Bekki the Beautician 10 - Cosmetics, a Cruise and a Killer Page 8
“I saw something on the news about a cruise ship, is it yours?” he asked anxiously.
“It is,” Bekki replied. “Something did happen, but it's all taken care of now. Don't worry, please?”
“How can I not?” Nick asked with even more concern in his voice.
“We're flying home today,” Bekki said quickly to reassure him. “We're fine. Well, I'm fine, Sammy has some injuries to her hands, but she will be fine.”
“What?” Nick asked with surprise. “How did that happen?”
“It's a very long story,” Bekki replied as Sammy walked up beside her. “One we'll be happy to share with you when you pick us up from the airport in a few hours.”
“I'll be there,” he promised her. “And I want to hear all about your trip. All about it.”
“I hear you,” Bekki grinned into the phone. “I won't leave out a detail.”
“Can we leave out the part about me not being able to walk back to the cabin?” Sammy pleaded as she leaned against the railing beside Bekki.
“What?” Nick said into the phone again. “Why do I get the feeling that you two should not be left unsupervised?”
“It wasn't my fault,” Bekki insisted with a light laugh. “Don't worry, Nick, I can't wait to see you. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Bekki,” he murmured into the phone before hanging up. Bekki turned to look out across the water, with Sammy right beside her. The sunrise was amazing as it stretched across the sky with a mixture of pinks, oranges, and blues.
“This is paradise,” Sammy said quietly.
“You know what, Sammy?” Bekki asked as she looked over at her friend.
“What?” Sammy asked.
“I think paradise is anywhere you are with the best friend you could ever have, and people who love you waiting to welcome you home,” Bekki smiled.
“Aw,” Sammy grinned and hugged Bekki, but then she winced. “Ugh, these hands are going to be a problem,” she huffed.
“I foresee some time at home in your future,” Bekki said in a serious tone. “With someone to take care of you.”
“Oh yeah? Like who?” Sammy asked sullenly. “You have Nick waiting to greet you, I have...well,” she shrugged a little and looked back out over the water. “I guess my luck's run out in that department.”
“Don't give up, Sammy,” Bekki said gently. “You're an amazing woman, and if Morris can't see that he's blind, and not worth a moment of your time.”
“I guess,” Sammy sighed again. They didn't have too much time to dwell on it before the ship docked. As Bekki and Sammy disembarked, with Bekki carrying their suitcases, Bekki was startled by a voice calling her name.
“Bekki! Bekki!” a tiny blonde woman shouted. Bekki recognized Andrea right away.
“Andrea! I didn't know that you'd be here,” Bekki said as she set down the suitcases to give her a quick hug.
“I just wanted to tell you in person how sorry I am for everything you went through,” Andrea explained and peered at Sammy's hands. “I don't know what I would have done if it would have been me.”
“It's okay, Andrea, really it is. The important thing is that everyone is safe,” Bekki replied.
“Well, the cruise has offered you both free trips with guests to use whenever you would like,” Andrea smiled. “And this time it won't be a working vacation.”
“Wonderful,” Bekki said happily. Sammy smiled to show her gratitude. When Andrea walked away they both looked at each other with wide eyes.
“Not a chance!” Bekki laughed and Sammy nodded.
“Yes, I think I prefer dry land,” she giggled as Bekki picked up their bags. They headed for the shuttle that was taking them to the airport.
On the flight home Bekki thought of the lengths that Carlos had gone to just to prevent himself from being caught. He had not only taken the life of one person, he had enlisted help. Peter was probably someone who never would have hurt anyone without being coerced into it. It always amazed her the lengths people would go to for money. But what surprised her even more was the lengths that Sammy went to protect her. She knew she was very lucky to have such a good friend, she just hoped that soon Sammy would realize just how special she really was. As the plane landed Bekki's excitement to see Nick again began to grow.
***
The airport was a little busy, and it was a struggle for Bekki to get both of the bags off the baggage carousel. Sammy cringed as Bekki nearly dropped one.
“I'm sorry, I wish I could help,” she said quickly.
“Oh Sammy, I'm just sorry you got hurt,” Bekki said quickly.
“Let me help you with that,” Nick murmured from beside Bekki. Bekki squealed at the sound of his voice and he snatched the bags from her hands. She planted a heavy kiss on his lips and he chuckled as he tried to keep his balance.
“Glad to see you, too,” he whispered and kissed her again.
Sammy was glancing nervously through the crowd of people, but trying to hide the fact that she was. Bekki felt a sense of disappointment for her friend, as she knew that she and Nick were putting on quite a display.
“Sammy was so brave, Nick,” Bekki said as they began walking back through the terminal. “She saved my life.”
“I think we both did a little bit of that,” Sammy pointed out humbly. Bekki could tell from the tone of her voice that she was sad that Morris hadn't been there to greet her.
“I just wish neither of you had been in that situation,” Nick said grimly as they walked towards the parking lot. “But, I am glad you had each other.”
“Me, too,” Bekki agreed. As they neared the car she caught sight of a shadowy figure beside it.
“Nick, wait,” Bekki said quickly feeling a little nervous after her encounter with Peter and Carlos on the ship. “There's someone by the car.”
“I know there is,” he replied and pulled her back towards him while allowing Sammy to walk towards the car. “Shh, it's okay,” he assured her when Bekki looked at him with alarm.
Sammy didn't notice that she was walking alone until someone stepped in front of her with a large bouquet of roses.
“Morris?” she gasped out happily. “What are you doing here?”
Morris stood nervously in front of her and held out the flowers almost as if they were his weapon.
“I'm sorry, I thought you'd want me to be here,” he said shyly.
“I did, I mean I do,” Sammy replied and she carefully accepted the flowers in her bandaged hands. “These are beautiful,” she smiled and sniffed the roses delicately. “I'm just surprised to see you.”
Morris noticed the bandages on her hands and frowned. “Do your hands hurt?” he asked.
“Not too badly, now,” Sammy replied. “In a few days they should be fine.”
“I'm sorry,” Morris sighed.
“For what?” Sammy asked.
“For not being there to protect you,” he replied and took a step closer to her. “Sammy, I didn't realize that I was hurting you,” he explained.
“Oh, you thought ignoring my calls and texts was a good thing?” Sammy asked with a touch of bitterness in her voice. “Morris the flowers are beautiful. I know that you are young and you're probably interested in playing the field, with women who are younger than me. But I'm not interested in that kind of relationship…”
“What?” Morris asked with widened eyes. “What are you talking about, Sammy?” he demanded as he met her gaze. “I'm not playing any field. Are you trying to tell me I'm too young for you?”
“No I,” Sammy frowned with confusion, “I thought that was why you weren't calling me or texting me. You canceled our last few dates,” she reminded him with a hint of animosity.
“I canceled because I took overtime,” Morris frowned. “Look Sammy, the truth is, I'm trying hard to get a promotion, I want to have more to offer you.”
“More?” Sammy asked with a mist of tears in her eyes. “Don't you understand, Morris? You offer me everything just by being with me. I d
on't need or want anything more than that.”
“Sammy, I want you to know how much I care about you,” Morris said as he took the flowers from her so that he could step closer to her. “I wanted to tell you before the cruise, but I just wasn't brave enough. Now, these past few days without you, I knew that I couldn't let another moment pass without telling you the truth. It might be too soon, it might be too rushed, but I love you Sammy, and I just wanted to make sure that I had the chance to tell you that.”
“Wait,” Sammy blinked a few times, and glanced once over at Bekki before looking back at Morris. “Could you say that again?” she asked.
“I said, I love you,” Morris blushed so brightly that Bekki could have sworn he was glowing. She turned her face into Nick's chest to keep from giggling at the sweetness of the moment.
“I love you too, Morris,” Sammy whispered in return. Morris wrapped an arm around her waist and she leaned in close to him, careful not to press her hands against him. “I'm sorry I ever doubted you.”
“Hey,” Morris said softly and kissed her forehead. “I'm sorry I ever gave you a reason to.”
When Sammy looked up at him he met her lips in a soft, slow kiss, that could have melted the pavement they were standing on. Morris dropped the flowers so he could pull her fully into his embrace, and their kiss deepened.
Bekki grinned as she laid her head lightly against Nick's and they watched Morris and Sammy continue to kiss. And, continue to kiss.
“Uh, this is getting a little awkward,” Bekki murmured to Nick. “How long do you think they're going to keep doing that?”
“I was thinking, it is getting a little horrifying,” he whispered back with a low chuckle. “But maybe the problem is, we're spending a little too much time looking at them.”
“Good point,” Bekki laughed and then flung her arms around his neck. Nick picked her easily up off the ground and drew her into a deep kiss. Bekki was sure that no matter what cruise she took, no matter what beautiful place she visited, her paradise was always going to be in the same place, wrapped up in Nick's arms.
The End
More Cozy Mysteries by Cindy Bell
Bekki the Beautician Cozy Mysteries
Hairspray and Homicide
A Dyed Blonde and a Dead Body
Mascara and Murder
Pageant and Poison
Conditioner and a Corpse
Mistletoe, Makeup and Murder
Hairpin, Hair Dryer and Homicide
Blush, a Bride and a Body
Shampoo and a Stiff
Dune House Cozy Mystery Series
Seaside Secrets
Heavenly Highland Inn Cozy Mysteries
Murdering the Roses
Dead in the Daisies
Killing the Carnations
Drowning the Daffodils
Suffocating the Sunflowers
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine