“Yeah, I just need to walk a little.”
“Do you want me to come with you?”
I shake my head. I’d rather be alone, actually. I get out of our room and head down the stairs, sighing. I really blew it. Why is it affecting me so much? I don’t even know the guy well enough to care about him! It’s not like I had high expectations for this date. Plus, I wouldn’t have been able to maintain a relationship with him after this cruise. But this terrible feeling that I lost a chance at true love clings to me; like my Mr. Right has no interest in me. I’m condemned to stay single for the rest of my days!
Walking down the hallway, I see two young women heading back to their rooms. A blonde and a redhead; tall, thin, and tanned with perfectly manicured nails. Their hair and makeup is still impeccable. When I entered my room, I found that my locks had fallen flat, my makeup was practically gone, and I was bloated from overeating. No wonder why women who are constantly watched by others don’t eat a thing and spend most of their time in front of the mirror. They have to look perfect all the time.
I couldn’t carry myself like them, I realize with a sigh. Liv is right. Liam and I are from two completely different worlds, and it’s a woman like that he wants. I won’t deprive myself of a good steak dinner and be content with a salad just to look good. I know I wouldn’t be good enough for him. I couldn’t remember to touch up my makeup and my hair regularly, and I wouldn’t want to talk about fashion, beauty treatments, or decorations all the time, which I’m sure is all his friends and family talk about. I’d be bored to death. None of them could talk to me about literature, history or even art, I’m sure.
Liam probably didn’t appreciate that I challenged him about Romeo and Juliette. A well-educated woman would have simply nodded and thanked him for the invitation.
I arrive at the end of the deck where I take the elevators up to the roof. The pool illuminated by moonlight must be beautiful. I hope it won’t be too crowded. I get out of the elevator and I’m glad to see that I’m alone. Some employees are still cleaning up from the evening.
“Excuse me, is the pool closed?” I ask one of them who cleans a table.
The young man jumps and a glass slides out of his hands. I catch it out of reflex, apologizing for scaring him.
“Don’t apologize, it’s my fault,” he says nervously.
Based on the price of crystal glass, I bet his boss would have thrown a fit if he had broken one. I can see he’s still new and lacks confidence by how his fingers are trembling while trying to hold the dishes. I immediately feel sorry for him and take the tottering pile of plates in his hands. It’s a rookie mistake; you should always put all the utensils on the top plate. Otherwise, it’s a recipe for disaster.
I help him stack everything back up in the right order, holding the stack of plates on the back of my wrist and adding all the utensils on top with my other hand.
“This way, you won’t risk spending your salary on broken dishes.”
The young man looks down, visibly upset. Suddenly I’m aware what it meant to him and I feel uncomfortable. I didn’t mean to imply he doesn’t earn much.
“No, I’m sorry! That came out wrong. I’m just trying to save you some trouble. I know how it can be.”
Here I am, out of nowhere, telling him how to do his job. Above all, I sort of call him incompetent. He must find me incredibly arrogant! A weak smile stretches on his face.
“You were a waitress before?”
“I still am,” I whisper signaling to him it’s a secret.
“Ah, you are the winner of the contest, right?”
I shrug and smile in reply.
“I won’t say anything,” he assures me of a lighter tone. “It’s refreshing to come across someone nice around here.”
“I can imagine!” I say, laughing.
“Now, I need take those plates from you, please, before I get into serious trouble.”
“Oh yes! Sorry.”
I put the plates solidly on his wrist just before his supervisor arrives and sees me carrying them. As he advances towards us, the young man leaves, bowing politely.
“Madame.”
The manager turns to me, wearing a uniform with a bow tie. He’s tall and rather burly, and his hair is styled with gel.
“Excuse me, ma’am. Was that young man bothering you?”
“No, no. I was only asking if the pool was closed.”
“It never closes. Would you like us to leave you alone?”
“Oh, God, no! Don’t bother.”
“It’s not a problem. If you need anything, feel free to ask.”
“Thank you.”
I approach the edge of the pool to sit. Already, the employee who was vacuuming is gone, and the others are making themselves unnoticeable near the bar. I dip my feet in the heated water. I let my toes float to the surface, then stir them in the water so the waves caress the soles of my feet.
“Can I join you?”
A warm male voice suddenly interrupts my thoughts. I raise my eyes to the imposing silhouette standing next to me. Liam. His gaze begs me as a few strands of his dark hair fly in the wind. His smile reveals a certain timidity that I never would have suspected him to possess.
“Of course,” I answer.
Will he really put his feet into the water with his pants on? He removes his jacket and tie, keeping on only his white shirt with the top two buttons undone. He removes his shoes and rolls up the bottom of his pants to his knees to soak his feet in the water next to me.
“I didn’t expect to find you here.”
“Neither did I,” I answer.
And I wouldn’t have expected him to want to join me, either. I thought I had ruined everything with him? But maybe he was feeling the same, that he had ruined his chance with me.
“You’re not like the others,” he points out.
I’m taken back by his forward remark, and I don’t know if I should take it as a compliment or not.
“What makes you say that?”
“I don’t know if it’s your intellect, your kindness, or your lack of superficiality, but you’re different.”
He turns to me, his blue eyes seeming to look into my soul.
“I like it,” he says. “I like it a lot, actually.”
The way he says these words to me is so enticing and full of suggestive thoughts, and his eyes suddenly ignite. It’s as if he was holding back all night and forcing himself to act properly, while the slumbering beast inside him begged to be unleashed.
“Really?” I answer, trying not to stutter.
He’s so intimidating right now! He has a strong presence, and his expression is so dominant!
I notice that all the employees have left. They might have been ordered to leave when Mr. Walker arrived. I don’t know how a man so young can inspire so much respect and fear. He laughs a little.
“What if we forget about the rules for tonight?” he proposes. “I don’t think they apply to us.”
“Good idea,” I answer with a smile.
He smiles broadly.
“Have you been single for a long time?” he asks.
“Two months. And you?”
I detect a slight hesitation before he answers.
“I would have thought longer,” he says about my answer, clenching his jaw. “Much longer than you, that’s for sure.”
Could he be more vague? Is there something I should know? How is such a handsome man who seems to have it all still single? Is he that unattainable?
“That’s surprising,” I reply.
He turns to me, smiling mischievously, as if he has an ulterior motive.
“I just haven’t met the right person yet, I guess.”
“You haven’t met anyone who’s piqued your interest, even just a little?”
“Girlfriends are very demanding. I’m a rather busy man and I don’t like to be kept on a leash.”
“I see.”
I look away, understanding exactly what he means. Then what does he
want from me? I still can’t put my finger on it. He doesn’t speak much of himself, and his answers are often brief which lead to even more questions in my mind. Anyway, he was pretty clear; he doesn’t want a girlfriend, he’s just looking for an adventure.
“Then why did you invite me to dinner?”
“Would you believe me if I told you I had no choice?”
I frown, puzzled. His smile widens. What? What is that supposed to mean? Was I haunting his thoughts just as he haunted mine?
This man troubles me. I can feel my skin burning even though he hasn’t touched it yet. I want him, and it’s too damn bad if it’s only for one night. His expression promises me an unforgettable experience, and he exudes such a visceral energy that it’s practically a given he’s amazing in bed. Oh, I don’t care what Liv said! It’s true that I’m a romantic, but I’m allowed to have adventures, too. I’m not boring!
While the words of my ex echo in my head, I suddenly feel the urge to throw myself into the water. As if I wanted to prove someone who’s not even here that he was wrong. I press my palms against the concrete surrounding the pool, and push myself into the pool. My legs dive in first, and the rest of my body follows, sinking into the soft, warm water.
The skirt of my champagne dress floats majestically in the water, exposing my thighs and underwear, and locks of my hair dance around my face. I swim back up to the surface to face Liam, boasting a broad smile. He bites his lower lip, looking at me like a predator salivating over his prey.
Water runs down over my breast and the wet fabric of my dress sticks to my skin. I can hardly see my legs swimming under my skirt that gracefully floats around me.
“Are you coming in?” I ask.
I would have expected to see him remove his shirt before getting into the water, but no. He dives in fully clothed, and breaks the surface in a swift, sexy move. His wet hair sticks to his forehead, and a stream flows down his face onto his beautiful lips that discreetly blow the few drops left on his mouth. His fingers separate his soaked hair as he pushes it out of his face, and I can’t help but wish it was my fingers running through it. I think about how his wet skin would feel under my palms…
I barely realize I’m just staring at him with an imploring gaze. He smiles at me and his expression becomes slightly threatening, as if he is about to pounce on me. I want it so bad!
I pull myself together, smiling at him. His white shirt is now transparent and tightens around his muscles. I swallow, imagining him taking me in his arms and kissing me passionately. My heart throbs at the thought of his hand sliding my dress down to caress my breasts and suck on my nipples. I picture his mouth against my neck and his fingers tracing the curves of my body.
He’s so beautiful! And tonight, he’s with me. It’s me he wants; me, and not the others. Seconds later, his arms trap me against the edge of the pool. His piercing eyes seem to warn me, but mine beg him to kiss me. His hand grabs my waist and a surge of desire immediately takes over me. I let myself fall against his chest as he leans in to kiss me.
I hear his breath, growling against my mouth and it excites me. The fingers of his right hand mingle with my wet hair, grabbing a handful to gently pull my head back. He presses his lips even more savagely against mine and pushes his tongue deeper into my mouth. His body pins me against the cement. I’m his prisoner, but I have no desire to run away.
Unexpectedly, he tears his mouth from mine and steps back with a confused frown and tortured look on his face. His breathing is erratic, and I stand there, panting, not understanding. I expect him to say something, anything! He gets out of the pool, picks up his shoes and leaves. Just like that. What a jerk!
I need a moment to pull myself together. I try to understand what came over him, but I see no explanation. I don’t think I did anything wrong, did I? I get out of the water, lost in my thoughts and a million scenarios run through my mind.
My dress sticks against my legs, painfully reminding me of my humiliation. I wrap a towel around my shoulders before sitting down for a minute, just staring at the ground. I pass my hand over my face as if to ease the building tension. My fingers brush my lips and I close my eyes at the memory of Liam’s mouth against mine. The feeling is still so present and I wish I could tear it away from my skin, but at the same time, I want it to stay.
Chapter 4
The sun rises, but I have no desire to leave my bed.
“Carly? What happened?” Liv questions as she gets out of the bathroom.
I look up to her, my eyes timidly looking over the comforter. She holds my soaked and crumpled dress from last night in her hands.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I say, holding back tears.
She drops the dress on the dresser.
“Are you sure?”
I nod.
“I didn’t hear you come in last night.”
“It was late.”
“Should I worry that your dress is ruined?”
“Unless you’re becoming my mother, no.”
“Oh!” she exclaims. “Well aren’t we grumpy this morning!”
Her tone is rude when she talks to me. She jumps up and stands in the doorway of the room.
“I’m going to get breakfast. Are you coming, or are you going to stay and sulk?”
“I’ll sulk.”
She sighs loudly.
“Whatever you want!”
She walks out and lets the door slam behind her. Liv can have a very bad temper. I upset her, and she’ll probably need a few hours before agreeing to talk to me again after snapping at her like I did. I sigh. Oh well, I don’t really feel like talking right now, anyway.
I pull the blanket over my head and decide to go back to sleep. Just a few minutes later, the door of the room opens and I hear my friend’s sandals clatter on the floor. Intense discomfort fills the room and I hate it. I don’t like being in a fight with her. I gently raise my eyes from under the quilt to see her studying me sadly.
She sighs and approaches me. She pulls the blanket to slide under the sheets and holds me in her arms.
“Look, I don’t know if it’s him or someone else who upset you, but no matter who it is or what they did, you’re not gonna let them ruin your vacation? Right?”
I shake my head.
“No. I’ll get up… Before the end of the day.”
She sighs, knocking her head against the wall.
“Come on! I’m starving.”
“Didn’t you just get breakfast?”
She twists her lips as if the words she was about to speak were painful.
“It’s not funny at all if you’re not there. You’re my strength and I need you to face all those sharks.”
I pull my head out of the sheets to stare at her for a moment.
“What are you talking about?”
Liv looks up to heaven before shyly looking down to answer me.
“They’re intimidating.”
“You’re the most confident woman I know.”
“Not true. I may look like it, but it’s all show here. I’m always the center of attention at the restaurant, in bars, around our neighborhood, or in a club, and I’m used to it. But here, we’re talking about an entirely different league and all of these girls are like me, but even more vicious. I can pretend, but alone…”
She stops for a moment and I understand what she means. I sit up.
“Are you coming to breakfast with me?”
“Only if you promise not to ask any questions about last night.”
“Promise.”
I sigh, stretching my legs out of the bed. I get ready and we leave to get breakfast. The routine has settled so easily, and I know it will be difficult to go back to my old habits once we’re be back home. I already notice the employees less, unlike at the beginning when I could only see them, their work, their patience and politeness. I was seeing myself in their place, because normally it’s me who has to carry the trays to customers, and who has to endure tempers while keeping a good attitude.
Liv and I lounge at the pool, and a young couple settles next to us. The woman talks about their next vacation in the Hamptons, when a server offers her a cocktail.
“Can you let me enjoy the tropics before talking to me about the snow and cold,” her boyfriend snaps.
“I want us to talk about it.” She turns to the employee, handing her still full glass back to him. “This isn’t cold enough.”
Liv and I exchange a smile, thinking of the number of times someone made that kind of remark to us. At that moment, a beautiful blond Adonis appears above our heads, and Liv slips into the arms of the man who took her to dinner last night.
“Hello beautiful! What are you doing this evening?” he asks.
She turns to me, letting him know that she wouldn’t abandon me two nights in a row. He raises his eyes to me and I immediately feel uncomfortable.
“Would you like to come, too?” he suggests.
“Oh, um, no. It’s fine, don’t worry about me. Go ahead, Liv, have fun.”
“No, I insist,” he answers. “It won’t be a date, I reassure you. There will be other friends of mine, too.”
I turn to Liv who doesn’t dare get involved, but I see in her face that she really wants to go, and she won’t go without me. I just hope it doesn’t turn into some kind of blind date.
“Okay. I’ll go.”
I smile, hiding my disappointment. I planned to rest tonight. This whole series of activities is exhausting and with all of yesterday’s emotions, I would have eaten dinner in bed and then fallen asleep.
We spend a part of the afternoon to get ready for dinner. I put on a magnificent fitted silver dress with short sleeves and V-neck. I put my hair in a bun, leaving a few chosen locks hanging loose.
We enter the Stardust and immediately butterflies invade my stomach. All the guests on board appear to be here tonight for the show. I’ve heard that a very famous musician is part of the trip and agreed to do a performance. The word quickly spread.
We sit at Ian’s table with his friends, who don’t pay any attention to us. A simple glance at her reveals that Liv feels just as small as I do right now. That’s when my eyes meet Liam’s and I freeze. His alluring blue eyes cross the room and go straight to my heart in the span of a second, and suddenly it’s only he and I in the whole place. He smiles as if remembering last night’s kiss. He doesn’t give me the impression that he found it unpleasant at all, but what made him run away so suddenly?
A Borrowed Life (Carly and Liam #1) Page 5