Aboard the Wishing Star (3 page)

His brown eyes held an intensity that bathed her in admiration as he watched her. If she'd wanted to fool herself, she could have imagined she was the center of his world, at least for tonight.

"What did you do to win it?"

She glanced at his muscular chest above the bubbling waters, flustered by the intensity of his gaze, yet something pulled her to him as if drawn by an unseen hand. She caught herself before her glance drifted further down his body and her eyes met his again.

He waited for her to answer, watching her.

"I worked a lot of overtime," she said. "I haven't taken a vacation in almost two years."

His eyes softened. "Sounds like you're overdue."

"Yes. Long overdue."

"We have to go clean up for dinner," Viv interrupted.

"I hope my bags have arrived," Kara said.

Adam said, "They haven't delivered all the bags yet. Some of them are still down below decks being sorted. That's why they never have a formal evening the first night of a cruise. Everyone won't have all their bags delivered by then. If yours have made it to the ship, you may still have a chance they'll deliver them tonight."

Viv leaned closer to Adam. "How do you know so much about cruises?"

"I'm a travel agent, specializing in adventure travel."

"Sounds fascinating." Viv placed her hand on his thigh, no longer in a hurry to go.

Never the least bit shy that was Viv. But what had happened to the British boyfriend she'd seemed so head over heels about?

"I have to take a certain number of cruises a year to keep up my certifications. This year I invited my cousin."

Viv smiled a Cheshire cat grin. "We're glad you did."

Kara suspected Viv was thinking something along the lines of
one hunky man for me and one for my sad friend Kara
.

Viv stood. "Well, we have to be going now."

Right on cue everyone turned to her and their gazes followed as she stepped out of the tub.

"Hot cha cha," one man said.

Though she didn't respond, Viv's swaying hips were a dead giveaway she was aware of the attention and enjoying every minute. She loved parading in front of men.

Kara followed Viv and reached for her towel on the lounge chair. Ocean breezes blew cooling night air that made her shiver and gave her goose bumps before she wrapped the towel around her.

"See you around, sweetheart," Nate's low voice rasped, creating even more goose bumps that had nothing to do with the cool air. "Hope your luggage turns up."

"Bye." She used the towel to dry herself and then pulled on the sarong, aware of Nate watching her.

Trouble. This is happening too fast. I'd best stay away from Nate Cooper and that hot tub or I'll be in real hot water.

*****

Nate watched the women walk away. Both were good-looking. Dark haired Viv was full of fire and blonde Kara was cool, quiet, and curvy.

She'd worn her silky blonde hair tied back in a ponytail tonight and water dripped from the ends. Her long hair had caught his eye first in the airport before he'd gone over to see what was wrong. Then she'd turned her face up to him, pearl complexion heightened with color, green eyes full of panic.

He'd wanted to fix her problem. He'd wanted to kiss her. And for some reason he'd felt the urge to help her even though he was done rescuing women.

Until Adam suggested this cruise, Nate had been way too busy with work and getting over the last woman who'd stung him. Today he found himself thinking of Kara instead of his job. He found himself thinking of a week at sea, playing and enjoying the company of a beautiful woman.

One who didn't seem the slightest bit interested in chasing and catching him. It was refreshing.

He'd like to remove the sadness from her eyes and make them sparkle, if she'd let him.

"Hey, Nate," Adam grinned. "I can tip the maître d and make sure the assigned seating assigns Viv and Kara to our table."

"Nice." He threw his head back with a laugh. "Adam, you are a genius.

"Oh baby, did you notice Nate giving you the once over? Twice!" Viv nudged Kara the minute the elevator doors closed.

"He was not."

"Was too."

"And he clearly let Adam know you were off limits."

Kara frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"Didn't you notice how quick he slid his arm around you? That's a man marking territory."

"He did not have his arm around me. It was on the back of the hot tub."

"Right behind you. Or did you not notice?"

"I noticed." Kara shivered. "Cold in here, isn't it?"

"You can have the first shower if you promise not to be too long."

Kara frowned. "I don't take long showers."

"Well, you might after sitting next to that hunk of a man." Viv laughed.

"Viv, would you give it a rest?"

"I won't say another word." Viv started humming. She continued to hum all the way down the hall and into their cabin. When she opened the door she said, "Kara, someone sent flowers!"

"Oh, how pretty!" Kara hurried inside. "Is there a card?"

"Yes." Viv handed it over. "With your name on it."

Kara took the envelope and opened it.

"Well, what does it say?" Viv crossed her arms, impatient.

"Missing you already. Wishing you a great cruise." Kara flipped the card over, puzzled. "No signature."

"That's odd," Viv said. "You'd think they'd want to take credit for sending them. Who do you think sent them?"

"I have no idea. They're pretty though."

"Well, thank you mystery man. Hey, maybe it's Nate."

"I doubt that. We just met."

"Well, I still say you made a conquest. He can't take his eyes off of you."

"The next time we see him, he'll probably be flirting with someone else."

"Not the way he looks at you."

"I wish my luggage was here," Kara said, changing the subject as she peered out the door, hoping it had arrived.

No such luck.

She sighed. "Guess I'll need to borrow a dress after all."

"Here are two to choose from." Viv laid them on the bed. "I'm first in the shower while you decide."

"Okay." She eyed the two cocktail dresses before trying them on. The orange was not her color, and though it wasn't as skimpy as the aqua it was much shorter. She'd hardly be able to sit down in that one. She tried on the aqua and hoped it'd fit.

Viv emerged from her shower. "Nate is so hot. Did you see his military tats? There's nothing sexier than a marine. Hoo rah."

She's still talking about him? Has she had him on her mind all this time?
If Viv hadn't latched on to Adam so quick, Kara would have thought Viv had a thing for Nate the way she went on about him.

"What happened to that British guy you were seeing? I thought you really liked him."

"I did. But he's too far away. Long distance relationships never work." Viv shrugged. "I broke it off with him two days ago."

"You never mentioned it."

"It wasn't a big deal. Now about Nate. Travel hook ups are perfect. If you don't click with the guy, you get off the ship and never see him again. You need to get back into dating. And girl, that man is hot, hot, hot."

Hook ups. Viv always acted like it was all fun and no one got hurt. But how did you let someone get so close to you, so intimate, without feeling something?

And if no one got hurt, why did Viv go shopping every time one of her hook ups didn't turn into something more?

"I'm not looking for a hook up, Viv. I just want to enjoy the sun, the beach, and the water. Relax a little."

"Well, at least tell me you'll try. If a shipboard romance happens, go with the flow."

"I'll go with the flow if it feels right." She wasn't looking for a shipboard romance. If she fell in love, she could have her heart broken. Again. "Okay you're done in there? Because I really need a shower."

"Yeah, I'm done." Viv dumped out her cosmetic bag on the table in front of the mirror and sat down to put on her makeup. "Go for it."

The shower was small, barely enough room to turn, but the water pressure felt great. Kara closed her eyes and tried to just enjoy it. The soap and shampoo was coconut scented.

Caribbean here I come.

When Kara entered the room Viv said, "Which dress did you decide on?"

"The aqua."

"That color will be good on you."

"I hope." She stepped into the thin silk dress she'd borrowed from Viv and turned around. "Zip me?"

"Sure."

Viv zipped the dress. Kara turned around.

"Wow," Viv said. "I'm jealous. You look even better in that dress than I do."

"I do?" Kara tugged at the low cut scooped neckline and then smoothed her hands down her thighs, wishing the dress covered more skin.

This is so different from what I'm used to wearing.
Kara had a strict dress code at the bank, so she usually bought conservative dresses.
But maybe different is good.

She turned in front of the mirror watching the silk move, the dress smooth against her curves.
Oh, this dress feels soft. Sensual. Daring. There'd be no dessert tonight, not wearing this dress. And no crossing these pale legs.

"Thanks for loaning me the dress."

"That's what mates are for."

Viv may have been done with her British boyfriend but he'd rubbed off on her enough her language had changed. It was hard to get used to.

As Vivian ran a quick comb through her hair, Kara smiled. "Hey, Viv. Remember when we had sleepovers as girls and my mother would braid my hair while you'd hop from one foot to the other, impatient to go out and play?"

"Yeah. I always wondered why your hair took so long."

"I have Mother's thin, slippery hair, though it's not dark."

"Like golden silk your mother used to say."

They both grew silent, remembering Kara's mother, who had died in a car accident. Viv had been the one who'd stayed with Kara, combing Kara's hair and handing out hugs and Kleenex. It was Kara's senior year of high school and the two became inseparable, where before Viv had been too busy being a cheerleader and going to parties as their friendship drifted. But after the funeral she'd made a real effort to include Kara and helped Kara stop feeling sorry for herself.

"Well." Viv tossed the comb on the dresser, never one to be sentimental for long. "You ready?" She picked up the room card and waved it. "This is all we need. Come on."

Kara slipped on sandals and picked up the little folding map of the ship. "We'll need this so we don't get lost."

"If we get lost, we'll keep going." She laughed. "You can't stay lost on a ship."

"It's a big ship."

"Then take the blimey thing if it'll make you feel better. Come on, I'm starving."

Using the map, Kara found the way to the dining room, where the waiter seated them.

"I hope cruise cuisine is as fantastic as Daryl says it is," she said.

"How would he know? You said he'd never taken a cruise."

"He hasn't."

"The man can't be an expert on everything. But he's the type who thinks he is."

Viv was right about that one, but Kara didn't want to think about her boss right now. She needed this vacation.

The waiter lifted a napkin from her plate with a flourish and placed it in her lap.

"This is dining in style," Viv said as he handed them menus. "Very elegant."

Kara glanced around the dining room.

Elegant was putting it mildly.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. The furniture and a great wall of mirrors reminded her of the palace at Versailles she'd seen on the History Channel.

She peered over the menu as the waiter seated more passengers at their table. An attractive gray-haired couple sat across from her, and to Viv's right sat a young couple, clearly in love.

Kara looked back down at her menu, hiding her thoughts. Sometimes it was hard to watch couples so deeply in love. It reminded her of her loss and her longings.

"Hello again."

She glanced up. Nate Cooper stood next to her, gazing down into her eyes. He appeared even taller in black pants and a dark red shirt.

"Hello," she said as he sat beside her.

He's way too handsome, and probably used to women falling all over him.

And yet … he's at my table tonight. Could this be fate?

"I'm starving. We boarded too late for the lunch buffet," Nate sat back while the waiter placed the napkin in his lap.

"We did too."

She returned to the menu before she said or did something to let him know how off balance he made her feel.

She read the menu three times and still didn't remember what it said.

How was it possible he looked even more handsome dressed for dinner than he did in swim trunks?

Having seen his bare chest, she knew what those muscles looked like beneath his shirt. The simple act of him sitting beside her sent warmth coursing through her body.

He reached for his water glass. "Tough decision, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is."

He had no idea.

She tried to concentrate again on her menu. He disrupted her concentration without even trying. His scent heightened her pulse and her breathing quickened. She frowned. There were too many choices and dishes she'd never heard of.

"What are you having?" Viv focused her attention on Nate.

She doesn't get tongue tied every time a handsome man speaks to her. Why does this happen to me?

"Everything sounds good," said Adam, who sat by Viv.

Still flustered, Kara ordered asparagus shrimp bisque, shrimp cocktail with Louis dressing, and shrimp fettuccine.

"You must really like shrimp," Nate said.

Without realizing it, she'd just ordered every shrimp dish on the menu. "Shrimp is my favorite. I haven't had it in ages." Eating shrimp felt comfortable and familiar.

Fine dining hasn't been in the budget for a very long time.

"Then I'm glad you can indulge tonight."