All Hands Below

All Hands Below Read Free

Book: All Hands Below Read Free
Author: Lelani Black
Tags: Erotic Romance
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designer bag I found on the bus this afternoon. Evangeline, is it?”
    Evangeline nodded. The owner must be going out of her mind, wondering where she left her bag, she’d said at the time. After making a few inquiries, they’d reunited the bag with its grateful owner, then walked onto the ship’s gangway together.
    The second they’d set foot in the reception foyer, a white-gloved waiter had extended a crystal flute, frothing over with pink champagne. A ship’s officer stepped forward to offer her a hand—and a whole lot more.
    “I think he wants to get in your panties,” Maisy had whispered to her at the time. “He can’t take his eyes off you!”
    Evangeline now regretted acting on that attraction. Regretted her acceptance of his gift of a special grand cru , an entire bottle of which he’d sent to her table later that evening—a table filled with buff, single men.
    She thought she’d hit the sexy men jackpot, too. A ship’s officer waiting in the wings and hunks at her dinner table made her hopes spin with possibilities. Until she found out that the men at her table were members of a gay choir on holiday.
    With no incentive to linger over dessert, she’d excused herself from the table to thank the officer for the wine.
    “May I take you on a private tour of the ship?” he’d asked.
    Evangeline had purred out a “yes” and allowed Robert to take her hand in his. As one passageway led to the next, so began a journey of kisses and caresses that led them to the noisiest area on board ship—the engine room.
    “I think I’m lost,” Maisy said presently. “I’m not sure how to get to my room. Where’s the left of the ship? Where’s the right?”
    Evangeline tried to hide her smile. “Right is starboard, left is port side, but you have to be facing forward, toward the bow.”
    “You lost me at starboard.”
    Evangeline skimmed through the woman’s cruise booklet for information. “Right this way. I think you and I might almost be neighbors. So, why are you traveling alone, Maisy?”
    “This cruise was a Christmas present from my son and his wife.”
    She frowned. “You’re very brave to come by yourself, but wouldn’t you have wanted to spend the holidays at home?” she asked, puzzled.
    “Oh, please ,” Maisy burst out with an indignant eye roll. “I would have been ten times miserable with them! In any case, I’m sure they’re happy to have me out of their hair for a week. I live with them, you see, in a mother-in-law suite. If only I didn’t have such a bitch for a daughter-in-law, the holidays might be bearable.”
    Evangeline laughed. She could see a DIL not finding this waspy-mouthed MIL so adorable, but she liked her.
    “I needed a break from her nit-picking and controlling,” Maisy admitted. “Merry Christmas to me! Who knows how much fun I could have for a change. You’re here alone, too, I see.”
    Evangeline smiled. “Yes, I am.”
    “Things go no bueno with Mr. Candy-Man in uniform?”
    She shook her head. “No. He was definitely unsuitable,” she said, without detailing Robert’s marital status. “Oh well. The night’s still young. Here we are.” She slipped Maisy’s pass into its slot and unlocked her door.
    The older woman paused. “So, no boyfriend. No husband and no kids?”
    “That’s why I’m cruising alone.”
    “How old are you?”
    Evangeline paused, startled by how the older woman’s eyes shaded from hazel to gold and glowed like a holiday ornament. “Twenty-nine.”
    The woman’s eyes got all twinkly. “You’ll find yourself another man soon, don’t worry. A lovely woman traveling alone over the Christmas holidays looks quite obvious.”
    “Secret, secret,” Evangeline whispered. “I’m hoping that by the end of my cruise, I can cross one thing off my holiday wish list.”
    “And what’s that?”
    “To meet hunky husband material who happens to be great in bed.”
    Maisy’s eyes glittered like diamonds in the snow. “What does he

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