CRUISE TO ROMANCE (5 page)

“I don’t understand.”

“You will, Jenn.  You will.”

*    
*     *

Chef Mario Ruscelli was having a
bad day.  It was evident from the very first moment that Jennifer saw the man. 
The chef appeared to be a pompous man, full of his own self-importance, prone
to ranting and raving.  Cooking in his galley would be challenging to say the
least!  Especially when he constantly talked to some invisible force, as if she
wasn’t present.

“How dare the Captain expect me
to entertain some young dilettante in my galley?” he asked without expecting
her to answer.  “Ah—the arrogance of the English!  Why must I suffer this woman
while she cooks a Caribbean dinner for the Captain’s table?  After all, I am
only
Commendatore
Mario Ruscelli, the Corporate Executive Chef.”

“Chef Ruscelli, I assure you, I
will not cause you any problems.  The Captain asked me to plan and prepare the
meal.  Surely, you don’t mind.”  Jennifer tried to calm the chef, hoping that
he would see reason.

“
Signora
.  Lady. You do
not understand.  Elegant Italian cooking is the hallmark for dining aboard this
ship.  I supervise and take great pride in the fabulous Italian meals prepared
and served in all the dining rooms.  The last thing I need is to waste my
precious creative time and energy with a mere amateur.”

“Chef Ruscelli, I am no amateur.  Not
only am I an excellent chef, I am also a columnist.  I write a cooking column
for a newspaper in Ft. Lauderdale.  I also am writing two cookbooks.  That’s
why I’m on this cruise.  One of the books is on Caribbean cooking.”

“Caribbean cooking?  How utterly
shocking to the palate—all that salt and pepper and vinegar.  Not even balsamic
vinegar at that!  What could the Captain be thinking?  If I don’t object, this
little episode could turn into a regular occurrence on every cruise. 
Dio!
 
Not if I can help it.”

Jennifer waited patiently, trying
not to lose her temper.  For the life of her, she couldn’t figure out just what
he was so upset about.  Was it that she was a female chef, or was it the Caribbean
cooking?

“Perhaps I will agree to let you
use my kitchen.  Perhaps if this meal is a disaster, I will be able to breathe
easy and the Captain will not dream up any more foolishness!  However, I must
think on this.”

Jennifer bristled.  “Chef
Ruscelli, the meal will not be a disaster.”

Chef Ruscelli again ignored her. 
“In the meantime, I have no choice but to issue an invitation to you to use my
galley, and, of course, be charming.  Not that charming a woman is a problem. 
Charm is synonymous with being an Italian male—of that I am extremely
positive.”

“Oh, pul-leeze.”  Jennifer shook
her head in total disbelief.  “I only want to prepare a nice Caribbean meal for
the Captain and my friends.  Surely you can’t object to that.”

Chef
Commendatore
Mario
Ruscelli, frowned and walked away muttering.  “I can only hope she is no good. 
After all, rumors will fly if the amateur’s dinner is successful.  Caribbean
cooking.  Oh, no.  No, no, no. 
Mama Mia
, my reputation will be ruined
faster than I can say ‘
Buon appetito!
’”

*    
*     *

Helga Swensen was teed off but good. 
Jennifer knew—even though Helga was trying not to criticize the Captain. 
According to Helga, the Captain had made it abundantly clear that she must
incorporate the marketing of the new gym equipment into her spa treatments and
routine.  It wasn’t that Helga had anything against exercise, but her spa was
known for its relaxation and peace.

Lying on the massage table,
Jennifer listened while Helga massaged her tense back.  After her encounter
with the arrogant chef, she needed to relax.  Listening to Helga reminded her
that she wasn’t the only one finding situations aboard ship stressful.

“Oh, Jenny, I shudder to think of
my future consultations when I have to include, ugh, the suggestion to exercise
on high-tech exercise equipment.  Exercise is so, well, sweaty, for one thing. 
Smelly, for another.”

“That is so true,” Jennifer
agreed.

“Then too, just as there is a
separation between church and state, so should there be a separation between
the spa and exercise equipment.  Exercise is good for toning muscles and
building physical strength.  The spa is good for relaxing and building inner
strength.  The services that I provide:  massage, aromatherapy, hydrotherapy,
body care, facial care, all promote internal balance and help to normalize the
body’s functions.  Like oil and vinegar, exercise equipment and spa therapy
should not be combined.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more,”
Jennifer added.  “I came here to relax, not to wear myself out on an exercise
machine.”

“Then, of course, there are those
men with their hard bodies and especially hard whatever.  I am already having
difficulty sparring with them and keeping their advances in check with a smile
on my face.  Men can be so, well, difficult.  These Exercisetech men need
lessons in romance, or better still, lessons in turning down the testosterone. 
They are about to descend upon some of my unsuspecting customers with those
heaving chests and bulking arms.  How much can some of these poor women take
before throwing themselves at the men?  Most of them have never even seen a man
built like these young gods.  Ryan Treymont can just take his exercise
equipment and his perfect six pack and leave me alone to ply my trade.”

“Did Ryan make a pass at you?” 
Jennifer could feel her back start to tighten again.

“Oh, no.  It’s just that my
customers look to me for advice on self-improvement, not just physical, but
emotional.  The hard truth is that most of these women will never see an
exercise machine again, but they will visit spas for life.  Forcing them to
sweat over an exercise machine, no matter how intelligently designed, could
only hurt their delicate self-esteem.”

“Did I come at a bad time?” 
Jennifer asked, wishing there was something she could say.  It worried her to
see Helga looking so troubled.

“Jenny!”  Helga’s face
brightened.  “Of course not.  You are always welcome.  Come.  Take a shower and
dress.  I have the clerk at the boutique holding some outfits that I picked out
earlier for you to try on.”

“Are you sure?”  Even the
excitement of new clothes couldn’t compete with the feeling that Helga needed
to be alone to think things through.

“I’m sure.”  Helga sighed. 
“Please.  I shouldn’t have talked so much.  Truthfully, I am perplexed.  I am
going to have to try out the new gym equipment and I’m not sure that I want to
do it alone.  Perhaps it would be best if I took someone with me.”

Jennifer wondered at the
comment.  It sounded as if some of the salesmen might be hitting on her.  Maybe
even Ryan, even though she’d denied it.  “You might take a small class of women
with you.”

“What a good idea.  Would you
care to join us?”  Helga asked.

“Sure.  There’s safety in
numbers.”  At Helga’s quick glance, Jennifer added, “I don’t want to look
foolish all by myself on those computerized machines.”

“Sounds like a plan.  We’ll do
it.”  Helga smiled and handed Jennifer a bath towel.  “I’ll be waiting for you
at the reception desk.”

Jennifer showered quickly and
dressed.  She and Helga headed for the shopping mall, but it wasn’t until they
entered the ship’s central atrium, that Jennifer was able to dismiss her
suspicions that Ryan was trying to catch Helga’s interest.  Once inside the
three-story-high atrium, all her distressing thoughts disappeared.  Grandiose
spiral staircases linked each deck.  Glass elevators graced one side of the
atrium, allowing passengers to view the ocean on one side and the atrium on the
other.  Chic boutiques with open French doors lined one side of the atrium’s
shopping mall.

Helga led Jennifer to the
entrance to a small shop and paused.  “Now is the time for you to shed your
worries and think only about romance.  I promise you will love the clothes
here.  They are made for love.”

“I am so ready!”  Jennifer
crooned.  If the dress in the window was representative of the clothes inside,
she had just reached the gates of heaven.  It was a slinky little black sheath,
backless, with spaghetti straps of rhinestones, and a cutout midriff outlined
in rhinestones.  Jennifer sighed.  Oh, to be thin!

Helga smiled and pushed her
gently into the store.

Two short sets, three capri
outfits, two calypso dresses, one formal gown, two bathing suits, one tankini
and one cover-up later, Jennifer and Helga walked out of the boutique
laughing.  Jennifer felt empowered.  She was coming into her own.  Helga made
her realize that she was selling herself short.  She really was pretty, and
funny, and worthy of love.  Instead of hiding from adventure, she was going to
grab it head-on.

“That is some bet you made with
Sheila,” Helga laughed.  “I think that it is a very short time before you have Ryan
Treymont in your bed.”

“Really?”  Jennifer certainly
didn’t think so.

“Oh, yes.  Oh, yes!”  Helga
laughed again.  “My but you are innocent.  What has Sheila done to lure this
man to her?”

“Nothing that I know of.  But
then, this is only the second day of the cruise.”

Helga gave her a thoughtful
look.  “Ryan Tremont is a successful businessman.  It doesn’t hurt that he is
also gorgeous.  I suspect that few women are immune to his spell.  Mike follows
closely in his footsteps.  Perhaps his brother has turned her head.  Maybe
Sheila can be content with Mike.”

“You know Mike?” Jennifer asked.

Helga stiffened.  “Ah, yes.  I
have met magnificent Mike.”

Jennifer laughed at the
nickname.  “It fits, doesn’t it?”

“More than you realize, my friend. 
His arrogance and charm with women will be legendary, I’m sure.  But enough of
these creatures.  You are looking more and more lovely.  I am very proud of how
well your makeover has turned out.”

“It has, hasn’t it?  Thank you,
Helga,” Jennifer smiled.  “You are truly a friend.”

“You are most welcome.”  Helga
smiled back and held out her hand.  “I will see you tomorrow, then.  For the
exercise class?”

“Yes.”  Jennifer answered, gently
grasping Helga’s hand.

Helga waited while Jennifer
opened her cabin door.  “I will try to set the time for two in the afternoon. 
I will leave a message for you.”   Handing Jennifer the clothes she helped
carry, Helga turned and walked down the corridor toward the stairs.

As Jennifer hung her new clothes
in the closet, she reflected on her conversation with Helga.  At first, working
on a cruise ship had seemed exciting to Jennifer, but she could see how
terribly lonely Helga was.  What a shame.  Apparently, Helga enjoyed the
voyages or she would have quit.  What would happen now that her carefully
structured world was being invaded by exercise equipment?  Would Helga leave? 
Jennifer made a mental note to invite Helga to visit and stay with her for a
while if she ever needed to.

After slipping into one of her
new bathing suits, Jennifer brushed her hair back and fashioned a pony tail
with a pink silk flower.  She needed to get away for a while and think about
everything that had happened.  At the moment she didn’t feel like staying in
the cabin.  The balcony was too private.  Craving laughter and the company of
happy people, she headed for the open pool instead of the solarium.  With luck,
the poolside bar and grill would still be serving a light lunch.

When she reached the Lido deck
with its two pools Jennifer realized it would be a miracle if she found an
empty lounge.  Everyone seemed to be out and about, enjoying the sun and the
pools.  The smell of chlorine and suntan lotion mingled with the scent of fresh
baked pizza and hot dogs.  Then from a distance, she saw Sheila waving to her. 
As she approached, she saw that Mike sprawled on the chaise lounge to Sheila’s
left.  The lounge to her right was empty.  Way to go!  She had a place to park
in this sea of sun worshipers.  “Hi.”  Jennifer called. “Have you had lunch
yet?”

“No.” Mike smiled.  “Sheila
thought you might show up.  Today’s specialty pizza is three cheese with
pineapple, mango, papaya and coconut.  Interested?”

“Definitely!  A couple of slices
and a diet Coke.”

Mike jumped up, winked at Sheila,
and headed for the grill.

Sheila patted the lounge to her
right.  “Glad you could make it.  Feeling better?”

“Much.  Thanks for being such a
good friend.”  Jennifer sat down before leaning over carefully to her friend. 
“Helga helped me pick out some clothes this morning.  Wait ‘til you see them. 
They’re beautiful.”

Sheila smiled.  “I’m really
impressed with the makeover.  You’re turning into a real heartbreaker,
guaranteed to attract every man on the ship.”

“Well, I’m trying,” Jennifer
laughed.  “I don’t have a man yet, but I think that I’m finally getting the
hang of it.”

“I thought that you and Ryan were
an item,” Sheila replied, leaving a question hanging between them.