and began swimming laps again until I felt a hand grab my ankle and yank me underwater. Big arms wrapped around me and pulled me to the surface.

Kishan grinned. “We’re done babysitting. Ren came to retrieve her on the last lap.”

I looked over his shoulder and sure enough, Randi was gone.

“Now … how would you like to change and finish snuggling in the media room?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” I yelped as he carried me quickly up the pool steps and sent me off to the showers to change.

That evening, as theDeschendrew anchor, Kishan, the crew, and I made sure that Ren escorted Randi off the ship.

Ren smiled and bent to kiss her cheek. He murmured something quietly and pressed her close in farewell. Kishan smiled secretively.

“What? What is it?” I asked.

He whispered, “Ren called her asukhada motha. ‘A delightful weed.’”

I laughed. “He does have a knack for nicknames.”

Randi headed our way and grasped Kishan’s arm. In a stage whisper, she said, “I hope your little girlfriend didn’t mind me watching you shower. I’msureshe’ll understand. Please contact meanytime.” She slipped a pink card into his hand and pressed her ample bosom to his chest as she went to peck him on the cheek but purposely hit the corner of his mouth instead. She winked at him meaningfully and sashayed down the ramp, swiveling her hips like a church bell.

As soon as Randi’s stilettos were out of sight, there were murmurs from the staff of locking the ramp to the side of the boat just in case she decided to come back.

Kishan wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and grunted. “My mother would have eaten her for breakfast.”

“Really?” That made me smile.

“Yes.” He grinned. “You, on the other hand, she would have loved.”

He draped his arm around my shoulders and as we headed back upstairs, I looked for Ren but he was gone.

When theDeschenfinally lifted anchor, everyone on the ship breathed a collective deep sigh of relief.

13

Lady Silkworm

After we were under way again, I headed up to the wheelhouse to visit with the captain.

“Ah, hallo, Miss Kelsey. And how are we feelin’ ta’nite, eh?”

“Hey, Captain Dixon.”

“Jus’ call me Dix.”