as much as she'd given. It damned sure wasn't going to be the last time, either. He had plans for Bree Stanton. If he had his way about it, she'd wear his mark for the rest of her life.
How he was going to convince her of that was something he hadn't worked out. Yet.
****
Triton was one of the most exclusive restaurants on the ship, and its décor reflected its status. If the sea god had a lair, Bree imagined this is what it would look like. Colorful fish swimming in the floor-to-ceiling aquariums comprised three walls, creating the illusion of being underwater. A film of water cascaded down the fourth wall, a sheet of glass that looked out onto the mortal world. Her feet sank in the sand-colored carpet as the Maitre d' led them to a table, partially secluded by shimmering kelp that rose from the floor and swayed with imaginary ocean waves.
She'd been expecting dinner in Zeus's Temple, the main dining room, but this would more than do. Triton's chef was said to be one of the best in the world, lured to the Lothario by a generous salary and the promise of abundant women in his free time.
Bree took a moment to appreciate the opulent surroundings. She was glad she'd chosen to wear the satin evening sarong, even if it did cover less than the cotton daytime versions. The table was set with delicate china and crystal. The gold flatware shone bright against the blue watered-silk tablecloth. Music hummed in the background, just loud enough to keep conversations discreet without diners having to shout over it. Bree imagined even a sea-hag would look stunning in the subtle lighting. A waiter in a full tuxedo handed her a menu, then melted into the shadows without a sound.
"This is lovely. You didn't have to bring me here."
Drew looked genuinely surprised. "I asked you to dinner." A simple declaration, as if that explained everything.
"I meant we could have eaten somewhere less expensive." There were several restaurants onboard that weren't included in the all-expenses paid ticket price. Triton was the most expensive of them, even for the crew who, like everyone else, had to pay when they ate at the premium restaurants onboard.
"Don't worry. I can afford it." He sounded peeved that she'd question his ability to provide. Typical macho caveman reaction, she supposed. She hadn't come here to argue. That would probably come later. All she wanted to do was enjoy the meal, and maybe have some civilized conversation with Drew, something they'd never managed before.
"I didn't mean to insult you. I just meant I would have been happy with a lot less."
Their waiter glided back to the table, and Drew waved him off again. She peeked over the top of her menu to see Drew's jaw clenched tight and his gaze drilling a hole through her skull.
"You shouldn't have to settle for less," he said through clenched teeth. "Don't sell yourself short." He waved the waiter back and without consulting her, ordered for both of them. "I hope you don't mind. I've eaten here plenty of times. I know what's good."
She did mind, but he'd ordered what she was going to order for herself, so there wasn't any real reason to be upset. What fascinated her was his admission.
"No problem. Look, Drew. Don't take this the wrong way, but how can you afford to come here so often? I know that when the ladies menu doesn't have any prices, the place is really expensive."
He leaned back in his chair, one hand resting on the tabletop, flipping his salad fork over and over, studying the movement as if it was the most fascinating thing in the world. He looked at home in these surroundings, just as he did in scuba equipment, or when subduing kidnappers with an automatic weapon in one hand and a knife in the other. There was plenty she didn't know about Drew. She didn't think he was going to answer, so when he spoke, she almost jumped out of her skin.
"I have money. Or I should say, my family has money."
"Huh." What was she supposed to say to that? The closest she'd ever
How he was going to convince her of that was something he hadn't worked out. Yet.
****
Triton was one of the most exclusive restaurants on the ship, and its décor reflected its status. If the sea god had a lair, Bree imagined this is what it would look like. Colorful fish swimming in the floor-to-ceiling aquariums comprised three walls, creating the illusion of being underwater. A film of water cascaded down the fourth wall, a sheet of glass that looked out onto the mortal world. Her feet sank in the sand-colored carpet as the Maitre d' led them to a table, partially secluded by shimmering kelp that rose from the floor and swayed with imaginary ocean waves.
She'd been expecting dinner in Zeus's Temple, the main dining room, but this would more than do. Triton's chef was said to be one of the best in the world, lured to the Lothario by a generous salary and the promise of abundant women in his free time.
Bree took a moment to appreciate the opulent surroundings. She was glad she'd chosen to wear the satin evening sarong, even if it did cover less than the cotton daytime versions. The table was set with delicate china and crystal. The gold flatware shone bright against the blue watered-silk tablecloth. Music hummed in the background, just loud enough to keep conversations discreet without diners having to shout over it. Bree imagined even a sea-hag would look stunning in the subtle lighting. A waiter in a full tuxedo handed her a menu, then melted into the shadows without a sound.
"This is lovely. You didn't have to bring me here."
Drew looked genuinely surprised. "I asked you to dinner." A simple declaration, as if that explained everything.
"I meant we could have eaten somewhere less expensive." There were several restaurants onboard that weren't included in the all-expenses paid ticket price. Triton was the most expensive of them, even for the crew who, like everyone else, had to pay when they ate at the premium restaurants onboard.
"Don't worry. I can afford it." He sounded peeved that she'd question his ability to provide. Typical macho caveman reaction, she supposed. She hadn't come here to argue. That would probably come later. All she wanted to do was enjoy the meal, and maybe have some civilized conversation with Drew, something they'd never managed before.
"I didn't mean to insult you. I just meant I would have been happy with a lot less."
Their waiter glided back to the table, and Drew waved him off again. She peeked over the top of her menu to see Drew's jaw clenched tight and his gaze drilling a hole through her skull.
"You shouldn't have to settle for less," he said through clenched teeth. "Don't sell yourself short." He waved the waiter back and without consulting her, ordered for both of them. "I hope you don't mind. I've eaten here plenty of times. I know what's good."
She did mind, but he'd ordered what she was going to order for herself, so there wasn't any real reason to be upset. What fascinated her was his admission.
"No problem. Look, Drew. Don't take this the wrong way, but how can you afford to come here so often? I know that when the ladies menu doesn't have any prices, the place is really expensive."
He leaned back in his chair, one hand resting on the tabletop, flipping his salad fork over and over, studying the movement as if it was the most fascinating thing in the world. He looked at home in these surroundings, just as he did in scuba equipment, or when subduing kidnappers with an automatic weapon in one hand and a knife in the other. There was plenty she didn't know about Drew. She didn't think he was going to answer, so when he spoke, she almost jumped out of her skin.
"I have money. Or I should say, my family has money."
"Huh." What was she supposed to say to that? The closest she'd ever
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