could. The more times she told herself that, the better she felt. And things had gotten better over the past few hours.
Her tour of the ship, with its high-tech search capabilities and equipment, raised her hopes of finding the Isabella. The Xmarks Explorer's facilities were first-rate. A STORM portable satellite terminal provided communication channels and data-exchange means and Internet access. She'd be able to keep in constant touch with the investors and the museum.
The crew was larger than she'd expected. One group dealt with the ship's operation and the other handled the search. She sighed at the thought of working with the bawdy crew of search-and-salvage "specialists" and eating meals with them.
As dinnertime rolled around, Kayla wasn't sure what to think. She sat alone at a small round table in the ship's dining room. Ben was the only one who didn't seem to be watching her eat, and that suited Kayla fine. If only she could stop noticing him, too. Despite his less-than-stellar personality, she liked seeing him interact with his daughter. And scowl or not, he was easy on the eyes.
Just like tonight's dinner was easy on Kayla's stomach. She leaned back in her chair and smiled. Stevie, a two-hundred-and-fifty-pound towering giant from Minneapolis, had cooked lasagna. Although, cooked didn't do justice to the delicious melted-cheese-and-veggie concoction that she might expect to be served at her favorite Italian restaurant back home in Portland, Oregon, rather than on a salvage ship in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Stevie carried a tray of sourdough slices. The aroma alone added calories. "More bread, Kayla?"
"No, thanks. I must have eaten half a loaf already. Did you make the bread from scratch?"
He nodded. "I use a starter my grammy gave me seven years ago. Sure you don't want another slice?"
"Maybe one more." As she took a piece, Stevie grinned, showing the gap between his front teeth.
"Yo, Cookie." A short, stocky man with reddish hair strutted up. "More bread over here."
She noticed Madison watching the interaction. This was none of Kayla's business, but the little girl was only three and very impressionable. She had to say something.
"Excuse me, but I forgot your name," Kayla said to the man.
"I'm Fitz." His green eyes danced. "Want to get to know me better? Say in the horizontal position?"
Stevie stared at his tray of bread.
"Thanks, but I'll pass." Kayla pasted on a smile and lowered her voice. "Right now I'm more concerned about Madison, who's listening to everything you say. Good manners are important, especially in front of a three-year-old."
Fitz's face reddened to match his curly hair. "Damn, I forgot about the kiddo."
Staring at the floor, Fitz shuffled back to his table.
Time would tell if he'd learned his lesson. Kayla fin-ished a bite of bread. She'd died and gone to bread-lover's paradise. "Do you always cook like this?"
"Nah, I mean, no." Stevie said. "This is one of my lighter meals."
She'd have to pay attention to her eating habits on hoard. Food tended to go straight to her hips.
'I set out a pan of brownies if you're interested."
"Are doubloons gold?" Kayla joked. "I love brownies. I love anything chocolate."
"Chocolate is as necessary as oxygen and water," Stevie said. "I bake this amazing triple-layer devil's food cake with fudge icing."
"Okay, you're my new best friend." Kayla winked. "But I'm going to have to start working out or my appetite and your awesome cooking are going to get the best of me."
Stevie's smile widened. "A woman after my own heart."
"Why don't you take your heart and get back to work?" Ben said.
"Sure thing, boss." Stevie headed to another table.
Kayla looked up. Ben towered over her. His harsh gaze made her self-conscious. Still, she smiled. "Stevie seems nice."
Ben frowned. "Don't flirt with the crew."
Flirt? The idea was ludicrous. She rarely had time to date let alone perfect the art of flirting. Her life revolved around two things:
David Drake, S.M. Stirling
Sarah Fine and Walter Jury