Read Cruise to Destiny (Contemporary Romance Novella) Page 10

  ***

  “This is the last call for passengers boarding flight 232 to New York,” came the voice of the flight attendant in charge of boarding. “All those on standby, please report to the podium and have your boarding pass ready.”

  Devon grabbed his carry-on and headed for the podium, eager to get the hell out of the airport. He had been there since late last night, after he’d been escorted there by one of the ship’s officers. He needed a shower in the worst way. And sleep. Airport chairs were not conducive to sleeping.

  He handed his ticket over to the flight attendant when an announcement came over the loud speaker.

  “Would a Mr. Devon please report to security? Mr. Devon.”

  Mr. Devon? Was it possible there was someone in the airport with that last name? Or was the message for him?

  “Is everything alright, Mr. Matthews?”

  He looked up at the flight attendant who was clearly waiting for him to board the plane so they could close the gate.

  “Sorry,” he said, conflicted about whether to get on the plane or go see if Melanie was waiting for him at security.

  In the end, he decided it probably wasn’t for him. She had been there when Eugenia had yelled his name at him last night. Surely she remembered that, and she probably even knew who he really was by this time.

  “Mr. Matthews, I need to close the gate. Please board the plane.”

  He took one last look down the long terminal, half hoping to see Melanie running towards him. But she wasn’t. So Devon did as he was asked and boarded the plane, not really ready to go back home, but seeing little choice in the matter.

  Eight

  Melanie returned to the ship, her heart twisted and sad. The guilt over having gotten Devon fired was eating away at her, and the idea of being on the ship another two days before she could even begin to look for him was devastating.

  Lisa and Shauna were in the room getting ready for lunch.

  “Where have you been?” Lisa asked at the same time Shauna said, “What the heck happened to you?”

  Melanie plopped down on the tiny couch by the window with a melodramatic sigh. “He’s gone,” she said simply.

  “Come again?” Shauna’s brows shot up. “What are you talking about?”

  She hated to admit what she’d done, but it was killing her. She had to get it off her chest. “Devon. He left last night.”

  “But doesn’t he work here?” Lisa asked.

  “He did.” Melanie took a deep breath and then launched into the hot tub story. “I tried to catch him at the airport, but I don’t even know his last name, so obviously I wasn’t very successful.”

  “Well, that’s easy to figure out,” Shauna said. “Let’s go to the spa. Surely they’ll know his last name. Then we’ll find him when we get back to the city.”

  Melanie looked up at her friends. Of course she should ask the front desk girl at the spa!

  “Come on.” Lisa grabbed her by the arm and pulled her off the couch. “We’ll swing by before lunch.”