by Jala Summers
It was Liana’s turn to grow silent, as she thought about his suggestion. If she was honest with herself, she had to admit that she was hungry. And the thought of authentic Mexican enchiladas made her stomach growl, at just that moment, giving her away. She looked over to see Kyle smiling at the noise and before she could stop herself, she was grinning as well.
“Alright, you got me. My stomach’s a traitor. Okay, I’m in,” she said. “If you just give me a few more minutes, I need to pick up a couple more things.”
“Take your time,” he told her, in a calm and patient tone. But in his mind, he was ecstatic that he’d finally been able to get through the first layer of Liana Harris’ seemingly impregnable barrier.
***
“So, you’re stalking me now, are you?” Liana asked, as they sat at the table after ordering their meals.
Her bluntness threw him off, and all he could do was laugh.
She had a smirk on her face, and raised an eyebrow, waiting for his answer.
He shook his head, and unfolded the cloth napkin on the table and placed it on his lap. “No Liana, I promise. I wasn’t stalking you.”
“Are you sure?” she challenged. “Because at breakfast you ask what we are all doing, I tell everyone I’m shopping, and here you magically, coincidentally show up where I am. So, forgive me if I have trouble believing that you didn’t follow me here.”
“No, I didn’t. But if I had, you’d know,” he said, and stared at her intently. She felt herself grow warm. And it wasn’t the sweltering heat of the summer day that had caused it. “But I have to say I am glad to have finally gotten you alone.”
Keep your cool, girl, she coached herself, refusing to give in to whatever game she knew he had to be playing with her. No way a man that fine and that talented, not to mention sought after by half of the women on the cruise ship, is interested in getting more than one thing from me.
Her mouth had suddenly gone dry, and she picked up her glass to take a sip of her beverage.
“I know you don’t really want to be on this trip, but I’m glad you came,” he said. “I think you’ll enjoy yourself.”
“That’s yet to be determined,” she answered. “It’s just another expensive trip where Alyssa looks for her future husband.”
“Has she ever found one on your trips?”
She didn’t have to say a word. The look she gave, said it all.
“So, why do you keep going with her on these trips if you dread them so much?”
“Well, even if watching her chase after one man after the next gets old, I have to admit that I like getting out, and seeing new things. I like discovering new lands and places. I didn’t get to see much beyond my little home in Houston, growing up, so I guess I’m making up for lost time.”
“Well, do you mind if I tell you a little secret of my own?”
She shrugged, “Go ahead.”
“I’m not exactly excited to be here either.”
“Yeah?”
“Nope. Duane and Lloyd insisted. Said I couldn’t go without finding a way to celebrate my divorce. So...here I am.”
“Hmm...we must really love our friends, then, to let them drag us here, right?”
He chuckled, “I guess so.”
“So why don’t you like it here?” Liana asked. “You seemed to be eating up all that attention yesterday after you played.”
“Not really,” he said. He wouldn’t tell her, though, that he had attention from everyone except the one person whose attention he’d wanted. “I was just being a good sport. No one wanted to volunteer at first, so I thought I would.”
“I see.”
“The single scene isn’t my thing,” he said. “And Lloyd and Duane know that. Hell, they’re the ones who tease me for being a monogamist. They say that’s my problem and it was my problem with my marriage.” He shrugged his shoulders, “I can’t help it. When I fall, I fall hard. Maybe that’s not stereotypical dude behavior. I don’t know.”
She shook her head, “You’re right, it’s not.” But she had a hard time believing he was being completely honest. Liana had been around long enough to know that talk was cheap, and he could be feeding her whatever story he thought she wanted to hear.
She’d seen his friend Duane work a room, and she knew that if Kyle was anything like him, he knew exactly what notes to play and what tune to sing to get what he wanted out of a woman.
“What’s your story, Liana? What do you do?”
“I’m a Realtor. In fact, that’s another reason I shouldn’t be here right now. The summer is the busiest time of year for me. I’m giving up plenty of potential work and clients to be here.”
Kyle nodded his understanding. “I know, I had a...an...old friend, who was a Realtor too. I know all too well.” Kyle stumbled over his words, trying to figure out what to call his “old friend”, Craig--the one who he’d caught in an affair with his ex-wife.
“So, it’s your turn. What’s your occupation?”
“I work as VP at a software development company.”
She raised her eyebrows, “Hmm…nice title,” she teased. “I’m sure you impress all the ladies when you dish that out.”
He grinned, and once again realized how different this woman was. Not only was she completely unimpressed by his title, she even thought it was part of his game. Relentless, he thought to himself. “Most of the time, yeah, actually,” he said, playing along with her teasing. “But apparently you’re immune to the effects of a big title.”
She nodded her head, slowly, emphasizing just how spot on he was in his assessment. “Yep, very much so.”
His face dropped in mock disappointment, and he fell back in his seat. She smiled at his comedic antics. When he noticed her smiling, he propped an elbow up on the arm of his chair, and leaned, his hand resting under his chin. He looked at her, his expression now serious, and she grew uncomfortable under his gaze. “You know, I love it when you smile. I’m going to have to figure out how to make you do it more often.”
Liana shifted in her chair, and was grateful that their waiter had great timing. Just then he arrived holding plates of food in both hands.
Saved from going where that conversation was heading, she thought as she dug into her meal. Their meals and the disruption hadn’t happened a moment too soon, because Liana could feel her defenses weakening with the sensual heat behind his presumptuous statement. Who’s to say he’ll even get me alone long enough to have another chance to make me laugh?
Kyle silently cursed the waiter’s poor timing in his head. He could see how nervous she had become under his stare and he knew he was that much closer to cracking her tough exterior. Another time, he thought, another time.
***
The rest of lunch had been uneventful, as they continued to make small talk and enjoyed their meals. Liana made every effort she could to steer the conversation into the neutral direction that she preferred. When she’d felt he was again attempting to get in a little too close for comfort, she’d glanced at her watch and told him that it was about time to head back to the ship before its scheduled departure.
Kyle reluctantly walked her back to the ship. He had hoped to get a little more time with her, but of course, the obstinate Liana would have none of that.
When they’d arrived on the main deck, Liana turned to him, “Thanks for sharing lunch with me. I really did have a good time.”
“Glad to hear that. Wasn’t so bad after all then, right?”
“No, not at all. I’ll catch you later, Kyle.” Liana turned, adjusted her shopping bags on her arms and headed toward the hall leading to her cabin. Kyle watched her as she walked off.
He felt a strong, forceful blow on his back and looked over his shoulder for the source of the hit. It was Duane. “Hey man, have you been out all day with her?” He motioned to Liana, as she rounded the corner, walking out of sight.
“Something like that,” Kyle answered.
“Here you go again. All of these women and you
get stuck on one. That’s just like you, Kyle.”
Kyle shook his head, and didn’t humor Duane’s assessment with an answer. Instead, he headed back to his own room, leaving Duane to run off and find his next conquest. Kyle couldn’t offer up any defense for himself. He did start to feel silly for getting so caught up in a woman who, though she seemed to be opening up more, was still hell-bent on keeping him at arms length.
But Duane wasn’t completely correct. She wasn’t like most of the other women he’d dated or been interested in before. She wasn’t even like Shaila. If anything, she was the opposite of Shaila.
She was laid back, with a sense of humor, and from what he could tell--unimpressed by money and status. But the main quality that made her different from most of the other women he’d encountered, was her unyielding nature and the way she closed herself off to him. That was a problem he’d rarely faced before. But now he was starting to think that she might be worth the challenge.
Chapter Eight
“So, you’re coming to the dance tonight, right Lia?” Alyssa stood, fumbling through her suitcase that she’d laid on her bed.
Liana, seated on her own bed and facing Alyssa, groaned loudly. “I don’t feel like doing any dancing.”
“Then don’t. But don’t stay cooped up in this room all night. You can just sit at a table somewhere. As long as you’re getting out.”
“No, I think I’m going to just pass. Maybe I’ll go sit by the pool.”
“Come on, Liana. You have all day to sit by the pool. Come see the nightlife with me.”
Liana sighed.
Alyssa sat down on her bed and faced Liana. “Okay, Liana, we’re not going to keep going through the rest of the vacation like this. You said you’d enjoy yourself and embrace it, and you still aren’t doing it.”
“I don’t see how going to a dance will make or break this vacation.”
“It’s not the dance itself; it’s the principle of it. You’re doing everything you can to avoid every man on this ship. And you’re probably missing out on a good time because of it.”
“But I don’t have to be with a man to have a good time.”
“Okay, maybe not, but you could at least talk, get to know some people. Take Kyle, for instance. He seems nice enough, and he’s been trying his best to get to you, but you cut him off every time. It’s really getting ridiculous. How long are you going to let Brian have power over your life?”
Liana flinched when Alyssa mentioned his name. Alyssa continued on, “Brian was a fool, and yeah, he tricked you, he played you, whatever you want to call it. But are you going to let that man control your life from here on out, steal your joy and steal your chance at happiness? I mean, you don’t even have fun like you used to. Brian’s been out of the picture for almost a year now. You can’t keep this up.”
Liana, usually quick witted and ready with a comeback, was left speechless. This was the first time Alyssa had confronted her about the way she was behaving and she didn’t like it. She didn’t like what her friend said, but realized that Alyssa was completely right. She had been letting her past negative experience with Brian control her actions and interactions with men. She was hyper-vigilant and always on the lookout for more game, in an attempt to avoid a repeat of her past relationship.
And as Liana sat quietly, contemplating Alyssa’s words on the bed, she knew that it wasn’t just Brian who was keeping her from trusting, or just enjoying her life.
She was only affected so much by what had happened with Brian because she’d thought she’d been as careful as humanly possible before she’d begun a relationship with him.
Liana was so cautious in all relationships because she’d witnessed, first-hand, the effect of her own father’s cheating on her mother. She’d never been naive about marriage or happily-ever-after endings, and felt that most people’s ideas of romance and love were a lie.
But even with her analysis and being careful, she’d been taken in and seduced by Brian, and all of his lies.
“Lia?”
Liana had been quiet for a while, and Alyssa watched her staring blankly ahead into space, wrapped up in her thoughts.
“Yeah.”
“You okay, Lia?”
Liana nodded, fighting back tears as she allowed herself to feel the sting of the hurt from her past. “I’m fine.”
“I didn’t mean to be such a hard ass, but, I just don’t want you to keep doing this to yourself.”
“I know,” Liana said quietly.
Alyssa rose and sat next to Liana on her bed. She wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “You good?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“You coming?”
Liana nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, I’ll come.”
***
Liana watched Alyssa on the dance floor with another tall, handsome man as they moved in step with the rhythm of the old school song that blared through the speakers.
Alyssa had promised, again, to try to get out and meet new people, if Liana promised to try to be more open at the dance that night. Lloyd hadn’t been there when they’d arrived and Alyssa had gladly accepted the offer to dance, from the new handsome stranger.
Liana bobbed her head to the music, enjoying the song, when she heard the chair beside her move back. She looked over to see a stocky, mildly attractive man take a seat next to her. She forced a smile. I’m trying, she thought, as she attempted to at least look friendly.
“How are you tonight, Ms.Lady? May I ask your name?”
“It’s Liana.”
“Liana. A pretty name for an even prettier lady. I’m James.”
Liana groaned inwardly. Where the hell did he get that one from? She knew it was going to be hard to be nice and friendly if men kept coming up to her with these lame pick-up lines.
“You know I’ve been watching you, and wanting to come over to talk to you since the first day of the cruise.”
Stalker alert, maybe? Liana turned her head back to watch the dancers on the floor.
“I want to buy you a drink.”
“Sorry, I don’t drink,” she said. She lifted the half-full glass of water she had in front of her on the table, and showed him. “I’m good.”
“You don’t drink, why is that?”
She was getting annoyed, quite quickly, with James.
“I just don’t.”
“You don’t know what you’re missing. I’ll be right back.” Liana watched him go to the bar and hoped something or someone would side-track him and keep him from returning as promised. She even considered getting up and leaving, but didn’t want to just leave Alyssa there.
Minutes later, James returned with a drink in each hand. He placed one in front of her. “I brought you a drink, anyway. Figured you might want one after all.”
She cut her eyes at him, fed up with James and his assumptions. So much for being open, she thought.
***
Kyle and Lloyd had arrived at the dance and taken a seat at the bar, scoping out the scene. The deejay was a true professional, playing one old school hit after another, hyping up the crowd. More and more passengers became caught up in the music, and couldn’t resist stepping out onto the dance floor to enjoy it.
Kyle searched the room. He realized that the first thing he had started to do now, at every event or location, was look for Liana.
It wasn’t long before he saw her, and the man that sat next to her, leaned over and attempting to hold a conversation.
Good luck, he thought to himself. But as he watched them, he noticed that Liana seemed a bit more smiley and even friendly. Kyle studied the man next to her, looking him up and down, trying to figure out what it could be about him that had made her seem to open up to him.
But before he could analyze the situation more, he heard Lloyd say next to him, “Who is that joker Alyssa’s dancing with?”
Kyle scanned the room until his eyes landed on Alyssa and the tall, lanky guy whose hand she held as she twirled and two-stepped with him.
&nbs
p; “Don’t know, but this is a singles cruise, right? She’s got a right to dance with whoever she wants.” Kyle looked over and saw the scowl on Lloyd’s face. He laughed. “Oh, wait a minute, bro; are you catching a feeling over there?”
“Naw, of course not, “Lloyd said and straightened his face to look as normal as he could.
“I mean, it looks like you’re the one who’s catching that “monogamy” over there. Am I contagious now?”