Cabin Fever. Mary Leo

was still a little irritated about the pendant search.

      Patti had told Dylan about the necklace she and librarian Ariana Bennett had found among the personal things of Mike O’Connor, the guy who’d been posing as a priest and smuggling stolen artifacts aboard. Apparently the pendant was left behind with a few other reproductions after the police investigation. The whole scandal had required a deft PR campaign to keep the cabins on Alexandra’s Dream at capacity although Dylan had a feeling the press coverage had also gained the cruise ship a few new bookings.

      He loved his job and really didn’t want to lose it. Being in charge of the ship’s dive staff paid well, and in the world of cruise ships, it was a tough job to come by. It was his first real managerial position and allowed him to teach water sports and diving, and run a few of the water-themed activities off the ship.

      Dylan was happy the ship wasn’t docked somewhere and he was out looking for another job. If that had happened, it would have given his brother the perfect excuse to press him even more to return home.

      His absence was a sore subject between them, even though Dylan tried his best to make up for it by sending half his pay home to Newfoundland every month, something he’d been doing for the past eight years, never missing a month. And besides, jobs were still scarce in his hometown, further confirming he was doing the right thing. It gave him great comfort to know that at least his mom didn’t have to worry about money.

      But, he admitted, a job shortage wasn’t the only reason he was reluctant to go back. The place had too many sad memories, and Dylan was doing his best to avoid them.

      He loved the routine of welcoming passengers and a week or so later bidding them farewell and getting ready for a new group. But today’s boarding had been different. Today he’d felt a totally unexpected personal interest in one of the passengers—the woman he’d just escorted to a penthouse suite.

      Becky Montgomery.

      He remembered what the adorable, little blond-haired angel had told him about her mommy crying when her daddy left, just like the moon goddess who’d flooded the earth with her sad tears. How could any guy leave that perfect little family, let alone such a fine-looking woman as Becky? And from what her little girl implied, Dylan assumed it must have been one nasty divorce, and her mom hadn’t taken it well. The hurt was still there in her pretty eyes.

      Plain as day.

      The son seemed distant, maybe still harboring feelings he didn’t quite know what to do with. A boy needed a father, though Dylan would bet a year’s salary his mother bent over backward to keep those kids safe and happy.

      Strange, how he’d picked up on all of that in just those few moments.

      Then he stopped himself. Stopped the feelings that had rushed through him as he’d been thinking about the beautiful woman, the charming little girl and the obviously troubled boy.

      He admitted to himself this could be trouble. Big trouble. He couldn’t deny he felt a strong attraction to her, but there were strict rules about passenger/staff onboard relationships.

      He’d never broken that rule before, but Becky Montgomery might just cause him to bend it a little if he wasn’t careful.

      He could only hope she and her kids hated water sports.

      

      “BUT WHY DO WE HAVE TO wait until after dinner to go to the pool?” Connor asked, giving his suitcase a little kick while he stood in front of the twin beds.

      “Can we at least unpack first?” Becky liked settling in when she was in a strange place.

      “Don’t you want to look for the pendant first?” Sarah asked, still hopeful.

      “No, I don’t want to look for that dumb old pendant,” her brother grumbled.

      “Well, I do,” Sarah said, and flung herself across her bed.

      A knock at the door stopped further arguments as the kids ran to answer it, nearly tripping over themselves trying to get to it first.

      When they opened the door, both Sarah and Connor squealed with laughter and excitement. Their cousin Laura slowly entered the room, both kids hanging on her.

      “Mom wanted me to wait until dinner to see you guys, but I couldn’t wait. I am so happy you’re here.” The kids tumbled Laura to the floor in a heap of tickles and laughter.

      Becky couldn’t believe her eyes. All Laura had to do was walk into the room and Connor’s whole disposition changed. Whatever magic Laura was dispelling, Becky wanted the potion.

      “I’m so glad you’re here,” Becky echoed.

      “Save me, Aunt Becky,” Laura spluttered as she tickled Connor’s belly. Sarah lay on Laura’s stomach, one hand tickling Laura under the arm. Laura fought to get her off, but Sarah was persistent. Finally, after a few minutes, both Connor and Sarah rolled away, scrambled to their feet, grinning from ear to ear. Laura stood, then walked over and gave Becky a warm hug.

      “Let me look at you,” Becky said as they pulled apart.

      Laura backed away and Becky was pleasantly surprised by how much this fifteen-year-old had grown. She had almost reached Becky’s height of five-seven and her hair was a rich golden-brown cut short and shaggy around her face. She definitely looked like a Montgomery with those thick eyebrows and that chiseled nose. Her skin had cleared up and was now glowing, and although she was several pounds heavier than Becky had remembered, it seemed to suit her well. However, her makeup was rather thick and her clothes were simply too tight, but Becky didn’t care if she wore vampire makeup and arrived in a toga. She was thrilled to see her, and instantly realized just how much she’d missed her.

      “You’re beautiful,” Becky told her.

      “I’m fat,” Laura countered.

      “Aren’t we all?”

      “Not my mom. She’s perfect.”

      “Impossible. Nobody’s perfect.”

      “Tell that to my grandmother.”

      “I’ll do that.”

      “Can I watch?”

      “Only if you hide any and all sharp objects first.”

      “It’s a deal.”

      They hugged again, laughing, then parted. Sarah joined them and tugged on Laura’s hand. “I want to find the magic pendant.”

      “How could you ever find it on this big ship?” Connor said with more than a little sarcasm as he stepped closer. Apparently it didn’t take long for his mood to change.

      “Yeah, but somebody has to find it,” Laura suggested, ignoring his crankiness and supporting Sarah’s excitement.

      “And it won’t be us,” Connor scorned. “Nothing good ever happens in this family.”

      Laura tousled his hair, and Connor let her, but Becky could tell his attitude was deteriorating quickly. “Oh, I don’t know. We’re all on this cruise together. That’s something good.”

      “You know what I mean.” He moved away from her hand. “I mean to my family, like me and my sister and my mom.”

      “Well, maybe if we find the pendant, your luck will start to change,” Laura said.

      “I seriously doubt it.” He walked away and plopped himself down on the sofa.

      “If we all think positive thoughts, maybe we’ll have a better chance of finding it,” Laura decreed, sitting next to him.

      Connor shrugged. “Whatever.”

      Sarah looked pensive for a moment. Becky could tell she was trying to figure something out. Suddenly her face brightened. “Thoughts like raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens?”

      “Don’t