Shawn pushed back from the wall, satisfied with his appraisal of the three hundred and twenty-nine guests that were part of the group, including Jase, the reporter, and fifteen Toujour employees. Skye was already heading toward the bar for her first drink. Shawn watched as she accepted a martini glass, her shrill laughter piercing his ears.
At exactly seven o’clock, Brooke rose and took her spot at the podium, the large expanse of the ocean glittering behind her as the blazing orange sun sank below the horizon line. Shawn nodded to the A/V expert, who faded the soft instrumental music until eventually it disappeared. The group of giggling singles quieted down and turned toward Brooke.
“Welcome to Toujour’s first-ever singles cruise,” Brooke said, her voice echoing around the room. Too loud. Shawn made a down motion to the A/V guy, who nodded. After five years as VIP Coordinator, Shawn and his crew had this down to a science. “We are so excited to have you with us. Who’s ready for the warm beaches of Mexico?”
The room broke out in thunderous applause. Skye let out a loud whistle and someone laughed.
So this was going to be an especially enthusiastic group. Good. People were typically happy to be on a cruise, but it was always easier to make their vacation memorable when they came into it expecting the best.
“Thank you,” Brooke said, her cheeks glowing pink with pleasure. “I’m just as excited to be here as each of you. I remember just how hard the holidays can be when you’re single. Your Aunt Alice keeps asking you when you’re going to settle down. Your mom won’t stop dropping hints about grandkids. Dad asks you about your plans every chance he gets, and Cousin Nellie, who’s way younger than you, just brought home her new fiancé.”
“You’re preaching to the choir!” someone called out, his deep voice cutting through the room.
A rumble of laughter filled the room, and Brooke chuckled as well. “I know. And that is precisely why I wanted to do our first-ever cruise in December, right before the holidays. I’m hoping that over the next week, Toujour can work a Christmas miracle for each and every one of you.”
Happy sighs and excited claps filtered through the room. Shawn scanned the crowd, keeping an eye out for anyone who might be less than enthusiastic. Jase clapped politely. Skye clapped enthusiastically. But Shawn noticed a woman sitting alone at a table near the back who wasn’t clapping at all.
He stifled a groan. Maybe she would the troublemaker of the cruise—never satisfied and critical of everything. He silently walked toward the side of the room, wanting a better look at the cynic. She wore a black cocktail dress, but he caught a flash of pink heels as she adjusted her feet underneath her chair. So she was bold, and perhaps a little flirtatious. Sandy blonde hair hung down her back in loose curls, and a jeweled clip that held her hair back on one side flashed in the chandelier light. Her profile showed a pert nose and full lips turned up in a small smile.
So she wasn’t displeased, then. Maybe she had something against clapping? Or wait, maybe it was the reporter that Brooke had mentioned. Natalie James. Yes, it would make sense that a reporter would be observing more than participating. It also made sense that she would be sitting alone on this first night.
More clapping filtered through the room. The woman adjusted, and Shawn finally caught a glimpse of her face. His breath caught in his throat as recognition dawned. No way. What were the odds? He closed his eyes, breathing deeply. She was the last person he wanted under his care.
It was the woman who had doused him in food at the buffet.
CHAPTER THREE
Natalie crossed her legs, leaning back in her padded high-backed chair. Tables big enough to seat six were scattered around the open room with high ceilings and glittering chandeliers. The women had crowded together, cramming chairs into nonexistent spaces around those tables. Every time Brooke mentioned a cruise activity, the women would giggle and whisper together. The men were more stoic, mostly sitting two or three to a table and giving each other sideways glances and occasional nods. But every once in a while a grin slipped through.
The room buzzes with a tangible excitement as the sun disappears behind the gentle crests of the ocean. Brooke Pierce-Ryder, the head of Toujour’s Los Angeles office, outlines the week’s upcoming activities to the group of hopeful guests eager for love. Through the glass windows behind her, a whale breaches the waves for just a moment before crashing back into the watery depths of the sea. The article practically wrote itself, and Natalie’s fingers itched for a computer. Hopefully she could find a quiet corner of the ship after dinner and spend a few hours writing down her observations.
“My matchmakers and I have dreamed up a very exciting Christmas treat for this week,” Brooke said.
Natalie’s ears perked up. That sounded like something that would add great color to the article. Maybe even something she could frame the narrative around. Natalie laughed as the matchmakers paraded into the room wearing Santa hats. She hadn’t even noticed they had temporarily disappeared.
“The most exciting part of any new relationship is the flirtatious ways you let each other know that you’re thinking about each other,” Brooke said as the crowd began to titter. “That’s why, for the next week, we encourage all of you to don a figurative Santa hat and leave flirtatious gifts and notes for that special someone you’re developing feelings for.”
A low murmur filled the crowd, and Natalie glanced around, observing the group’s interactions. This would definitely add a little pizzazz to the piece. She could tell by the way the women whispered together and the guys gave each other knowing eye raises that everyone loved the idea.
Brooke held up a hand, and the crowd quieted. “This isn’t about the size of the gift—it’s about the thought behind it. Remember, this week is all about building a relationship with someone that you want to continue beyond the next eight days. Secret Santa is all about proving that you’re forming that connection with each other. It’s a way to show her that you’re listening. It’s a way to show him you understand what’s important in his life.”
What made people go on this kind of cruise? That all seemed like a lot of effort for someone you barely even knew. Natalie’s few serious relationships certainly hadn’t formed over Secret Santa gifts and eight days of vacationing. She’d have to work hard to hide her skepticism when she spoke to the guests for the article.
“Two years ago, my darling husband and I were at a crossroads. We’d been friends for years, but I wasn’t convinced that we could ever be anything more. For Christmas that year, Luke gave me a box of items he’d saved throughout our friendship. They were financially worthless items that would’ve seemed unimportant to anyone but us. Luke could have purchased me anything I asked for, but he chose instead to remind me how much we meant to each other.”
A gentle sigh floated over the crowd, and women shared isn’t that adorable? looks with each other. Natalie had to admit, the whole thing sounded pretty romantic. She could see the glimmer of happy tears in Brooke’s eyes as she gripped the podium.
“That heartfelt reminder of our relationship is what ultimately made me begin to consider a future with Luke,” Brooke said. “And that is the type of magic I hope Secret Santa will work for our potential matches during this next week.”
She’d hit the jackpot. Natalie had a feeling that more than a few romantic vignettes would emerge from this twist that she could use to make her article stand out. Dana would be begging Natalie to come work for World Traveler once she finished reading the piece.
Brooke motioned to the matchmakers standing beside her, festooned in Santa hats. “Our matchmakers are on hand and ready to help you execute any ideas you may come up with for Secret Santa—within reason, of course.”
A chuckle rose from the matchmakers. Kendra gave a little curtsy, and the crowd laughed.
“If at any time you have any questions or concerns, please speak to your matchmaker immediately,” Brooke continued. “This week is supposed to be magical, and we want to make sure it stays that
way.”
Natalie had to admit that Brooke was good. She made falling in love seem not only possible, but inevitable and wonderful. Not the painful train wreck Natalie knew it to be. She’d always fallen too hard and too fast, only to find out that the guy she thought she was in love with wasn’t really invested in the relationship. An occupational hazard of being a hopeless romantic, her mother had always said.
Well, Natalie was done being a hopeless romantic. Cole had cured her of that once and for all. Losing his mind when she said she didn’t get him tickets to the football playoffs in February was the last straw. What a joke their relationship had turned out to be.
She blinked quickly and tried to focus on Brooke, who was describing the various activities on the cruise ship’s private island, where they’d spend two days at the end of the week. The wide expanse of the sea spread out behind her, sunlight glittering off the white caps of the waves. The whole thing was beautiful. Picturesque. The perfect backdrop to fall in love. Natalie wondered if she’d ever feel as open and optimistic about love as Toujour clients. If she’d ever again be willing to trust someone with her whole heart.
Enthusiastic clapping filled the room. Natalie blinked and joined in, realizing Brooke had stepped down from the podium. The room filled with a gentle murmur of voices as people rose and began to mingle. Natalie stood as well, feeling suddenly drained. She knew she should stay and mingle—talk to the clients and begin exploring what made them come on the cruise. Dinner would be served soon, giving her the perfect opportunity to get to know people better. But all she wanted to do was go back to her cabin and order room service.
Wyatt would tell her to go to her room and unwind. Tamera would tell Natalie to start introducing herself to the others and have a good time. That the cruise would be a lot more enjoyable if she made a few friends along the way. But Natalie’s first foray into interacting with others hadn’t gone so smoothly. She still couldn’t believe she’d thrown her plate of food all over that poor guy earlier. He’d tried so hard to hide his annoyance, but she’d still known he was upset. Not that she could blame him.
Natalie took a deep breath, straightening her shoulders. She couldn’t write the article if she didn’t spend every spare minute observing Toujour and its clients. Dana didn’t want a review of a cruise ship—she wanted an editorial about Toujour’s first singles cruise. And Natalie was going to give it to her.
She pushed her chair underneath the table and turned with the vague idea of heading toward the bar. Alcohol always made people more willing to talk to a reporter. But the man leaning against the wall a few feet behind her made her freeze. He was tall, with a dark blue button-up shirt and piercing gunmetal blue eyes.
A muscle in his temple flickered and Natalie sucked in an unsteady breath. He’d looked good that morning in his light yellow shirt, tomato sauce and ranch dressing notwithstanding. But in the blue shirt he was downright gorgeous.
And he was totally glaring at her.
Natalie quickly looked away, brushing her hair behind one ear. What was he doing here? He was a member of the staff, not a client.
Oh no. What if he was specifically assigned to work with Toujour? There would be no avoiding him if that was the case. The heat of humiliation washed over her afresh as she remembered plowing into his chest, food flying everywhere. She would die of mortification if he was working with Toujour.
The heat of his gaze burned her, and she glanced back again. Shawn had shoved his hands in his pockets and was slowly walking toward her. Oh gosh. Her heart throbbed against her chest as her entire body flushed with embarrassment. He paused a few feet from her. Holy cow, he was tall—well over six feet. She could wear heels with this guy and he’d still have a few inches on her. And she loved heels so much.
“I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.” His voice flowed over her like too hot water—deliciously warm, but also a little painful. His tone was even and polite. Was he still mad about this morning?
“Me, either,” Natalie said. “Uh, hi again.”
“I didn’t realize you were here with Toujour.”
That would be the day. “I’m actually here to do a story. I’m a reporter?” She didn’t know why she’d made that sound like a question. He’d folded his arms, and she couldn’t seem to stop staring at his bulging biceps. Clearly he made frequent use of the on-board gym. She curled her fingers reflexively. Squeezing his bicep to see if it was as muscled as it appeared was definitely out of the question.
She couldn’t quite forget the way his chest had felt underneath her palms as she pushed herself off him that morning, though. There’d been definite muscles there as well.
“Ah,” Shawn said, his expression suddenly lightening. He had a square jaw that showed a hint of stubble and a small cleft in his chin—just enough to add interest to his already gorgeous face. “Brooke told me you’d be on the cruise.”
“She did?” Natalie blinked, staring up at Shawn. She wasn’t used to looking up at a man. His intense eyes suddenly seemed less guarded. “I mean, you know Brooke?”
“Just from working with her the last few months. I’m Shawn, the VIP Coordinator for the Ocean Dream.” He held out a hand, sending a waft of something spicy her way.
She slowly slipped her hand into his. It was warm and rough and everything a man’s hand should be. “Natalie.”
“Wyatt James’s sister. I’ve loved watching him help turn the Coyotes around this past season. Great player.”
Well, that killed all thoughts of running her hands across his military buzz cut. Guys always seemed more interested in Wyatt than in her.
Not that she was interested in Shawn.
“Wyatt’s a great guy,” Natalie said.
A couple brushed behind Shawn, their heads bent close together as they laughed. Shawn took a step forward, putting him nearly toe-to-toe with Natalie. She quickly took a step back, needing some distance between them. He made her stomach twist itself into knots. She was pretty sure she didn’t like it.
“Well, if you need anything this week, let me know and we’ll do our best to accommodate your request.”
“I’ll do that.” Another couple passed nearby on their way to the open bar, and Natalie took another careful step backward. “I should go meet some people. Get some quotes for the article, you know.”
“Of course. Make sure you try the spinach puffs at dinner. They’re a chef specialty.”
“I’ll do that.” Natalie pressed her hands to her stomach, trying to quell the butterflies that couldn’t seem to stop swarming there. “Well. I guess I’ll see you around.”
“See you around,” he echoed.
Natalie walked away, putting a hand to her forehead. Tamera would laugh herself silly when Natalie told her about this. If she told Tamera about this. What was it about Shawn that turned Natalie into a bumbling idiot? Maybe the crow’s feet just beginning to form near his eyes. The sun-kissed bronze skin of his forearms. His broad chest and trim waist.
Stop it, she demanded. This wasn’t spring break in Florida. She didn’t have time for romantic entanglements on this trip. Besides, she was totally over guys.
Especially ones who worshiped her brother’s career.
CHAPTER FOUR
Natalie walked into the banquet hall, eager for her first full day on the ship. She looked around the room, so different in the light of day. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The large round tables from the night before had been replaced by smaller tables, just big enough for two. Large placards in the center of each table held a number, and the white tablecloths with black runners had been replaced by a light sky blue that perfectly matched the cruise ship logo. The room positively buzzed with energy as women in flirty sundresses and men in polo shirts spoke to each other. During Brooke’s welcome meeting last night, it had been clear the guests were sizing each other up while sticking close to those they’d come on the cruise with. Today, that appeared to have all changed. Natalie played with the thin st
rap of her messenger bag as she watched the women toss their hair and laugh while the men leaned closer.
After dinner last night, she’d found a quiet nook overlooking the main promenade and written until nearly one o’clock in the morning. The words had flowed as she jotted down her observations, made notes to remind her of the facts, and even wrote the first few paragraphs of the article. The words were rough, but they were written, and that was a start. When she’d finally tiptoed into her room, Kendra had been snoring softly in her bed. Natalie had stowed her laptop and dreamed all night about gooey chocolate chip cookies and blue eyes that sucked her into their warm current.
Someone bumped into her from behind and muttered a quick apology. Natalie blinked quickly, erasing thoughts of broad shoulders and a muscled chest from her mind. Today she’d get to observe Toujour’s version of speed dating. Brooke had described it last night as a chance for the guests to get to know each of their potential matches. Ridiculous. Who trusted a computer system to find them love?
Then again, she supposed people had done stranger things in the name of not being lonely. She’d convinced herself Cole loved her, for instance.
Matchmakers wandered among the crowd, handing out little cards that Natalie assumed told them where to go for the speed dating. Natalie watched the happy buzz of activity, feeling very out of place among the crowd of excited and hopeful romantics. She almost felt … well, lonely. There was a definite twinge somewhere in the vicinity of her heart, and she didn’t like it one bit.
Match Me by Christmas Page 3