Three

Cory

I glanced out toward where the ship was anchored and was more than ready to go back for the day. Normally I loved the time we spent at shore, but today had started out crazy as soon as Ryan had made sure each of us understood what we'd be doing.

The restaurant was divided into two areas. The open-air area was where guests from the ship and others staying at nearby hotels could order from the menu. On the other side was a buffet that was strictly for cruisers, and we'd need to check their wristbands for them to even enter that area.

I had been assigned the job of checking wristbands, and so far, I'd already caught five people trying to sneak in. Two tried to sneak in by way of the bathroom, and one had tried to just enter through the netted covering on the wall.

"Hey, everyone likes a buffet," Quinn said, stopping just long enough to say it before hurrying off to deliver an order he'd just picked up.

Alberto had told me I'd be bussing tables here, or possibly delivering drinks, but Alexa decided I needed to be the host for both sides and check wristbands at the door. It was all going good until the lunch rush then everything had gone to shit—well for me anyway, everyone else was having a great time.

This was officially one of those moments when I wished I was on the cruise not working on the cruise. "Hey, cutie, what time are you off?" one of the guys from a large group asked as I checked his wristband.

"Not until midnight, sorry," I said, not sorry at all. I'd been propositioned so many times already I was done being vague about it. "And I work tomorrow," I added, just to be sure.

"Aww well that's no fun," he said and pushed out his lip in what I had to admit was a cute pout. He was tanned and shirtless, wearing a white baseball cap backwards covering his headful of dark curly hair.

"Sorry, no time for fun." I forced a smile as I said it, but it wasn't a lie. When we weren't working, we were sleeping or hiding away from the guests. Working on a cruise was very much a full-time job. But I loved it. Except today.

"Cory, time for your break," Alexa said, barely sparing me a glance as she hurried past to check the buffet.

"Break time?" Quinn asked.

"Yes, let's get out of here." Both of us hurried off to the crew's mess hall which was located a short walk from the restaurant. We'd be eating the same buffet foods the guests, but without the little details that made it look more special.

"How's your day so far?" Quinn asked.

"Hectic," Johnny said as he sat down with us.

"Is it just me or is everyone trying to do what they know they shouldn't do?" Johnny and Quinn both looked at me like I had lobsters growing out of my ears and neither knew who should tell me. "What?"

"You've been cruising long enough to know. When you mix cruisers with guests or locals from land it's never going to be an easy day," Johnny said. He examined his plate which was heaped with a little of everything before deciding to eat the chocolate mousse first.

"I know, maybe I just need time off." I picked up my own chocolate mousse and shoved a spoonful in my mouth. "Oh, this is good."

"Maybe your blood sugar is low," Johnny said with a grin.

"Or maybe you need a quick hookup?" Quinn said and waggled his eyebrows.

This was what I loved. Even when the guests drove me crazy, and it was hot as hell, or when everything was going wrong. No matter what, the crew was always awesome. "Maybe," I said, making them both laugh.

"You have a whole ship full of every type of man you can imagine. Live a little," Johnny said.

I hadn't signed up to meet anyone, but hooking up with someone I'd never see again was fun, and it was exciting to see who was on that week's cruise that might be interested in the same thing. Originally, I had dreams of meeting mister right while on the cruise, but so far nothing even remotely like that had happened. "Sorry, guys, I'm not sure why I let it get to me today. Maybe you're right and I do need to blow off some steam."

"Or just blow someone off," Quinn said.

"Or just have someone blow you," Johnny said, making us laugh again.

"Maybe," I finally said and promised myself I'd relax a bit more and not let the craziness get to me. It was a cruise, and things were going to happen that I couldn't control, but I was on an island in the Caribbean surrounded by beautiful water, and lots of gorgeous men who were more than ready to mingle.

"Tomorrow we're at sea, so you know what that means," Quinn said.

"Party tonight below deck." A look passed between the three of us. A trace of excitement, and maybe a little fear for when morning came, but mostly anticipation of knowing we were going to be free do whatever the fuck we wanted for a few hours.