The Bridal Bargain Read Online Free PDF

“Hi!”
    “Hi!” she returned with smile inviting fellowship.
    “This is Hannah O’Neill,” Tony introduced. “Chris Walton, who’ll show you precisely what’s expected of the chef on Duchess over the next two days.”
    Which jerked Chris’s head back to Tony. “Do I have to? Can’t Hannah...?”
    “No.” Very firm. “You stay till the end of the week. As agreed, Chris.”
    “But Megan could show her everything.”
    “It’s your responsibility.” The grey eyes were very steely as he added. “Don’t let me down, Chris.”
    Me, too, Hannah thought on a panicky note, her nerves instantly protesting the prospect of being thrown in at the deep end without a life raft.
    “You now have a cut-off day,” Tony went on. “You can book a flight to Sydney on Friday evening. You’ll forfeit your pay and a reference if you leave before then. Understand me?”
    Chris crumpled. “Yeah, yeah. I just thought...”
    “I want a smooth changeover, Chris.”
    “Okay!” He sighed and turned back to Hannah. “Don’t get me wrong. It’s a great job. I just need to be elsewhere.”
    She nodded sympathetically. “I will appreciate your staying on to show me how to handle everything, Chris.”
    “No sweat,” he muttered, but it obviously was. The absent Johnny definitely had the screws on him.
    The others streamed into the office and having settled the departure issue with Chris, Tony proceeded to introduce her to the rest of the crew. They seemed a cheerful bunch and Hannah felt only good vibrations coming her way, no reservations about her fitting the role she’d taken on.
    She was very conscious of Tony watching, and hoped he was pleased with the quick and easy connections made and the positive mood engendered by them. In any tourist business, it was important to promote an air of friendly approachability. Keeping a happy face was second nature to Hannah and today it was very easy for her to exude happiness.
    A lovely new place to explore.
    A new job to keep her going.
    A new man who might just be Mr Right...if her heart was telling her true!
    “Hey! Great dimples!” David Hampson, the skipper remarked. He was the last one to be introduced, the senior man on the crew, and very good-looking with bright brown eyes and a charming grin which he swung from her to Tony. “I think you’ve picked us up an asset here.”
    It earned a frown. “What we need is great cooking.”
    “Granted,” David cheerfully agreed, returning a sparkling gaze to Hannah. “But give it to us served with dimples and it’ll put a fine edge on our appetites.”
    She laughed, liking his good-humoured teasing.
    “Are you ready to move now, Hannah? Got everything you need?” Tony shot at her, cutting off the laughter.
    “Yes.” She quickly picked up the plastic bag which contained her uniforms and a pile of print-outs on the Kingtripper cruises.
    “Right!” He addressed the crew. “I expect you all to look after Hannah tomorrow, without her becoming a distraction to what you should be doing. Just keep everything running smoothly. Okay?”
    They chorused assent.
    His gaze sliced to her. “Let’s go. I’ll take you to your accommodation now so you can get settled and ready for work in the morning.”
    “See you all tomorrow,” she tossed at everyone and quickly accompanied Tony out to the walkway through the shopping mall, her heart fluttering at his rush to be on the move again.
    “Where’s your luggage?” he asked.
    “This way.” She waved to the left and he was off at a stride that demanded she keep up. A glance flashed at his profile told her his mouth was grimly set again. “Thanks for your support back there,” she said tentatively, grateful for his stand with Chris.
    “I hope you’re not going to be trouble, Hannah,” he grated out.
    “Trouble?” she echoed, flustered by this negative reading which she hadn’t been expecting.
    He beetled a warning look at her. “David Hampson is married. He’s got two