Read Ivorie's Surprise [Golden Dolphin] (Siren Publishing Classic) for Free Online Page A

sightseeing. He held her hand while they browsed the shops on Duval Street, and Ivorie bought some kitschy Key West souvenirs for her niece and nephew. They walked around the docks of historic Mallory Square, although it was far too early for the famous sunset festivities. Drew found Ivorie to be a fun and relaxed companion. He’d been worried that she would retain her stiff demeanor after their altercation at breakfast, but she was interested and curious about everything she saw and enjoyed watching the colorful citizens of The Conch Republic, as Key West was known to locals.
    Drew looked at his watch. “I hate to say it, but we should probably get back to the dock and catch the tender. I know the lifeboat drill and safety lecture are scheduled for 4:30. The captain will want to pull out on time, and I’m sure all the remaining passengers will have boarded by now.”
    “Thank you for putting up with my tourist act. You were very patient in all those souvenir shops. The T-shirts and other stuff I got will be a hit with my niece and nephew. Jessie will especially love the cat one. Those six-toed cats at the Hemingway House were amazing.”
    “Not a problem, but I do think we should get moving.”
    Drew helped Ivorie aboard the Novurania Chase tender that had been traveling back and forth all day ferrying passengers and luggage between the dock and the ship. The crewman said, “Perfect timing. This is the last trip for the day. We’re about ready for the safety drill and to pull up anchor. The captain likes to get under way on time, although I know he wouldn’t have left you stranded.”
    As they pulled away from the dock, Drew looked over Ivorie’s shoulder and saw a car pull up and park near the dock. The door opened, and he turned back to the crewman. “It looks like another passenger just pulled up. Do you want to wait?”
    “No, sir. Everyone but you and Ms. James are already on board. Whoever it is is not here for the Dolphin ,” he said as he backed the tender away from the dock and turned toward the channel.
     
    * * * *
     
    The tender had picked up speed and was cruising toward the Golden Dolphin as Eugenia Cartwright got out of her rental car. She speed walked to the dock in her high-heeled pumps and tried to wave the tender back to no avail. She was amazed, but was that Ivorie James and Drew on board the tender? She strained to see as the boat pulled away. No. It can’t be that bitch taking my trip with Drew! It must have been her imagination—maybe a lookalike. “Shit. I missed it by seconds. I can’t believe it.” The harbormaster had told her that was the last trip scheduled out to the Dolphin . Maybe if I hurry back to the harbormaster’s office, I can get them to come back for me .
    At Eugenia’s request, the harbormaster contacted the bridge of the Golden Dolphin on the radio and was informed that all passengers were either on board or accounted for, and the tender would not be making another trip to the dock. Departure was planned for five o’clock, and they would be leaving on schedule.
    Eugenia was steaming. She left the harbormaster’s office in a huff. She couldn’t believe she had missed the last boat. And she simply wouldn’t believe that Ivorie James was on board with Drew. She had to have been seeing things. The woman was partially turned away, and hair was blowing across her face. Why the hell couldn’t the ship be docked at the wharf like the cruise ships? She had never counted on the Dolphin being moored out in deep water. She sat down on a bench on the dock to think. What should she do now? Her options were to go back to New York and hope for another opportunity to mend fences with Drew at a later date, or follow the ship to St. Bart’s and make another attempt to board the Dolphin . She had come this far, and she didn’t plan on going back to New York without accomplishing her objective. The Golden Dolphin would be making port in St. Bart’s on Wednesday morning. She had