Scott stilled. “Uh, yeah.” He couldn’t quite meet her gaze. “I know him. He’s a pretty decent guy. A bit of an asshole at times. Why?”
Bingo. Scott’s awkward tone was proof enough. All she had to do now was convince him to make her fantasies a reality…and pray he didn’t find out she was using him for her story. Feigning innocence, she pressed her lips together and glanced at their feet.
“This is going to sound tacky, but I was wondering if you’d introduce me to him. The other reason I’m here is because I’ve been in a funk. I was hoping if you introduced us, I’d beat the other women to him.” She shook her head and waved her hand in a dismissive manner. “I’m sorry, that was rude. Forget I said anything, especially the part about me being in a funk. You truly didn’t need to know that.”
The song ended and he guided her off the dance floor, keeping his hand on the small of her back. Once they’d reached her table, he turned her to look at him. He took her hand, a sly smile tipping his lips. “You don’t need him.”
“I don’t know. I’m pretty desperate.” Sadly, this was truer than she cared to admit to.
“All you need is a little attention. I could help you with that. In fact, I’d be happy to.”
I bet you would. Easy now. If her plan was to work, there couldn’t be any room for old hurt feelings. Still, it was odd to have him offer himself so easily. After so many years of being friends only, a part of her wanted to think this was all a dream.
“Really?”
He gave her a wolfish smile. “What are friends for?”
****
Later that night, Scott leaned against the railing of the sundeck and stared at the swirling water below. Never in a million years would he have expected to find Charity on the Hedonna. More accurately, he’d never expected to find her on the Hedonna looking like one of those lingerie models Justin drooled over.
A tired smile curled the corners of his lips as he recalled the countless days he’d spent as a child building forts with her. It hadn’t bothered him in the least that she was two years younger or that she was overweight. Hell, he hadn’t even cared she was—gasp—a girl.
Charity had been different from the other frilly, giggly girls he’d known. She’d liked baseball cards, toy cars, and climbing trees as much as he had. That wasn’t to say she was a tomboy, because she wasn’t. She wore dresses and had ribbons in her hair. But since she could pop-a-wheelie better than anyone in the neighborhood, he’d been able to overlook her feminine appearance.
You can’t overlook it now. No, but the woman he danced with tonight wasn’t the Charity from his past. This woman was heart-stopping, jaw-dropping gorgeous. She had full, pouty lips meant for kissing, long soft curls that begged to be touched, and a body that could bring a man to his knees. Her slender waist and full breasts had certainly made his knees weak.
Stop it. Jesus, what was wrong with him? So she’d lost weight and traded in her purple sneakers for a pair of killer stilettos, but she was still his friend. His incredibly sexy friend. His incredibly sexy friend who was on a cruise so she could live out her sexual fantasies.
This thought made his stomach clench and his jeans constrict around his groin. He envisioned her lying on one of the many deck chairs, dressed in a skimpy purple—no make that black—bikini, and rubbing a generous supply of sunscreen on her breasts. He pictured her hand disappearing into one of the cups, her fingers massaging the perfectly rounded flesh and her nipple pebbling when her nails grazed the sensitive tip. He groaned, blood pooling in his dick when he imagined her giving the same treatment to the other breast.
Man, oh, man. He shouldn’t be having thoughts like this about his friend. He couldn’t help it though, nor could he control the onslaught of lustful notions whirling in his mind.
The image shifted, her hands working the creamy liquid onto her legs, starting at her delicate ankles and moving in slow circles up her calves, passing her knees and finally ending at her hips. His chest tightened and his breath turned ragged as he pictured her palms trailing along the insides of her thighs, her fingers slipping beneath the elastic of her bikini bottoms. His testicles ached and his erection throbbed. In response, he pressed the heel of his hand to his crotch.
This is so wrong. Perhaps, but when his exhausted brain visualized her pulling the stretchy fabric aside and tracing the outline of her pussy with a fingertip, reason went to the wayside. He squeezed his eyes shut, bringing the picture into focus. In his mind, he watched her tease herself, completely unaware of the fact he was watching her…wanting her.
Want.
Scott sucked in a sharp breath and opened his eyes. The images vanished and realization slammed into his chest like a fist. He wanted her. He wanted to be the one she chose, the one to fulfill her fantasies, the one to make her come over and over until she was too exhausted to move.
Charity.
Cherry Berry.
God help him, he wanted to make love to his best friend, and he was going to make sure that by the time they reached their port of call—Pleasure Island—she wanted him too.
Chapter Four
The next morning, Charity found herself sitting in front of her laptop, staring at the blinking cursor under the “Fact” section of her notes. She picked up an apple slice from the plate beside her and held it to her lips. How should she categorize her encounter with Scott and the probability of him being the Heartbreaker? Technically, he hadn’t admitted to being the notorious ladies’ man, but he did admit that this person existed. Hmm.
After taking a bite of the apple, she set the slice down and began to type. At least one crewmember aboard the Hedonna has been reported to engage in inappropriate sexual relations with female passengers. His nickname is the Hedonna Heartbreaker, but his identity is still unknown.
She moved the cursor to the “Rumor” category and swallowed hard. It’s rumored the Heartbreaker sleeps with various women on the cruise, making their fantasies a reality. Hope he keeps a stockpile of condoms on hand.
A current of guilt rippled through her. Though she knew it was absurd, she felt as though she were betraying Scott. Once upon a time, he’d been her only friend and, if what she suspected about him was true, then she was betraying him. Well, maybe not him per se. After all, she hadn’t seen him in over a decade. It was the memory of their friendship that had her squirming in her seat now.
“For Pete’s sake.” She saved the file and closed the program. “Grow some balls already.” She rose and glimpsed her reflection in the mirror over the dresser. Tilting her head to the side, she scrutinized the woman staring back at her.
She would never be taken seriously as a reporter if she allowed herself to be swayed by personal feelings. Okay, so using Scott to get the story wasn’t exactly nice, but had it been nice of him to leave San Rico—and her—without even bothering to call to tell her he’d arrived in Las Vegas safely? Not hardly. She’d waited by the phone for weeks afterward, waiting to hear how he was doing or if he was okay.
Besides, if the rumor was true and Scott was the infamous Heartbreaker, then she really wouldn’t be doing anything wrong. Her job was to report the facts. Simple. What about your plan to use him for sex? Oh. That. Well, if what she suspected was true, then she wouldn’t be doing anything the other female passengers didn’t want—bedding a sex God.
“Puhhhleaze.” She shucked her nightshirt and tossed it onto the unmade bed before striding to the tiny bathroom. “It’s probably just an exaggeration.” After all, none of the men she’d slept with had ever come close to “God” status. What makes her think Scott would be any different? That was if she even went through with what she’d proposed the night before.
Thirty minutes later with keycard and map in hand, Charity exited her cabin ready to explore the ship. She’d already covered the main deck and most of the entertainment area on the Apollo deck. So, where should she begin today? Pushing her sunglasses to the top of her head, she unfolded the map and scanned the miniature deck layout with
a frown. It would probably be easier to figure out which deck meant what if she knew more about the Greek gods. Man, why hadn’t she paid closer attention to her mythology class in high school?
“Looks like you could use some help.”
Charity glanced up and her heart skittered in her chest to see Scott standing before her, a lazy grin stretching his lips. A devilish glint reflected in his eyes as he gestured to the map in her hand.
“Anything I can do?”
She had a few ideas. One of which entailed dragging him into her cabin by his Hawaiian shirt and kissing that cocksure grin off his face. Whoa! Hang on now. Where did that come from? Sure, Scott was just as devastatingly handsome as he’d been all those years ago—the bastard—but there was no need for her to behave like some sort of sex-deprived maniac. Despite everything, he was still her friend. A friend you’re using to get a story. What a fine time for her conscience to kick in.
Shaking the treacherous thought from her head, she smiled weakly. “It appears I don’t remember anything from Mr. McCracken’s mythology class.” She glanced at the map and sighed. “I suppose that’s what I get for thinking I’d never need to know this stuff as an adult.”
“It didn’t help that Mr. McCracken sounded like Ben Stein. Here, let’s take a look.”
Scott stood next to her and reached for the map, his fingers brushing hers when he went to grasp one of the sides. Awareness rippled through her at his touch, and she bit her lower lip to squelch a whimper. What was it about this man that could make her forget her own name? She hadn’t seen him in years and yet, with one casual touch, she felt as though she were a teenager lusting after her old buddy.
Weak.
“Ah, here we go.” His voice brought her out of her thoughts and she blinked before glancing to where he was pointing. “If you’re looking for relaxation, I would recommend starting here on the Helios deck. Do you remember what he was god of?”
“Nope. The only ones I remember are Zeus and Aphrodite.” He glanced at her with a raised eyebrow and she shrugged. “He ruled over Mt. Olympus and she was the goddess of love. After that, I spent the next ten weeks napping.”
He shook his head with a laugh. “Don’t feel bad. You remember more than I did when I first got here. Helios was the Greek sun god. So, knowing this, what do you think the Helios deck is?”
“The sundeck.” Duh. If she’d paid attention in class, she would have known that. No sense dwelling on her academic shortcomings now. Gathering what remained of her rattled nerves, she offered him a sultry look. “You know, I think finding my away around the ship would be easier if I had a tour guide.”
The only indication that her comment affected him was the slight rise and fall of his Adam’s apple when he swallowed. He examined her closely, her knees liquefying when his gaze rested on her tight tank top a moment longer than necessary. Her traitorous nipples hardened under his scrutiny and he gave her a knowing grin before nodding.
“I’m free until five o’clock if you’d like. It’ll give us a chance to catch up.” He leaned toward her, his warm breath grazing her ear as he spoke. “Perhaps you can tell me more about this funk you’re in. I have to admit, you piqued my curiosity last night.”
Oh boy. She could do this. She needed to do this. It wasn’t as though she were proposing a lurid fling with some stranger. She’d known Scott most of her life, had confided in him when she needed someone to listen to her. Hell, he’d also been her first real kiss. Okay, maybe remembering that particular moment wasn’t such a good idea. She still broke out in hives every time she thought about her junior prom and the humiliation that went along with being stood up by her date that night. Still, Scott was comfortable, safe.
With a renewed sense of purpose, she drew her head back and moistened her lips.
“I’m ready when you are.”
****
Walking with Charity toward the elevator, Scott felt as though his nerves were in a vortex. The night before he’d made the decision to pursue her, but come morning he had doubts about going through with it. Could he really seduce the only woman who’d mattered to him as though she were any other passenger aboard the Hedonna? He wasn’t sure. A guilty conscience was a powerful thing, but when he’d caught sight of her standing outside her cabin this morning, any lingering doubt fled.
Yes, he wanted her. More to the point, he knew she wanted him. He’d seen the way her eyes darkened when she spotted him, noticed her nipples tightening beneath her top when his gaze landed on those lush breasts. And there was no denying the desire in her voice when she asked him to be her personal tour guide.
The only question remaining was how he was going to achieve his goal without damaging what remained of their friendship? He wasn’t stupid. He knew he’d hurt her when he left San Rico all those years ago and, though he hated the fact he’d done it, it had been out of necessity. He’d needed to get away, to get away from the pressure his father had put on him, to escape the small town expectations and the bizarre feelings he’d been developing for Charity.
The simple solution would be to come clean and tell her why he’d left in the first place. They were adults now, so she was bound to understand. Trouble is, if he admitted that, he would have to confess that he’d been falling in love with her. And that scared him. Sure, that would ease the way into her arms, but admitting that the idea of love terrified him…
No, he would save that explanation for later. For the moment, he needed to earn her trust back and find out just what kind of fantasies were brewing in that beautiful head of hers.
“What made you decide to leave Las Vegas?”
Yanked from his thoughts, Scott gave himself a mental shake and peered down at her before pushing the UP button on the elevator.
“An ad in the paper.”
She lifted an eyebrow.
He continued with a faint shrug, “I read that Fantasy Cruises was hiring and I called. They needed a fulltime bartender and I needed to be closer to the ocean. It was a win-win situation.”
“So, you like being a bartender on a ship then?”
He nodded.
“Doesn’t it get lonely? You know, always being out to sea and never getting the chance to make lasting friendships?”
He hesitated. Though he loved his job, he couldn’t deny that he wondered from time to time if things would be different had he chosen a more stable lifestyle. No doubt he would have a house by now, but what about a wife? Kids? Probably not. He wasn’t the settling down kind of guy.
The elevator doors slid open and they boarded. After pushing the button for the Dionysus deck, Scott stepped back to lean against the rail.
“Not really,” he said at last. “I’ve made quite a few friends aboard the Hedonna, so I’m not too worried about getting lonely.” A flicker of what looked like disappointment crossed her eyes and he frowned. Damn, he really had hurt her.
Pushing off the rail, he reached out to stroke her arm with the backs of his fingers. “God, it’s good to see you again, Cherry. I’ve missed you.”
A tiny gasp escaped her at his touch, but she recovered and cleared her throat. “I…I missed you, too, Scott.” She glanced at the carpeted floor and murmured, “A lot.”
“I should have called. I was an ass not to.”
“Yes, you were.”
Ouch. He deserved that, he supposed.
Her expression brightened and she smiled. “That was then, this is now. Besides, I’m supposed to be having fun, so let’s not bring up old stuff. Tell me more about living on the Hedonna. I bet you get to see some pretty interesting things.”
Relieved for the subject change, he continued to stroke her arm, making tiny circles on her warm skin with his fingertips. “It’s amazing to watch people shed their inhibitions. You get to see otherwise straight-laced individuals reveal their true selves. Nothing compares to seeing the shy and timid go after what they want, what they desire.”
He noticed the little hitch in her breath and he moved his fingers
up to her shoulder. When she didn’t withdraw, he twirled a few strands of her hair around his finger.
She blinked as if clearing her thoughts and swallowed. “I can see where that would be a turn on.” A whimper escaped her when his fingers reached the nape of her neck. “H-have you ever caught any of the passengers doing things in public?”
“Doing things?”
She nodded, her eyelids fluttering. “Sex.”
He chuckled at the blurted word, and she opened her eyes. He shook his head. “Not normally. Occasionally, I’ll see a young couple getting a little carried away, but I’ve never caught anyone in the act.”
The elevator chimed and the doors slid open, killing the intimate mood he’d been trying to set. Charity pulled back and stepped out of the car, waving him along behind her. “Come on, it’s time to begin the tour.”
Suppressing a sigh of frustration, he followed her out of the elevator. She stopped after a few feet and stared unblinkingly in awe. “Wow.” She whipped her head in his direction. “Where are we?”
He smiled at her wonderment and gestured to the glittering lobby with a sweep of his hand. “This is the Dionysus deck. Take a guess at what he was god of.”
“Bars and casinos?”
Scott laughed. “No, but you’re not too far off. His domain was wine and merriment.” He pointed to a statue in the center of the spacious room. “That’s him. Do you want to try your luck in the casino?”
She shook her head. “Lady Luck has never been a close, personal friend of mine. Remember the summer I broke my leg and you tried to teach me how to play cards?”
He nodded at the memory. He’d spent two weeks trying to teach Charity the basics of poker, but she never quite caught on. When she received a winning hand, she wasn’t able to maintain a straight face and had bet all of her pennies.
He’d folded.
“That bad still?”
She nodded a bit sheepishly.
“Then for the sake of your bank account, why don’t we start somewhere safe. How about the café? We can get a bite to eat before checking out one of the other decks?”
Heartbreaker Page 4