Chapter 4

Rai’s stomach growled like an angry badger. The scent of food filtered through the air vents, taunting her with savory spices and buttery breads. The day had been perfect; slow and relaxing; a nice break from her usual chaos.

Tomorrow, they would reach Victoria, where she would tour the town and have tea at the Princess Hotel. It was something she had always wanted to do, but never had the chance. This cruise offered a perfect opportunity to check a few things off her bucket list. She was only 37 years old, so there was plenty of time to experience several adventures including riding one of the longest zip lines on the west coast.

She fired up her MacBook Pro and logged into the ship’s WiFi. Oliver, her British screen-reading voice, obediently read whatever fell under the cursor in a polite and polished accent that would make any professional valet proud. Her mother was British, which is probably why Rai was so drawn to the accent. It was also why she had been attracted to Z, though he had shown no sign of having any sort of mutual attraction. In truth, he seemed almost annoyed with her during the tour. No matter. His duty with her was done.

She started her mail program and checked her inbox. As promised, Z had sent her an electronic version of what she would find on each deck and a brief recap on how to get there, including landmarks. Listening to Oliver read the text, she smiled, remembering the scent of bay rum that lingered on Z’s clothing.

“Let it go,” she hummed to herself. Men were nothing but trouble. She wasn’t sure why she attracted them. She didn’t want sex, and she couldn’t get involved past friendship. That never seemed to stop them from trying though. Anna claimed that Rai was a man magnet because she wanted nothing to do with them. For some reason, that fact posed a tempting challenge for males.

She sent a quick text to Anna.

 

Hey, Kiddo. Made it onboard safe and sound. Started reading the book you shared with me, and am now getting ready to have dinner.

Glad to hear it. Let me guess, Brian was a no-show, right?

Right. No worries, though. I’m determined to have a good time.

Good. You’ve worked hard for this and deserve some pleasant adventures in your life. Ping me tonight when you are ready to settle in.

Will do.

Rai had scrolled through the document Z had sent her and selected the restaurant she wanted to try. Buffets had never been her thing. She was in the mood for a good sit-down dinner and a bottle of wine. She chose the Salt & Sea on the ninth floor. It boasted of fabulous views, spectacular wines, and fare that roused her appetite to an audible level.

Cane in hand, she left the room and tapped her way down the long and narrow hallway. Using the echo of sound as a guide, she made her way toward the elevators. The buttons were between the elevator doors. She pressed the upper button and waited. The whirring sound of the lift grew louder as the left car approached her floor. Ding. “Going up,” she said to herself, stepping into the lift. The hollow echo assured her there was no one else inside. She pressed the button for the ninth floor and stepped back.

The lift sped upward, causing her tummy to sink in that ticklish way that made young children giggle.

“Ninth floor,” the voice said, and the doors opened.

Rai stepped out and turned left, heading down the long corridor that ended up at the restaurant’s entrance.

“Welcome to Salt & Sea,” a pleasant young woman announced.

“Thank you,” said Rai. “Just one for this evening, please.”

She heard the woman slide menus from a rack. “Right this way.”

Normally, Rai could follow the foot steps of the person leading her, but the carpet in the dining area muffled the sound too much. She stopped, hoping the hostess would notice.

“Take my arm,” said the deep, familiar voice of Z.

“I thought you were done with me,” she joked, holding the back of his offered elbow.

When he didn’t answer, she asked, “Are you working here at the restaurant?”

“No,” was all he said. “Here’s your table.” He pulled out her chair and then pushed it back in for her with such practiced ease, she wondered where he had received such training. The man was not your typical porter.

“Thank you, Z.”

“You’re quite welcome, Miss Landon. Would you like me to read the menu for you?”

“No need, Mr. Z,” she said, matching his formal tone. “I read it online beforehand.”

“Very well. I’ll leave you to your meal, then.”

She nodded and smiled, hearing him turn and walk away. Nope, no attraction to her at all. Funny how that realization felt empty yet relieving at the same time. Part of her wanted a relationship with a man, but deep down, she knew she never could—it was just too dangerous.

Someone approached her table. The heavy steps and sturdy stride told her it was a male. The scent of Ambercrombe and Fitch Woods laced the air with an attractive fragrance. “Hello, Madam, my name is Charles. I’ll be your waiter this evening. May I start you off with something to drink?”

“Yes, I’ll have a glass of your Pinot Grigio, and a petite plate of your stuffed calamari.”

“Lovely choice, Madam.”

“Rai,” she said. “Please, call me Rai.”

She sensed his smile and heard the crunch of his starched shirt as he bowed a bit. “Rai.”

He returned a short moment later with a chilled glass of white wine. “Your wine is at noon.” He said, setting the glass down on the table. “The calamari will be out shortly.”

“Thank you, Charles.” She imagined him to be a tall, lanky man with a balding head, pale blue eyes, and fabulous teeth. He was probably pushing fifty, she assumed, based on his voice and the way he moved. It was fun to imagine how people looked, though most of the time, she was inaccurate.

Z, she thought, was a handsome man in his forties, well built, peppered hair and amber eyes. Thank God he was safe and temporary. Once the cruise was over, he would be out of reach.

Moving her hand low across the table, slowly toward her twelve, she felt the base of the wine glass and moved her fingers up the delicate stem until the chilled glass was firmly in her grip. She sipped the chilled, tart wine, allowing it to cling to her pallet like a tonic. Perfect, she thought. Cool and crisp, but not too dry. They must have sat her down by a window. The wall to her right was hard and smooth, a slight chill radiated from its surface. She reached out to confirm her suspicion. Through her fingertips, she felt the rumble of the ship’s movement.

Someone approached her left side, and then a dull thunk announced the placement of a plate set before her. “It’s a lovely evening,” said Charles. “The moonlight is reflecting off the water’s surface and the sea is calm.”

“Can you see the stars?” Asked Rai, trying to recall how they once looked, dappled throughout the inky jet of night.

“Oh, yes. They are dimmed amid the moon’s brilliant glow, but they are present.”

Rai removed her hand from the cool glass and turned to face the table. The pungent scent of sage and cumin wafted up from the steaming plate. “Mmm, smells fantastic.”

“I moved your wine to two o’clock. Do you have an entree in mind?”

“Several,” she chuckled. “I can’t seem to decide between the prime rib, spicy chicken salad, or the lamb.”

“All are quite good, but I would suggest the lamb tonight. Chef Mark does it justice.”

Rai smiled, sensing the pride in Charle’s voice. “Very well. I’ll have the lamb.”

“Can I bring you anything else, m—Rai?”

“A glass of water with a slice of lemon, please.”

“Of course.”

Rai found her knife and fork and began acquainting herself with the food on the plate before her. Three rather large round objects sat on the left side of the plate, while something softer occupied the right. Curious, she dipped a prong of her fork into the soft substance and brought it to her lips. It smelled like—mushrooms? She tasted a bit, enjoying the strong flavor of garlic, olive oil, and sage.

Next, she stabbed one of the round objects and took a small bite. The calamari had been cleverly wrapped around a mixture of spicy minced sausage, herbs, and tangy cheese. She sliced a piece and added the mushroom mixture. The combined flavors were heaven on her tongue. A sip of Pinot Grigio completed the orchestra of flavors with stunning perfection.

By the time she took her last bite, her wine was empty and her palate was satisfied. She doubted anything could top it.

Charles came around to collect her plate and empty glass. “How was it?”

“Fabulous. I’m nearly full just from that.” She dabbed at her mouth with the cotton napkin, then reached for the glass that was set at her ten o’clock.

“Another glass of wine?”

“How about a glass of your Erath Pinot Noir?”

“Of course,” he said before turning away.

The quiet din of the restaurant was like a lullaby. She couldn’t see the people sitting around her, but she heard their laughter, their quiet conversations, and felt the warmth of their presence.

She was used to eating alone, and it never really bothered her. Having someone to converse with was more of a distraction than a comfort sometimes, but if given a choice, she would choose to have company over reclusiveness. In most instances, however, she’d much rather observe others as they interacted with one another than be a participant.

Charles returned with her entree. “The plate is very hot, Rai, so be careful.” The heavy ceramic plate clunked as it met with the table. “Lamb on your left, steamed broccoli on your right, and Parmesan mashed potatoes at noon.” He set a glass of wine on the table. “Wine is at your two.”

“Thank you, Charles.”

“Enjoy.”

She took a long, deep whiff. “It smells heavenly.”

“I’ll be back to check on you shortly,” he said through a smile.

Rai lifted the knife and fork and explored her meal. The lamb was arranged with the bones up, fanned in what she imagined was an attractive array. Carefully, she separated one chop and laid it flat onto her plate. The knife slid through the meat as if it were butter. She took a small bite, reveling in the savory spices and slightly gamely flavor of the lamb. It was the best she had ever tasted.

Having only finished half the meal, she was quite full and completely satiated. Eating was one of her favorite things in life. It was the one thing she could enjoy completely without having sight.

A person came over and sat across from her. The scent of bay rum was a clue as to who it could be.

Charles, too, came to clear her plates. “Good evening, Mr.—”

“Z.”