Cobalt: A Prequel Novella (Pretty Little Mermaids Book 1)

by A.L. Knorr

He shows almost all his teeth at once. It’s a little alarming. “Nice name. Means pretty but it falls far short. Your folks should have chosen the word for gorgeous instead. Are you traveling alone, Jolie?” I narrow my eyes. “Why?” He props an elbow on my table and takes a shallow sip of his drink, watching me over the rim of his glass. “Me too. I have a stateroom on the Commodore deck.” “Good for you.” He chuckles as if I’m being coy, and tilts his glass in my direction. “Which deck are you on?” As if I would answer that, even if I had a suite. “I forget.” “That ring just for show?” he asks next, undeterred. “Show?” “You know, a prop to keep men away. You put it on when you want a wide berth, then slip it off when someone piques your interest. I’ve been watching you play with it.” He actually waggles his brows. “Deciding whether or not to take it off?” Even without the lewd facial gymnastics, there is something increasingly creepy about the way he swirls his bourbon around in his glass while staring at me. Some might find him charming, but he is getting on my nerves. “Good day, Will.”