Page 16 of Deadly Waves

6

Six

“Areyou storing up for hibernation?”

James studied Mandy’s heaping plate as they moved through the dinner line and grinned when he saw the huge mound of seafood. After Heidi’s shooting, she didn’t eat because she felt sick to her stomach. Once Clint kidnapped her, she wouldn’t touch food because she believed it could be poisoned. It was hard for her after that because too much food in one sitting made her queasy. He was happy that seemed to have passed.

Mandy rolled her eyes as she grabbed three lobster tails and added them to her pile. “I will have you know that seafood is hidden behind shells that are like three times bigger than the meat,” she replied. “I’m really only eating a third of this.”

James snorted. “I love the way you look at things, baby,” he said. “Eat whatever you want, though. That’s the whole point of a cruise. Good food and drinks are everywhere, so don’t skimp.”

“I thought the point of a cruise was so we could take moonlit strolls on the deck and see sharks?” Mandy challenged.

“That, too,” James conceded. “We’ll do that once we’re stuffed full of seafood. I figure the walk will help us digest things before we hit the room and I romance you until dawn.”

Mandy pressed her lips together and raised her eyebrows, James’ favorite expression coming out to play. “Don’t you have to start work tomorrow?”

“Yes. What’s your point?”

“You need some sleep.”

“Not tonight I don’t,” James said. “Why do you think we took that three-hour nap on the deck today?”

“Good point.” Mandy scooped a big mound of shrimp onto her plate. “I think I’m done.”

James snorted. “You know you’re allowed to make more than one trip to get food, right?”

“Yes, but I’m lazy and I don’t want to leave your side until I have to.”

“Now that’s a very good answer, my baby,” James said, leaning over so he could kiss her before straightening. “Let’s see if we can eat our own body weight, shall we?”

James and Mandy were in high spirits when they hit their table. Will Davenport opted to eat with them, and James didn’t miss the fact that he’d chosen a chair between Mandy and Ally. He seemed most enamored with the two of them. James didn’t really blame him. They were beautiful women and easy to get along with, both boasting a somewhat gregarious charm. Emma was a former model but naturally shy and Sophie had a standoffish quality that James wished Mandy would utilize more often. Still, he sat next to Mandy and cast the willowy blonde on his other side a curious look.

“Who are you?”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Will said, using a napkin to clean his hands as he gestured toward the girl. “That is my daughter Tabitha. She goes by Tabby for short. She wanted to meet all of you. I guess you were the talk of the boat this afternoon.”

“We were?” James arched a surprised eyebrow. “Why were we the talk of the boat? Did Grady do something embarrassing while we were sleeping?”

“Ha, ha.” Grady rolled his eyes from his spot on the other side of Tabitha. For her part, the teenager couldn’t seem to get enough of the male eye candy at the table. Her gaze was busy as it bounced from man to man. James had to wonder if she was the reason Will opted to dine with them – although, in truth, Mandy and Ally could’ve been potential reasons, too.

“It’s nice to meet you,” James said, making sure Mandy was settled with her food before getting comfortable next to her. “Are you having a good time on the boat?”

Instead of answering, Tabitha giggled.

“Did I say something wrong?” James asked.

“Ignore her,” Will said, offering a dismissive wave. “I believe my daughter thinks you’re … hot … or something. That was the conversation between her and her friends when I got back to the room after my rounds anyway. They watched you and Mandy sleep all afternoon and now think you’re the most romantic man in the world.”

Mandy chuckled as she dug into her food, completely missing the wide-eyed look Will gave her when he saw the amount of food on her plate. “Did you hear that, James? You’re hot and romantic.”

“I believe that memo has already been sent, baby,” James said, winking at Tabitha before focusing on his plate. “Believe it or not, Tabitha, yours is not the first teenaged head I’ve turned. I believe this one right here had a thing for me when she was a teenager, too.”

The admission was enough to force Tabitha out of her flirty silence. “You dated when you were teenagers?” The girls’ eyes sparkled. “That’s so … cool. Were you like Bella and Edward?”

“I don’t know who that is,” James admitted. “As for dating as teenagers, we did not. I was too old for her.”

“You don’t look older than her,” Will pointed out.