The Stranger and Mrs. Adams: A Mystery-Romance Short Story

By Rod Hoisington

~ She had heard anything goes on a cruise ship -- but not this. ~
The "Morning After" can really be tough. Waking up naked next to someone you just met and having regrets isn't that unusual. But Cheryl really liked the guy and loved their exciting night together in his stateroom. It was why he wanted her dead that bothered her.
~ A fast-paced Mystery Romance short story from the author of the Sandy Reid Mystery Series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rod Hoisington
• Release date: Feb 24, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310328626

Rod Hoisington

Rod Hoisington lives in Florida where he devotes full-time to his compulsion to dig into the souls and lives of fictional characters. ONE DEADLY SISTER is the first novel in the popular Sandy Reid mystery series, followed by THE PRICE OF CANDY,SUCH WICKED FRIENDS, CHASING SUSPECT THREE, ALIVE AFTER FRIDAY and INTO THE HEAT.

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The Stranger and Mrs. Adams

A Mystery Romance Short Story

by

Rod Hoisington

ISBN 978-1-310-328626

Copyright © 2016 by Rod Hoisington All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. Thank you for respecting the rights of this author.r02u01l2021

Novels by Rod Hoisington

One Deadly Sister

The Price of Candy

Such Wicked Friends

Chasing Suspect 3

Alive After Friday

Into the Heat

Saturday Night at Jillian’s

The Stranger and Mrs. Adams

Looking for Mr. Right

On the first morning of her cruise, Cheryl Nichols strolled the deck of the Island Dancer with a steadfast smile on her face, greeting everyone and receiving smiles in return. Her bright smile remained unwavering even when no one was around to see it. She was pleased to be on board and excited about the day’s prospects. Giving herself a cruise adventure where the widespread presumption was anything goes was all very daring to think about. From what she had heard, one-night stands were the customary game on cruise ships. Being a pushover never held much appeal for her, and how could anyone do a one-night stand without being a pushover? The guy had better be special to just give it up like that. She was wondering what it was going to take for her to grab one of those one-nighters in the next five days—thinking about it was one reason for the smile on her face.

At breakfast in the Café Promenade, just off the main deck, she noticed a slightly older woman sitting alone two tables away, cursing at the fork she had dropped to the floor. As the woman stretched out to a nearby table to grab a clean fork, she fiercely kicked at the fallen fork sending it flying out of sight. Straightening up, she noticed Cheryl smiling at her. The woman immediately lowered her head and waved her hand in front of her face as though brushing away a cobweb hoping to make Cheryl disappear.

At that point, the woman became a playful challenge for Cheryl—no one was going to remain bad-tempered when an entire world of delights was beckoning. She focused intently at the woman, staring as though commanding her to look up. Soon, the woman did glance up and saw Cheryl still grinning. The woman glared with a stone-face for a moment, then relented and gave back an exaggerated, sarcastic smile.

A few minutes later, as the woman was leaving, she pushed her coffee cup away, stood and approached Cheryl, who caught the woman’s eye and smiled again.

Cheryl was ready to say Good Morning, but the woman paused at her table just long enough to say, And here I was hoping there would be no weirdos on board.

Yeah, that’s me, Cheryl quipped, assuming the woman was joking and would continue with some brief chatter. Her jaw dropped as she watched the woman turn sharply and walk away. When she realized she had just been insulted, she screwed up her face and was tempted to stick out her tongue. But she shrugged it off, muttering to herself, It takes all kinds.

She didn’t see the woman again until mid-afternoon on that day. However, that was later.

After breakfast, she immediately returned to her cabin, which was on a lower deck and consisted of two twin beds pushed together, one dresser and no ports. Pretty sparse, but she didn’t intend to spend much time there. She changed into her new swimsuit, appraised the view in the full-length door mirror and frowned. She made a face at herself, grabbed her terry cloth wrap, tote