ransvestia

smile at Adelie when Romy gave me a funny look as I sat beside her for dinner. But there was little else I could do since the gilt-edged dinner cards were arranged that way about the circular table.

As it was, I found most of my time taken up by Monique, an actress, or so she said, who was seated to my left. She was just divorced and wanted to let me know how much she had suffered at the hands of men. I didn't enlighten her as to whom she was speaking, even when she became slanderous about her former, well-known, director- husband.

I caught Romy's eye as I reached for a light from one of the stewards to the after dinner cigar. Perhaps I showed just too much relief to be free from Monique's monologue for a moment, for she gave me a highly amused smile.

"You didn't take a cigar?" I asked, trying to find something to break the ice. She looked very lovely, her shoulders bare, her red hair swept softly about her neck. The evening dress was tight at the waist but loosely gathered about her bust, which showed definite cleavage.

Her expression changed to one of distance, but whether for me or for my gaucherie, I don't know. "Of course not," she snapped, picking up a glass of the excellent Anjoy with which we had been completing the meal.

I blew a thick cloud across the table. "Is this your first trip to the Adriatic?" I asked, tyring to make up a little.

"I've been to Greece, naturally," she said stiffly. "Corfu and the Aegean."

"Hey, everybody," it was Cindy, looking beautiful in a white lace gown. "We'll dance when the deck is cleared."

With six female-clad figure and only three male, I was soon pretty hard worked although Adelie and Cindy soon retired, their eyes almost glued to one another. Monique left quickly, too, and with the others pairing off, Romy and I were soon left as a couple. I held her easily in my arms and she showed no disinclination to move away, but then, we danced very well together.

When Lisa and Georges left, the last to withdraw, Lisa cast a sympathetic glance over my way, and when the music died, I steered Romy to the rail overlooking the dark water.

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