CRUISE TO ROMANCE (3 page)

Jennifer rose from her chair and
headed for the stairway.  Hey, with Helga’s help, she might attract a terrific
lover.  After all, stranger things had happened.  She giggled and grabbed the
banister of the stairs.  She might as well admit it—love was in the air!

*     *    
*

Ryan followed Sheila’s surprised
look to a young woman in an aqua silk dress following the head waiter to their
table.  She had soft ash blonde shoulder length hair and enormous blue eyes
with sooty lashes.  Her cream complexion with slightly pink cheeks stirred
him.  Not to mention those killer lips that were tensed in a tentative smile. 
A feeling of anticipation curled inside him.  Maybe the evening wouldn’t be
such a bust after all.

He was still angry with Mike for
not showing up to talk to him.  Mike had avoided him all afternoon, failed to
meet him at six, and tonight acted as if nothing was wrong.  After twenty
minutes of attempting to be civil in front of the Captain, Ryan was feeling the
strain.  Mike’s look of delight at meeting the young woman didn’t help his mood
one bit, but he managed a smile and rose from his seat while the introductions
were made.  The waiter pulled out the empty chair to his left and she slipped
in next to him, a whiff of exotic perfume accompanying her.  Heaven couldn’t be
this good, he decided as thoughts of Mike faded and his senses filled with
Jennifer.

She looked a little flushed and
he could see a pulse point at her neck throbbing away.  Had she been in a rush
to get to the table on time, or maybe she was affected by his nearness?  It had
to be a reaction to him, he told himself.  Women seemed to enjoy his presence
and his attention.  Tonight he intended to enjoy hers.  “Relax,” he whispered
to her, “we haven’t ordered yet.”

Jennifer smiled and nodded,
wondering what twist of fate had them at the Captain’s table together after he
had the gall to stand her up.  Of course, he wouldn’t know that, but she did. 
Oddly, she felt rejected even though he didn’t know her.  What sort of man was
he?  Now she wished she hadn’t taken the bet.  She looked away just as the
waiter handed her a menu.  Perfect time to focus her thoughts somewhere else.

Once she decided on her choices
for dinner, she studied the dining room.  Elegant appointments gleamed in the
light cast by crystal chandeliers.  Tables were placed at discrete distances to
allow most diners the luxury of not being overheard during normal
conversations.  Waiters wore formal attire with an Italian flare to match the
ambiance of the dining room.  Paintings featuring Italian artists hung in
strategic locations, while softly lit statutes adorned small alcoves.

By the time the waiter finished
taking orders from the others, Jennifer knew how to approach the evening. 
After ordering a salad and lobster, she turned her attention to Sheila.  “Sorry
to be late, Sheila, I lost track of the time.”

Sheila smiled.  “Too bad.  I
thought that I had all of these handsome men to myself.  Looks like I will have
to share after all.”  Sheila leaned toward the Captain and whispered while Mike
and Ryan beamed.

Amazing!  How does she do it? 
They were Sheila’s for the asking, Jennifer thought with a jealous pang. 
Sheila always has the men around her loving her every word.  Jennifer frowned
as she thought back to the many times she’d seen Sheila in action.  Most
everything Sheila said was simple, no hidden meanings (if you didn’t count the
sexual overtones), no profound statements, no philosophical musings.  Finally,
it hit her.  Of course.  Every word out of her mouth was sincere and somehow
the men sensed that.  No wonder they loved having Sheila around.  Sheila
flirted, but she never, ever chased.  On top of that, Sheila was sweet.  Oh,
boy!  She could take lessons from Sheila too.  Jennifer turned to Ryan and
studied him for a moment.  No time like the present to start.

Jennifer smiled at Ryan as he
turned to her, looked directly into his eyes, and held his gaze.  She watched
quietly in awe as a flash of interest kindled within his dark depths.  A slight
flush crept over his skin and his smile broadened.  Wow!  This flirting was
heady stuff.  She might just get the hang of it with a little practice. 
Preferably with this gorgeous hunk sitting next to her.  “Sheila tells me you
are a salesman for Exercisetech.  It’s great equipment once you understand how
it works.”

“You’re familiar with
Exercisetech?”

“I owe my job to those wonderful
machines.”  Jennifer laughed as Ryan raised his eyebrows.  “I’m a columnist for
our newspaper back home.  When I was trying to find a way to distinguish my
cooking column from the rest, I came up with an idea to combine it with
exercises.  My editor explained to me that everyone exercises and that I needed
a new angle.  I started researching the Internet and found that the company you
work for not only has the most up-to-date equipment, but also designs and
programs machines for the individual customer.  Sort of a designer machine for
the affluent, if you must.  I studied the exercises and machines and began
mentioning them in each of my articles.  My column became a hit.  My editor
bought one of the individually designed machines and lost forty pounds.  Better
still, the owner lost fifty pounds and gave me a bonus.”

“I’d say your ingenuity paid
off.”  Ryan studied her intently.  She didn’t look at all like she worked out. 
She was soft and smooth with the healthy look that came from being young.  But
she didn’t have the well-defined muscles of someone who made exercise a regular
part of their weekly routine.  Dare he ask?  “How often do you work out?”

Jennifer blushed.  “I don’t,” she
answered defensively, “I don’t have time.  I have a column to write, new
recipes to discover, and two books to write.  When would I have time to
exercise?”

“Sounds like you are a very busy
woman.”  Ryan gave her a teasing look.  “I’m surprised that you have time to
cook.”

Jennifer laughed, but before she
could answer the Captain cut in.  “Sheila told us that you are writing a
cookbook on Caribbean cooking.  Perhaps you would like to meet our chef and
trade secrets?”

“Oh, that would be wonderful.  I
brought my manuscript with me, so I already have some delicious recipes that I
would be happy to share.”  Jennifer gave the Captain a wide smile.  He was a
handsome older man with a cheerful face.  He was dressed in a formal white
uniform with four gold bars and a rising sun insignia on each shoulder. 
Earlier she’d learned the Captain was born in England and lived in London with
his family when not at sea.  Amazingly, he had commanded ships on Baltic,
Pacific, Mediterranean, and South American cruises as well as Caribbean.  It
was going to be exciting to talk to such a cosmopolitan man.

“Sounds delightful.  I’ll arrange
a meeting for you,” he answered.

“I think she should cook our
dinner one night, or at least supervise some of those delicious recipes.”  Ryan
encouraged, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Jennifer gasped.  “Ryan!”

“Mm.”  The Captain looked from Ryan
to Jennifer and back again.  “Quite right, Ryan.  We have a professional at our
table.  What a nice opportunity to enjoy the best.  Would you honor us,
Jennifer?”

Good grief.  With such a
compliment, how could she refuse?  “Caribbean cooking it is,” Jennifer agreed
and felt a shudder rush through her body as Ryan grabbed and held her hand
beneath the table.  This was proving to be an exciting night.  How thrilling to
plan and supervise dinner for the Captain and her new friends.  This was her
time to shine.  Something she could do with the utmost of confidence. 
Something she could do that Sheila couldn’t.  If the way to a man’s heart was
through his stomach, and not just an old wife’s tale, she was well on her way.

“Come dancing with me after
dinner.”  The sound of Ryan’s voice close to her ear sent sparks of desire all
the way to her toes.  She nodded and smiled at Sheila who sat watching the
interplay between them.  Sheila gave her a smug look and laughed at something
Mike said to her.  From their demeanor, Jennifer knew Sheila would be with Mike
tonight.  Ryan was hers, at least for the evening.  She knew it.  She knew it
as well as her own name.  At last, a lover.  Not just any lover.  One she
picked out and conquered.  What a feeling!

*    
*    *

Dancing with Jennifer was every bit
as perfect as Ryan thought it would be.  Her full curves moved gently against
him as they danced to soft island music.  Bringing her to this deserted lounge
boarded on brilliant, he decided.   Tucked away near the library and the card
room, the secluded Golden Seahorse Lounge was the perfect hideaway for lovers. 
Quiet enough for talking, the lounge promised romance with its ambiance.  Its
small dance floor depended upon indirect lighting from ceiling to floor
aquariums filled with beautiful tropical fish and delicate seaweed and plants. 
Ryan pressed her closer and inhaled her exotic scent.  He couldn’t remember
when he’d been satisfied this way, just holding a woman.  He sighed deeply,
pressing his cheek against her hair.

Jennifer lifted her head away from
Ryan’s shoulder and marveled at the adoration on his unguarded face.  That
sultry look alone was enough to give her the courage to slip her hand up his
neck into his hair and gently guide his head down to her.  Those exciting lips
were only a breath away when she felt his body tremble.  Suddenly she had to
kiss him, to feel his lips pressed against hers, tasting her.  She stretched up
on her toes to close the distance between them.   With a soft groan, he
willingly obliged her.  His mouth was hard and demanding, sending currents of
liquid fire through her.  Suddenly, she couldn’t breathe.  Weakened by the
kiss, her knees gave way, but his arms held her tightly against him.  His mouth
left hers to nuzzle her neck, then burn a trail down her skin to her breasts. 
As she opened her eyes and gasped for breath, Ryan pulled back and smiled.

“Maybe we’ve had one margarita
too many.”

“Oh, no.  I don’t think so,” she
whispered.  While he steadied her on her feet, her mind was racing.  Please
don’t stop.  Please don’t stop.  At this moment, she was overwhelmed with
sensations.  Unfamiliar sensations.  Wonderful sensations.  What a kiss!

“It’s getting late and I have an
early business meeting.  Let me walk you back to your cabin.”  Ryan slipped his
arm around her waist and gently eased her toward the door.  He cursed himself
silently.  He almost lost all of his control right there on the dance floor. 
What was it about Jennifer that had him behaving so out of character?  She was
an attractive woman and he wanted to get to know her better.  But he needed to
slow down.  It wouldn’t do for her to think he was only interested for the
physical attraction.  That was only part of it.  She was intelligent and funny
and at the moment, just a little tipsy.

As they walked to the elevator
bank, Ryan glanced around them.  Thankfully, they were alone.  All he needed
was for Mike to see him kissing Jennifer anywhere in public and he would never
hear the end of it.  Mike would happily forget any rules applied on this trip. 
Not that Sheila hadn’t already helped him break most of them.

“Port or starboard?” he asked
when they exited the elevator on the Aloha Deck.

“Aloha 429.  That’s on the
starboard side,” she murmured in a wistful tone.  Each step toward the cabin
reminded her that her special night was coming to an end.  An end that was
disappointing.  Short of throwing herself at him, she doubted there was
anything she could do to generate that wild passion they had shared on the
dance floor.   He certainly seemed to have cooled off quickly, she thought,
while he slid the key card inside the slot on her door.

“Thank you for a lovely evening,”
she took the card from his hands and slipped inside the cabin without a
backward glance.

Ryan stood there as the door
silently closed in front of his face.  She hadn’t even said goodnight nor had
she tried to kiss him.  Could she just walk away?  Well, he couldn’t.  Without
thinking, he knocked hard on the door.  “Jennifer!”

After a few moments, the cabin
door opened.  She stood there, one hand holding the door back, the other
holding an earring.  “What is it?” she asked testily.

He stood there dumbfounded, his
mind racing as he responded to the tone in her lovely voice, and suddenly all
the pieces came together.  She was the lovely little spitfire.  The woman he
stood up.  The woman who had intrigued him and haunted his thoughts all day. 
Without thinking he touched her hair then gently moved it behind her ear.  “You
missed a spot.”

“What?”

He leaned close and whispered
softly, “I distinctly see a little bit of green mud behind your ear.”

Jennifer gasped as he pulled her
close.  As the door began to close, he pressed her against it, keeping the door
from completely closing.  His breath tickled her ear, just before his lips
captured the lobe.  “What do you think you are doing?” she asked breathlessly.

“I want a goodnight kiss.”

“Oh.”  She could scarcely breathe
as she stood, unable to move, unable to stop the trembling of her lips as she
waited in anticipation for his lips to meet hers.  Slowly he lowered his head
and gently kissed her lips.