I looked at Stella to see her reaction, but there was none. Last night, I never told her I couldn’t make it to her room or meet her anywhere else, and she had every right to be mad. She probably thought I stood her up.
“I’m sure I can find some oil around here,” Kylie said with a giggle from behind the bar.
“That would be perfect,” Stella exclaimed. “Do that after you make my Bloody Mary.”
“Of course,” Kylie tipped her head.
I was happy to see it wasn’t O making their drinks today. Otherwise, they’d be drunk and unruly before lunch.
Making my way to the bar, I rested my arms on it and leaned toward Kylie. “I hope you have a light hand.”
Her cheeks pinked up, and she ducked her head. What was this? I’d talked to her plenty of times over the course of the season and never once had Kylie blushed around me.
“Very light. Especially this morning. While a couple of them are more laid back, there are a few of them that are a lot to handle after they’ve been drinking.”
I knew exactly who she was talking about: Zelda and Reagan. They were a handful without drinking, so I didn’t want to imagine having to deal with them drunk for the day. Especially if I couldn’t be drinking.
“They’ve been coming up with all kinds of things for you to do today.” Kylie leaned closer and dropped her voice. “Did the Captain say you were to be their manservant?”
“Not in those exact words, but yeah, we’re to do anything they want today.”
“I bet you’re hoping this weather system moves through quickly then, huh?”
She had no idea. If we were docked, I could spend time with Stella if O wasn’t trying to prevent it from happening. Now I only needed to get Stella alone for a few minutes, so I could explain to her what happened.
Kylie set two drinks on the bar. “For Reagan and Zelda. I’ll be back after I find that oil.”
“Thanks,” I said in a tone that let her know I wasn’t thankful at all. I didn’t mind the ladies having fun, but lubing me up wasn’t my idea of fun. The water pressure in our cabins wasn’t the greatest, and it would take me forever to get it off, but I’d do whatever they wanted with the hope it would bring us a bigger tip.
It wasn’t until then that I realized I was basically whoring myself out for money.
“Here’s your drink.” I handed Zelda hers first since she was the primary and then Reagan’s.
“Did Kylie go to find the oil?” Zelda asked as her green eyes took in every inch of my chest.
“Yes, she did.”
“Good, good. Can you radio for some fruit to be delivered? Things that are easily fed to others.”
“Sure,” I said with my best fake smile.
Hitting the button for my earpiece, I said. “Dean, Dean, Remy.”
“Oh, how very double-oh-seven,” Reagan purred.
Every instinct in my body told me to back away from her, but I knew if I did, it would be seen as a slight toward her. Instead, I stayed where I stood and waited for Dean to answer me back.
“Dean here,” he called.
“The guests would like some fruit.”
“Okay, I can do that.”
“And they also request that it be fruit that can be fed to others.” I held back my groan. Maybe they’d ask Scout to join in on the feeding.
“Okay,” he drew the word out. “I’ll see what I can come up with, and have fun with that,” he added with a laugh. “I’ll have someone bring it in a few minutes.”
“Thanks.” Putting on my best smile, I looked at the women. “He said it will be a few minutes. Is there anything I can do for you in the meantime?”
“Oh, I think we can think of something.” Zelda clasped her hands underneath her chin and tapped her fingernails together. “For now, why don’t you go talk to our Stella. She looks lonely over there all by herself.”
Stella was now sitting off by herself with a glass of orange juice in her tiny hands. She was holding onto it so tight, the knuckles of her fingers were white.
“Really, I’m fine.”
“I insist. Maybe Remy here can give you a foot massage.”
Oh God, would they all want foot massages?
“No feet,” Reagan yelled and tucked her feet under herself on one of the couches.
As if I wanted to touch her feet or any feet.
“Maybe we could get a couple of people on the boat to do massages. Wouldn’t that be nice? After we get back from shopping and lunch.”
“That does sound nice. Especially if we’re stuck here,” Scarlett agreed.
“It’s settled then. Kylie, can you get some masseuses to give us massages after we come back?”
I hadn’t noticed Kylie had walked in behind me. Looking over my shoulder at her, I found her standing in the doorway with a bottle of baby oil in her hands.
“Yes, I’ll have Ophelia arrange it for you.” She waved the hand with the oil in it. “Look what I found.”
“Oh, perfect, we’ll have you all oiled up in time to feed us. Please be a dear and retrieve the oil so we can watch you walk away.” Zelda bit on her bottom lip as her eyes flared.
Damn, I was nothing more than a piece of meat to these women.
Walking over to Kylie, I held my hand out for the offending oil. I was sure I had a scowl on my face as I stood before her.
“I’m sorry, Remy. You know the mantra.” She actually did look sorry, but I was also sure she’d enjoy them torturing me throughout the day as well.
“Do whatever the guests want. I know, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it,” I said for only her ears to hear but noticed Stella stiffen out of the corner of my eye. Had she heard me?
It wasn’t Stella who was a chore. In fact, she was my reward for all the bad shit that had gone down in my life and for putting up with her friends.
“Nope, just do it with a smile on your face.” Kylie patted my bare shoulder. “You know, if you guys did all your work shirtless, I bet we’d get much better tips.”
“Just as if you did all your work in skimpy bikinis,” I shot back with a big smile.
But we weren’t meant to be seen as meat while we worked, rather with a semblance of respect as the help.
“Point made. Now go get oiled up for the ladies to enjoy you better,” she cackled as she went behind the bar.
My feet felt like they were in quicksand as I made my way toward the women.
“Why don’t you start, Stella? You look like you could use a good time.” Reagan gave her a nasty smile. What the hell was wrong with that woman?
I didn’t mind having Stella’s hands on me. Since she was sitting away from the rest, it might give me the chance to try to explain to her about last night.
“Where would you like me?” I asked as I stood in front of the dark-haired beauty.
A sly smirk replaced the sullen set to her plump pink lips. “Get on your knees.”
Liking where this was going, I did as I was ordered and got down on my knees in front of Stella.
Plucking the oil out of my hands, she coated her palms before she leaned forward and placed her hands on my shoulders. Her fingers dug into the muscles a moment before she started to coat my skin while her eyes following her movements.