Love and Fire Read Free Page B

attention back on her plate. 
    “So,
what do you do, Tammy?” 
    Yes,
there was definitely an accent.  “I’m in between….things…right now.” 
    The
brunette at the table made a pouty face.  “That sounds like divorce.” 
    Tammy
eyed her over her raised fork, but didn’t sense a teasing nor facetious tone. 
“Actually, yes, I am going through a divorce.” 
    “I’m
sorry that must be hard.” 
    Tammy
could feel an intensity from Jake.  He hadn’t touched his food.  He was
watching her from a casual pose, but Tammy could practically hear the gears of
his mind turning.  “Yes, it has been hard.  Luckily I have two wonderful
daughters that are helping me through it.”  She laughed.  “That’s how I ended
up on this ship.” 
    “Aww,
that’s so sweet!”  The brunette, Sandra, smiled at the others, and they smiled
back.  It was a mental agreement that they could go on chatting.  The older,
lonelier woman wasn’t going to break down into a basket case.  What a relief.
    Soon
the discussion turned to the several bars and clubs aboard, and before Tammy
could ask to join or make her own hasty retreat, the two women with the young
man in tow, giggled their goodbyes and departed.  Tammy was left with the
possible anorexic man beside her.  He still hadn’t touched his plate. 
    “Tammy
would you like…”  That was as far as he got when the two women he was with at
the cocktail party sauntered over to the table.  The blonde had on the
tightest, shortest dress ever, and her dark haired friend had on an equally
tight dress but at least it hung to the floor.  As with the bikini tops, their
abundant cleavage was spilling out for all to see.  And many turned in their
chairs to make sure they could see, as the women walked past. 
    Tammy
heard Jake mumble something under his breath, and his face darkened. 
    “Jake! 
We’ve been looking for you everywhere!”  The blonde beamed at him.  Her eyes
flitted nervously over Tammy, whereas the dark haired woman gave her a slower
appraisal.  Her lips turned slightly as her eyes slid to Jake.  Tammy had
obviously been dismissed as a non-threat.
    “We
want to take you to the Lagoon!”
    “And
what is that?” 
    “The
biggest club on the ship.”  When the dark haired woman spoke, it evoked an
image of smoky rooms with illicit affairs happening in every corner. 
    Jake
looked at them and then turned to Tammy.  “Tammy Smith, this is…well…I
apologize…I seem to have forgotten you both already.” 
    The
insult wasn’t lost on Tammy and she hid her amusement by wiping her mouth with
the cloth napkin.  The little blonde was barely aware, but her friend’s eyes
narrowed and her coloring darkened a shade. 
    “That’s
understandable!  Lots of people to meet and all!  I’m Christy and this is
Sloan.” 
    “Right. 
This is Tammy Smith.” He said and indicated Tammy casually with his hand. 
Tammy stood to shake hands with the women, but they looked at her as if she
were a poisonous snake.  “Maybe we should all go to this Lagoon.” 
    Christy
looked surprised and confused as her eyes darted from Jake to Tammy.  Sloan
allowed a slow smile to spread across her face.  “I don’t think she’d like
it.” 
    Tammy
had had enough.  “It was a pleasure meeting all of you, but I have some other
places on board that I would like to see.”  She nodded to each of them and
walked away with as much dignity as she could muster.  She didn’t see Jake
watching her leave; his eyes pinned to her back, and Sloan’s frown as she too
watched her leave. 
     
    Tammy
closed her eyes once she was out in the hallway.  It wasn’t really a hallway. 
It was the huge foyer area from when she had first boarded.  Who did those
girls think they were?  Who did she think she was ?  She had no business
on board this type of cruise.  She needed to be somewhere that offered shuffle
board and bingo. 
    The
next day was going to be a day at sea.  A