Finding Justus (3 page)

“Really? You used to, huh? Well, I knew it when I saw you; something told me you’d be an excellent partner.” She smiled at him and naughtily wondered what type of “partner” he was referring to.

“I like to dance at nightclubs, too. Did you know there’s one here on the ship? You should go, and come out of retirement for me, and we could show everyone how it’s done.” He gave her a dazzling smile.

Shocked, Justus opened her mouth to speak but it was too late, he was addressing the class again. This man had to have balls made of brass. Making eyes at her from across the pool was one thing, but she couldn’t believe he had the nerve to ask her out with his girlfriend in the same room. Justus wondered if they were one of those couples that had an understanding, or if they were into kinky sex. Miguel was smoking hot, and she wanted to explore new sides of herself on the cruise, but she wasn’t interested in being a part of a threesome.

She wondered though, if his girlfriend knew what type of slime she was dating. Justus looked across the crowded da
nce class and saw her. The blonde seemed to be enjoying herself as she danced with her partner. She had a nearly flawless body, although, Justus observed critically, it was obvious her boobs had been purchased. Justus looked mournfully at the woman’s outfit and contrasted it with her t-shirt and shorts. She felt dowdy in comparison. She had thought they were cute when she’d bought them a month ago. She looked at the petite, busty woman in her low-cut, stomach bearing hot pink tank top and matching short shorts. Compared to her own purple V-neck shirt and black Bermuda shorts, her outfit seemed like something a grandma would wear.

“Hey, hel-lo? Anybody home?” Miguel asked her.

“Oh, sorry, I guess I was a little distracted watching the others dance.”

Miguel laughed at her. Justus had never heard a more sexy
sound in her life. She felt the low throaty sound vibrate all through her body.

“You must have bee
n deep in thought. I’ve been trying to get your attention forever. Short of yelling, I didn’t know what to do, and I couldn’t make a scene in front of my students.” His tone was teasing, but it only fueled her anger even more that he was thick-headed enough to make light of the fact that he was flirting with someone right under his girlfriend’s nose.

She’d decided Miguel and the blonde had to be a couple. She was certainly attractive enough for him, and why else would they have been talking so intimately with each other yesterday,
on the first day of the cruise, at the pool?  Miguel suddenly stopped dancing, which snapped her attention back to the dance class.

“Okay everyone, that’s a day. You’ve all made it, give yourselves a pat o
n the back, and go have a drink. You should be proud of yourselves. I certainly am.

“You were incredible, and I hope to see you all again sometime, but if I don’t, please enjoy the rest of your cruise.”

Justus had given him her back as he was addressing the class and was trying to get to Krystal and get out of there as fast as humanly possible. He, however, was too fast. He caught her moments before she reached Krystal.

“I meant what I said earlier, I’d really like to see you sometime, out of class. I’m going to be at the nightclub tomorrow night. I hope to see
you there.” He smiled at her as he slowly raked his eyes down her physique.

She felt her body respond to his gaze. Her cheeks grew warm, she felt her nipples tighten
and her stomach muscles clench. Frustrated with herself for once again becoming a puddle of desire in his company she turned her back on him and started to leave. Krystal chose that precise moment to come over to Justus. She hadn’t realized she’d been standing behind her and nearly ran into her friend in her hurry to get away from Miguel’s powerful erotic presence. Justus said nothing to either one of them and headed for the door.

“She’ll
be there,” Krystal answered for her. “Later, Miguel.”

“I’ll see you
around,” he said as they left.

“I was going to ask how he was to dance with, but I guess I have my answer, a date! But, why didn’t you say yes or something to him? Were you too shocked he’d asked you so soon, or stunned by his good looks?”

“No, it wasn’t any of those reasons. I didn’t give him an answer, because you hadn’t given me the chance yet. I was getting ready to tell him no, actually.”

“What?” Krystal stopped dead in her tracks and grabbed her arm, bringing Justus to a halt in the process. “Why would you want to turn a hunk like him down?”

“I have my reasons,” she answered coolly. 

Krystal stood momentarily frozen, staring at Justus with her mouth agape. “Stupid ones, obviously, unless he has horrible breath and B.O., I don’t see what other reasons you could have.”

“For starters, he’s a prick.”

“Oh, of course he is, I can see that, I mean he asked you out. He’s a total jerk. Justus, get real, don’t you realize that every woman in class, including myself, would’ve given our right arms to have
him ask us out? He actually asked you and you don’t want him? I don’t get it.

“I’m sorry. I know how hard things have been for you lately, but he’s not Alex. He’s gorgeous, he’s got a sexy accent, he’s funny, he’s charming, he can dance, and he seems really nice. So, excuse me if I don’t see your side of things. I guess I’m biased.”

Justus looked at her friend like she had suddenly lost her mind. Krystal was wearing the dreamy expression of a love struck teenager. She didn’t know what to say, part of her wanted to scream, ‘
He’s got a girlfriend, that makes him exactly like Alex!
’ but she lacked the energy to burst Krystal’s bubble, and she doubted Krystal would believe her anyway.

“Well, if you think he’s so great, then you can show up there tomorrow night and I’ll stay in the cabin and relax.”

“Ha-ha. That’s a tempting offer. If I didn’t care about you, and if I thought I’d have any chance with him, I’d do it, but he wants you, not me. Look, I’m not going to fight with you, this is our vacation and I want us to enjoy it. I’m sorry if I have been mean, it’s only because I really want you to be happy and to at least try to start dating again. You know, move on a little bit. Plus, since we had talked about you having a fling earlier today, and since he asked you out, this seemed like fate, or something. But it’s okay now that I know you’re too scared to go out with him…”

“Huh?” Justus said. She stopped dead in her tracks and gave Krystal an incredulous look.

“You think I’m scared of him? You think I’m afraid to date a hot guy? This sounds like a dare to me, you better not be baiting me, you know I can’t resist a dare. I’ve suddenly changed my mind. I’m definitely going to be at the club tomorrow night. Now come on, let’s get back to our cabin, I need a shower before we do anything else, I’m all sweaty.”

“I’ll bet
you are,” Krystal said.

CHAPTER TWO

“Are you almost ready Krystal?” Justus called from outside the bathroom in their cabin.

“Five minutes, and then we’ll be ready to go.”

After dance class they returned to their room and lazed around for a while before showering and getting ready for dinner. Justus hadn’t been able to get Miguel out of her mind. The absolute nerve he had, looking at her as though he was starving and she was something to eat, and then asking her out, right in front of Krystal.

Ugh! Krystal
, she thought. She knew her fight wasn’t really over. Krystal would inevitably bring up Miguel again.

When Krystal got an idea in her mind, she just didn’t let it go. Justus only hoped she wouldn’t pick dinner to resume the
ir conversation. She wanted their first formal dinner on the cruise to be a relaxing experience.

“L
et me get my shoes and my earrings, and then I’m ready. You look cute, Justus.”

Justus smiled at Krystal and said, “Thanks,
so do you. We’ll be turning some heads tonight don’t you think?”

“Well, yes of course. But you’ve already gotten a head start on me, no pun intended. You’ve already turned a very hot head.”

Justus frowned and said, “Please, I don’t consider him a very quality find.”

Krystal looked at her with unabashed surprise, “Oh, really? Then you’ve gone blind my dear friend. He’s gorgeous.”

Justus shook her head and shoved her friend toward the door. “Let’s go, you hussy, I think you’re the one who needs a fling, not me.”

***

“Mmm, I’ve never had a steak this delicious or juicy in my entire life.”

“The food is great, but I think the sunshine and salty air does something to your taste buds,” Krystal said, then looked down at her nearly empty plate then added, “And your appetite.”

“Hey Jus, do you want to take a walk around the boat? We could look in some of the shops, explore a little bit and hey, we might even find the nightclub.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You never give up, do you? You’re all fired up to watch me dismiss Miguel tomorrow.”

“Ha! I knew you’d come around and see my side of things. Now I’ve got twenty-four hours to
change your mind about Miguel. Which shouldn’t be too hard, I know you really want him.”

“Krystal, I don’t want him. I’m only going out with him to prove how much I don’t want him.”

“Sure. That makes sense. Why are you so set against him? I don’t get it.”

“It’s nothing really, just well… I don’t feel any chemistry with him. He isn’t my type,” she lied.

“Oh, please! I think every woman in the world would agree with me that drop-dead gorgeous is a general type. Plus, he’s cool, you know. Despite being so damned sexy, he doesn’t seem like he’s stuck on himself.”

“Will you please stop? You only met him one time, what do you know about him? Nothing.”

“I could say the same thing to you, Justus.”

Ju
stus got quiet suddenly and she hoped Krystal would take her silence to mean she was considering her words. Justus knew she should tell her why she despised Miguel so much. She knew it was childish to keep this secret from Krystal, so why was she? But she knew why.

Becaus
e she liked talking about him, she liked hearing Krystal bring up his name. As much as she wanted to pretend their dances hadn’t mattered to her, she couldn’t do it. Not after dance class earlier. Something had happened to her. It had been a terrific thirty minutes, being so close to him, smelling his cologne, hearing his voice, feeling his hands on her body. Justus briefly closed her eyes to stop herself from thinking anymore about Miguel. She couldn’t do this to herself, and she wouldn’t.

“Are you ready?” she asked Krystal forcing a smile.

“You bet. Let’s go. Oh, look at that!” Krystal said as she pointed to a tray full of desserts passing their table. “I wish I had room left for dessert,” she said wistfully.

“Well,” Justus began, “Since we are walking around the boat, and working off our dinner, we could come back for dessert.”

“Now you’re speaking my language,” Krystal said with a laugh.

***

Justus woke up the following morning with a pounding headache. She supposed it was from worrying about Krystal’s promise that she wouldn’t let her stand up Miguel. She knew Krystal woul
d make good on that promise, and would stop at nothing to make sure Justus showed up tonight. Justus rolled over and moaned long and loud.

“Jus?” Krystal said skeptically.

“Hmm?”

“Are you all right? Are you even awake?”

“Yeah, I’m up. I’ve just got a helluva headache.”

“Really? Well, that makes my idea even better.”

“How’s that?” Justus asked around a yawn.

“I thought we could
get pedicures and manicures, my treat. Since you’ve got a headache, let’s go ahead and get a massage. How about it, Jus? We can have a day of beauty.”

“Sounds pretty good, actually. Hey,” she said sitting up and eyeing Krystal suspiciously, “This wouldn’t have anything to do with toni
ght, would it? Are you trying to make me beautiful for Miguel? As if he’ll even show up.”

“Oh, please. I only wanted us to have a nice, relaxing day,
and if you happen to look prettier on your date tonight, consider it an added bonus.”

“Yeah, right
. Hey, you’re already dressed and ready for the day. What time is it?”

“Almost eleven thirty.”

“Whoa, I must’ve been tired, I’ll get ready and then we can eat breakfast, or lunch rather, and start our day of beauty.”

“
With you sleeping in so late, I guess your Latin lover must have really worn you out yesterday.” Krystal gave her a smile as Justus rolled her eyes and went into the bathroom.

They arrived at the salon two hours
later, by which time patience was worn thin. Justus was sick of hearing about Miguel this and Miguel that, she began to wonder if Krystal didn’t want him for herself. She knew it wasn’t true, but she was irritated at Krystal.

“Hi, what can we do for you two ladies today?” a pretty redhead at the reception desk asked them.