“Yes, she did.”
“Good, good. Can you radio for some fruit to be delivered? Things that are easily fed to others.”
“Sure,” I said with my best fake smile.
Hitting the button for my earpiece, I said. “Dean, Dean, Remy.”
“Oh, how very double-oh-seven,” Reagan purred.
Every instinct in my body told me to back away from her, but I knew if I did, it would be seen as a slight toward her. Instead, I stayed where I stood and waited for Dean to answer me back.
“Dean here,” he called.
“The guests would like some fruit.”
“Okay, I can do that.”
“And they also request that it be fruit that can be fed to others.” I held back my groan. Maybe they’d ask Scout to join in on the feeding.
“Okay,” he drew the word out. “I’ll see what I can come up with, and have fun with that,” he added with a laugh. “I’ll have someone bring it in a few minutes.”
“Thanks.” Putting on my best smile, I looked at the women. “He said it will be a few minutes. Is there anything I can do for you in the meantime?”
“Oh, I think we can think of something.” Zelda clasped her hands underneath her chin and tapped her fingernails together. “For now, why don’t you go talk to our Stella. She looks lonely over there all by herself.”
Stella was now sitting off by herself with a glass of orange juice in her tiny hands. She was holding onto it so tight, the knuckles of her fingers were white.
“Really, I’m fine.”
“I insist. Maybe Remy here can give you a foot massage.”
Oh God, would they all want foot massages?
“No feet,” Reagan yelled and tucked her feet under herself on one of the couches.
As if I wanted to touch her feet or any feet.
“Maybe we could get a couple of people on the boat to do massages. Wouldn’t that be nice? After we get back from shopping and lunch.”
“That does sound nice. Especially if we’re stuck here,” Scarlett agreed.
“It’s settled then. Kylie, can you get some masseuses to give us massages after we come back?”
I hadn’t noticed Kylie had walked in behind me. Looking over my shoulder at her, I found her standing in the doorway with a bottle of baby oil in her hands.
“Yes, I’ll have Ophelia arrange it for you.” She waved the hand with the oil in it. “Look what I found.”
“Oh, perfect, we’ll have you all oiled up in time to feed us. Please be a dear and retrieve the oil so we can watch you walk away.” Zelda bit on her bottom lip as her eyes flared.
Damn, I was nothing more than a piece of meat to these women.
Walking over to Kylie, I held my hand out for the offending oil. I was sure I had a scowl on my face as I stood before her.
“I’m sorry, Remy. You know the mantra.” She actually did look sorry, but I was also sure she’d enjoy them torturing me throughout the day as well.
“Do whatever the guests want. I know, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it,” I said for only her ears to hear but noticed Stella stiffen out of the corner of my eye. Had she heard me?
It wasn’t Stella who was a chore. In fact, she was my reward for all the bad shit that had gone down in my life and for putting up with her friends.
“Nope, just do it with a smile on your face.” Kylie patted my bare shoulder. “You know, if you guys did all your work shirtless, I bet we’d get much better tips.”
“Just as if you did all your work in skimpy bikinis,” I shot back with a big smile.
But we weren’t meant to be seen as meat while we worked, rather with a semblance of respect as the help.
“Point made. Now go get oiled up for the ladies to enjoy you better,” she cackled as she went behind the bar.
My feet felt like they were in quicksand as I made my way toward the women.
“Why don’t you start, Stella? You look like you could use a good time.” Reagan gave her a nasty smile. What the hell was wrong with that woman?
I didn’t mind having Stella’s hands on me. Since she was sitting away from the rest, it might give me the chance to try to explain to her about last night.
“Where would you like me?” I asked as I stood in front of the dark-haired beauty.
A sly smirk replaced the sullen set to her plump pink lips. “Get on your knees.”
Liking where this was going, I did as I was ordered and got down on my knees in front of Stella.
Plucking the oil out of my hands, she coated her palms before she leaned forward and placed her hands on my shoulders. Her fingers dug into the muscles a moment before she started to coat my skin while her eyes following her movements.
“Stella,” I called her name quietly. Her gaze flicked up to mine before she looked back at what she was doing. “I’m sorry about last night. After I got done with my work, I tried to make it to find you, but at every turn, I was stopped. I couldn’t very well send you a note saying I couldn’t meet up for our rendezvous.”
“I fell asleep waiting for you. Do you know what it feels like to be stood up on a boat?” Tears filled her eyes that she tried to quickly blink away, making me feel like an even bigger asshole.
I wanted nothing more than to be able to take her hands in mine or to be able to hold her in my arms, but that wasn’t a possibility with everyone around. “I can’t imagine it felt good. I’m sorry. I truly am. If I could have gotten away without being caught, I would have. Please don’t doubt that.”
“Alright, you hogged him enough. Now it’s our
