Part 17 (1/2)
”Meet you back at the bar,” she called over the noise.
Frankie nodded, veering right.
Evelina headed for the stairs.
Upstairs appeared to be a bar with cafe tables out on a veranda and a small polished dance floor where half naked people danced like maniacs.
She did a quick tour, but there wasn't much to investigate.
”Find anything?” Frankie said when she finally made it back downstairs.
She shook her head.
”Look at this.” He handed her a copy of one of the paper placemats from a tray at the end of the bar. ”It says the Six Doubloons was named after a s.h.i.+p.”
”Wow.”
”A Spanish frigate.” Frankie echoed what she read. ”The English captured it in the harbor by the fountain.”
”It was renamed The Coral Belle.”
”We saw that s.h.i.+p at the wharf by the fort.”
”Yes.” Evelina remembered it bobbing in the harbor. ”It's some kind of floating museum.”
”Maybe this isn't the Six Doubloons the Wave Wire was talking about.”
Evelina scanned the advertis.e.m.e.nt. ”Looks like they do fancy dinner cruises or something.”
”There's a midnight cruise.” Frankie pointed at the list. ”Tonight.”
”It leaves at eight.” Evelina glanced at her watch. ”It's ten to.” She groaned. ”c.r.a.p! We'll never make it.”
”Come on!” He grabbed her by the hand.
A s.h.i.+ver raced up her back.
Was he planning what she thought he was planning?
G.o.d! She hoped so.
Frankie yanked her around the side of the building, into the inky shadows. ”Hang on!”
Evelina raised her arms around his neck. A bubble of excitement rose in her chest as his arms slid around her waist. Her skin tingled against the warmth of his sun-kissed flesh.
They shot up into the night sky, rising higher and higher, until the Old City melted into a spray of twinkling lights.
A thrill rushed through her.
There was nothing better than this!
Flying made every molecule of her sing!
She wanted it to last forever.
But before she knew it, it was over.
They zoomed back to Earth much too fast.
The ocean came into focus, growing larger and larger, until the s.h.i.+p and the wharf materialized before them.
They landed in a gush of swirling wind.
She gave a sigh as her feet hit the ground.
It was never long enough-the heady excitement of flying. Or the feel of Frankie's arms wrapped tightly around her. It was enough to make your head spin. Gooseb.u.mps remained long after his arms fell away.
Evelina followed him down the wharf in a mixture of elation and disappointment-a familiar condition whenever Frankie Holler was near. You'd think she'd be used to it by now.
”Two tickets, please.” Frankie's voice broke into her thoughts.
”We're full up.” A helium voice replied from the crow's nest shaped booth. ”Next boat, nine a.m. sharp.”
”Are you sure?”
The tiny pirate scowled under his lemon crown of hedgehog hair. ”Of course I'm sure!”
”Couldn't you make an exception?” Frankie slipped his arm around Evelina's waist, pulling her close. ”It would mean a lot to us. It's our anniversary tonight.”
Evelina gulped down her surprise, attempting a casual smile-harder than it seemed with Frankie's cheek pressed to hers-lips inches away. ”We'd be very grateful.”
They must have appeared sincere. The pirate's frown faded to a half smile. ”What the h.e.l.l!” He handed them two tickets. ”It's on the house.”
Frankie pulled her close pressed his mouth to hers, kissing her soundly. Not a quick peck like last time, but long and deep, sending a shock snaking through her.
When the kiss ended she melted into a blissful fog. ”What did you do that for?” she whispered when she finally came to her senses.
Frankie shrugged. ”Just wanted to make it authentic.”
”We already had the tickets.”
Frankie smiled. ”Did we?”
As they headed for the gangplank the pirate called after them, ”Keep it under your hat! This ain't no charity!”
The s.h.i.+p's deck was littered with tourists. Tropical cotton prints created a carnival of color under the twinkling lights, high along the mast. Their s.h.i.+ny new sandals turned the p.o.o.p deck blinding white.
The welcoming scents of salt and sea tickled pa.s.sed Evelina's nose. She'd never tired of that smell. She drew a deep breath as they halted at the rail to watch the crew work.
In minutes, they'd pulled up the gangway and cast off.