The invitation was engraved, which of course it would be, but it was addressed to me specifically. One open invitation to the consulate staff and then this separate one for only me. I was only the U.S. vice consul in Naples, Italy. So why my own invitation? I separated it out and slipped it into my suit coat pocket as I moved toward the consul's office. Alice would not be pleased if she saw that I'd gotten a specific invitation and she, the consul, hadn't. But when I got to Alice's office, she only had eyes for me. She showed no interest in the mail at all. She was giving me those doe-eyed, swimming in semen adoring looks of hers that I hoped the rest of the staff didn't see. Her eyes were asking for more of the same of what I'd given her the previous night, rapid piston action to the depths of her writhing, moaning body on her living room carpet. Maybe tonight we'd make it as far as the bed. Or whatever she wanted. She was calling the shots.
The invitation was for the USS Chester Lenox, a U.S. Arleigh Burke–class Aegis guided missile destroyer, that would be appearing for a courtesy port call and a show of the American flag in Naples Bay in three-days' time. Per protocol there would be a cocktail party for local dignitaries on the destroyer's fantail, and, of course, I and the rest of the staff of the American consulate in Naples would be invited to that—and would be expected to show up and fawn over the local dignitaries.
Which all didn't explain the personal invitation sent only to me. I had spent my two years aboard ship in the navy, but I'd been a lowly seaman. Surely that would not be what would get me my own invitation.
The day of the cocktail reception was glorious, and I had an exhilarating feeling of the best of the days I spent in the navy cutting through the foam of the sea with a cruiser under my feet as the launch streaked its way through the yachts in the harbor and out to the U.S. destroyer hunkering majestically and malevolently in the center of the bay. I could feel the raw power and sensuality of the hulking structure of the boat and felt myself aroused. Alice must have done so as well, as she put her hand on my thigh, supposedly to steady herself in the lurching launch, but the look in her eye told me, "See that sleek vessel of power and brute force we are approaching? That is you between my legs—my own guided missile destroyer." Ah, the things we do to progress in our careers.
We were handed up to fantail of the Chester Lenox, where the party was already in full bloom in a swirl of black tuxedos, brightly colored cocktail dresses, navy whites, clinking glasses, and lilting laughter. We were guided to the reception line, me immediately behind Alice.
"Dr. Alice Worthington, U.S. consul general to Naples," a protocol officer at the captain's elbow carefully enunciated.
My attention had been diverted to admiring the sleek lines of this new class of destroyer, but all of my senses snapped right back to the reception line as the protocol officer continued.
"Dr. Worthingon. May I introduce the commanding officer of the USS Chester Lenox, Captain Theodore Sims."
I was paralyzed and speechless. The naval attaché at the consulate had to nudge me to take up my place in front of the captain as Alice moved on. She was already being asked what she would like to drink by a handsome young blond navy lieutenant, all big-toothed smiles and well-cut muscle, who was guiding her with one hand on her elbow and the other waving to a seaman with an hors d'oeurves tray balanced in his hand.
"Matthew Crenshaw, vice consul general—"
"We've already met," the captain cut in. "Mr. Crenshaw was in the navy. He's already served under me. Hello, Matt."