Chapter 2

Damn, she was cute, thought Z, as he headed toward the lobby. When he saw that lovely bit-of-goods in a blue summer dress talking to a marble pillar in the terminal, his mind got all soft. He rarely reached out to passengers. He did his best to avoid them. This female was an exception. She was easy on the eyes as well. Those pale blue irises and honey-colored hair were stunning. He remembered the feel of those silky strands as they slid between his fingers. The smell of sweet jasmine lingered in his memory.

Females were trouble, he reminded himself. It was best to steer clear of this one. After he oriented her to the ship, he would avoid her, regardless of his attraction. It would be best for both of them.

This cruise included a fraction of the Taylor Cruise Line corporate staff. The awards ceremony was scheduled five nights from now when a handful of people would receive appreciation for their outstanding contribution to the company.

His corporate team occupied deck fifteen, which is where he would spend most of his time. The awards ceremony was the only event he would have to attend. Lower management handled the menial business.

Rai Landon was not part of his corporate team, or she would have a suite on deck fifteen, not five. She was merely a passenger wanting to experience Alaska. Just how much a blind person could enjoy the sights alone was yet to be determined. Damn her friend for bailing on her. Z grinned at the thought of being her guide. Ideas rambled through his mind in creative waves; an unstoppable force that promised a wake of destruction.

Leave her alone, he thought. The last thing he needed was another woman in his life. Memories of his horrid divorce spurred him like a mother scolding an errant child. No more relationships, he’d promised himself. They were poison, guaranteed to kill him with painful slowness. His ex-wife Denise would make sure of it.

As the passengers loaded with the grace and speed of meandering cattle, Z watched from the captain’s office; a spacious number decked out in teakwood and fancy furniture. Large tinted windows looked down into the foyer, offering a broad view of the reception desk and touring counters.

Lively crowd,” said the voice of his good friend and most trusted captain. Troy Billard had served in the navy with Z’s father for many years. The result was a failed marriage and bitter children. He walked with a limp and a gnarled-wood cane, polished to a blinding shine. An amber stone sat atop the staff, embedded into the dense juniper as if the wood had grown around it.

Captain Billard handed Z a cup of coffee. “Nice to have you on board, Gideon.”

“Z” he corrected. “And please, remind the staff not to address me by my formal name.” He took a sip of the steaming liquid. It went down smooth and offered a sense of comfort. Troy only brewed the best beans. Their rich, nutty aroma filled the room.

Troy refreshed his cup and then leaned on the tinted glass surface of his desk. “Why?” He asked. “On this cruise, I want to remain anonymous.”

“Hard to do with half your staff on board,

wouldn’t you say?”

Z sipped his coffee and then set the mug beside Troy’s. “There is a blind passenger on board. Do you know anyone familiar with assisting the visually impaired?”

Troy shook his head, studying Z with speculation. “Not off-hand. I can ask Stan. He has more knowledge on the staff than I do.”

Stan, the Human Resources manager had a memory that could put a genius to shame. The man was a virtual vault of information, which made him the perfect choice to manage over five- hundred crew members.

“Thank you,” said Z.

Troy’s brow arched over a well-practiced smirk. “I’m assuming this passenger is female?”

“Solid assumption.”

“Judging by your tense jaw and furrowed brows, she holds an attraction for you.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Troy. I’m merely concerned about her being alone on this cruise. Her friend never showed.”

“Your mother was blind, right?”

Z turned to face him. Troy was an old friend, but he was about to cross a line—a line not even his siblings dared to breach. Z’s mother was the only woman he trusted and still loved, but she and his father died in a plane crash five years ago. Their bodies remain amiss. “She was.”

“I’d say that makes you the most qualified. From what I understand, you are not planning to work this week, correct? No pressing engagements, except the awards ceremony, no— “

“Find someone else!”

“Gideon,” Troy said with authority, like a father addressing his son. “Not all women are spiteful and cruel. Treat her like a passenger. You don’t have to get involved in her life, but it is time for you to move on. Denise has only the power you give her.”

“I’ll orient Rai to the ship,” Z said through clenched teeth. “Nothing more.” He set his half-empty cup on the desk and left the office.