Dana
I stood next to my father and Caroline in the reception lobby. I wore a breezy summer dress, which felt even softer compared to my father’s pressed white uniform and Caroline’s crisp blue blazer and white skirt. It seemed to me that she’d taken just a little extra care with her makeup or hair. I wasn’t sure what it was, but she was extra pretty. I wasn’t sure about the what, but I did know why.
I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect. I’d done some research on him in what little time I had between the staff meeting and the guests’ greeting. And what I’d found had me stunned. It explained a lot about why this Preston Hutchinson had gone to such lengths to secure their privacy and protect their security. But it was such a horrific story, that had a chill running in my blood and I just couldn’t shake it. But I knew I’d have to before the Hutchinson family arrived. Sorrow and morose sympathy were not appropriate for the first impression aboard the commotion on the ocean, especially not in this case. The man booked an entire cruise ship exclusively for himself and his daughter, he deserved to be greeted with a smile. I just wasn’t sure I could manage it.
I was also worried, more and more as I made my way across the ship toward the lobby.
I wasn’t sure what to expect out of this man or his daughter. What kind of people will they be? If he’s got this kind of money, he’s going to be demanding, probably a chauvinist, used to getting whatever and whoever he wants. The kid’s probably a raging, screaming brat; not that I’d blame her for some of that, at least, given what’s happened to her. But are we all really going to have to spend a whole week catering to two billionaire slave-drivers? Well, I’m just the singer, I can always lay low or just stick to the stage. A girl’s gotta do her job, captain’s daughter or not.
Preston Hutchinson stepped into the reception lobby with his daughter, the two holding hands and smiling politely. He introduced himself and his daughter, my father introducing himself and me and our cruise director, Caroline. I was struck by how gorgeous he was. None of the few pictures I’d found online did him justice in the slightest. He was near to six feet tall, with broad shoulders and a strong chest, all angling down to an amazingly small waist and strong, powerful legs. And his face, blue eyes like mine peering out from sculpted cheekbones and a strong, cleft chin. He was in his early thirties, and experience was beginning to show in the faint lines around his eyes, a furrowed brow holding back his deepest thoughts.
My father added, “Caroline will be showing you around the ship, taking care of whatever you need.”
“Anything at all,” Caroline said with a little nod, wavy red hair bouncing just a bit. Blu backed up, very nearly hiding behind her father.
Hutch looked her over. I could tell he was impressed with her, his eyes combing those shapely legs, sexy hips, breasts so full and round behind her uniform blazer. It wasn’t a cut that was meant to inspire a sexual response, but Caroline could make a potato sack look hot and Hutch seemed to know it. He looked me over too, with the same sexy, rakish expression. He asked me, “And what do you do around here?”
“Singer,” my father said, “with the show band, and she sings with Barry on piano in our beautiful crystal staircase cathedral, for our … romantically inclined guests.” Caroline glanced down, deliberately coy, but when she looked up she hit Hutch with a glance that was absolutely rapacious. She bit her lower lip, one brow raised. I half-expected her to jump on him right there and then, in front of his daughter and everybody.
But Hutch said simply, “We’d like to retire a bit to our quarters, unpack, perhaps have some breakfast.”
Caroline was quick to say, “Of course, Mr. Hutchinson, I’ll show you to our Presidential suite, make sure your bags are delivered immediately, if they’re not already there.”
“Please,” he said, glancing at me and addressing us all. “Call me Hutch.”
*
I was torn with conflicting emotions walking away from that greeting. On the one hand, I was relieved. Thank goodness he’s not some nasty blowhard, I reasoned, at least he’s not revealed that yet. And that little girl seems sweet enough, understandably timid.
But that only stirred up other feelings, and the more I thought about them, the more complicated they were. I was a little bit jealous of Caroline, I couldn’t deny it. There was a part of me that wanted to be the kind of person she was, so pretty and sexy, so at home in her own skin. Caroline was gorgeous and she knew it, and that was something I was only beginning to understand. Caroline was also so comfortable around strangers, so … experienced. At twenty-one, I was craving experiences of my own, more and more. But there were other things to consider. I was the captain’s daughter, that carried responsibilities. I represented him and he represented Oceania, which represented the whole Fantasia Cruise Line. I wasn’t about to trash all that just to cavort with some strange men, even if something inside me was screaming out to do it. That voice would go unheard by the rest of the world, at least for the time being, I was committed. That tortured plea was coming louder and more often, but it would have to go unanswered.
At least , I didn’t have too long to think about it. There would be plenty to keep me busy, and meeting with the band was only one place I’d be able to hide.
Barry sifted through some sheet music, sitting at the piano. “We could do the one the cricket sings.’”
Carl Sticks Simmons sat nearby, drumsticks in his dark chocolate hands, wrapping them against his long lean thighs. “Always Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide?”
“No,” I said, “I think he means, When You Wish Upon a Star.”
Eric Newton sat on a stool, electric bass in his lap. His hair was blond, like mine, but curly and short. He always reminded me of what The Little Prince would look like as an adult. He looked at me quietly with a little smile, turning away when my eyes met his.
Barry played the first few chords from memory, bass lines and melody pouring out of the big mahogany grand.
Also from memory, Dana sang, “When you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are … ” I paused, thinking I was waiting for Barry, but Barry was waiting for me, and for my little moment of melancholy to pass. “Everything your heart desires will come to you … ”
Sticks nodded. “That sounds great,” he said nodding, his dark brown head shaved completely bald, light bouncing off its curves.
Barry shook his head. “I’ll have to pull up the Frozen soundtrack … ”
Sticks chuckled. “I spotted Caroline talkin’ up our special guest. Instead of Frozen, maybe you should look up Molten … “ We shared a laugh. “I’ll bet she bags him, we’ll have to find ourselves a new cruise director. That’s never fun, the new ones always try too hard.”
Eric nodded, glancing at me with his usual forlorn expression. In his early twenties, Eric could have his pick of the women onboard, but I knew he had a crush on me. I didn’t do anything to string him along, of course. We were friendly, I found his quiet company very pleasant. But he knew what my policy was, everybody in the band did.
But we weren’t talking about me. Barry shook his head. “I dunno, Sticks, that Hutchinson guy is a pretty big prey, I don’t know if Caroline’s got what it takes.” Off our skeptical glances, he explained, “A man like that can have any woman he wants, right? I’m sure he’s had his fill of brassy redheads.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” I said. “Internet said the thing with his wife only happened a year ago. He doesn’t strike me as the cheating kind.”
“We’re all the cheating kind,” Barry said, Sticks chuckling; me, not so much. Eric wasn’t amused either, shaking his head and turning away. “Anyway, the guy’s single now, so there’s no cheating about it, it’s just … y’know, messin’ around.”
I said, “No I don’t, actually. You guys know I don’t … mess around.” Barry and Sticks traded a knowing glance, brows up, eyes rolling. “What, you don’t believe me?”
Barry asked, “Are you kidding? We work with you, Dana and we practically live with you too. We know for a fact you don't mess around.”
“But if you ever did,” Sticks said, not needing to add more.
Eric looked at me and I caught his eye, his silent, moping stare saying everything about the way he felt, everything he felt that he didn’t dare say. I couldn’t deny that, if my policy had been a little different, I might have been interested in having a date with Eric. But that just wasn’t going to happen. Eric had accepted it, and I appreciated that.
“Excuse me?” The rhythm section and I turned to see Caroline stepping toward us with a slow, professional stride, hips carrying that dominating swagger. We all waited until she crossed the empty dance floor to the stage and fixed her green eyes on me. “It seems Mr. Hutchinson requests that you be the one to tour him around the ship.”
I couldn't help but repeat, “Me?” Barry and Sticks and Eric looked directly at me, each with their own questions and their own concerns. Caroline huffed and shook her head just a bit, like she couldn't believe I was surprised. But I could hardly believe what she was saying. I added, “We’ve got rehearsals — ”
“What you've got is a responsibility to this ship, our crew, and our captain. The guests request your company. They’re in the Captain’s Table for breakfast.” I stood there shocked, glancing at Barry and at Sticks, who only shrugged as if to say, I told you so. Eric’s head sank even lower on his shoulders, disappointment wiping the little half-smile from his face. But there was no more time, as Caroline’s voice snapped with unusual distemper, almost unheard of when speaking to the captain’s daughter. “Now, Dana, now!”