Neptune's Ring (16 page)

“Yes, NeNe, I was just thinking about the
future,” Levi said.

“A very promising one I hope,” NeNe said.

“Only time will tell,” Levi said, as they
walked in together and then parted ways.

Levi took inventory of the bar and called the
kitchen to deliver cans of chunked pineapple for her to use in
making Slow Grinds. She added the drink to the bar menu and saw
NeNe smile from the DJ booth. Karen entered the club on her
rollerblades with the first of the afternoon’s customers and the
busy business day began.

Levi recognized several of the passengers
from the cruise ship as they entered. They were quick to begin
ordering drinks, most often either a Slow Grind or Tropical E which
made Levi smile with pride.

As the afternoon progressed the club became
packed and then women started to filter out to go to dinner so
there was a short lull of activity between six and seven. NeNe took
the opportunity to visit Levi at the bar and said, “I am dying to
taste a Slow Grind.”

Levi mixed up the drink and poured one for
NeNe and Karen. They tasted the drink and smiled their
approvals.

“You have done it again, my friend,” NeNe
said, as she took another sip.

“These are a bit more potent than Tropical
E’s, so take it easy,” Levi warned.

“I can tell,” Karen said, as she took a sip
and spun around on her rollerblades.

They all broke out in laughter at Karen’s
antics and were still laughing when the door opened and Vanessa and
Killian walked into the club.

“I do believe we have caught them goofing off
Killian,” Vanessa teased Levi and NeNe.

“You are so right, my Captain. Do you think
we should make them swab the deck or walk the gangplank?” she asked
with a grin.

“I can think of a better punishment than
that,” NeNe said, then took Killian’s hand and walked her into the
DJ booth.

Vanessa smiled when she saw NeNe take Killian
in her arms for a slow kiss and when she turned around Levi was
standing in front of her with her arms outstretched. Vanessa
stepped into Levi’s arms and kissed her lover.

“I missed you,” Vanessa said. “Killian and I
raced through our work so we could get here faster.”

“I was very eager to see you too,” Levi said.
“It has been an eventful afternoon since our return to the
island.”

“How so,” Vanessa asked warily.

“Nat and Liz were waiting for the trolley to
arrive and I could tell Nat was about to explode with excitement.
When Cass and I stepped off the trolley, they asked to meet with us
in the office after I had showered and prepared for work,” Levi
said.

“What on earth has gotten Nat so excited?”
Vanessa asked.

“A new resort,” Levi said. “Nat plans to take
you up to the office tonight to review the business plan and the
proposal, but basically they want the five of us to create a
partnership for a new resort.”

“What do you think about her plans?” Vanessa
asked.

“I want you to form your own opinion, so I
will not say more now,” Levi teased. “There are a few things
however, you and I will need to discuss, if we decide to join Nat
and Liz,” she said.

“I am not sure I like the sound of that,”
Vanessa said.

“All good things Sweetie,” Levi said, as she
took Vanessa’s face in her hands and kissed her.

“Ahem, can I get some service over here,”
Karen said, with a chuckle.

“Sorry, Karen, I was just welcoming Vanessa
back to the island,” Levi said, with a wink.

“Well if that is the standard return
greeting, I am going on vacation,” Karen teased.

“What do you need?” Levi asked, as she walked
back behind the bar.

“Six Tropical E’s and four Slow Grinds,”
Karen said.

“You didn’t waste any time introducing those
did you?” Vanessa asked.

“Nope and they have been selling like
hotcakes,” Karen added.

Vanessa watched Levi pour the drinks and then
hand them on a tray to Karen who rolled away whistling a happy
tune.

“So, should I go seek out Liz and Nat or wait
for them here?”

“Go ahead and meet with them so when you
return you are mine for the evening,” Levi said, with a grin.

“That sounds promising,” Vanessa chuckled.
“May I have a Tropical E for the road then?”

“You surely may, my love,” Levi said, then
poured a drink for Vanessa and handed it across the bar to her.
“Hurry back to me,” she said, with a wink.

“I will be back soon,” Vanessa said then left
the bar.

Levi watched her go and began thinking about
how Vanessa would respond to Nat and Liz’s proposal. She was sure
the financial portion of the plan would not deter Vanessa, but she
was unsure whether Vanessa was ready to be grounded and not out on
the open sea. Levi did some pacing of her own in Vanessa’s
absence.

Vanessa walked inside the resort and saw Liz,
Nat and Cass just leaving the dining room. She hurried to catch up
with them as they walked toward the elevator.

“I hear there is an exciting plan being
proposed,” Vanessa said, as they turned to see her.

“I take it you have already been down to the
club,” Liz said.

“Yes, but Levi wouldn’t give me much detail,”
Vanessa said.

“Come up to the office then and we will
discuss the proposal,” Nat said.

Vanessa sat patiently at the table as Liz and
Nat explained the business plan and proposal to her. Cass was quick
to point out information they had forgotten to mention. Cass had
undoubtedly bought into the plan and was becoming excited as Liz
and Nat were over the possibilities. Vanessa asked questions about
what types of water activities would be available and what her
potential role would be if she were to agree to manage the island
with Levi. Liz told her of their plan to fly to the island on
Saturday and Vanessa readily agreed that she would go along with
them to view the property.

When Vanessa left the office her head was
swimming from so much information being shared with her. Levi was
correct in assuming they would have to discuss several points of
the plan and Vanessa was unsure herself of what her feelings were
on several of those subjects. She walked past the pool and
continued beyond the door to the club until she found her feet at
the end of the pier as her eyes gazed out across the ocean.

There was no doubt in her love for Levi, but
Vanessa had serious concerns over whether she was ready to settle
down and become a landlubber. She had spent so much of her time at
sea, that she felt off kilter when she remained on land too long.
Even though there would be many water based activities she could
supervise, giving her time out on the water, she knew it would not
be the same. She sat with her feet dangling off the end of the pier
as her eyes and heart searched for answers on the cool night
breeze.

Liz, Nat and Cass arrived at the club and
were surprised to find that Vanessa was nowhere in sight.

“Why don’t you take a break and go find that
sexy Captain of yours,” Nat said, as she stepped behind the
bar.

“I sure hope you three didn’t scare her off
the island,” Levi teased.

“I don’t think so, but we did give her a lot
to think about and you as well,” Liz said. “You both are facing
some life changing decisions if this deal works out, and some of
them may not be easy.”

“How well I know,” Levi said, then walked
from behind the bar and left the club. She stepped out into the
cool night air and breathed in the fragrance of the sea. She
followed her nose to the source of the salt air and just as she
thought, Vanessa was sitting at the end of the pier. She walked up
beside her and sat on the pier.

Levi placed her arm around Vanessa’s
shoulder. “That was a lot of information to take in all at once, I
know.”

“The plan sounds very interesting indeed,”
Vanessa said, with a note of hesitance in her voice. “I am not one
hundred percent sold on the plan, but it will not hurt to go take a
look at the property,” she added.

“Things may not work out at all, but I am
very pleased that Nat and Liz thought to include us in their future
plans,” Levi said.

“That makes me feel good too,” Vanessa
admitted. “I just don’t know,” she said, and let her words trail
off into the breeze.

“There is no pressure to decide anything
right now,” Levi said. “Wait until we see for ourselves and then we
will put our heads together and do some serious thinking. Tonight,
I just want to hold you in my arms and love you,” Levi said.

Vanessa turned to look into Levi’s eyes. “I
love you Levi,” she said sweetly.

PART THIRTEEN

Karen rolled up to the bar. “I need a dozen
Slow Grinds and two dozen Tropical E’s, please Boss,” she said.

“You need what?” Nat said.

“Slow Grinds,” Liz said.

“Ah, a new drink that Levi created while she
was on holiday,” Cass said.

“I guess I am the last to know,” Nat pouted.
“Do you have any idea what the ingredients are, Cass?” Nat
asked.

“Ingredients yes, measurements no,” Cass
said, with a chuckle. “They are mighty tasty though I might
add.”

“Fine, but I hate to tell Levi her break is
officially over,” Nat said.

“Why is that Boss?” Levi said, as she and
Vanessa walked up to the bar.

“Because you forgot to tell me that you have
a new creation and the crowd is calling for a Slow Grind and I have
no clue,” Nat said.

“I guess that could present a problem,” Levi
said, as she returned behind the bar to teach Nat how to mix a Slow
Grind.

They poured several extras then Liz and Nat
joined Cass at the bar to try out her tasty new concoction.

“Damn you are right, Cass, these are tasty,”
Nat said.

“They have quite a kick so don’t let the
smooth taste fool you,” Cass warned.

Liz had fished out a chunk of the pineapple
and popped it into her mouth and her eyes lit up when she bit into
the fruit. “Wow, you weren’t kidding about a kick,” Liz said.

“We may have to put a limit on the number of
those you can serve,” Nat teased, “or else we will have to purchase
cots for the guests who can’t make it back to their rooms after a
night of these.”

“Do you think they are too strong?” Levi
asked, now concerned.

“Heaven’s no, Levi, they are perfect,” Liz
said.

Levi smiled at Liz’s praise as she asked
Vanessa, “can I get you something to drink Sweetheart?”

“A cherry coke and something to eat, I am
starving,” Vanessa said. “Killian and I skipped dinner so we could
get here faster.”

“Do you know what you would like?” Levi
asked.

“A cheeseburger of course,” Vanessa said with
a grin.

Levi chuckled. “Do you ladies want anything
from the kitchen?” she asked Liz, Nat and Cass.

“No, I think we are all stuffed after a large
dinner,” Liz said.

“Alright, let me find out what the rest want
and I will call an order in,” Levi said.

Levi left them to go to the telephone and
call NeNe. She and Killian wanted cheeseburgers and Karen had
already said she wanted a club, NeNe informed her. Levi ended the
call and phoned the kitchen to place their orders.

When she returned to the bar where the group
was sitting she heard Vanessa ask, “Do you really think a fantasy
room would stay busy?”

Levi smiled at the conversation. “If it
didn’t work, then we could just convert it back to a luxury
suite.”

“That is true,” Liz said. “The more I think
of it, the more I like the idea though.”

“It would definitely provide a niche in the
business,” Cass admitted. “I have seen a few in my travels and they
always appeared booked well in advance, so they must be fairly
popular.”

“Is it Saturday yet?” Nat asked, as she
bounced in her seat.

“Not yet, My Dear, but it will be here soon,”
Liz said, with a smile to her lover. “I can’t remember when I have
seen you so excited.”

“When we opened Venus, I was this excited,”
Nat said.

“That’s true, I don’t think you slept at all
that week,” she teased.

“How long will we have at the island?” Cass
asked.

“We are scheduled to fly back at five,” Liz
said.

Nat saw Levi’s eyes open in surprise.

“We have already asked Susan to cover for you
Saturday,” Nat said.

“Ok then,” Levi said. “That will give me
another night with that sexy Captain of mine,” she said, with a
wink to Vanessa.

“That should give us plenty of time to survey
the property and discuss the purchase information with Cat,” Liz
said.

“This is going to be so much fun,” Levi said.
“I can’t wait to see the resort and the house. I know the
photographs don’t begin to do justice to how they really look.”

“Probably not,” Nat said. “The house by
itself and the property would be worth a small fortune, so
hopefully we can work this deal.”

“How much faith do you put in the story of
the island being haunted?” Cass asked Liz.

“I think the story is embellished to a point
as urban legend, but I can’t rule out that Van Buren is not in some
way responsible for the young woman’s disappearance. He seemed to
be quite a despicable character.”

“Would you think that there would be any
danger to staff or guests?” Cass asked.

“That, I cannot answer,” Liz said. “We will
just have to wait and see for ourselves, but from everything Cat
has told me, the events that have spooked the construction workers
were all harmless pranks and nothing that could be construed as
dangerous.”

“That’s encouraging,” Cass said. “I think we
could deal with harmless pranks and it may add some mystique to the
resort to be harmlessly haunted.”

“Very true,” Nat said, as she wiggled in her
seat.

“What I would really like to know is how are
you going to keep Nat busy tomorrow to keep her from exploding?”
Vanessa teased.