Page 100 of Unapologetic Obsession

“Isn’t that the stowaway girl?” A woman’s voice sliced through the murmurs like a stiletto heel on marble.

“Yeah, that’s the homeless girl.”

“Natasha said she was out hooking on the streets for drugs.”

The magic of the evening vanished in an instant. My stomach plummeted as if I’d missed a step. However, Caden didn’t hear the rumors, his single-minded attention was on something at the far end of the room. I chanced a glance around my surroundings and was hit by scrutinizing eyes. My cheeks burned hot when I caught sight of manicured fingers pressed against glossy lips, ice cubes clinking against crystal as women gossiped about me. Men in tailored suits paused mid-conversation, their judgmental eyebrows raised in my direction.

Sweat prickled along my hairline when I recognized the faces Amelie and the beauty team had pointed out from the safety of my suite window. The bachelorette group vying for Caden’s attention watched me scornfully. Natasha was at the far corner, silently fuming. Despite dressing me to the nines and showering me in diamonds, Caden couldn’t stop these people from figuring out I was uncouth. I didn’t have, nor could I recall, Rose A’s subtle class and sophistication to carry a conversation with this crowd and disprove their vile theories.

But Caden’s increasing eagerness over tonight’s event made me vow not to fuck this up for him. I deliberately kept my gaze fixed on his back until we stopped in front of an older gentleman with salt-and-pepper hair and a matching beard.

“Dr. Maxwell.” He shook Caden’s hand. “Finally.”

With a hand on my lower back, Caden pulled me to his side. “Rose, this is Marcus, the captain of the boat.”

“It’s nice to meet you.”

His kind eyes lit up with excitement. “So, you’re the stowaway that snuck into my boat?”

“Myboat,” Caden corrected instantaneously.

“Er. Yeah.” I flushed, though I didn’t detect any malicious intent in his tone.

The captain chuckled. “I appreciate a daring spirit. You’re going to have to tell me how you dodged my security.”

Before I could open my mouth, a man slapped a hand over Caden’s shoulder. I gasped. No one would make such a bold move unless they were exponentially confident in their social standing.

I glanced at the offender and found myself staring into a bottomless void. A man with impossibly dark eyes studied me curiously. He wore a black tux, which fit his six-foot-three frame like a glove. His dark hair was styled back, though pieces fell over his eyes. Everything about him screamed old money.

My God, he was beautiful.

Instead of sending the man sprawling on the floor like I half expected, Caden acknowledged him. “Cavendish.”

“Great to see you, Maxwell. I was starting to think you wouldn’t come out of your room this entire cruise.” The man glanced from Caden to me with amusement. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your beautiful date?”

Caden’s eye twitched. “This is Rose.”

“Nice to meet you, Rose. I’m Kai Cavendish.” He extended a hand with the sort of confidence you would expect out of royalty. Slow, deliberate, and methodical.

I went to shake his hand, but Caden roped my fingers with his. He seemed unruffled, though I knew better. Caden was displeased that I had entertained the minor invitation for physical touch. I could tell by his death grip.

Instead of being offended by the deliberate snub, Kai chuckled.

“How do you know each other?” I asked to dissuade the tension, though both men seemed perfectly at ease with the awkward exchange.

“Boarding school,” Caden said dismissively.

“In case you’re wondering, he was just as much a grouch back then,” Kai said. “Which brings me to ask, how did such apretty girl end up with a man like him? There are other options, you know?” he said, laying it on thick.

The insinuation was crystal clear, though I knew Kai wasn’t interested in me. I recognized the hollow flattery in his smile. He wanted to provoke Caden for some unknown reason and had identified me as the trigger to poke the bear. Caden’s steely glare might as well light Kai on fire, his low growl sounding like a warning.

“Are you free tomorrow?” Kai asked me.

“Do you want to spend the rest of your vacation in the brig, Cavendish?”

Kai wasn’t bothered by Caden’s threat. “Just blink twice if that’s a yes.”

The captain sensed the escalating tension and stepped in. “Gentlemen, we have all night to catch up with old friends. For now, we should start the gala.”