Читать книгу Waves of Passion - Linda Hudson-Smith - Страница 10

Chapter 3

Gabrielle had dressed very carefully for the evening. She wore a curve-hugging navy dress and strappy sandals. Her hair hung loose again, but this time she pinned one side back with a decorative pin. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror inside Cameron’s suite, but she was more focused on how he looked.

It was always hard for her to keep her eyes off him. He looked amazing in a pair of Calvin Klein jeans. The short-sleeved black polo shirt he wore was trimmed in white on the sleeves and collar and fitted to a tee his broad chest and ironclad muscles. On his feet he wore a pair of casual leather sandals in black.

The furnishings in his suite were very different from hers. Not only was the room much larger, Gabrielle considered his quarters to be more plush. As he was the commander, she understood why his accommodations were well above standard.

Cameron opened a bottle of red wine and set it on the beautifully decorated table. Besides the Wedgwood place settings and crystal stemware, colorful silk flowers nested in a wicker basket. Several unscented votive candles burned in frosted, square-shaped holders. Soft music drifted from overhead speakers. She couldn’t help but be affected by the cozy, romantic atmosphere he had created.

Right after he’d entered his cabin from a hard day’s work, Cameron had called guest services, which handled all special requests from employees who held key positions. Crewmembers in high profile positions received special treatment.

Cameron had placed an order for a couple of different pasta entrées, along with fresh garden salads and a variety of hot dinner rolls. It was just a matter of minutes before delivery time.

Gabrielle looked impressed with his skills. “The table looks lovely. I love the silk flower centerpiece and the votive candles.”

“Thank you. My mother made the centerpiece. She’s very creative with her hands and loves dabbling in arts and crafts. She and my father indulge in lots of fun classes and outings, and they also sign up for group trips for seniors.”

“Mrs. Quinn knows her stuff when it comes to arranging flowers. It’s good for couples to take creative classes together and socialize with folks they have something in common with. It tends to spice up the marriage. I remember when my mom and dad enrolled in Pilates at a local spa.”

There was a knock on the door, and Cameron excused himself.

As he scurried across the room, Gabrielle trained her eyes on his fine physique, wondering what it’d be like to be wrapped up in his strong arms. Just imagining herself in his arms had her gulping hard.

Cameron opened the door and warmly greeted the waiter. He then stepped aside to allow him to push through the doorway a table with two trays on it and an array of other items.

The waiter busied himself setting out the food, including desserts, which consisted of thick wedges of chocolate cake with double fudge icing and two slices of baked apple pie. Once the waiter transferred everything to Cameron’s table, he wished the couple a good evening and rapidly departed.

Cameron pulled out a chair for Gabrielle, which was to the left of the head of the table. “Let’s eat while everything is piping hot.” He smiled knowingly, hoping she’d approve of another surprise he’d arranged for her.

Gabrielle sniffed the air, appreciating the delicious smell. “I’m all for that.”

For the first few minutes the couple ate in silence, each savoring the delicious taste of spaghetti simmered in marinara sauce, mixed with thin slices of zucchini and asparagus cuts. Each entrée had been cooked to perfection.

Gabrielle lifted her head and looked at Cameron. “This is the best pasta I’ve ever eaten. The marinara sauce is divine. I can’t believe it comes from room service.”

Cameron grinned. “I made a special request to guest services, which is a different department. Have you read up on all the amenities available to you?”

Gabrielle shook her head. “Not really. There’s so much stuff to read and very little time to get it done. Can you share some of what you know?”

“I’d love to,” he said. “There are some wonderful amenities, such as free spa treatments and membership in the athletic club. As doctors, we get many special entitlements, but they vary depending on the status of your position. Since I’m a medical commander, my civilian ranking is higher than that of a staff physician. And your position as a senior physician is also higher than a staff physician, but not quite the same as mine. But the ranking is mostly based on work experience.”

Gabrielle laughed. “I’d better get back to reading my manuals. The way these standings are handled can create a bit of controversy. Holding one position in higher esteem than another doesn’t seem fair.”

Cameron shrugged. “I don’t make the policies, Gabrielle. I merely use the ones most beneficial to me. After you’re on staff for a while, you’ll understand the method to the madness. Let’s face it, our jobs require more out of us than most.”

“I can agree with that,” she conceded.

“We sure as hell worked hard enough to get where we are. Just try to enjoy the perks you’ve earned. Practicing medicine can also be a thankless job. Some patients have no compunction about giving us hell.”

She shrugged. “Maybe I’m a little too defensive.”

Gabrielle continued eating, but she couldn’t stop thinking about what he’d said. It seemed hypocritical to pit employees against each other based on professions.

With his eyes riveted on Gabrielle, Cameron took a sip of wine, which wouldn’t have much effect on him, since he was already intoxicated by the beauty of the woman seated at his table. “You’ll have a few hours free when we dock in Nassau. Do you plan to get off the ship?”

She lifted an eyebrow. “I sure hope to. I’ve read brochures on the ports we’ll make and I’d like to check them out. Are you going ashore?”

Cameron relaxed back in his seat. “It depends on what’s happening in the clinic at the time. There are a lot of great shops close to the dock, so I normally run around the area and pick up whatever I need during lunch. I’ve already explored the Parisian Paradise’s ports of call.”

Her eyes widened with excitement. “I bet they’re fascinating! I want to see the white beaches and sorbet-colored buildings I read about. And I’d love to sample the local food.”

“Good choices. If I can swap a couple of hours with someone else, I’ll show you around. We’ll hire a cab because we won’t have time for full tours. If I get the opportunity to go ashore, we can’t go too far afield.”

“Understood.” She giggled. “I’m excited. I just might have my own personal tour guide, the amazing Dr. Cameron Quinn. Can it get any better than this?”

Cameron laughed at her teasing remarks. “Go ahead and have your fun at my expense. I have pretty thick skin, Dr. Grinage.” He liked seeing her enjoying herself.

When Gabrielle had giggled like a schoolgirl, he’d found it enchanting. Her sparkling personality made him wish he could spend more time in her company. If spending time with her wasn’t so dangerous… He purposely killed further thoughts. He simply couldn’t afford to indulge in fantasies. Having her invading his dreams was bad enough.

* * *

As soon as dinner was finished, Cameron got to his feet. “Why don’t you have a seat on the sofa? I’ll clear the table then join you. We can eat our dessert whenever you’re ready.”

Gabrielle nodded. “That’s fine with me.” She pushed her chair back and got up. Helping him clear the table crossed her mind, but she thought better of it. He hadn’t asked for assistance.

Instead of taking a seat, Gabrielle walked over to the balcony door and just stood there, peering out into the darkness. The only thing that could be seen was the brilliant show of lights in the sky. As she thought about the length of time she’d be away from home, she realized how much she would miss her family.

Five months was a long time not to see her loved ones, but being away would be longer and lonelier without a significant other. After Jordan, she hadn’t dated seriously. Although she was a survivor and quickly adapted to new circumstances, she hated loneliness.

Gabrielle gave thought to Cameron’s balcony right next to hers. The solid wall between the two spaces kept prying eyes at bay, but she wondered how he’d react if he somehow saw her sunning in the nude. The balconies were private enough to accommodate nude sunbathing, and her body loved to drink in the sun.

Cameron walked up behind her but kept a fair amount of space between them. “What are you thinking?”

Gabrielle decided to shock him with the truth. “How much I love to sunbathe naked.”

“Me, too.” He swallowed hard, fighting off an image of her naked body. “I like feeling the sun on my body, but I’m careful not to overdo it.”

“The sun feels awesome, though.” She felt hot color rise in her cheeks, relieved that she wasn’t facing him. Her expression would’ve shown her embarrassment even though she was the one who’d picked the intimate topic.

“I guess I can take that to mean you indulge in sunbathing in your birthday suit?”

“You guessed right.” She tossed her head back and looked up at him.

Cameron inched his way a little closer to her. He would have liked nothing better than to wrap his arms around her from behind and rest his chin atop her head. Catching a whiff of her scent, he inhaled deeply. She smelled like the sweet, exhilarating perfume from gardenia blossoms.

To keep from backing up into him and guiding his arms around her waist, she moved away and sat down on the sofa. The strong chemistry between them felt almost flammable. As sweat formed between Gabrielle’s breasts, she became hot and bothered. A cold shower would do nothing to calm the singeing heat she felt.

If he touched her, she knew her body would melt from the fiery contact. As he’d pointed out things to her in the clinic, she’d noticed his hands. He had long, lean fingers—and she was positive they knew their way around a woman’s body.

Cameron took a seat on the sofa, but he again didn’t get too close. Fighting his physical desire for Gabrielle was more than a battle. She had more sex appeal than any one woman should lay claim to. Keeping his distance was the only way to counter his strong desire for her. “Are you missing your family?”

Gabrielle pursed her lips. “Of course I do, but not to the point of misery. My family has always lived in the same city, but I’ve been away from home plenty of times.”

“Mom and Dad wish I’d put down roots in one place. They hope I’ll return to Houston for good, but I haven’t been able to promise that. I’m like a nomad. I love to wander to distant places and foreign lands.”

Gabrielle sighed. “Your bio said that you love world travel. I’ll eventually go back to Galveston and practice medicine in the same communities my parents once worked in.”

“What does your boyfriend think of you taking a medical post on a cruise ship?”

“He doesn’t.” Gabrielle hoped he didn’t delve any deeper into the subject of a boyfriend; she was content to just leave it at that. She had no desire to talk about the nonexistence of a man in her life. Discussing her previous relationships would no doubt evoke some degree of pain.

Gabrielle could tell by Cameron’s expression that her reluctance to talk about her love life hadn’t been lost on him. Thinking it was best for her to go, she stood. She didn’t want things to get too personal. Leaving was a good way to avoid it.

Cameron’s on-call cell phone rang and he rapidly removed it from his belt. “Dr. Quinn.”

To give him privacy, Gabrielle got up and wandered back to the balcony door.

“Cabin 1063, right away,” he assured the caller, his brow furrowed with concern.

He put his phone away and walked over to her. “Gabrielle, there’s an emergency. Chest pains. I need you to assist me. Please get the crash cart and portable EKG machine from the clinic and meet me in cabin 1063, tenth deck, starboard side. Bring supplies for blood and urine samples and also bring several nitroglycerine tabs.”

“Right away,” Gabrielle responded.

Glad she had transferred the clinic keys to her evening purse, Gabrielle rushed from Cameron’s cabin and headed for the elevators. This was her first shipboard emergency and she hoped it’d go well.

* * *

Gabrielle arrived at cabin 1063 in mere minutes. As a precautionary measure, the first thing Cameron had the patient do was place a nitroglycerine tablet under his tongue. For the third time, he put his stethoscope to the passenger’s bare chest and listened intently to his heart. He then rechecked his lungs. Both organs sounded distress free.

Gabrielle administered the EKG. Once the test was completed, Cameron read the results.

“Mr. Gates, what did you have for dinner?” Cameron asked. The man’s heart was healthy and Cameron had determined it wasn’t responsible for his chest discomfort.

The older man rattled off what he’d eaten in the dining room. Without any prompting from Cameron, he went on to say what he’d had for breakfast, lunch and snacks.

“I’m not a spring chicken, but I live an extremely active lifestyle. Overeating at every meal is pretty much the norm for me. I’m a big guy with a voracious appetite,” Mr. Gates said.

Mrs. Gates hadn’t said a word since she’d said hello at the door. Cameron noticed how pinched her face looked. She appeared worried, anxious and tired. He wished he could reassure her about her husband’s health, but he couldn’t, not until he had final results.

Cameron frowned. “Your fatty diet tells me a lot, sir. This problem may very well be a bad case of indigestion, but we can’t be certain. Gastritis can produce severe chest pains, mimicking signs of a heart attack. I’d like to take blood and urine samples to complete testing. We must err on the side of caution. Think you can give us a urine sample?”

Mr. Gates shrugged. “I can.”

Gabrielle stepped forth and handed him a plastic bag with a sample urine kit. “We’ll draw your blood when you return.”

Mr. Gates looked closely at Gabrielle. “You look mighty young. In fact, you both do. But I hear that young doctors are up on the latest in medical research, so I don’t mind.”

Cameron and Gabrielle smiled with understanding. They knew that young doctors were often questioned and challenged by older patients. Some elderly people preferred a well-seasoned physician, the older the better. Nevertheless, Cameron and Gabrielle were relieved that this patient felt comfortable.