Caribbean Catastrophe by M K Scott

Author:M K Scott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mysteries, small town mysteries, cozy mystery series, culinary cozy mystery, m k scott, the painted lady inn mysteries, bed and breakfast mysteries, cozy cruise mystery, cozy mstery
Publisher: M K Scott

Chapter Ten

There was silence. Donna could have sworn everyone around them stopped whatever they were doing and stared, including the waiter who had been heading toward their table. It reminded her of those movies when everything froze and the main character talked to the camera.

Wait, she was the main character, and she was clueless as to what would fill in the growing gap in conversation.

Lars spoke. “Come on, brother. I sense we are not wanted here.”

Olaf nodded in Donna’s direction. “If things don’t work out, I’m in 7711 on deck seven.”

Before she could respond, Mark did. “Don’t worry, things will work out.” Mark pressed his hands on the table and leaned toward Olaf.

The man stood without another word and followed his brother.

Really, this was her romantic proposal scene? Nope. Not happening. Donna placed her napkin beside her plate in preparation for leaving. She reached for her purse at her feet.

“Donna, don’t go.” His voice broke on the last word. “Let me explain.”

“Explain why I feel like a bone between two hungry dogs?” The idea of escaping to an upper deck appealed, and it would allow her to ditch her avid listeners. “Outside.” She angled her head in the direction of the exit.

“Agreed.” Mark pushed out his chair and helped her with hers. They silently weaved through the diners, feeling their gazes on their backs. Out in the hall, Donna motioned to the stairs, not trusting herself to speak due to the people milling in the hall. They reached the tenth level, which was a sun deck dotted with loungers and bathing beauties during the day, but not now.

The white loungers were stacked and secured to the railing. A clump of upright chairs was scattered about on the deck for those who wanted to watch the moon on the waves. The celestial orb had gained a little more girth than the night before, but it didn’t measure up to the full moon in her fantasies. Having Mark reveal his matrimonial intentions across an uncleared dining table to another man certainly didn’t figure in there anywhere, either.

His hand brushed hers, reaching for her fingers, but she pulled away. Oh no, he didn’t get it that easy. He’d been acting odd even before she left on this cruise, then he thought he could drop this on her? Her mother and brother’s rush to defend Mark as a love and leave it type when Heloise tried to use her rapier tongue on him came to mind. “Did you speak to anyone in my family about…” She hesitated, before she managed, “…you know, your intentions?”

Mark coughed, then cleared his throat, a stall she clearly recognized. “Don’t bother. I know you did. They wouldn’t have been so quick to defend you after you missed the boat if they didn’t know.”

“You thought the worst when I didn’t make the ship?”

“No.” Her gaze lingered on the moonlight streaming across the wave. “I never doubted you.” Her shoulders went up in a shrug. “I did wonder what the tiff we had about me selling the house was about, but I didn’t think you’d flat out dump me.

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