Portside Peril (Cruise Ship Christian Cozy Mysteries Series Book 2) by Hope Callaghan Page B

same thing.  People he knew better than Millie.
    Tara picked Scout up and nuzzled him.  “I heard Captain’s wife died a few years back. His daughter has been hounding him to retire.”
    If Millie’s face was red before, it was fire engine red now.  Captain Armati was single.  Just like Millie.  Maybe he felt some sort of bond because they had both lost a spouse, in a roundabout way.
    “Yeah. Not that some of the other women on board haven’t tried to get Captain’s attention.  He never seemed interested.” Alison’s sharp blue eyes honed in on Millie again, which made Millie squirm.
    Alison had heard bits and pieces of Millie’s past.   That her husband had left her unexpectedly and she applied for the job on a whim, not really expecting the company to hire her.  Andy had told her that much. 
    She seemed like a nice enough woman.  A bit on the grandmotherly side but it was a refreshing change from the competitiveness of some of the younger staff.  Plus, adventure and mystery seemed to follow her around.  Maybe the captain was attracted to that.  Millie seemed - what was the word? Spunky!
    She could see she was making Millie uncomfortable so she quickly changed the subject.  “We have a skirt in the back I think you could fit into.” She eyed Millie critically, which made Millie blush for the third time in a row.  “You’ve got a little curve to you but that’s a good thing.”
    Millie followed Alison to the back while Tara kept an eye on Scout.  Actually, Scout was on the floor now and the two of them were chasing each other around, darting back and forth across the stage.
    When Millie and Alison returned, Scout was back in his carrier and he didn’t look the least bit pleased.  But guests were starting to wander in and it was safer for Scout inside his carrier. 
    Even in his carrier, Scout managed to get a lot of attention as the passengers stopped by to pat his head and say hello.  Scout was eating it up. 
    The square dance class was even more popular than the line dancing the day before, much to Millie’s surprise. Millie knew most of the moves and before she knew it, she was stomping and twirling away.  Millie was so caught up in the action; she didn’t notice Captain Armati as he approached the stage.
    When Millie caught his eye, she tripped on the tip of her boot and almost ended up in a heap on stage.  The music finally ended.  The captain was off to the side, talking to Scout.  Millie tromped over to the two of them. 
    Captain Armati shifted his gaze from Scout to Millie. “I see Scout’s having fun.”
    Millie nodded. “I didn’t think he should be out for the dancing part but, yes, he’s having a ball.  He’s like a little celebrity. All two and a half pounds of him!”
    Captain Armati smiled for the second time, right at Millie. She nearly melted right then and there.  Well, she didn’t melt but her face turned a pale shade of pink. 
    “I thought I’d stop by to see how you two were doing.” He patted Scout’s head one more time and then glanced down at his watch. “I better go. I’m meeting with Detective Patterson to go over some things.”
    His smile disappeared and he gave Millie a look that she was beginning to understand.  A look that said, please try to stay out of trouble or something like that.
    Captain Armati strode down the center aisle and exited the theater.  “Wouldja’ look at that,” Alison whispered.  She lightly punched Millie’s shoulder.  “I think he likes you. I mean likes you.”
    “That’s just crazy,” Millie argued. “He doesn’t even know me.”
    “Ever heard of love at first sight?” Tara asked.  She tapped her cowboy boot on the wooden floor.  She began to sing an off-key rendition of “Love is in the air.”
    Millie put her hands to her cheeks and rolled her eyes.  “Stop!  You’re embarrassing me!”
    The guests still on stage had clustered off to one side.  They were looking at Millie and she could