She fixed me with a stare that told me she wasn’t buying it.
“And I already took them their towels, so no need to ask anyone else to do it.”
“Thanks. But you could get fired if you’re a nosey parker.”
Was she looking out for me or just making sure that guest privacy was respected? “Thanks for the warning, but those guys don’t have anything to say that I want to hear.” I tied off the first bag and started on the recycling.
Skylar was perceptive. I just hoped I’d planted enough doubt in her head that she didn’t give my being on top deck a second thought again. I needed to fly under the radar and get this job done.
Eleven
Skylar
“Anything you need from shore?” Peter, the bosun, asked as he stuck his head around the crew mess door.
“You’re going ashore?” I checked my watch. “Tell me they’re not going out to dinner.” It was just after six and Chef had already done all the preparation. Why would he be taking guests to shore now?
“No, I’m picking someone up.”
I stood. “No one told me. Are they staying over? Do I need to refresh a room? Who is it?”
Peter shrugged. “Friend of the owner, apparently. Captain asked me to get them, but I’m not sure of the arrangements. Can I collect anything for you?”
“Not for me. You should ask Chef, though. And you should tell him that he has another mouth to feed as well. Actually, no. I’ll tell him. I have to go up and find the captain anyway. He didn’t say anything about a preference sheet when he spoke to you, did he?”
“Nothing. I got the impression that he’d only just found out himself.”
I straightened my skirt and headed upstairs.
“Chef, do you know anything about this new guest?” I asked as I entered the kitchen and August came in with an empty tray of champagne glasses.
“You’re not on for another thirty minutes,” August replied.
“Change of plans. We have a new guest coming on board and I have no idea who it is,” I replied. “I’m going to speak to the captain and then we need to check over the empty cabins.” I hated to be caught off guard. I should have checked those cabins since charter started.
“Are they coming to dinner? And will they stay?” Chef Anton asked.
“I have no idea. Radio Peter if you want anything from shore. I’m going to the bridge to find the captain and as soon as I catch a clue, I’ll be back.”
I turned and almost ran into Landon, who was coming in. “Hey, where’s the fire?” he asked.
“Up my ass. Excuse me. We have a new guest coming aboard.”
“We do? Who?”
I shifted around him. “No idea. Trying to find out.” I pushed through the swinging kitchen doors as Landon started asking Anton questions about the new guest. Why did he care? It wouldn’t change how much work he had to do. I took the stairs two at a time to the bridge just before my radio began to ring out.
“Skylar, Skylar, this is the captain—”
I knocked on the door to the bridge and went in when he answered.
“You heard about the last-minute addition to the party?” he asked.
“It’s why I’m here.” I was used to dealing with chaos and last-minute plans. The problem was guests didn’t see the effort that went in behind the scenes and had no idea the work we’d have to put in for an additional guest.
“A business associate of Walt’s is coming aboard,” the captain explained. “They’ll be joining the owner for dinner and will be staying over.”
“Just one additional guest?”