Aboard the Wishing Star (14 page)

"He planned ahead. He purchased it off the ship, had it wrapped and delivered. This wasn't spontaneous. This was planned."

Kara frowned. "This is crazy."

"Yes, it is."

Oh my God. Crazy out of control things happened all the time when you least expect them. Neil's death is proof of that. The trick is to always be prepared so they won't jump out at you. But how can you prepare for this?

She hadn't been prepared. No, she'd ventured out of her comfort zone to go on this cruise and now look what had happened.

"Kara?" Nate placed his arm around her shoulder and rubbed it, warming her. "Sweetheart, you're a million miles away. What are you thinking about?"

"I don't like this." She looked up into his eyes. "I'm really uncomfortable with the way Daryl has been behaving. But I have no proof he sent these and he'll just deny it."

"We're going to get to the bottom of this, sweetheart. Don't worry. I'll see to it." He opened his arms and she moved into them. His arms closed around her. "I've got you. It's going to be all right."

He rubbed her back, sending the chills away, warming her. The anticipation, which had built up all evening, fled with the discovery he hadn't sent the gift. Now she only wanted him to hold her, safe and warm within his arms. The chemistry between them that sizzled held a back seat to the comfort he offered her now, the comfort she needed.

She inhaled his scent and listened to his calm voice. There was just something about him that kept her fears at bay when he was near.

"Do you still want to go dancing?"

"Not yet."

She wanted to stay here in his arms. She wanted that safe, warm feeling she felt inside his arms. She dared not think the word forever.

"I could hold you all night, sweetheart."

*****

Nate hadn't intended on falling so hard for Kara. He hadn't intended on getting this attached to any woman. But Kara kept drawing him in and the more he knew her, the more he wanted to know her in every way.

When he held her in his arms, happiness spread through him in a way he couldn't have explained to anyone. It was foolish to feel this way. A shipboard romance could turn out like all his other relationships. Every woman he'd fallen in love with had turned out to be the wrong one, either cheating on him or leaving him when he needed her. Then he'd move on, never willing to settle for less than true love.

This beautiful, fearful woman in his arms needed his protection. The sense that she belonged in his arms, like a puzzle piece that fit, came over him every time he held her. She needed him, though she didn't ask for help. Unlike some women's needy manipulative games, this was a real need and yet she never once used it to manipulate. She was guileless and truthful. Innocent in ways few women her age were.

He'd find whoever sent those damn panties. Everything pointed to Daryl, whether she could see that or not. There was no one else it could be since she hadn't been dating anyone.

Nate inhaled her scent, enjoying every minute of holding her so near, but hating that fear made her reach for him. He didn't want her to be afraid, ever.

She wasn't the only one frightened by the chain of events. He'd never fallen so fast, hard and deep for a woman. And that made him nervous as hell.

She'd quieted. He pulled her down to sit on the bed with him and cupped the side of her face. "Better?"

She nodded and he saw the exhaustion in her face. "Yes."

"You're tired. I'll go so you can sleep."

She only nodded again but didn't speak.

He gave her a soft kiss and stood. "We both need sleep. Would you like to look around St. Thomas later?"

"Yes, I'd like that."

"Good. Sweet dreams, sweetheart. Nothing but sweet dreams for you. Call me when you wake up."

"Okay, I will."

He let himself out.

*****

After they slept, which wasn't nearly enough sleep for either of them after bringing in the New Year, Kara met Nate for a late lunch, where she nibbled at her food and pushed it around on her plate. The misunderstanding the night before had stolen her appetite. The dining room sun glinted through the windows, making her squint.

Everything seemed so bright after the late night bringing in the New Year. Through large windows on one side she saw the island of St. Thomas.

"Hung over?" Nate asked.

"No." She paused. "Well, maybe a little."

"If you're not feeling up to exploring the island, we can skip it."

"No. I want to go look through the shops."

I'll buy something cheerful for myself. Maybe something yellow.

She loved yellow. It was so cheerful.

The ships photographer snapped their picture at the end of the gangplank, as they seemed to do every time passengers disembarked onto a port of call. Later they'd try to sell them the photos in the photo galleries before dinner, but Kara had yet to go look at any of those pictures.

St. Thomas bustled with shoppers from four cruise ships docked in the harbor. Old warehouses once used by pirates to store their goods made a picturesque setting and the people wore colorful clothing as they bustled about.

"Here comes the donkey mon," called a young boy.

A man wearing dreadlocks and multicolored clothes led a donkey down the middle of the street. Kara laughed. The donkey wore large pink plastic sunglasses and a Santa hat.

The man stopped. "Pretty lady. You want de picture taken wit dees donkey mon? Five dolla."

"Yes." She nodded.

How silly. How fun.

She stood by the donkey "mon" and his donkey and motioned for Nick to join her.

"Okay." He laughed.

They smiled for the photo his young helper snapped with a Polaroid camera, then the man printed it out and she gave him five dollars, shaking her head at Nate when he tried to pay.

The rest of the afternoon they wandered through the shops. She bought a yellow sundress along with a black and yellow striped silk scarf and small dangling banana earrings. Nate bought a book on nautical adventures in the historical section of the bookstore, and Kara picked up a romance set in Scotland. Satisfied with their shopping, they headed back to the ship.

In her stateroom Kara emptied her bags onto the bed while Viv flipped through a magazine she'd picked up.

"Are you on a yellow kick or something? That scarf doesn't go with that sundress," Viv said.

"The scarf is for when I wear black to work."

"Yeah, you have all those boring bank clothes."

"Well, you don't have to worry about my boring clothes. I've decided yellow will be my signature color."

Viv rolled her eyes. "Okay, whatever. Hey, Adam bought tickets for the Kon Tiki Party Boat. It's a glass bottom boat, nothing but relaxation and rum punch. I told Adam I need rest after we had it away last night."

"Had it away?"

Viv wiggled her eyebrows. "You know."

She's at it again with the British expressions. Maybe if Viv spends more time with Adam she'll stop all that. It just sounds silly in someone who's not British.

Kara reached into her bag. "Wait till you see the photo I had taken with the 'donkey mon.'" She rummaged and pulled it out. "Look."

Viv took one look and burst out laughing. "You had your picture taken with an ass."

Kara looked at the photo. She and Nate stood beside the donkey smiling with joy and the Rasta man, smiling, his teeth white against his dark as night skin.

"Way to go, Kara," Viv handed the photo back. "You can tell people you sailed to the Caribbean and met an ass."

I didn't have to sail to an island to meet one. I'm sharing a room with one now. What is wrong with her? Why can't she be happy I'm happy?

Kara put the photo away. "I'm going out. See you later."

"Later."

She was tired of Viv and needed to get out of their tiny cabin before she blew up.

The stateroom phone rang and Viv answered. "Hello, Adam? Oh. Yes, she's here." She handed the phone to Kara. "Nate."

"Thank you." Kara took the phone. "Hello."

"Hello, sweetheart. Want to go on the Kon Tiki party boat? They've got two tickets left but I have to buy them now. The boat leaves in forty five minutes."

"Yes, I'd like that."

"You'll need to wear a swimsuit. The boat stops in a cove for swimming and volleyball. And bring a towel."

"Okay. Where do you want to meet?"

Viv went out the door without so much as a wave.

"The ticket office?"

"See you there."

Kara hung up the phone, changed, and hurried to meet him.

"Hello, sweetheart." He reached for her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Hello," she said.

He bent to give her a quick kiss, and then he pulled away and took her hand. "You ready?"

"Yes."

He squeezed her hand and they walked off the ship and down to where the tour met. Even boarding the large Kon Tiki party boat, he didn't let go of her hand for a minute.

Kara sat on the bench that ran along the side of the boat and Nate sat down beside her. Captain Muldoon welcomed everyone on board and introduced the steel band. The band played calypso music as the ship slowly sailed away from the pier and passengers lined up at the bar for drinks.

A soft breeze blew. Kara watched out of the corner of her eye how Nate's dark hair ruffled in the breeze, and he watched her with a smile.

"Hey, Kara. I missed you." His warm smile could melt an iceberg.

She smiled back at him. "I missed you too."

He stretched his arm across the back of her bench, and she caught the scent of aftershave mingled with suntan lotion.

They passed a large inflated Santa on one of the docks.

"Caribbean Santa wears sunglasses and a grass skirt," Kara said.

Nate laughed. "There were enough of those Caribbean Santas in the shops."

"Yes, there were." Almost every shop had at least one Caribbean Santa ornament. "Must be where Santa goes on vacation once Christmas is over."

As they sailed along, a crewman removed a wooden platform in the middle of the boat so passengers could see through the glass bottom. But the fish were fewer and less colorful than the ones Kara saw while snorkeling with Nate. A week ago she'd have found this excursion exciting. Now it seemed quiet and uneventful. Though after the events of yesterday that was a good thing.

"Mmm. You smell so good," Nate whispered low in her ear, sending that hum through her body again, his voice and words pouring over her, sinking in like the warm sunshine.

She closed her eyes, basking in it. "Thank you," she murmured.

The hum that started in anytime he came near or even said hello hummed inside her body. As his fingers rubbed her bare arm up and down the hum increased.

If only we could be alone on this boat or on the island. I wish he would make love to me soon, before this cruise is over and I have to go back to Ohio.

She sent the wish up and then opened her eyes again meeting his gaze.

"Hello again, day dreamer." He smiled.

"Hello again."

The boat drew up to the beach at Honeymoon Cove, and everyone stepped out onto the sand. Kara turned, taking in the scene around her. On the beach beyond the volleyball net stood a grove of trees to lounge under. Sailboats bobbed a short distance away in the beautiful, blue-green water as birds sang in the trees.

"It's like paradise," she said.

Kara spread her towel under a tree and lay down.

"Yes, it is." Nate dropped his things next to hers. "Want to join in the volleyball game?"

"No, thank you. I just want to relax." She wasn't as athletic as Viv, who'd already joined the game with Adam.

"Okay, well, I'll be over there."

She nodded closed her eyes in the warm sun. The ocean breeze blew across her body.

This is perfect. So restful.

Volleyball players shouted and Nate's voice stood out. She listened for a moment then stopped thinking as sound receded into the background until she drifted off to sleep.

Even before he said a word, Kara knew Nate stood next to her. He radiated vitality that drew her like a magnet. When she opened her eyes and glanced up, her breath caught.

From this angle he was magnificent. His stance emphasized the muscular force of his thighs and the slimness of his hips. But that was nothing compared to his powerful chest and shoulders.

He dropped down beside her. The warmth of his smile echoed in his voice. "Sure you don't want to play volleyball? They're starting another game."

She found it impossible not to return his disarming smile. "I'm sure."

His gaze roved and lazily appraised her. "Okay, but if you're going to lay out, how about if I put suntan lotion on your back. You don't want to get too much sun."

His nearness made her senses spin. Just what she needed, his hands rubbing lotion over her body, sending her into overload right here on the beach. She nodded and rolled over.

He reached for the tube and soon his warm hands glided up from the small of her back to the tops of her shoulders and down the back of her arms. He found a knot in the muscle of her shoulder blade and rubbed it out. She'd been tenser than she realized.

She exhaled into the towel as her tension eased. He turned her head to one side and then the other as he massaged her neck. His strong hands felt so good. She dug her toes down into the warm sand. Her body grew heavier and warmer. If only he'd keep rubbing. She could've gone to sleep if not for her that hum inside crying out for more, more, more.

He stopped and she opened one eye to see him as he sat back on his heels. "That's it unless you have somewhere else you'd like me to rub."

Oh, boy. Do I ever.

Her body ached for him to touch her again. Everywhere.

He waited and she had to find the words. Luxuriating in that warm, relaxed feeling he'd left her with, she rolled over.

"Mmm, that felt great. Thank you."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"I wouldn't mind you doing that again later."

"Any time sweetheart. It would be my pleasure."