Caribbean Cruising (18 page)

So I kept things light. I simply enjoyed dancing with him. And I tried not to be too disappointed when he worked us to the edge of the crowd, grabbed a guy's arm, made quick introductions, and left me dancing with Roger.

Roger was nice, in a gangly sort of way. His dancing style reminding me of a scarecrow caught in a tornado.

"So where are you from?" Roger asked.

I told him. He was from Houston.

When the music stopped, neither one of us really knew what else to say. Apparently he'd flunked the flirtation quiz too.

"Hey, Roger." It was Jake, and he had a girl in tow. "This is Angela, and she's had her eye on you all night. Would you dance the next one with her?"

While Roger and Angela were getting to know each other, Jake took my arm and walked me away from the group.

"Let me get you something to drink," he offered.

He led me to the bar that they'd set up on the deck, and ordered me a frozen strawberry daiquiri and a water for himself. Once we had our drinks he led me to the railing, away from the crowds.

"Sorry about hooking you up with Roger, but if I spend too much time with you, I'll get reprimanded."

"It's okay. Roger was fun."

"Do you like him better than you like me? Because if you do—"

"Oh, no," I blurted out. "I just wanted you to know that it was okay. I understand. You're working."

"Yeah, I am. Which can be a pain when I meet a girl that I really like."

I felt my heart do a little dance along my ribs, in rhythm with the music filling the Starlight deck.

"Think there's any chance of anything happening between us if you have to share me with the others?"

he asked.

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I nodded, feeling tongue-tied and awkward, and wishing for the millionth time I'd studied that darn flirtation quiz better.

"Cool. Tomorrow during the snorkeling excursion, there won't be so many watchful eyes. Maybe we can get some time alone. I'd really like to get to know you better, Lindsay."

"I'd like that," I said. "Having some time alone."

He winked at me. "Count on it then. Right now I've got to make sure these guys are partying more." He squeezed my hand. "But tomorrow, I'll find some time for us."

CHAPTER 22

Grand Cayman Day Six

T
he next morning I began my day by blading along the jogging trail before most people were up and about. The rhythm of my blades was calming, and helped me put things into perspective.

And how could anyone stay uptight or bummed out when on a cruise? The sun easing over the horizon and reflecting off the water was inspiring. It made me feel like I could do anything, accomplish any goal.

Even finding Mr. Perfect-for-One-Night didn't seem quite so daunting. Especially when I had Jake's attention.

Actually I'd been hoping that I'd run into him this morning. He was really nice and caring. Trying to make sure that everyone had a good time.

And I certainly enjoyed being with him. Maybe he was the one I'd been looking for all along.

I rounded a corner that I'd gone past at least half a dozen times already, and I nearly tripped over my own feet at the sight of Brooke caught in another lip lock.

Only this time she wasn't with Ryan. She was with Cameron. They broke apart. She tossed her head back, and laughed—her familiar dramatic pose.

Then she spotted me, waved, patted Cameron on the shoulder, and walked toward the jogging track. I came to a stop.

"Geez, you're out early this morning," she said.

I looked past her to where Cameron had been. "So are you."

"I spent the night with Cam. He was walking me back to my cabin."

I hardly knew what to say. "But yesterday you were hitting on Ryan—"

"He is so boring."

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"Ryan is boring?" I'd never found him boring. What in the world was she going on about?

"Definitely," she said. "No chemistry whatsoever."

No chemistry? But what about what I'd felt when Ryan had kissed me when we were parasailing? I'd definitely felt chemistry and electricity.

Brooke obviously thought Cameron had chemistry, but when he'd kissed me…

Well, he'd done nothing for me. Not even a up-on-my-toes kind of feeling. I guess it just went to prove that kissing was subjective, and what one person liked, another didn't.

"Want to grab some breakfast?" Brooke asked.

"Sure. Let me get my shoes."

I rolled over to where I'd left my backpack and shoes; I'd figured both were relatively safe on the bench.

Everything important I'd carried with me. But shoes and an empty backpack—who'd really want them?

I sat on the bench, removed the Rollerblades, stuffed them into my backpack, and slipped on my slides.

Then I joined Brooke.

We had breakfast at a little corner bakery kind of café. I had a cream cheese Danish and hot green tea, while she had a blueberry muffin and an espresso.

"So how did you and Cameron hook up?" I asked, genuinely curious. She'd still been snuggling against Ryan when we'd returned to the ship just yesterday evening.

"When we got back to the ship, you took off for parts unknown," she said. "The rest of us hit the club.

Ryan didn't stay long. Cameron did."

"So it's not like love," I said.

"No, not at all. Are you looking for love, Lindsay?"

I didn't know why her question felt like a blow to the midsection. I wasn't looking for love. Was I?

I decided to confess. "I was sorta hoping for a shipboard romance."

"So why aren't you having one? We've met lots of guys."

"But none have really been Mr. Right."

She rolled her eyes. "Mr. Right is long-term. You have to lower your standards if you want to get hot and heavy with a guy really fast."

"Is that what you did?" I asked. "Lowered your standards?"

She laughed. "I've never had high standards. Love 'em and leave 'em, and never get hurt."

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"But you did get hurt. What about the guy you just broke up with?"

"I don't want to talk about him. I'm here to help you get it on with someone."

"I think I can find someone without your help."

"Who has been the one to find us all the guys? I'm a guy magnet," she said.

"Yeah, but the guys you find don't really do anything for me."

"What about Chad? You found him on your own."

"He's too much into guzzling beer. Everything is a competition with him. I don't want to feel like I'm a prize."

"Lindsay, Lindsay, you really don't get the casual dating scene."

I dumped a packet of sugar into my tea, and stirred it to give myself something to do while I thought of what I should say. Brooke wasn't my best bud, but she was the closest thing I had to a friend on this cruise.

"Brooke, I've never slept with a guy."

She gave me this incredulous look. "You slept with Ryan."

It was embarrassing to admit, but I'd gone this far. "All we did was sleep."

Her mouth dropped open, and she flopped back against her chair. "You mean, you only slept, like with your eyes closed, and snores, and dreams—"

"Right. It's a long story, but the first night when I got back to my cabin I didn't have my key with me. It was late, Ryan and I were a little drunk, and I sort of fell asleep in his room."

"He doesn't kiss like he's gay."

I laughed at the absurdity of her response. "He's not gay."

"Then why did he only sleep with you?"

"He's just not attracted to me."

She looked completely baffled. "That makes no sense."

"It doesn't matter," I said hastily. "The point in my telling you all this is so you'll realize that I need someone special. I'm not opposed to lowering my standards some, but I can't lower them all the way, because I need someone special. For me, it'll be the first time."

"I'll say." She sat up straighter. "We need to go on a guy-hunting expedition."

"No, we don't. I may have found someone," I confessed.

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She raised her eyebrows at that. "Really?"

"Jake."

"The activities director?"

I nodded. "I went to that singles' meet he had last night. He introduced me to several guys, but it was like he was hoping I wouldn't really be into any of them. It was like he was doing his job, but only because it was his job."

"That's interesting. He's cute."

"I think so."

"So what are the plans for today?"

"We'll be arriving at the Grand Cayman soon. We'll go snorkeling."

"Oh, right." She scrunched up her face. "Another water thing."

"Brooke, we're on a ship, in the middle of the ocean, heading for an island. Yes, another water thing."

"It's just that it's a total waste of time to style your hair or do your makeup, because the wind, the sand, and the water screw it all up. Too bad we don't have time to get you a tattoo, something to make you seem mysterious."

Was that the reason that I didn't have guys hanging all over me? Because I didn't have a tattoo?

Although truthfully I'd had several guys express an interest. I'd even had four of them kiss me. It's just that none of them really did anything for me.

Except Ryan, who wasn't interested.

"I don't think a tattoo is the secret," I told her.

"It doesn't hurt. Are you sure you don't want to get your tongue pierced?"

"I'm sure."

She scowled. "Where's your sense of adventure?"

"I keep it right next door to my common sense."

"Dullsville." She stood and began gathering her trash. "Don't worry. I'll take care of it."

I stood as well. "Brooke, don't. I've got a handle on the situation, and Jake doesn't need any prompting.

He liked me just fine last night."

"But 'just fine' doesn't get a guy into your bed."

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sure he's not."

She grinned. "Which means he must be a rule breaker."

She started to walk off, and I grabbed her arm. "Brooke, please, don't do
anything
."

She released a sigh of frustration. "Oh, all right. But if you decide that you want help, don't hesitate to let me know. I have a way with guys."

"So I noticed."

"I can tell from looking at a guy if he's any good in the sack or not."

"How can you tell?" I asked, not even trying to hide the skepticism in my voice.

"It's all in their eyes. Bedroom eyes, I call it. It's just a hot, sultry look. Guys with blue eyes come by it naturally. All the others have to work at it."

"So, is Jake good?" I asked, even though I didn't believe she had any psychic abilities or anything.

"Oh, definitely. And before this cruise is over, you'll know for sure."

CHAPTER 23

J
ake's excursion group was the same group that he'd had for the falls. I had sorta hoped that Ryan wouldn't show up, because I didn't think I'd feel comfortable flirting with Jake if Ryan was near enough to watch. I thought he might be judging my actions, might tell me as he had at the movies that I'd simply found another guy that it was best to ignore.

But Ryan did show up in a swimsuit and a tank top. I was still feeling unexplainably hurt that he'd kissed Brooke, but my good manners forced me to at least acknowledge Ryan's arrival with a nod of my head.

And he really had no reason not to kiss Brooke. I'd told him repeatedly that he didn't need to hang around me.

I was standing near Jake when I spotted Ryan talking with one of the girls from yesterday. Cathy or something. And that was good. If Ryan was busy with her, he wouldn't notice that Jake was giving any attention to me.

Jake took us to a local diving shop so we could either rent or purchase our equipment. I was looking over the rental gear when I felt a familiar presence behind me.

"You should go ahead and buy what you need," Ryan said. "You'll get hooked."

I glanced down and noticed that he was carrying a netted bag that already had equipment in it. I assumed he'd brought it with him.

"I suppose you've snorkeled before."

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knows what he's doing. I have my doubts about Jake on either score."

"Ouch!" I said, and followed it with an incredulous laugh. "That's a little harsh, isn't it?"

"Maybe. I saw him hitting on you at the singles' meet last night."

"You were there?"

"For a while. I think he's interested in giving you some private lessons while we're here," he said.

"And that's a problem because?…" I shook my head. "Look, Ryan, I'm cool, okay? You don't have to watch out for me."

"Walter—"

"I know Walter brought you along to keep me company, but I'm fine by myself. Honestly. Go have some fun." I leaned toward him. "Besides, I didn't give you any advice about Brooke."

His eyes widened. "Brooke?"

"I spotted you and her yesterday, on the way down the falls. I'm cool with it if you're interested in her."

"For your information I'm not interested in her. She came on to me. She reminded me of an octopus."

"Yeah, you really looked like you didn't want to be wrapped in her arms."

"Look, Lindsay—"

"Don't worry about me, Ryan. I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."