Chapter 3

NEPTUNE

I nodded to several of the guests I recognised as I made my way through the cruise ship and towards the activities desk. There probably wasn't anything new on the list from the last time I was on a Jinx cruise, but it was always fun to look, though I had every intention of skipping the dating events. I knew that was the point of the whole thing, but I just enjoyed being out at sea, and considering they were paying me to be on board in my capacity as a sea god, I didn't see the need to do more than hang about on the boat.

A familiar-looking woman with long black hair was studying the board with everything posted on it. She turned slightly and recognition clicked into place.

The woman who'd been watching me from the side of the boat while I was swimming stood in front of the board advertising swimming with dolphins. Either there was a reason she'd been watching me with such intensity, or I'd managed to inspire something in her. I'd guess the former considering how she'd spoken about watching me.

She turned, her expression changing when she saw me.

"Hello again." I gave her what I hoped was a winning smile.

"Hi," she responded in a voice that had the hint of an accent.

"Looking at dolphins, I see?" I couldn't keep the amusement out of my voice.

A brief hint of panic crossed her face. "No, I mean, yes. I was looking at swimming with dolphins."

"You should do it. I know the pod, they're very friendly."

Her mouth fell open and I could see her brain working overtime as she tried to work out precisely what I was saying. "Know them how?"

I shrugged. "I've swum with them a few times."

"Like this?" She looked me up and down, lingering a little when she got to my chest even though I was wearing a shirt. I guessed that solved that question. She'd been checking me out when she saw me just after my morning swim after all.

"I'm wearing a few too many clothes to go swimming with dolphins," I said.

"And how many clothes is right for that?" She met my gaze and I saw a hint of something in her dark eyes. They were stunningly beautiful, the kind that could easily be gotten lost in for days at a time.

My lips quirked up in a smile. "Well, if I'm on my own, then I'd likely not be wearing any clothes at all. Dolphins don't care if I'm naked."

She swallowed hard. "Maybe they do. Have you asked them?"

"Not in as many words, but they like to make their opinions known."

"So you speak dolphin?"

"When I'm a dolphin I can," I responded honestly. "When I'm in human form, I can't understand what they're saying, but I can make some good guesses from their body language."

"Mmhmm. The body language of dolphins."

"They're very expressive creatures," I told her.

"I know. My Yeh-yeh used to say that about the dolphins where he grew up."

I frowned. "Your Yeh-yeh?"

"Oh, erm..." She scrunched up her face as she searched for the right word. Or that's what I assumed she was doing. "My father's father. Sorry, I don't talk about him much in English."

"Ah, I didn't recognise the term. I'm not very familiar with...I'm sorry, where are you from?"

"From a tiny village near Shanghai, on the Yangtze River delta," she responded.

"Ah." I definitely needed to check exactly where that was on the map. I knew it was in China, but I'd never spent much time in the seas around there and didn't know exactly where it was.

"He used to tell me stories about white dolphins who lived in the Yangtze, he claimed they came from a goddess and were protectors of the water. That's why I was staring at you the other day. I guess I've always felt a draw to dolphins because of the way he used to talk about them." She cleared her throat, as if realising that she was volunteering information she hadn't intended to share. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

"You didn't," I assured her. "I'm just not used to people watching me swim. Most of the people on the cruise prefer the late night entertainment to the early mornings."

"Do you always go out there at that time?"

"Asking so you can come watch me again?" I leaned against the wall, trying not to think about how much I wouldn't mind if she did.

"What? Erm, no, I was just making small talk." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing the slight hint of a point at the top.

I looked away so she didn't think I was staring at her ears, I knew some fae who weren't comfortable sharing that part of themselves. Not that I knew for sure she was fae, but it was a good assumption given the action.

"The day doesn't feel right unless I've had an early morning swim," I said. "It's a bit of a ritual at this point."

"A bit like me not having my morning coffee," she murmured.

I chuckled. "You should try a swim, it can be much more invigorating than coffee."

"I think I'll stick to caffeine, thanks."

"Well, the offer is there. And if you want to watch me swimming again."

Surprise was written all over her face. "I thought you said it was rude to stare?"

"It's fine if you have permission."

"I'll think about it," she responded, wetting her lips and drawing my attention there, though I was fairly certain it was an unintentional gesture.

"Maybe I'll see you in the morning, then," I said.

"Maybe." She looked between me and the corridor. "I should go. It was good to see you again." She lifted her hand to wave and then disappeared away, moving surprisingly fast.

I stared after her, realising that she'd never actually signed up for swimming with dolphins like she'd wanted to. Maybe I should tell the reception desk to contact her about it.

Except that I couldn't even do that, because somehow, I'd completely forgotten to ask her name.