Dreamboat by Judith Gould Page B

thanking Adonis and winking at Crissy.
    â€œI’ll be right there,” Crissy said. She thanked Adonis. “You’ve been really wonderful,” she said, “and I appreciate it so much.”
    â€œHere,” he said, “take this.” He handed her an engraved business card. “It has all of my numbers on it. Please call me anytime.”
    Crissy took a card out of her wallet and handed it to him. “Likewise,” she said, “but I won’t be there for a month.”
    He took the card and tucked it in his trousers, then put his arms around her and hugged her to him. “I’ve loved meeting you,” he said. “You’re one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met.” His lips brushed her hair.
    â€œThank you, Adonis,” she said nervously, “but I’d really better get in.”
    Reluctantly, he released her and opened the hotel door for her. She went inside, then waved good-bye.
    Adonis stood watching her as she walked the short distance across the lobby. When she reached the corner, she waved again. He blew a kiss to her but didn’t move.
    When Crissy reached the room, Jenny had already slipped into a nightie and under the covers. “We didn’t bring an alarm clock,” she said.
    â€œI told the desk that we needed a wake-up call before we left,” Crissy replied. “At nine o’clock.”
    â€œOh, jeez,” Jenny groaned, covering her head with the blanket.
    Crissy got ready for bed quickly. After she turned out the light, she lay in bed, her mind whirling with the events of the day. It’s only been a few hours into the trip, she thought, and it seems as if magic has already happened. I met a man who called me beautiful. Beguiling. Others stared at me with obvious admiration.
    I hope, she thought sleepily, tonight is a harbinger of things to come.

Chapter Six
    W hen they arrived in Piraeus, the taxi let them out in front of a vast ship terminal. Jenny had almost fallen asleep in the cab, but Crissy was so excited by the prospect of boarding the ship that she was wide awake. The terminal was lackluster, but once they had gone through security, she caught her first glimpse of the ship. Although she’d seen pictures of it, they hadn’t prepared her for the reality of the Sea Nymph.
    â€œOh, Jenny,” she said enthusiastically, “it looks so much like a yacht.”
    Jenny looked at her with a dull expression. “Well, Cris. That’s what it is. A ship.”
    â€œI know, but what I mean is, it doesn’t look like one of those buses they’re building with umpteen decks. It looks like a giant yacht.”
    â€œI guess so,” Jenny said. Crissy could tell that she was hung over, exhausted, and really didn’t care what the ship looked like.
    They were early, and only a handful of passengers were boarding. After getting their pictures taken at one of the security checkpoints, they were given key cards to their room. As they walked down the hall, Crissy glanced about, taking in the beautiful wood paneling and the soft palette of colors used in the upholstery and carpeting. The furnishings were very tasteful, she thought, and surprisingly nothing seemed to be plastic or fiberglass. They reached the elevators and took one to the next deck. They went down a corridor, noticing that all the rooms were named. When they found theirs, Crissy saw that it was Mykonos, an island in the Cyclades she’d read about. She swiped the card, and they went in.
    â€œOh, my God, it’s really nice,” Jenny said.
    â€œIt’s beautiful,” Crissy said. They stood in a small entry with a large closet on one side and the bathroom on the other. Immediately in front of them was a small sitting area with a built-in couch, chairs, and a table. On it was a basket of fruit and a bottle of wine. Straight ahead was a large picture window. There were twin beds with built-in bedside cabinets, many