Match Me by Christmas

by Armstrong, Lindzee

  “Morning,” a deep voice with a soft Southern twang said.

  Natalie jumped, putting a hand to her chest. Shawn took a step forward, hands shoved deep in his pockets. He wore a salmon-colored shirt that brought out the tan in his skin. Most men couldn’t pull off the color, but he wore it well.

  “Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  “I guess I was lost in my thoughts.” Natalie brushed a hand through her hair, then folded her arms. Why did she feel so self-conscious around him?

  She wondered if he’d gotten the food stains out of the yellow shirt, or if it had been a complete loss. Maybe every time Shawn looked at her, he thought, There’s the woman who ruined my favorite yellow shirt, which made my eyes sparkle like sapphires and my teeth so white I could appear in a toothpaste commercial.

  Okay, probably not.

  “Are you ready to observe speed dating?” Shawn asked.

  Natalie patted the messenger bag that rested against one hip. “I’m planning on taking lots of notes. I must admit, Toujour’s version of speed dating intrigues me. Kendra said that everyone will have five ten-minute dates. The matchmakers give them a specific list of questions to discuss if the conversation lags. Each set of questions is tailored to what that particular couple has in common. Seems like a lot of work for the matchmakers.”

  “I guess that’s why people pay them the big bucks,” Shawn said. Was that a smile at the corner of his mouth? She hadn’t known he was capable of making a joke.

  “I’m interested to see how it plays out,” Natalie said. “It seems like a few couples are already forming, which just seems crazy to me. We’ve barely been on board eighteen hours.”

  Shawn shrugged, his broad shoulders rolling with the motions. “These people seem to know what they want and aren’t afraid to go after it.”

  “I guess so.” Natalie glanced surreptitiously at his left ring finger. Empty. Not that a lack of a ring necessarily meant anything. Lots of people chose not to wear one these days. It didn’t matter to her either way. She was simply curious about this man who she’d clobbered with fried shrimp, and now stood here having a polite conversation with her.

  “I’d better go check on a few things,” Shawn said. He pointed to a row of chairs lined up along the back wall. “But I had some chairs set up for you in case you get tired of walking around the room. Jase Larson might join you. He’s here doing research, just like you.”

  “Kendra mentioned that,” Natalie said. She’d caught a glimpse of Jase at dinner last night in a pair of expensive black pants that hung low on his hips, and a fitted suit jacket that showed off the hours he spent in a gym.

  She bet Shawn’s muscles were more from hard work than hours spent in a gym. He seemed like the type who’d jump in to set up tables and stack chairs, or whatever it was a VIP Coordinator on a cruise ship did. Bench press lifeboats maybe.

  “Let me know if you need anything,” Shawn said with a nod. “I’ll be around.”

  “Bye,” Natalie said faintly, watching as he strode away. The limp was still present, making her wince. She’d really done a number on him yesterday. It was a wonder he’d even spoken to her.

  “Everyone take your seats, and we’ll get started in just a moment.” Brooke’s voice echoed across the room.

  The crowd gradually quieted down as everyone found their seats. Natalie shifted from foot to foot, not sure what to do. Stand near the tables and stare down at everyone awkwardly? Watch from the side of the room? The room was growing quieter by the second as everyone’s attention focused on Brooke.

  Natalie tiptoed to the chairs Shawn had set up along the back wall and sank into one as Brooke began describing how speed dating would work. A man sat down in the chair beside her, his long limbs and broad shoulders encroaching on her space. Jase Larson, total Hollywood heart throb. Natalie brushed a strand of hair behind one ear and gave him a tentative smile. In the years since Wyatt had begun playing professional football, she’d met quite a few celebrities, but the feeling never got old.

  “Hi,” she whispered quietly.

  He held out a hand and she shook it. “Hey. I’m Jase Larson. You must be the reporter? Brooke told me about you.”

  “That’s me. I’m Natalie.”

  Jase smiled, a dimple popping in one cheek. “I’m a huge fan of your brother’s. He’s really turning the Coyotes around.”

  Great. Another hot male obsessed with her brother. Just what Natalie needed. “Yep, that’s Wyatt.”

  The first round of speed dating began then. Natalie forgot all about Jase as she watched with fascination as the room exploded in animated conversation.

  “Wow,” Jase said. “No awkward pauses for these couples, huh?”

  Natalie glanced over at him, not quite sure if he approved of this whole cruise or not. “I guess not.”

  “The Secret Santa stuff was a great idea, though, wasn’t it? I’m going to suggest something similar to the producer of Love on the Seas.”

  “Is that the movie you’re researching for?”

  Jase nodded, running a hand through his thick dark hair. It was longer than Shawn’s, and styled with gel so that it stuck straight up. “I think it would add a fun angle to the film. Give a bit of mystery to the storyline perhaps. If Secret Santa could bring you anything, what would it be?”

  Natalie let her chin rest on one hand and thought of her craving for cookies last night. “A warm chocolate chip cookie and tall glass of milk delivered to my room every night of the cruise.”

  Jase laughed, his body angled toward hers. “That’s what room service is for.”

  “Yeah, but they stop delivering at eleven p.m. and last night I didn’t get back to my room until after one a.m.”

  A deep voice broke into the conversation, and Natalie looked up into Shawn’s gunmetal blue eyes. “Is there anything I can do for you two?”

  Natalie blinked and quickly rose, feeling like she’d been caught goofing off in class. “No. Sorry. Didn’t mean to bother anyone.”

  Jase chuckled and rose as well while Shawn blinked.

  “I didn’t mean to imply you were disturbing the event,” Shawn said. “It’s my job to make sure all of your needs are seen to while you’re on the cruise. I can have my staff bring you a glass of water if you’re thirsty, or maybe something to eat? I know some of the guests chose to forgo breakfast this morning in favor of sleeping in.”

  Jase held out his hand, giving Shawn’s a firm shake. “I’m doing just fine, but thanks for asking. Do you mind if I walk around for a while? I forgot to ask Brooke this morning.”

  “Of course not.” Shawn motioned to the room. “Let me know if you need anything.”

  Jase nodded and wandered off. Natalie clutched at her messenger bag, her entire body somehow hot and cold simultaneously. “I should wander as well. Maybe write down a few quotes for the article.”

  “Are you sure there’s nothing I can get you? A chocolate chip cookie, perhaps?”

  His lips were definitely twitching upward into an amused smile now. Natalie flushed, backing away from Shawn. “Nope. I’m good. No cookies for me. Thanks.”

  He’d overheard her conversation with Jase. Natalie wasn’t sure why that made her heart beat rapidly and her palm grow damp, but it did. She pulled out her notepad from her messenger bag and forced herself to concentrate on the speed dating and forget all about Shawn.

  Soon, Natalie became totally absorbed in the conversations swirling around her. She’d been on enough first dates to know the typical questions—where are you from, what’s your job, what are your hobbies. Surface level stuff. But these couples were on like fifth date questions. She overheard a curvy redhead and a stick-thin man with a shaved head playfully arguing about whether Santa Claus was a tradition worth carrying on with their own families. A woman with a pixie cut telling her mustached partner how hard it had been to grow up in a mixed-religion home. An older man discussing the difficulties he was experiencing with his teenage son to a
very attentive brunette with bright red lipstick.

  Natalie furiously scribbled her observations in the notebook. She noticed a few of the celebrities on dates with each other, but for the most part, they were sprinkled in with the rest of the group. Jase was roving the room, listening in on conversations just like Natalie was, although he didn’t seem to be writing any of his observations down. Natalie caught a glimpse of Shawn more than once as he relayed instructions to some other member of the staff, and each time her stomach gave a leap. So stupid. Yeah, Shawn was attractive. But so was Jase, and her nerves didn’t quiver with anticipation each time he entered her line of sight.

  By the second to final round of speed dating, Natalie’s hand ached from all the note taking. She was used to typing on her laptop, not writing longhand, but going old school seemed to make the most sense considering she never knew when she’d have access to an electrical outlet for charging her computer’s battery when it ran low.

  A chime rang across the room, signaling it was time to switch for the last date. Natalie rolled her neck, then paused, feeling eyes on her. She glanced back to see Shawn quickly turning away. Had he been staring at her? The idea made her grin.

  A few tables over, a woman with bright pink hair pushed back from her chair and rose. “No. I’m not switching yet.” I don’t want to switch!”

  Skye, the pop star so famous she didn’t need a last name. A matchmaker Natalie didn’t recognize leaned close, whispering something in Skye’s ear.

  “I said I don’t want to switch!” Skye exclaimed. “I paid to be here, didn’t I? So I should be able to talk to whomever I want for as long as I want.”

  Oh boy. Natalie had been to enough parties with Wyatt to recognize an unstable, spoiled celebrity when she saw one. Natalie took a tentative step toward the table while Brooke hurried across the room.

  A man with a trim goatee and panicked expression leaned back in his chair, as though trying to get as far away from Skye as possible.

  She held out a hand toward him and when she spoke, her voice was thick with tears. “You’re just so nice. So, so nice. I just want to…” She lunged across the table and toward the man, as though to kiss him.

  It was the panic on the man’s face that made Natalie step in. Skye’s matchmaker seemed frozen, her mouth open in shock, and Brooke was still half a dozen feet away. Natalie’s heart beat furiously as she grabbed both of Skye’s hands in hers and did the only thing she thought might defuse the situation—stroke Skye’s ego.

  “Oh my gosh!” Natalie exclaimed, holding Skye’s hands out to the side. “I can’t believe it’s really you. Skye, I am such a fan of your music. Would it be too much to ask for a photo?”

  Skye glared at Natalie, her glittery blue eye shadow exaggerating the look. Natalie quickly dropped Skye’s hands and took a step back. Crap. Her plan had backfired, and Brooke would tell Natalie she could head right on back to California as soon as they made their first port tomorrow morning.

  “And who are you?” Skye demanded, placing her hands on her hips. Her voice held the barest of slurs and Natalie noticed she appeared a little unsteady on her feet. It looked like Skye had been trying to fend off last night’s hangover with a few too many mimosas that morning.

  Natalie kept her voice light and airy, that of an over-eager fan. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Brooke pause at the table and Shawn approaching at a rapid clip. “Natalie James. I think you’ve met my brother, Wyatt. The football player? You did the halftime show when he was in the playoffs.”

  Skye’s scowl immediately dropped and a pleased smile turned up her cherry-red lips. “Wyatt. Of course. He is such a dear. Well, I’m a big fan of his. Too bad he transferred to the Coyotes. Such a shame.”

  Natalie glanced quickly at Brooke. She stood next to Natalie now, her hands clasped together tightly and smile tense. Had Skye forgotten that Brooke’s husband owned the Coyotes? Shawn paused on the other side of the table, near the cowering man.

  “Isn’t that fun that you two know each other?” Brooke said smoothly. “Skye, can I talk to you outside for just a moment? We’ll get everything straightened out.”

  “I actually wanted to talk to Skye for a few minutes about some complimentary spa treatments that come with her room,” Shawn cut in smoothly. “You don’t mind, do you, Brooke?”

  Brooke blinked, then gave Shawn a real smile. “Of course not,” she said. “Skye, why don’t you take advantage of one of those right now? We’re almost done here and have got free time until after lunch.”

  Skye blinked, like this was all a lot to process, then nodded. “Okay. A massage sounds fantastic right now.”

  “I can have a masseuse sent up to your room immediately,” Shawn said.

  “Wonderful,” Brooke said. “We’ll see you at the towel folding demonstration after lunch, okay?”

  Skye nodded and Shawn began to guide her from the room.

  “I’ll go with him and make sure everything is okay,” Natalie said quietly to Brooke.

  “Thank you,” Brooke said, her eyes filled with gratitude.

  Natalie nodded and hurried after Shawn and Skye.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Skye had definitely had too much to drink. As Shawn led her from the banquet hall, he made a mental note to talk to the bartender about limiting the pop star’s alcohol intake. But first, he’d talk with Brooke and find out what protocol she wanted for guests who imbibed too much. He should’ve discussed the matter with Brooke when they met yesterday. Where was his head? Natalie James was burrowing her way into his thoughts and distracting him from the job at hand.

  But it had also been Natalie’s quick thinking that had diffused the situation with Skye. Playing to Skye’s vanity had not only been smart, it had probably prevented a bigger scene from occurring. The only person who’d probably remember the outburst was Skye’s hapless date. The poor guy had been terrified.

  Skye leaned heavily on Shawn as they paused outside the banquet hall doors. A man in the white-and-blue uniform of the crew was just down the hallway, emptying a trashcan.

  “Jorge,” Shawn called.

  The older man looked up. He was in his fifties, with deep lines in his leathery skin. He quickly replaced the new trash liner and walked over to Shawn. “Yes, Mr. Erickson?”

  Skye giggled, her arm dropping low on Shawn’s back. He jumped away, and Skye laughed again. Jorge sent the pair a look, his eyes lighting with understanding. Inebriated guests in need of help back to their rooms weren’t uncommon.

  “Would you please call up to the spa and have a masseuse sent immediately to Miss Skye’s room?” Shawn asked.

  “Of course,” Jorge said, already reaching for the radio on his belt. “Will you be in your room after dinner, Mr. Erickson? I’ve got some things to drop off for the school.”

  “Just for a few minutes, then I’ve got the 1920s dance in the Liberty Lounge. I probably won’t be back from that until well after midnight.”

  “I’ll drop it by right after dinner, then,” Jorge said. He pressed a button on his radio. “Can we get a masseuse sent immediately to Miss Skye’s suite?”

  “Thanks, Jorge,” Shawn said as the man walked away with a wave. Skye swayed and he quickly grabbed her arm, steadying her against him. She laughed and leaned into his chest, sighing deeply.

  Oh boy. He glanced down the hallway, contemplating calling Jorge back. Maybe he should’ve asked someone else to escort Skye to her room. He’d been worried she wouldn’t get there alone and hadn’t wanted to take Brooke away from the speed dating event. He knew she needed to be there for wrap-up after the final date, which should be ending right about now.

  Shawn gritted his teeth and took a step toward the elevator. Skye stumbled after him. He was not about to let her ruin his chances for that bonus. As soon as he got her safely to her room, he’d come up with a plan to avoid these situations and present it to Brooke.

  The banquet hall door opened again, letting Brooke’s enthusiastic chatter filter in
to the hallway. She must be giving her closing speech. Natalie emerged, letting the door swing shut behind her. She wore denim shorts that showed off tanned legs that went on for miles, and a flowy white blouse with strings criss-crossing the v-neckline. Shawn’s heart was suddenly back in his throat, making it hard to think.

  He seriously had to get that under control.

  Skye blinked sleepily, then pointed one finger at Natalie. “Hey, it’s Wyatt James’s sister.”

  Natalie’s smile tightened, her full lips pursing into a thin line. “That’s me.” Natalie glanced at Shawn, then back at Skye. “I’m actually doing an article for World Traveler Magazine about the Toujour cruise. I wondered if I could walk with you to your room and maybe ask you some questions? I’d love to talk to you about your experience so far.”

  “I guess that’s okay.”

  “Great.” Natalie fell into step beside them, and Shawn noticed once again how tall she was. He’d barely have to dip his head for their lips to meet.

  No. He wasn’t thinking about Natalie like that. She was heading back to wherever she’d come from in a week, for starters. And she had to be at least a decade younger than him. She was a guest on the Ocean Dream.

  “Will you mention my name in the article?” Skye asked.

  “Only if you want me to,” Natalie said as the elevator door slid open.

  They all stepped inside. Skye was positively preening. It was a good thing she was a singer and not an actor, because she was doing a poor job hiding her obvious pleasure. “I guess it would be okay if you mentioned my name. What would you like to know?”

  Natalie leaned against the glass wall as the elevator rose past the promenade and toward the upper decks of the ship. “I’m curious about what led you to Toujour. I can’t imagine that you have any trouble finding dates on your own. I mean, you’re Skye. Any guy would be lucky to be your boyfriend.”

  It had been the right thing to say—Skye’s chin rose up a notch as she smiled. “It’s true that I have my choice of men. But I wanted to try something new and exciting. Everyone who’s anyone is trying Toujour right now. I mean, they’re love experts. I figured that I deserved the best.”