Seduction of Steel: The Complete Series Read Online Free PDF Page B

the ship would offer her a chance for either one.  Five more months of long days and living in a room the size of a phone booth suddenly didn't look all that appealing, especially if she was likely to wind up empty handed for all of her efforts.
     
    Well, not entirely empty handed.  The job did offer a salary, if not a great one.  The paychecks weren't that great, but since she wasn't paying rent or buying food, she could save it all.  She was certainly enjoying visiting all of the tropical ports.
     
    Jessica was too busy pondering all of this to notice the handsome man who approached her table.
     
    “Excuse me, is this seat taken?”, a voice asked.
     
    She didn't answer.  She was lost in her thoughts about months of wasted time.
     
    “Is this seat taken?”, he asked again.  Jessica looked up, and there, standing in front of her, was perhaps the most handsome man she had ever seen.  He was certainly the most handsome man she'd seen since she came aboard three months ago.
     
    “Uh, no”, she answered nervously.  “Please.  Sit down.  I'm Jessica Steel.”
     
    “Nice to meet you, Jessica.  My name's Ryan Stevens.  I'm fairly new here and haven't had the chance to meet many people yet.”  Ryan sat down with his beer.  From the dark amber color of it, it wasn't an American brew.
     
    Jessica took a sip of her Cosmo and gave Ryan a quick once-over.  He looked about six feet tall, with broad shoulders and piercing, intense hazel eyes.  His thick lips looked like they were made for kissing.  He had thick, dark brown hair.  He was dressed in the standard uniform for below-deck personnel - navy blue slacks and a light blue short sleeved shirt with the name “Ryan” embroidered on it.  She could tell from his huge biceps that Ryan worked out.  A lot.
     
    Wow! This guy is ripped, she thought.  Jessica suddenly became a bit embarrassed, as she realized she was staring at him.  Worse, she probably didn't look all that appealing herself.  She was still wearing the knee-length khaki skirt and fashionably dull white blouse that constituted her official cruise line uniform.  She'd pulled her hair up into a ponytail when she got off of work, and she hadn't touched up her makeup in hours.  Here I am meeting this gorgeous man and I look like a mess, she thought to herself.
     
    “How long have you been on board?”, Ryan asked. 
     
    “I've been here three months”, Jessica replied.  “You?”
     
    “I boarded last week in St. Maarten.  I'm still learning my way around.  It's a big ship.”
     
    “American?”
     
    “Yes, born and raised in Pittsburgh.  You?”
     
    “I'm from St. Louis originally.”  Jessica played with her ponytail and thought about letting her hair down, but she didn't want to do anything that obvious.
     
    “Where do you work?”
     
    “I work in the engine room, on Deck 1.  I'm a mechanic.  How about you?”
     
    “I work at the Passenger Services desk.  Not very exciting, but I do get to meet a lot of people and I do occasionally see some sunlight.”   She chuckled at her joke, well aware that anyone who worked on Deck 1, which was well below the waterline, rarely saw the light of day, at least during working hours.
     
    “Passenger Services?  Then you obviously see more of the ship than I do.  Perhaps you can show me around the ship sometime. I have no idea where to find anything on the upper part of the ship.”
     
    He's asking for a tour?  Jessica couldn't believe her good fortune.  She also couldn't believe how good looking Ryan was.  His lips certainly looked inviting enough, and she simply couldn't get enough of those piercing hazel eyes.  She'd only known him for a few minutes, but Jessica ached to have those lips meet hers.
     
    “I'd love to give you a tour.  How about now?  There are lots of interesting things to see on the upper decks.”
     
    “Fine.  I should probably change clothes first.  Why don't we meet in the atrium in about