The refrigerator and pantry had been packed with food items Mint knew he liked. For the past two days, Roman had lived the life of a sea bum, and hadn’t even bothered to shave. He was enjoying being alone in his element doing nothing. He hadn’t known just how much he’d needed this time to just chill. Yesterday he’d gone to one of the restaurants to pick up his dinner and had roamed around. He noticed the locals respected his privacy. He was here for R and R. The last thing he wanted to do was talk politics. Then again, there was a chance no one had recognized him because of the beard. Whatever the reason, it was nice not to have a slew of reporters on his heels.
The boat had both upper and lower decks, as well as a main cabin. The main cabin was too luxurious for words. Covered in marble flooring, there was a spacious bedroom and a small galley, a sitting room, an eating area and a nice-size bathroom with a shower. Everything was just the right size for a crew of four, with all the amenities.
The one thing he hadn’t planned to do while he was here was watch television. He figured that he could keep up with the news on his cell phone. However, he hadn’t been able to resist the temptation to turn it on at noon to watch Victoria Madaris’s hour-long talk show.
Seeing her on the show sparked a fire within him. Not everybody looked good on camera, but she did. He thought the other two ladies looked good, as well, but his focus was on Victoria. She had a way of relaxing her guest and not making them feel intimidated, even when he figured she didn’t agree with what the person was saying.
At the end of his second full day in Catalina Cove, Roman was sitting on the upper deck of the boat, drinking a beer and looking out across the water after watching a spectacular sunset. Moments later, his attention was drawn away when he saw a woman strolling on the boardwalk beneath a cloudless evening sky.
Victoria Madaris.
Dressed comfortably for the weather in a pair of blue shorts and white tank top, it appeared she was headed to one of the restaurants lining the pier. The moment he caught sight of her, he felt his blood surge. He thought the same thing now that he’d thought when he’d watched her earlier—she was an absolutely beautiful woman. He’d been in the company of beautiful women before, but there was something about her that kept him spellbound.
He had hoped to see her that day after his interview, but hadn’t. When he’d asked the production assistant about Victoria, he’d been told she was preparing for her noonday show. He had regretted leaving without seeing that smile and dimples.
As he continued to watch her stroll along the pier, he wondered if she was involved with anyone, and figured she probably was. She was so beautiful that she had to be involved with someone, seriously or otherwise. He saw her stop to chat with several people and concluded that she was definitely the friendly type.
When she began walking again, he felt what seemed to be an awakening in the lower part of his stomach with every step she took. The very sensation unnerved him because lusting after a woman was definitely not something he had time for. He needed to rest and relax, because when he returned to the nation’s capital, he would be busier than ever.
But still...
Roman watched her walk into Lafitte Seafood House and slowly returned his gaze back to the water. Moments later, he glanced at his watch. He hadn’t eaten dinner yet and figured now was just as good a time as any to do so. And a seafood dinner sounded pretty darn good about now.
He knew the only reason he suddenly had a taste for seafood was because of that restaurant Victoria Madaris had walked into. That was fine, he thought as he stood. He would call himself all kinds of fool later. Right now, he didn’t want to be alone in his element. He wanted to share it. And with her.
It then occurred to him that she might be meeting someone for dinner. If that was the case, then he would not intrude. If it wasn’t, then today would definitely be his lucky day.
* * *
“I ENJOYED TODAY’S SHOW, Victoria.”
“Thanks,” Victoria responded to Neil Surrey, the owner of Lafitte Seafood House, as she looked around for a vacant spot. “You’re busy today.”
“Yes, we are. A lot of people are in town for the wedding of Nina Murray and Arnett Staples. They both grew up in the cove and moved away after college,” Neil explained. “Last Christmas they came back to their high school reunion and have been a couple ever since.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful.” When she saw a couple leaving their table, she said, “I think I’ll grab that table in the back, Neil.”
“Go ahead and get seated. I’ll send a busboy over to clear off the table.”
A short while later one of the busboys had cleaned off the table and a waitress handed her a menu. She liked coming here and was glad Bryce had recommended it to her when she’d first moved to town. This was one of her weekly drop-ins, and she’d gotten to know a few of the regulars.
Instead of studying the menu to see what she would eat today, her thoughts shifted to Senator Malone. Had he gotten settled in? She wondered if he was staying at Shelby by the Sea, the beautiful inn that sat on the Gulf. That would make perfect sense if he was, since he’d indicated he liked to fish.
She couldn’t help but recall how good he’d looked that day at the television station. Several of the women were still talking about his visit. She wasn’t talking about it, but she was still thinking about it. She’d even downloaded the interview to watch the entire episode and had enjoyed it. Judging by the number of calls the station had received from viewers, he’d been a favorite that day. Out of curiosity, she’d done her research and saw that he was well-liked among other politicians and his constituents.
Her thoughts shifted yet again, this time to Tanner. She’d honestly expected him to have connected with her for that rain check to dinner by now. It had been a little over a week. She knew exactly where the nightclub he was renovating was located and had been tempted to stop by to see if he was there, say hello and ask to look around.
But then she figured doing such a thing would make it seem as if she was chasing after him, when she wasn’t. If Mama Laverne was right—and there was no reason to think she wasn’t—he would eventually come around. And like Christy said, she had to be patient.
“The place is packed and there’s not a vacant table. Mind if I join you?”
Victoria looked up to find Senator Roman Malone—at least she thought it was him. Gone was the clean-shaven, suit-wearing, suave and charismatic senator of a few days ago. Standing at her table was an unshaven man dressed in jeans and sporting a Houston Astros T-shirt. If you put a bandanna on his head and a loop earring in his ear, he could pass for a pirate. Why did this man have to be so breathtaking, even when he looked like a ruffian?
She deliberately broke eye contact with him. It was either that or let him see feminine interest in her gaze. Glancing around, she noticed that even more people were there than when she’d arrived. Returning her gaze to his, she said, “Yes, of course. I was lucky to get this booth when I did.”