hard.”
I got up and walked over to her, resting my palm over her hand.
“Kat. You can’t undo this once you do it. Think about if Brady was on this trip with his buddies and not you. How would you feel if it were him wanting to…” I allowed my words to trail off, though I wondered if they’d have more impact if I actually said it.
Kat and I had always been the most emotional of the three of us. Juls wasn’t heartless but she was certainly more calloused. Kat pointed at the napkin.
“Go respond to Thor. You need this way more than I do!”
I scurried back over and reread his response. Then I wrote:
Durable and long lasting—sounds like the Energizer bunny?
It only took a minute for the waiter to come back. His response was written on a fresh napkin.
You’re wrong. The Energizer bunny keeps going and going and going. Duracell is durable and long lasting. Lucky for you, I am a combination of both.
Blood inched up my cheeks, and I downed my cocktail. Before I could write my response, the waiter delivered another napkin with a simple heart on it. What was I doing? Oh right, playing the game. I wasn’t falling for a guy on a damn cruise ship! I was simply getting laid. I took a chance and glanced over at him. He was talking to Blake—Jul’s romp. But Larissa glowered at me with such hatred, I did the only thing I knew to do and I scratched my forehead with my middle finger. Her perfect little red mouth fell open.
Have you slept with blondie? She seems pretty protective for just being pals
As I swallowed my new vodka water in a very healthy gulp, I kept my eyes on him. It was a surefire way to gauge his response and know the truth. When the waiter handed him the napkin he smiled and unfolded it. We were acting like fourth graders, but it was fun. Then his beautiful smile faded as his eyes rose to find mine zeroed in on his. His vacant stare told me my answer. I certainly couldn’t fault the man. She was beautiful. Annoying and loud as hell…but beautiful. No wonder she was protective.
“I’m going for a walk.”
“Everything ok?” Kat asked.
“Yes ma’am. Just need a quick breath of air.” I forced a smile.
“I won’t leave the table for the love of Christ,” Juls tossed out there and then rolled her eyes.
I grinned and strolled toward the exit sign. I think the deck was this way.
When the soft breeze swam over my skin, I inhaled deeply trying to calm myself and refusing to let any anxiety creep in. The boat railing was cold to the touch and soothing from the warm night air. Staring down at the black water, my ridiculous thoughts got the best of me—spiraling out of control once again. Starting with the thought of falling overboard, to being pulled beneath the boat, to being unable to breathe, to being lost at sea or worse eaten alive… I hated my mind and the thoughts that seemed to control it.
“It was a year and a half ago,” he said.
The recognizable voice spoke directly to my womanly parts against my will. I didn’t turn around.
“You owe me no explanation. It just better rationalizes it, that’s all.”
Thank God for good nasal passages because I could smell him before I saw him sidle up next to the railing beside me.
“Rationalizes what?”
“Her behavior. When you’re with someone else, she knows what she’s missing. If you were mine, I probably wouldn’t let you go either.” Damn. That didn’t come out right.
“Sam…” he whispered and desire clung to his words.
Every muscle in my body clenched up. I fought to maintain composure.
“Bermuda tomorrow,” I said, trying to navigate away from the serious conversation.
“Indeed. Are you girls doing an excursion?”
“I can’t keep them all straight. Parasailing, paragliding, snorkeling.” Every. Single. One. Made me want to vomit!
“And you don’t think Thor should tag along to protect you ladies?”
“If you’re trying to conjure up a foursome, you’re probably out of luck. Kat’s
I got up and walked over to her, resting my palm over her hand.
“Kat. You can’t undo this once you do it. Think about if Brady was on this trip with his buddies and not you. How would you feel if it were him wanting to…” I allowed my words to trail off, though I wondered if they’d have more impact if I actually said it.
Kat and I had always been the most emotional of the three of us. Juls wasn’t heartless but she was certainly more calloused. Kat pointed at the napkin.
“Go respond to Thor. You need this way more than I do!”
I scurried back over and reread his response. Then I wrote:
Durable and long lasting—sounds like the Energizer bunny?
It only took a minute for the waiter to come back. His response was written on a fresh napkin.
You’re wrong. The Energizer bunny keeps going and going and going. Duracell is durable and long lasting. Lucky for you, I am a combination of both.
Blood inched up my cheeks, and I downed my cocktail. Before I could write my response, the waiter delivered another napkin with a simple heart on it. What was I doing? Oh right, playing the game. I wasn’t falling for a guy on a damn cruise ship! I was simply getting laid. I took a chance and glanced over at him. He was talking to Blake—Jul’s romp. But Larissa glowered at me with such hatred, I did the only thing I knew to do and I scratched my forehead with my middle finger. Her perfect little red mouth fell open.
Have you slept with blondie? She seems pretty protective for just being pals
As I swallowed my new vodka water in a very healthy gulp, I kept my eyes on him. It was a surefire way to gauge his response and know the truth. When the waiter handed him the napkin he smiled and unfolded it. We were acting like fourth graders, but it was fun. Then his beautiful smile faded as his eyes rose to find mine zeroed in on his. His vacant stare told me my answer. I certainly couldn’t fault the man. She was beautiful. Annoying and loud as hell…but beautiful. No wonder she was protective.
“I’m going for a walk.”
“Everything ok?” Kat asked.
“Yes ma’am. Just need a quick breath of air.” I forced a smile.
“I won’t leave the table for the love of Christ,” Juls tossed out there and then rolled her eyes.
I grinned and strolled toward the exit sign. I think the deck was this way.
When the soft breeze swam over my skin, I inhaled deeply trying to calm myself and refusing to let any anxiety creep in. The boat railing was cold to the touch and soothing from the warm night air. Staring down at the black water, my ridiculous thoughts got the best of me—spiraling out of control once again. Starting with the thought of falling overboard, to being pulled beneath the boat, to being unable to breathe, to being lost at sea or worse eaten alive… I hated my mind and the thoughts that seemed to control it.
“It was a year and a half ago,” he said.
The recognizable voice spoke directly to my womanly parts against my will. I didn’t turn around.
“You owe me no explanation. It just better rationalizes it, that’s all.”
Thank God for good nasal passages because I could smell him before I saw him sidle up next to the railing beside me.
“Rationalizes what?”
“Her behavior. When you’re with someone else, she knows what she’s missing. If you were mine, I probably wouldn’t let you go either.” Damn. That didn’t come out right.
“Sam…” he whispered and desire clung to his words.
Every muscle in my body clenched up. I fought to maintain composure.
“Bermuda tomorrow,” I said, trying to navigate away from the serious conversation.
“Indeed. Are you girls doing an excursion?”
“I can’t keep them all straight. Parasailing, paragliding, snorkeling.” Every. Single. One. Made me want to vomit!
“And you don’t think Thor should tag along to protect you ladies?”
“If you’re trying to conjure up a foursome, you’re probably out of luck. Kat’s
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