Page 53 of Wild Oblivion

I smiled. "Just erring on the side of caution.”

We made it back to Emily’s SUV and loaded inside. She drove us to the marina and dropped us off at the dock. I thanked her, and we said our goodbyes again. I helped Henrik out of the vehicle and down the dock. He really didn't need my help. He got along pretty well, albeit unsteady at times. We crossed the passerelle and boarded theAvventura. We’d beaten the crowd back to the boat.

"It might get a little rowdy around here in a minute," I said.

"I can handle rowdy.”

"Well, you’ve got your earplugs if the noise keeps you awake."

"How do you know I'm not going to stay up and enjoy the festivities?"

I smiled. "Be my guest.”

It wasn't long before revelers trickled aboard the boat.

That trickle soon became a flood. The salon was filled with gorgeous beauties in tight miniskirts and skimpy tops. There were plenty of pert assets on full display. Henrik got an eyeful, and it looked like he enjoyed it. He didn't see a lot of that kind of thing around the old folks’ home.

Jack manned the bar and doled out drinks to pretty ladies.

I can't say I was really in the mood to celebrate, given the events of the day, but there was no sense in looking back. There was only one direction. Forward.

On the sky deck, luscious lovelies peeled out of cocktail dresses and slipped into the Jacuzzi. They bounced around the bubbles, looking inviting. It didn’t take long for company to join them. Perks of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle.

Some of the neighbors had returned to the marina after the evacuation and joined the party. It was an open invitation—a way to keep the complaints to a minimum.

The usual debauchery ensued, and a good time was had by all.

That was until about 2:00 AM when two girls approached me with terrified faces.

"Don't be mad," the brunette said.

Her blonde girlfriend cringed.

Both gorgeous, it was hard to imagine a reason why I would be mad at them, short of them setting the place on fire. They were smoking hot. One touch would be incendiary.

I gave them a confused look.

"I think we killed him.” The brunette cringed.

Her blonde friend nodded.

27

"It was a total accident," the brunette said as I opened the hatch to Henrik’s stateroom.

The white-haired old man lay sprawled out on the bed in his birthday suit. That was a sight I could have gone my whole life without seeing.

"We thought we’d show him a good time,” the brunette said.

"Must have been a damn good time," I said.

"It was," the blonde said. "The old man’s still got it. Had it," she said with a frown. "At least he came and went at the same time."

I averted my eyes and stepped to the bed and felt Henrik’s wrist for a pulse.

Thoughts raced through my mind.How would I explain this to Giselle when she returned?

Fortunately, Henrik’s pulse thumped my fingertips.