She tried to smile, but was sure it came off weak. “Hey.”
He gently took her suitcase and they moved forward in the line. “I heard you got into a bit of trouble last night. I was worried about you.”
“Oh, you know,” she said in her best airy voice, “just almost drowned. I didn’t, though, so everything is fine.” Except that Shawn was gone, and she’d woken up gasping after a long night of bad dreams.
Jase shook his head, as though unable to believe what he’d heard. “I’m glad you’re alright. That’s scary stuff. How did you escape?”
She looked down, twisting the strap of her bag. It was hard to breathe, and tears clouded her vision. “Shawn saved me.”
“Hey.” Jase wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and she leaned into him. “Talk to me. What happened?”
As they made their way toward the ship’s exit, Natalie caught Jase up on the highlights of yesterday. “I don’t know what happened,” she finished. “One minute he’s begging me to make things work, and the next he’s telling me we’re better off apart.”
Jase pursed his lips, brow furrowed. “I don’t know. Maybe watching you almost drown freaked him out or something. He had to be scared you would die.”
Natalie shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. “So he was scared of losing me and decided to, what, breakup with me instead? That makes no sense.”
“I don’t think feelings are supposed to.”
They showed their room cards to the attendant for the last time, then made their way down the gangway and onto dry land. Jase pulled Natalie close in a quick hug. She felt tears pricking her eyes again and buried her face in Jase’s chest, allowing herself to be weak for just a moment.
“I hope you and Shawn can work things out,” Jase said. He pulled a business card from his pocket and tucked it into Natalie’s messenger bag. “That’s my private cell number. Don’t be handing that out to groupies or anything.”
Natalie laughed, wiping underneath her eyes. “I won’t.”
“Stay in touch, okay?”
She nodded, giving him one last hug. “Good luck with your movie.”
“And good luck with your article. You’ll be able to find your car okay?”
Natalie nodded, reclaiming the handle of her bag. Wyatt was probably already waiting for her in the parking lot. “Go get your luggage.”
“Okay. We’ll talk soon.” Jase lifted a hand in a wave, walking slowly backward, then disappeared into the crowd.
The parking lot was crowded. Vehicles with sunshades covering their windows said clearly they’d been parked for a week, while a long line of cars idled along the curb in the passenger pickup line. Natalie rose on her tiptoes, looking for her brother’s blue four-door truck. She saw it parked a few cars back in the line and strode toward it. Her limbs still felt heavy and ached from her struggle in the water last night, but her voice was back to normal and she knew there’d be no long-term affects from yesterday’s near miss.
The driver’s side door opened, and a tall man with broad shoulders emerged, a baseball hat pulled down low over her face. Natalie quickened her pace. She hadn’t realized how much she missed her big brother until this moment. Wyatt held open his arms and she went into them willingly, giving him a tight hug.
“Hey, little sis,” Wyatt said, his low voice making her eyes prick with tears. “How was the cruise?”
“Great,” Natalie lied. She wondered if Wyatt had watched from the upper deck as she disembarked the ship. Did he ever care that she was gone? “Let’s get out of here.”
Wyatt raised an eyebrow, but nodded. He hoisted her suitcase into the back seat of the truck like it weighed nothing, and soon they were pulling out of the parking lot and heading toward the interstate.
“Where’s Tamera?” Natalie asked. Since Wyatt and Tamera had started dating, they’d practically been attached at the hip. Things had only gotten worse since their engagement three months ago.
“She’s on set today.” Wyatt looked anxiously over his shoulder, then changed lanes. He’d told her many times that the worst part of living in California was having to drive in its insane traffic. “Tamera should hopefully be by later tonight. It’s the last day of filming and she wasn’t sure how long it would take.”
“Sounds good.” Tamera had her own apartment, but she seemed to do little more than sleep there these days. Every time Natalie called Wyatt, it seemed like he was with his fiancée. “And Mom and Dad are coming in a few days?”
“Tomorrow,” Wyatt confirmed. “Just in time for Christmas Eve. My first one in my new house. I’m really excited to celebrate. I’m glad everyone could come.”
When Wyatt suggested they celebrate Christmas at his house a few months ago, Natalie had jumped at the chance. She’d been dreaming of things to bake in his chef’s kitchen for a solid month. But now she just stared out the truck window, watching as cars cut through narrow spaces and honked at each other. Tall buildings rose on both sides of the road, and she caught a flash of a billboard advertising the Los Angeles Coyotes with Wyatt’s face blazed across it.
“Uh, are you okay, Nat?” Wyatt asked. “I thought you’d be Chatty Cathy after a solid week on vacation. Didn’t you get the information you needed for the article?”
“The article is written,” Natalie said. “The ports were beautiful, the cruise ship very nice, and the Toujour clients interesting. I guess I’m just exhausted and need a nap or something.”
“Well, I had the housekeeper make up your room and Tamera made a casserole that we can pop into the oven.”
Natalie couldn’t help but wrinkle up her nose at that. The thought of Tamera’s cooking was almost enough to make her forget about Shawn for a moment. Almost.
Wyatt laughed. “Hey, don’t judge her too harshly. She’s actually gotten a lot better in the last few months.”
Natalie inclined her head. “It’s not that she’s a bad cook, it’s just that she isn’t a great one.”
“Well, maybe you can teach her a thing or two over the break. She doesn’t start a new project until January and the team’s only got the minimum necessary practices and one home game during the holidays this year. We’re all pretty excited about it.”
She’d told Shawn about how excited she was to spend Christmas at Wyatt’s. How they all planned on watching the game home game he’d play on Christmas Eve—regular Monday night football—from premium seats at the fifty yard line. Maybe that’s why Shawn had declared his love, only to take it back mere hours later. He’d wanted to see the game up close and personal, then decided she wasn’t worth the trouble.
“Sounds fun,” Natalie said. She’d been so excited about this Christmas until two days ago, when Shawn had to go and break her heart. The big idiot.
Or maybe she was the idiot, since she kept letting guys do this to her.
“Nat, you’re kind of worrying me,” Wyatt said, glancing over at her. “What happened on that cruise? Did something go wrong? Were Brooke and Luke rude or anything?”
“No,” Natalie said quickly, straightening. “Nothing like that. The entire Toujour staff was incredibly gracious and kind.”
“Okay, so what is it?”
The tears were back. Natalie angrily wiped at her eyes and said, “It’s a guy, okay? I was a naïve idiot who had a fling with another stupid guy. And I thought all I wanted was a fling, but then I almost drown—”
“Whoa,” Wyatt cut in. “Back up. What do you mean, you almost drown?”
It was like the dam had been opened. For the rest of the drive home, Natalie spilled everything that had happened on the cruise with Shawn.
“I feel so dumb,” she finished. “I’m the one who told him I was only interested in a fling. And I thought that was all I wanted. But then I had to get my emotions involved or whatever, and now…” She let out a sigh. “I guess my heart’s a little bruised.”
“Oh, Nat.” Wyatt pulled into his driveway and cut the engine, then turned to face her. “I’m so sorry.”
“Me too.”
“Want me to track him down and beat him up?”
She laughed, wiping away more tears. “I think I’m good. But thanks for the offer.”
“Well, it’s a standing one,” Wyatt said gruffly. He pulled her suitcase out of the truck and they headed inside. “Let me know if you change your mind.”
“I won’t,” Natalie said with certainty. Just like Shawn wouldn’t change his mind about her.
Up in Wyatt’s guest room, Natalie slowly unpacked her suitcase. She wouldn’t be returning to Arizona for almost two weeks, until right before the new semester began. Tamera had asked for help with wedding plans, and Natalie happily agreed.
Her hand hit something hard, and Natalie slowly pulled out the box holding the Christmas ornament. She stared at it, heart thumping in her chest. She’d forgotten she’d placed this in her bag earlier in the week.
Natalie stared at the box. She should throw the ornament away. The last thing she needed was a painful reminder of this trip. But instead she reached forward and slowly lifted off the lid.
The seashell Santa stared up at her, and memories of that day in Arenas Blancas came rushing back. Tears fell down Natalie’s cheeks as she dropped to the bed, holding the ornament in her hand. She could still see the happiness in his gunmetal blue eyes as he played Santa for the kids at the orphanage.
Slowly, warmth began flowing over Natalie, replacing the icy cold she’d been feeling since yesterday. The man who organized a Christmas drive for underprivileged kids would never date her for her family connections. He’d never even consider it.
Something had happened when she fell into that water. Something that made Shawn run scared, just like she had. He’d chased after her. Didn’t she owe him the same courtesy?
Natalie set the ornament on her nightstand and pulled out her laptop, turning it on. She knew what was wrong with her article. And she knew how to fix it.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Shawn stared at the email from his real estate agent, informing him that someone else had placed an offer on the property in Sunset Plains, and it had been accepted. He’d expected this news to devastate him, but he was too numb to feel any distress. What did it matter whether or not he moved home to Sunset Plains? Natalie was gone.
He’d let her go.
She must be back on shore by now. All but the guests in the executive suites should be off the boat. He hoped she was feeling better this morning. It had taken all his powers of self control not to check on her this morning.
Shawn shut the lid on his laptop and rose. His knee had been so swollen this morning that he’d had to wear shorts, since he couldn’t fit his pant leg over it. He grabbed the cane he kept on hand for just such occasions and hobbled toward the presidential suite for his final meeting with Brooke. Yesterday, he’d hoped she’d commit to doing another cruise on the Ocean Dream. Today, he couldn’t bring himself to care one way or the other.
He knocked quietly on the suite door, leaning heavily on his cane. The door swung open and Luke gave him a broad grin.
“Hey, Shawn,” Luke said, holding the door open wide. “Come in, please. Brooke’s just changing the baby. She’ll be right in.”
“Thank you.” Shawn followed Luke to the same couch he’d sat on eight ago. Had it really only been a week since he’d met Natalie? It felt like a lifetime. Already he missed her with a fierce intensity that ached worse than his leg ever had.
Brooke entered the room, holding Grace on her shoulder. The baby was swaddled tightly in a blanket and sucked a pacifier while her eyes drooped close.
“Sorry about that.” Brooke sank onto the couch and smiled at Shawn. “I know they’re going to kick us off this boat any minute now so they can get it ready for the next cruise, so I’m going to keep this brief.”
“We’d never kick you off,” Shawn said. A total lie. He knew for a fact that a European prince was staying in this cabin for the next cruise. Shawn wouldn’t be working with him, however. He was in charge of two smaller groups for the next cruise—an extended family reunion and a baker’s conference. Natalie would’ve loved the activities he had planned for that crowd.
“All in all, I think this cruise went better than I could’ve dreamed,” Brooke said. Her smile was bright and excited. “You were perfect, Shawn. Any hiccups during this cruise fall entirely on mine and my matchmakers’ shoulders. But we’ve already got some ideas on how we can improve things for the next cruise.”
Next cruise. Shawn knew the words should send a thrill through his heart, but he felt nothing. Sure, he’d earned his bonus. Mike would be thrilled. But what did it matter? Shawn had lost the property in Sunset Plains, and while he could find another one, it would mean nothing without Natalie.
“It seemed like the cruise was very successful,” Shawn said. “I noticed quite a few couples disembark this morning.”
“Oh yes.” Brooke nodded enthusiastically, patting the baby’s back. “I’ve already had twenty-five couples request to put their files on hold, and I think we’ll have another dozen follow suit in the next few days. That’s not a bad success rate for only a week’s work.”
Shawn had no idea what putting a file on hold meant, but from the sparkle in Brooke’s eyes, he guessed it was a good thing. At least someone had found love on this cruise, even if it wasn’t him. “That’s great news.”
Brooke rose, and Shawn took her cue and limped his way to the door.
“I’m thinking Valentine’s Day would be the perfect time to hold another cruise,” Brooke said. “That’s another holiday that’s always tough for individuals who are looking for a relationship. I know that doesn’t give us much time to prepare, but I feel like we’ve got a pretty good itinerary already. What do you think—would Valentine’s Day be possible?”
“I’ll check with the booking office and get back to you,” Shawn said.
“Maybe Natalie’s article will come out before then, to help with publicity.”
The name sent a slice of pain across Shawn’s chest, and he gingerly rubbed at the hole. “Yeah, maybe. I guess we’ll have to watch the magazine and see.”
Brooke’s eyes narrowed into a shrewd expression. “You mean she won’t tell you when it’s published?”
Shawn leaned on his cane, feeling suddenly exhausted. “The cruise is over. I don’t think we’ll probably talk to each other again.”
“Hmm.” Brooke chewed on her lip, casting a sideways glance at Luke.
“Brooke,” he said warningly, folding his arms.
Brooke widened her eyes innocently, shifting the baby from her shoulder to her arms. “What?”
“Don’t interfere,” Luke said.
Shawn glanced back and forth between the pair, not sure what was happening.
“I’m not interfering. I’m helping.” Brooke flipped her hair over one shoulder, her eyes zeroing in on Shawn. He felt trapped, as though he’d suddenly been tied to the couch. “I thought you and Natalie were getting along rather well during the trip.”
Shawn coughed, pounding his chest. “Excuse me?”
“Oh, please. Anyone with half a brain could see the chemistry between the two of you, and I’m trained to recognize that sort of thing. It’s literally my job to help couples find their happily ever after.”
“Brooke, he’s not a Toujour client.” But Luke’s tone was resigned, as though he knew there was no point in trying to talk her out of whatever insane conversation she was apparently determined to have. “Not everyone appreciates you butting into their love life.”
“I’m a professional matchmaker who’s been with Toujour for seven years. Who wouldn’t want my free advice?” She handed the baby over to Luke, and Shawn had a feeling that was a sign that Brooke meant business. “Now, why don’t you tell me what happened? Then maybe we can figure out a way to fix it.”
Shawn absently massaging his sore leg, remembering the terror as he’d run toward Natalie. The fear that he wouldn’t reach her in time. “I’m not sure
that there’s a relationship to talk about.”
“There’s always something to talk about.” Brooke pointed to the couch. Luke paced back and forth behind it, Grace stirring against his shoulder. “We’ve got thirty minutes before they kick us out of here. What happened between you and Natalie? I’ve been watching you the entire cruise, you know. The two of you seemed to be doing just fine, and then she nearly drowned and everything changed.”
Shawn reluctantly made his way back to the couch. He didn’t want to talk about this with Brooke, but if he didn’t share with someone, he might explode. And who better to talk about relationship troubles with than a professional matchmaker? He’d seen with his own eyes the way she’d brought people together over the last week.
For the first time since watching Natalie walk away, Shawn saw a flicker of hope. “Yesterday, I told Natalie that I loved her.”
He felt the back of his neck grow hot, but Brooke seemed unfazed by the confession. “And?”
“And she said that we were just a fling and it would never work between us. I kept pushing, but she ran away.” He swallowed hard, looking down at his hands. “That’s when she fell off the dock.”
Luke grunted, still pacing behind Brooke with the baby. “I’ve been there. Brooke about lost her mind when I told her I loved her.”
Brooke glared at her husband, then turned her attention back to Shawn. “That’s because I was scared by how much I loved Luke. He was a total playboy, and I was worried he wasn’t ready for a relationship. I expect something in Natalie’s past gave her a similar reaction. But I can tell there’s more to the story.”
Shawn sighed, playing with the handle on his cane. “She changed her mind. Last night in the infirmary, she told me she was scared and shouldn’t have run away.”
“But by then you’d freaked out,” Brooke said.
How did she know these things? It was almost freaky how insightful she was. “Natalie’s more than a decade younger than me.”
“Age is just a number,” Brooke countered.
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