"Hustmyre, Charles - The Love Boat" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hustmyre Charles)

"Little over that now," William answered. "I can't believe I ran into you on a cruise."

"Me neither," Dan said, meaning it.

"What are you doing on a cruise?"

They grabbed a couple seats at the bar. The bartender was down at the other end waiting on an old couple. Dan signaled to him, then saw him nod his head. "It's a work thing," Dan said.

William wrinkled his forehead. "Work. You exploring for natural gas in the casino of a cruise ship?"

Dan forced a laugh. "No. The new boss took a bunch of us on a cruise. Calls it a working vacation. We spend a few hours a day in meetings, then the rest of the time is ours."

As the bartender walked up, Dan saw William turn his head to look at the table where Lucy was still standing. Dan looked at the bartender. "Bud." William still looking at Lucy. Dan thumped him on the arm. "What you want to drink?"

William looked back. "Bud's fine." The bartender walked away. Then William asked, "Karen with you?"

Dan shaking his head. "No wives. Boss said we couldn't get any work done."

Nodding in the general direction of Lucy, William asked, "Who's the girl?"

Dan shrugged his shoulders. "Some barfly I guess. Started hanging on me soon as I won my first hand."

"Pretty nice for a barfly."

Dan shrugged again. "Tell you the truth, I think she might be a hooker."

William looked surprised. "No."

Dan needed to change the subject. "What about you? You with anybody?" The bartender dropped off their two beers. "I got this," Dan said, then signed the chit.

As the bartender left, William answered, "I'm by myself. Just wanted to get away." He winked at Dan. "Maybe I'll find a barfly."

What the hell did that wink mean?
"You told him I was a hooker!" Lucy shouted.

Dan put a finger to his lips. "Ssshhh. Somebody will hear you."

Lucy paced around the small cabin. Dan sat on the love seat against the wall. "You think I care if people hear me." But she said it lower.

"I had to act like I didn't know you," he said. "You had your arm around me. What was I supposed to say?"

Lucy shook her head. "He's not even your neighbor anymore. You said he moved out a year ago."

"Yeah, he moved out, not his wife and kids," he said. "Karen talks to her all the time. That bastard'll spill the beans sure as I'm standing here."

"So what're you gonna do?"

Dan thought about for a minute. "We can't go out."