by Chelsea Hale
The photographer was still posed at their table, and Mandy looked to Derek. “It’s like he wants me to blow out the candles, but there aren’t any.”
Derek leaned over to her. “I did ask for them, but they couldn’t guarantee it. They have rules about lit candles.”
That made sense. Miming it would only be silly though. She clapped toward all of the servers surrounding them.
The French tenor spoke in a heavily thick accent. “We are thrilled you celebrate such a great day on our cruise ship. It is our honor.” He put his hand to his heart, closing his eyes with feeling. A large cake knife with a decorative handle was placed between them, then the man said, “Before you can cut your cake, you must do what the French song says, no? True love begins every year with a kiss.”
“Sorry, what did he say?” Mandy asked Derek. The surprise on his face mirrored her own.
“She peeked over the cake, where the vanilla ice cream was now melting down the sides and onto the roses. Anniversary was written on the bottom of the platter. Wait, what?
“There’s been a mistake,” Derek began.
“Sir, it is tradition, and the photographer is waiting,” the French man said, smiling wide.
More people gathered around, and Mandy’s face heated. This was silly. No way were they going to kiss. And not in front of this many people.
When they both just looked at each other, the French tenor sang the last two lines of the song again, this time translating the words into English. “How I kiss is how I love. Every anniversary is like our first. True love begins every year with a kiss.”
Derek’s eyes dropped to her mouth, and warmth filled Mandy. He caught her gaze for a split second before his lips covered hers. He put his arms around her, and she couldn’t think. The man who had been driving her crazy on this entire cruise was kissing her, and she was enjoying it too much. Way too much. She could see the camera flashes going off even through her closed lids, and still she kissed him. She ran her fingers along his smooth jaw just as he pulled away.
Her heart pounded, and she blinked as Derek looked at her, his eyes full of questions as the crowd cheered around them.
When Derek cut them each a piece of cake, the waiters clapped again and congratulated them before going back to their assigned tables.
As she ate each bite, Mandy knew she would have loved the chocolate cake, but she couldn’t taste anything except Derek’s kiss. Emotions swam all around her, pulling her like a rip tide in another direction. She’d thought she couldn’t stand Derek, but was it possible to feel that much passion and energy from someone you didn’t like? Her brain swirled around the complications, but she couldn’t grab any one distinctly. All she knew was she wanted to kiss him again. Forget the chocolate cake.
She had almost finished her dessert when Derek leaned close to her. His breath tickled her neck, sending delightful shivers around her back and shoulders. The last two minutes clarified something inside of her. Her attraction to him was high, and if she looked at all the tension she’d felt between them and spun it, she wondered if maybe he wasn’t good with expressing himself in words.
Maybe all this time when he’d given her a hard time, he’d really been guarding himself against his true feelings. It was a line of thinking she’d have to delve into tonight, while she ate a sundae on the top deck and wished her roommates were here to help her analyze.
“I’m sorry for all the confusion,” he said.
Here it is. Clarity on his feelings. Her heart skipped an excited beat, pounding faster than it had when he’d kissed her. She couldn’t say anything, just looked at him, waiting for more.
He raised his eyebrows. “I ordered birthday cake for you. I had no idea about all of this.”
She understood completely. A mix-up in the kitchen. “It’s okay. The cake is great.” It had been one nice kiss. One she could indulge in again. Now.
“I should have corrected them. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you.” His eyes were pleading for her to understand.
She did. A forced kiss in front of strangers wasn’t an ideal moment, but that kiss had still sent fireworks through her veins.
He ran a hand through his hair, and looked away. “I guess at least it was a good show, right? The kiss looked believable.”
Uh? She was lost. The kiss was for show? For the random strangers who watched them? It felt real to her. Really real. The rip tide of emotions pulled her farther out to sea, and she was drowning, pulled under and disoriented. She couldn’t reframe her thinking since the kiss. It had meant something to her. But if it didn’t to him, what had that meant about the rest of their time together? That he really did have a chip on his shoulder, and it wasn’t a way to protect himself. It was who he was.
Looked believable? It felt believable. She played it off lightly, even as her heart sank. “Not sure if it looked believable. I had my eyes closed.”
His face visibly relaxed and he cleared his throat. “No harm done then. We can forget this ever happened.”
She swallowed hard. “I’ve forgotten what we’re even talking about.” Lie. There wasn’t enough ice cream on the cruise ship to make her forget the burning sting of this moment on her heart. “Will you excuse me please?” She needed to leave the table before he said anything more. She needed to clear her head, and with that kiss still at the forefront of her brain, it wouldn’t be easy.
Chapter Twelve
Derek rubbed his fingers over the velvet box again. One way the material was smooth, but the other way it was rough. Right now, he was on the rough side of life. He opened it and stared at the anchor necklace.
What was he supposed to do with it now? Mandy had excused herself from the table, and then the present came out. He’d wanted her to open her gift after she’d blown out her candles and eaten cake. But all of it had become so complicated.
How would it look to give her a gift after she pretty much said she was going to forget the whole evening?
What had he been thinking kissing Mandy? Yes, she was attractive and mesmerizing, but that wasn’t a reason to get involved. This cruise was messing with his mind.
Besides, he’d tested the waters. He wanted to see if she felt anything, and she was all too willing to forget about the whole thing. Impossible. Could she forget about a kiss like that if she felt something for him? He put a fist to his forehead and looked up. What could he do?
He knew what he needed to do. He needed to focus. He’d had a vacation, and now that he knew that she wasn’t taking advantage of Grams, there was no need to hover so much. Or to be with them at all.
He needed to…get on a computer and get some work done. He might still be on the ship but that didn’t mean he had to forgo working. Without Mandy, his vacation just ended.
Derek spent the next couple of sea days working. He made his excuses to Grams every morning and headed to work at the internet café after walking around the track. He avoided going to the gym early in the morning. Grams told him when Mandy had her two-hour breaks, and Derek joined Grams for that portion of her day. He stayed aloof from Grams questions really well, until Grams brought it up only a few minutes before Mandy would join her on the top deck.
“You’re being rude. Busy with work or not, you don’t have to ignore her. She’s our guest.”
“Actually, you’re her guest.”
Grams waved a hand in the air. “Beside the point. In business deals you know to be cordial even if you can’t stand the person.”
“I’m cordial.”
Grams laughed. “This is not even close to you being cordial. Now. I want to enjoy the rest of my vacation without you sulking and not spending time with us because of whatever it is. So figure out how to be cordial and don’t miss any more of our assigned dinners together. And don’t give me the excuse you prefer the fast food from the top deck. I don’t believe a word of it.” Grams’ eagle eye speared him.
“I won’t miss any more dinners.”
Grams smiled approvingly. “And
you’ll solve whatever it is between the two of you.”
Solve the problem? He could do that. He just had to figure her out and why she made his head spin. He nodded. “I’ll do that, but not yet.”
There was just enough light for Mandy to work on her sketches on the top deck. The last rays of a sunset gleamed on the rails, and she soaked in the inspiration of her surroundings. The breeze rustled the paper as she lifted her hand from the page. Below her couples and families enjoying the pirate-themed party filled the dance floor. Alice wasn’t one for pirates though, and opted to turn in early for the night, leaving Mandy with a few extra hours of time to herself. An ominous shadow fell across her page. She didn’t have to look up to know who created it.
“I can’t figure you out,” Derek said.
She pushed her hair out of her eyes and behind one ear as she looked at him. Something was different and it wasn’t just his untucked button-down shirt. The last couple of days he hadn’t spent much time with her and Alice. Alice had mentioned he probably had work to catch up on, but Mandy knew it was because of their kiss. “Are you trying to?”
“How come I always find you on the outside instead of joining in on the fun?” He looked at her sketches. Her page was full of the scene below them. The party, the sunset. Happy couples talking together, and a few of families gathered around excited children.
Grabbing her book off the table, she leaned back in her lounge chair, wishing the sun were still up so she could bathe in the warmth. Derek had kissed her and made her believe that it was real. She couldn’t wrap her head around the rest. “That’s what artists do.”
“No. That’s what artists who are afraid use as an excuse.”
She held in her laugh. He wouldn’t beat her at this topic. “That’s funny coming from someone who works so much he can’t unwind on a cruise.” If he was using his work as a way to avoid her, that wasn’t fair to Alice.
“Touché. I’m not running from something though.” His voice held a challenge.
“Neither am I.” She looked down at her drawing and shaded an inconsequential corner of the sketch, not wanting to mess up in front of him.
“Prove it.”
His words forced her to meet his gaze again. “How?” She tapped her pencil against her sketchpad. The sound filled the space between them, growing louder.
“Dance with me.”
She stopped her pencil from hitting the book. “Not sure how that will prove—”
He didn’t let her finish the thought. He took her notebook and placed it with the pencil in her bag on the table. A tug of her hand in his and she was next to him. He pulled her in closer, holding her right hand in his left, and guiding her left to the top of his shoulder.
She released a breath loudly, in need of more oxygen.
The song ended less than thirty seconds into their dance. He smiled at her. “That wasn’t so terrible, now, was it?”
Mandy stopped moving her feet, but he didn’t release his hold on her, guiding her gently to sway with him as the next song started. It was a faster song, and he twirled her in and out as they made their own dance patterns on the top deck. “You actually know how to do this,” she said, filling in the silence that spanned for minutes.
His jaw dropped. “You saw me dance the other night with Alice. The night you refused to dance with me.”
“Ah. So that’s why we are dancing now? Because you didn’t get your way before?”
“I think you’d like me if you gave me a chance.”
“It’d be easier to give you one if you extended the same thing back.” They danced in silence for a few more songs. Mandy could hold her own against Derek, but she didn’t need him affecting Alice’s ability to have an enjoyable trip. Mandy could tell that Derek’s aloofness over the last couple of days bothered Alice. There had to be a balance. She was getting paid for creating a positive travel experience.
The big band swing music changed to a tango. Apparently, it was a favorite pirate-themed choice, though Mandy never got the connection.
Derek pulled her closer to him, his rough cheek skimming against hers. As he spoke, she could feel his stubble scratching lightly. “If it’s any consolation, I’m sorry about your birthday and before.”
He spun her and they walked forward together again. He was a good dancer. She was out of breath as she huffed, “I thought we moved past all of these apologies. I suppose that settles the matter then. You figured out you’re wrong. Now we can go on dancing happily through the rest of the cruise.”
He paused in his dance move, and she stepped on his toe. “Really? It’s that easy?”
She rolled her eyes. “No. Alice is the one who needs the apology this time. She wants to spend time with you and you’re spending so much time working. If you’re problem is with me, fine, but don’t take it out on her.”
He had the decency to look chagrined, though the ruddy look may have been from the energetic dancing. “I already apologized to Grams.” He spun her out and then back to him.
“Does this mean you’ll spend more time with Alice and not hide away when I’m around?”
Spinning her three times toward him, he lowered her into a dip as the final beats of the music rang through the air. He pulled her back to her feet, and she pulled away. He caught her hand. “I’m not going to miss anything. I want to spend time with Grams. And you.”
Mandy forced one side of her mouth upward as Derek kept hold of her hand, pulling her to him again as a slow song began. She released her breath. “When you said you were sorry about my birthday, what part exactly did you mean?” She leaned closer to his shoulder so she wouldn’t meet his gaze. “When you kissed me?”
He pulled her closer. “Not the kiss, just when I brushed it off.”
She nodded slightly. The scent of his cologne filled her senses more now than during their fast dances. “So it wasn’t all for show?” She tilted away from him, hoping to read the answer in his eyes.
“Not even remotely.” His lips parted, covering hers quicker than she had time to process.
In contrast to the dinner kiss, this was not overly dramatic. He wrapped his arms tighter around her waist, even as she played with his hair. His fingers brushed along her jaw line, and she didn’t want this moment to end.
A sudden click and a flash interrupted their moment. “You kids can’t get enough of each other. Young love. So refreshing.”
Mandy looked up to see the same photographer from their dinner table. He was obviously new on the ship. She was about to explain everything to him and how he should keep his nose in his own business when Derek cut through her thoughts.
“Every day is as magical as the first day we fell in love.” He pulled her into a tighter embrace.
Mandy looked up at Derek from where she was nestled under his arms. Another flash went off. Mandy stiffened but Derek’s hand ran circles along her back, calming her.
“You kids are just so fun to take pictures of. I could do this all night,” the photographer said.
Derek flashed him a smile and spun Mandy. Once she spun back toward him he dipped her.
Mandy had never felt so comfortable dancing before with anyone. He held her effortlessly as he supported her. She wrapped her free arm around his neck as he bent low for a kiss.
Derek swung her around one more time. “We on the other hand are all pictured out. Goodnight.”
She picked up her purse. His hand rested against the small of her back as he guided her down the stairs and among the crowd on the pool deck surrounding the evening buffet.
They wandered down a few decks then walked from mid-ship to forward. “I love this gallery,” Mandy said as they went through a long hallway where paintings lined every square inch of the walls. “It’s one of the few things on the ship that changes every time I embark. I love paintings.”
They strolled slowly, and Mandy took her time looking at each picture, wondering if Derek was completely bored looking at the art. It was a great way to keep her mind off
the man next to her and kept her from analyzing their kiss on the top deck. It hadn’t been for show. She blinked hard and focused on the art in front of her.
“Which one is your favorite?” he asked.
“The Jordeau is beautiful. And they have large Shorvan further down. Shorvan is my all-time favorite artist.”
“Shorvan? Really?” A look crossed Derek’s face that she couldn’t quite interpret. He seemed to think hard about her answer, and she wondered if he knew what a Shorvan looked like. It was fine. She was okay if he wasn’t as passionate about art as she was.
She walked down the hallway, sure if Derek saw the Shorvan he’d understand her better. She stopped and scanned the walls.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Her shoulders slumped. “It’s gone. I guess that means it’s sold. As soon as someone buys a piece it’s wrapped and stored. Shorvan’s never last long on the cruise. Well, you can look him up online sometime. He’s amazing.”
Derek nodded. “Do you own any of his work?”
Mandy’s eyes widened. No way would he ask her that if he knew the artist’s work. “I have a small 8x10 print of one of his works.” And that print had set her back a lot. He knew enough about her financials. A small Shorvan started at $50,000 and some larger pieces were multi-millions. Owning a Shorvan was not a reality. But she’d admire them every day she saw one on a cruise.
“That’s great, I like him too,” he said, probably not paying attention.
They walked in silence for a few minutes, then Derek paused next to modern painting of the Bridge of the Americas. “I like this one.”
“We’ll see that in person tomorrow,” she said. “Going through the Panama Canal is amazing.”
“Will it be sunrise?” he asked, studying the painting with interest.
“Yes, but if you want a good vantage point, you should stake out a spot before then. It can get very crowded.”