She scanned the paper and frowned. “But there are five days of them. All first thing in the morning.”
“You want to come with me?” I tried not to push too hard. Elle hated sitting through lectures, and I figured she would decline this time too. We had learned to respect our differences and accept the give and take.
She surprised me by considering my offer, and my hopes rose, but she finally made a face. “No, but you’ll still come to the hula class after lunch, won’t you?”
“Of course. I love making a fool of myself in front of others.” Grabbing my clothes, I headed to the bathroom.
“We’ll have company. Jimmy’s coming,” Elle called as I shut the door.
IT WAS probably safer for me to go to the briefing without Braedon since I was finding him a little too interesting for my comfort. I had survived the last eleven months by removing all evidence that Jace had ever been a part of my life. Mentally, I had known it would take me time to get over him, but the betrayal confused everything. I had set progress markers to prove to myself I was moving on, like finally eating at our favorite restaurant or accepting a Facebook friend request from someone in high school we had both known. My pride had demanded it. Like a racehorse wearing blinders to avoid distraction, I had refused to see anything but getting past the anniversary of Jace’s death ... and all that had followed. I hadn’t been able to bring myself to consider my raw and wounded heart. That would come. Eventually.
Braedon’s cabin door opened just when I was about to pass it. He grinned. “Good timing. Do you mind if I walk with you?”
“No,” I lied. Kind of. He smelled fresh from his shower and had put on that yummy cologne again.
“What’s involved in your belt test?” he asked as we walked down the corridor.
“I have to do all my degree kata. Sensei will have me choose one of my favorites from any color belt, and he’ll choose one or two for me to do too.”
Braedon frowned. “So you have to remember all the forms?”
I nodded. “And there’s unpadded sparring—three against one—plus a bunch of self-defense techniques.”
We had reached the auditorium, where a crowd of people gathered at the entrance, slowly making their way inside. In front of us was the elderly gentleman from the drill. Braedon’s eyes flicked to me, and the corner of his mouth twitched. If I had known him better, I would have smacked him. Instead, I laughed.
The old man looked back over his shoulder, his eyes sparkling in recognition. He nodded to us and turned back to another elderly man. “What was it you said?”
“That stuff doesn’t happen out here, does it?” the other man asked him.
“Not that I ever heard of. I wouldn’t go on any of the excursions if I had. Who’d ever think pirates ...”
Their voices faded as they entered the auditorium.
Aislinn and D’Arcy were seated at the front. She waved for Braedon to come over, and he looked at me. “It didn’t sound like you were meeting anyone here. You’re welcome to sit with us.”
The invitation was hardly unexpected, but my heart still sped up. I had never been able to come up with excuses quickly enough in order to get out of things gracefully. I could be rude, and had to admit I had overreacted at first after Jace—just ask all those guys who had asked me out over the last year—but this was different. Braedon was just being nice. “Sure.”
“No Kate?” I asked when we sat down next to the Armstrongs.
Aislinn bent forward. “They have a lot of activities for the kids. I could hardly get her to eat her breakfast first.”
The sound of drums blasted through the speakers, and the lights slowly dimmed. A large Polynesian man in a flowered shirt came on stage and opened the day’s lecture on the history of the Hawaiian Islands.
“How do you practice self-defense on your own?” Braedon whispered.
“I don’t. I’ll have to wait until after the trip.”
After a few minutes, Braedon leaned toward me. “Is it hard?”
I turned to him. “Is what hard?”
“Being a self-defense dummy.” He tilted his head closer, his hair tickling my ear and making goose bumps break out along my arms. “I could be your guinea pig.”
Jace had hated my love for karate. He had said he worried someone would hurt me. Yeah, right. He hadn’t liked me being punched but hadn’t minded breaking my heart.
When I didn’t answer right away, Braedon said, “But only if you want.” He sounded unsure.
I didn’t want to be distracted from my goals, and Braedon was definitely distracting, but I told myself it was just a kind offer. “That’d be great. I do need to practice.” The last part at least was true.
The brightness from the low lights made his eyes glimmer. “Just don’t hurt me.”
I choked back a laugh, and the woman behind me shushed us. We faced the speaker, our shoulders shaking.
I LEFT BRAEDON with his family at the end of the lecture and went back to the cabin in search of Elle. She hadn’t returned from breakfast, and I had no idea where to look for her before lunch. Time to take advantage of the sunshine. I changed into my barely-there bikini that I only wore to tan when no guys were around, put on a robe, and went out onto the balcony.
Leaning against the balcony rail, I tasted the salty air. Seagulls glided the drafts of wind that swirled my hair. I had come on the cruise for this—quiet solitude and the majesty of the ocean.
From what I could see, none of the nearby balconies were occupied, so I slipped off my robe and lay down on the lounge chair. I read until my eyes grew tired from the glare. I set the book aside, the toasty warmth of the sun trying to lull me into a doze. It was time to go inside.
The sound of Braedon’s balcony door opening sent a shock through my body. I choked back a cry, scrambling for my robe.
“Nice bikini,” he commented, his tone appreciative.
My stomach churned as, cheeks burning, I flipped the robe the rest of the way around me and rose to face him. First I fall all over him and now this. Was I forever destined to be embarrassed in front of this man?
He stood with his back to me, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter.
I didn’t know if I should be glad he had turned around or mad he was laughing at me. I chose to go with the first option. “And they say chivalry is dead.”
Braedon turned, trying to look penitent and only succeeding a little, the humor still in his voice. “Sorry, but you should have seen your face.”
I laughed softly. I was surprised at the number of times he had made me do that. “So where do gentlemen like you come from?”
“New York. I grew up on my mother’s estate in Long Island. The estate itself has around a hundred acres of formal gardens.” Braedon chuckled. “There’s a walled garden where Aislinn used to like to pretend she was Mary Lennox. She’d bribe me to be Colin.”
After biting back a smile at the picture, I considered the implications of growing up in a home like that. It was something far beyond anything I had ever experienced. “Does your mother still live there?” I shifted. My robe was getting hot.
“No ....” He grimaced. “She died about six months ago.”
I straightened. “I’m sorry.”
Braedon gave me a tight smile, his expression making it clear he didn’t want to talk about it.
When I tried to think of another subject, an image of my parents’ tiny house in a middle-class neighborhood flashed through my mind. “It sounds like you had a privileged childhood.”
I didn’t mean to sound accusatory, but Braedon became defensive. “We did have a privileged childhood, but it wasn’t from living at Winterwood or going to yacht races; it was from spending our summers and holidays on a Montana ranch working our butts off. I spent only about a quarter of my time with my dad, but it’s his house that feels like home to me.”
We stared at each other for a moment, and I had the strong impression he had not spoken of this with many others. I felt honored h
e would share something so personal with me.
My balcony door opened, and I jumped. Elle slipped outside but stopped when she saw Braedon.
“Sorry I talked your ear off, Lyn.” He turned toward his door. “I’ll see you around.”
“I liked getting my ear talked off.” I kept my voice low. He must have still been able to hear, because he glanced over his shoulder, and the corner of his mouth turned up before he went back inside his cabin.
I turned toward Elle. “Been having fun?”
She considered Braedon’s closing balcony door but didn’t say anything for a moment before finally asking, “You ready for lunch? I’m starving.”
CHAPTER 4
I SPENT PART of the afternoon reading in the ship’s library.
When I returned to our cabin, I found Elle had almost finished dressing for dinner.
“Did you get lost in your book?” She dangled her wristwatch. “You’re cutting it pretty close.”
“I won’t be long.” I slipped out of my shoes.
When I had undressed, I chose one of the four formal dresses I had purchased for the cruise. Since Elle wanted to go up to the Crow’s Nest, I chose the simplest one. It was a black, knee-length chiffon piece.
I twisted my hair into a loose, curly updo, leaving a few strands hanging around my face and down my neck.
After slipping on my heels, I stood beside Elle in front of the mirror to check the overall effect. She was more striking than beautiful. While her eyes were a little too wide for her small nose, their bright blue color offset her dark blonde hair. It had amused us when we were growing up that people often mistook my fair-haired brother as hers. I was dark where Elle was light, tall where she was not. Elle’s soft, feminine shape contrasted with my more angular, athletic form.
“You’ll do,” we said together and giggled.
The Crow’s Nest sat on the top floor of the ship with a panoramic vista of the ocean. Elle’s little social group had grown, and Jimmy helped me push a few of the small tables together.
“That should give us a good view of the dance floor.” Jimmy patted the table before turning to me. “Guess what.”
“You found someone who plays an instrument.”
He snorted. “I’ve already found three—a drummer and two guitarists. One’s good at bass too. Now I just need a keyboardist.” His eyes glowed. “The news is I’m wearing the cruise director down and ... Hang on.” He scooted around a couple and dashed to the door where Maria stood searching the crowd.
Jimmy brought her over to the table. “I’ll be right back,” he said and headed toward some guys who were waving him over.
Maria didn’t seem to know what to do with herself, so I patted the chair beside me. “He’s not excited about his little band at all, is he?”
Her face shone with pride. “He’s so talented.”
“Did you two just meet?”
Maria shook her head, glancing over her shoulder like she was afraid someone might overhear. “We’re kind of engaged,” she whispered. “But it’s a secret. He’s not sure his mother will approve of me.”
Grimacing, I wondered if it was because she was Hispanic. Not that I could ask. “With him in the family ranch business, it’ll be hard to keep secret.”
“I know, right? His mom’s determined to set him up with a family friend. Jimmy’s going to break it to her when—excuse me.” Maria jumped from her chair and hurried over to where Jimmy was signaling her.
I watched them talking with the group of guys. Jimmy and Maria made a cute couple. I hoped things worked out for them.
Elle slid into the chair beside me as a feedback squeal came from the sound equipment. The DJ made a quick adjustment to the microphone. “Welcome, cruisers!”
The crowd roared their approval.
The DJ introduced himself and then officially opened the floor. D’Arcy led Aislinn out to dance. She winked at Braedon as her husband took her into his arms. As Santana’s “Smooth” began to play, they flowed into the cha-cha like their bodies were being guided by one brain.
The crowd got into the rhythm, and I found myself grinning. I loved to dance, and I hadn’t had a good partner since college. I wondered if Braedon could dance that well too.
My curiosity was soon satisfied. The song had barely played halfway through when Braedon suddenly jumped up and cut in on D’Arcy, Aislinn laughing as he swept her away.
No, Braedon couldn’t dance like Aislinn. Or wouldn’t. His sister tried to do the cha-cha with him, tried being the key word. His steps reminded me of the out-of-sync movements from guys at my high school graduation—then I realized he was pretending to be a robot. Braedon was trying to suppress a smirk, and Aislinn finally laughed, hitting his arm and letting him lead her in a bizarre two-step that didn’t match the music at all.
When the song ended, Braedon approached my table, extending a hand. “May I have this dance?”
I hesitated a moment, thinking it might be better if I didn’t, but Elle gave me her you-had-better-say-yes-or-you’re-so-dead look. I took his hand, prepared for the tingle this time. He smelled good. Great.
The second song, “In the Mood,” had begun by the time we reached the floor. Braedon placed his right hand high on my back and, taking my other hand, went into the two-step again. At least this time he moved with the music.
“So, where are you from?”
I didn’t realize I had been holding my breath. After talking about his medical training earlier, I had been expecting questions about college. Maybe someday I could look back on my own memories of that time without thinking of liars and cheaters. “Colorado Springs. I’ve lived there all my life.”
“Excuse me.” Jimmy tapped my shoulder. “I’m cutting in.”
He stole me away, pulling me into an awkward embrace and swinging me into what could only be a Texas two-step. Almost immediately, I missed Braedon. Stupid me.
Jimmy was followed by a host of guys in what became a session of speed-date-dancing. Exhausted, I returned to our tables, where I found Elle had just finished dancing with D’Arcy and invited the Armstrongs to join us.
I slid into the seat next to Aislinn. “You had to have been on a ballroom dance team.”
“I was.” She winked at her brother. “I used to try to make Braedon practice with me.”
He grimaced.
“Which was worse, dancing with Aislinn or playing Colin to her Mary?” I teased.
Aislinn darted her eyes from me to Braedon. “You told her that?”
“I may have mentioned it.” He rose from the table, took my hand, and pulled me to my feet. “Let’s finish our dance.”
A slow, modern song played, and Braedon pulled me near, swaying back and forth to the music. Except for karate, I hadn’t been held so close in almost a year. My senses awakened to him; his subtle but pleasant cologne, the weight of his hand on my waist.
I needed to think of something else. “I’m sorry if I said something I shouldn’t have back there.”
He lowered his eyes to mine. “About me playing Secret Garden with my sister?”
I laughed. “I have a younger brother I used to torment, and I love the thought of Aislinn doing the same to you.”
Braedon smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes—like the smile he had given me on his balcony when he hadn’t wanted to talk about his mother.
“I think you would probably do anything for Aislinn,” I said, hoping my instincts were right.
His smile then did more than light up his face. I almost forgot we were surrounded by a crush of people. He was a very good dancer.
“You said you were a teacher.”
I was on edge, kind of like when I was blowing up a bunch of balloons for a school event and just waiting for one to pop. Braedon continued to make easy conversation, and I wondered what I had been worried about.
When we returned to the tables, the Armstrongs were rising to leave.
“We need to get Kate to bed, or she’ll be a bear in t
he morning.” Aislinn twisted so her husband could help her with her wrap.
When D’Arcy looked at Braedon, he nodded. “I’ll come with you.” Braedon finished the last of his drink. Turning to the rest of us, he said, “I have to get up early. Good night.” The three of them left together.
I looked at my watch. “I should probably go too.”
Elle tapped the seat beside her. “I don’t think so.”
“But I have to get up early too.”
She tilted her head and pinned me with her eyes. It always struck me how so much strength of will could be housed in such a little person.
Laughing, I sat down. “Fine. I’ll stay a little longer.”
CHAPTER 5
BRAEDON HAD already begun his workout on the treadmill when I arrived the next morning. Before I had fallen asleep the night before, I had reminded myself of my reasons to stay aloof. As soon as I saw him, I had to go through them again.
I went through my stretches, and by the time I took my break, Braedon had moved to the weights, giving Jimmy and Maria tips. They joined me when I had completed my forms. I took a few minutes to teach Jimmy and Maria some kicks and punches, sending them off to practice before the gym got too full.
I was pleased to be collected and businesslike as I turned to Braedon. “You ready for this?”
“Of course.”
I pulled a pair of mats from the corner. “We need to use these because in my escapes I’m required to take you down.”
“Okay,” he said slowly. “What kind of escapes?”
“Holds, mostly. Let’s start out with you behind me.” I turned my back to him. “Pin my arms to my sides.”
He grasped my arms, his skin warm and surprisingly soft, and held them in place, though without much strength.
I shook my head. “You need to bring your arms around me and pin my arms to my sides.”
He did as instructed, but I could tell he still wasn’t using his full strength. I would have to get his attention. Before he could react, I pulled one of his fingers free and bent it into a joint lock, careful to not apply too much pressure, just enough so he released my arms. Still in control of his finger, I twisted around so he was forced to drop to his knees. He tapped out to let me know he’d had enough, and I let him go.
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