Page 27 of Unapologetic Obsession

I shook my head. “Just Rose,” I insisted.

He gave me a conceding smile. “May I get you anything else?”

A thought came to me. “Actually, yes. Do you know whether this boat is short-staffed?”

“Um—”

“I need a job,” I explained.

His mouth gaped as if I had made the most impossible request. “B-but you’re with,” he paused, unsure how to end the thought. “You’re a guest.”

“A guest who needs a job.”

“But you’re Dr. Maxwell’s guest,” he emphasized as if there was a difference.

This conversation was the last thing he expected. A guest asking for a job was uncharted territory, but I couldn’t tell him that calling me a guest was a reach; I was more like a stowaway. The owners would make me walk the plank once they discovered I had boarded their luxury vessel without paying their zillion-dollar entrance fee.

“I-I am Dr. Maxwell’s guest.” Technically, it was the truth. “But I don’t want to be in his debt, and I can’t afford to pay him back without a job. Can you help me out?”

Comprehension finally dawned on his face that I was like him and belonged in the third-class cabins. The good doctor had taken enough interest to entertain me for a few days. Sooner or later, I’d be out of luck.

Jace seemed torn, but eventually suggested, “I could ask the kitchen if they need an extra hand.”

I beamed at him. “That’d be great. Thank you, Jace.”

“It’s my pleasure, m—” He cut himself off at my pointed look. “It’s my pleasure, Rose.”

The exchange made us laugh. “The pleasure is all mine.” I extended my hand. “It was very nice meeting you.”

Jace took my hand in a surprisingly soft grip and stared at my face intently for a moment.

“What the hell’s going on here?”

I jumped at the deep voice and pulled my hand back.

Jace immediately straightened. “Good morning, Dr. Maxwell.”

I turned to be met withlava eyes, ready to set the room on fire. Dr. Maxwell’s jaw was tight. In fact, all his visible muscles were tense. The glimpses of danger I had seen in the man had returned.

“Hi,” I started nervously. “This is Jace. He was dropping off some toiletries.”

He wasn’t impressed, and his gaze burned a hole between me and Jace. My heart rate spiked as he strode toward us, his blue eyes blazing with an emotion I couldn’t quite place. Anger? Frustration? Something else entirely? He crowded us until Jace was forced to step away from me.

Damn. What had Jace done to provoke such a reaction?

“No one other than authorized personnel is to have access to this section,” he breathed with venom in his voice.

Why was this section blocked off? Surely, the medical floor should be accessible in case of an emergency.

“I askedAmelie,” he emphasized the name, “to drop off the toiletries. I was very clear in my instructions.” Dr. Maxwell looked ready to kill Jace. All he had done was drop off a bag. Whatever the reason, I wanted to de-escalate the situation. After what happened with the delivery guy, I didn’t want anyone else to lose a hand.

“H-he was dropping it off because Amelie didn’t know where the toiletries were stocked,” I stammered, unconsciously leaning back. Whether it was the truth, I had no idea. It sounded convincing enough, and I hoped Jace would play along.

Dr. Maxwell’s lips curved into a sardonic smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Is that right, Jack?” he asked in a steel voice.

“It’s Jace, sir,” Jace corrected mildly.

“Your point?” Dr. Maxwell gave him a look that said his name had no significance or bearing.