Discovering Daisy (Little Star Cruises #2)

Chapter Four

Daisy was trying hard not to tear up as she said goodbye to Wyatt.

“I can’t thank you enough,” she said.

“There’s no need to,” he said, leaning down with his arms resting on her door, her car window rolled down so they could say goodbye. “But if you want to, you can thank me by texting and letting me know you’ve reached your destination safely. Will you press on today or stop overnight?”

She thought of telling him that she would drive on, as she didn’t have enough money for a hotel, but she didn’t want him to offer her cash.

He probably would.

Besides, six hours wasn’t too long. And they were expecting her tonight.

So, she just said, “I’m going to press on. I need to reach my destination soon and I can still get there by a little after eight.”

“Well, I won’t keep you. But take my number. I’d truly appreciate an update when you get there.”

She eagerly plucked the numbers into her phone and created a new contact.

Mmm. Did this mean she would have more encounters with the sexy farmer beyond a simple text tonight? She had his number now. That might offer a world of possibilities.

She tried not to giggle or appear too excited when he said, “And I’m heading to Florida, too. Who knows. Maybe we’ll be close. If you run into any trouble, give me a shout. I’ll come running.”

“Thank you,” she said. “For everything.”

He simply nodded and stepped back after tapping her door. “Be careful. This isn’t goodbye. See you around, Daisy.”

She waved, carefully backed out, and zipped down the road out of that small town, beyond Valdosta, and to Florida’s blue ocean waters where the Little Star cruise ship was docked, waiting for her and other passengers.

But Wyatt McCall was still on her mind.

And she suspected he would be for a long, long time.

***

Daisy reached Port Everglades just after eight that night, as she’d suspected. She was tired from the day’s events, but also excited about this opportunity.

Hedy was again strapped into the passenger seat. As Daisy parked, she said, “Are you ready? This is our big adventure!”

But she’d already had some adventure that very day. Complete with a knight in shining armor. Wyatt was still possessing her thoughts and part of her was sorry she hadn’t run into any trouble. She would have loved an excuse to see him again.

Maybe someday soon.

She stepped out of her car and looked beyond the parking lot. A beautiful, vast blue ocean started just a few yards away and stretched endlessly toward the distant horizon. Seagulls fluttered overhead, the sound of their squawking making her smile. The air was heavy and salty.

She’d finally reached the ocean.

It was beautiful just standing in that asphalt parking lot! She couldn’t imagine how beautiful it would be once she was out on that giant boat.

Before she could forget, she pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to Wyatt. Too bad he wasn’t with her, standing behind her, his arms wrapped tightly around her as they took in the view.

Maybe one day. Right now, though, she had other folks waiting for her and she needed to get to them. Apparently, they were already looking out for her arrival, because a voice said, “Daisy?”

She looked around and finally saw a handsome, mature man in a captain’s uniform approaching. With him was a woman, maybe a bit younger than him, but still older than Daisy’s twenty-three years by at least a decade.

“Yes, sir,” she said.

The man smiled politely. His dark hair was showing a hint of silver. He looked quite distinguished in the crisp white uniform. His cap was in his hands, but Daisy was sure that if he put it on, he would look even more official and debonair.

“I’m so glad you’re here. We’ve been expecting you. Did you run into any problems on the way here?”

“Just a little tire trouble, sir. But it’s fixed now.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re okay. I think you’re going to fit right in on the Little Star.”

A warm feeling spread throughout Daisy. She’d worked hard to be standing where she was right now. It felt good to have reached her goal. She wasn’t going to squander this opportunity.

“Thank you, sir,” she said.

“I suppose I should officially introduce myself. I know we’ve talked through email, and on the phone, but let’s make it official. I’m Captain Sam Reagan. This is my wife, Nelly.”

Nelly gave a little curtsey. Daisy smiled and waved. While you couldn’t tell it now—as Nelly was dressed as Daisy was in “Big” clothes—Nelly was a Little through and through. And it felt good to finally be in the company of someone else who understood, Daisy thought. Perhaps the two would become friends.

“It’s nice meeting you both,” Daisy said.

“Can we help you with your stuff?”

“Well, I have three boxes in the trunk. I’ll have to make several trips. They’re sort of heavy.”

“How about we have some of the crew come out with a cart and wheel them onto the ship,” the captain said.

“Yes, sir. That would be great.” She looked back at her car and then at him once again. “Are you sure my car will be okay here?”

“Sure. This lot is monitored by security personnel. This is long-term parking for employees of the various cruise lines that sail out of Port Everglades.”

“Do a lot of ships leave from here?”

“Quite a few,” the captain said. “Now, I bet you must be hungry. Come. Let’s get you something to eat.”

Daisy giggled with excitement, grabbed her lone bag from the car along with Hedy and took off with Captain Reagan and Nelly.

It was time to continue her grand adventure.