Forty and Free: A Sweet Romance Series Bundle - Books 5 - 8

by Blake, Lillianna

  She noticed a woman not far from her who seemed to be clinging rather tightly to the railing as she stared down at the water, rather than at the people on the deck. Natasha sensed that the woman might be frightened, but before she could walk over to her, the crowd shifted and she lost sight of her.

  Her heart fluttered with excitement. She had no idea where this current journey would take her, but she looked forward to finding out. Now that she was forty, it was time for a new chapter. She was more than ready for it.

  A few hours later, the dinner bell rang out. Natasha was excited to get to the first social event of the cruise.

  She picked up her dinner assignment and walked down the corridor toward the dining room. Before she got close she could hear the din from inside. The first night of a cruise was always the loudest. With so much excitement in the air, she couldn’t help but smile as she stepped through the door. The tables were small but spaced out well.

  “Table ten.” She glanced up from the card in her hand to see that table ten was near the center of the room. There was only one empty chair remaining. With a confident smile she sat down in it. “Hello, everyone.”

  “Hello.” A man beside her nodded and smiled at her. “Welcome to table ten.”

  “Why, thank you.” She laughed and glanced around at the other people at the table.

  There were six people, including herself, and an even number of men and women. It didn’t take a genius for her to realize that she’d been assigned to a singles table. It didn’t bother her. It was better than trying to have a lively conversation with a couple on their honeymoon.

  “I’m Barry.” The man beside her offered his hand.

  She shook it. “Natasha. Nice to meet you, Barry.”

  “You too.” He stared at her for a moment too long.

  She lowered her eyes.

  Barry looked to be in his late twenties, and though he had a handsome face, he was not the type of man she was attracted to.

  However, the man seated across from her drew her attention the moment she’d set eyes on him. His features were softer, with wide blue eyes. His light brown hair was cut short, and the style really suited him. She watched him as he looked in every direction. His lips curved into a smile that didn’t ever seem to fade. But every time Natasha tried to make eye contact to introduce herself, he seemed to avoid it.

  She shifted her attention to another woman at the table. She seemed to be a few years older and her forearms were filled with tattoos.

  “Your tattoos are quite beautiful.” Natasha smiled at the woman.

  “Oh, thank you. I get a new one every time I travel to a new place. It’s a bit like keeping a scrapbook on my skin.”

  “What an interesting idea.” Natasha listened as the woman detailed what each tattoo represented.

  “I’ve always wanted to get a tattoo but with my career it was frowned upon.” She sighed. “Maybe one day…”

  “Just be careful who you allow to do it. It’s forever, and there are some very poor artists out there.”

  “Thanks for the advice.” Natasha sat back in her chair and caught sight of the man across from her again. He seemed to be staring at her, but the moment she looked in his direction he glanced away.

  “What would everyone like to drink?”

  “I’ll have a sambuca.” Natasha smiled.

  In the chaos of the rest of the orders being placed she heard another voice order the same drink. She looked across the table at the man who intrigued her and raised an eyebrow.

  “Good taste.”

  “I don’t drink often, but this trip deserves a splurge.” He nodded at her and just as quickly looked away again.

  “I’m Natasha.”

  “Thomas.” He met her eyes long enough to offer his hand from across the table.

  Natasha shook it, then held it a little longer than she needed to.

  Chapter 2

  Setting foot on the cruise ship was surreal for Thomas. The boat was larger than he’d expected it to be. Photographs did not accurately depict the way it towered above everyone and everything.

  As he climbed the ramp onto the ship, he considered just for an instant whether he should turn back. Despite the fact that he was excited about the cruise, he hadn’t been able to let go of the thought that it was all a dream. What were the chances that he would end up on a luxury cruise?

  One foot in front of the other took him up to the first deck. He pushed through the crowd to make his way to his room. Along the way he took in every detail that surrounded him—from the artful decoration to the throngs of people that gathered near the railings.

  He closed his door and breathed in. This was it. He was about to see places he’d never even thought about seeing before, and all because of an award that he wasn’t entirely sure he deserved.

  He headed down to the dining room and was a little intimidated by the crowd of people. A few of his co-workers had ribbed him about finding a date on the ship—where women couldn’t run away from him. The memory caused him to laugh. It wasn’t lost on him that he’d slacked off lately when it came to dating.

  For once he’d decided that he’d allow himself to experience something without overthinking it. Caution and forethought were things he took pride in, but this was not one of the moments that they were necessary. The ship was safe, he would be thousands of miles from anything he could consider a responsibility, and he wanted to have fun.

  With his thoughts constantly mired in how to raise more funding, the best way to make a difference in troubled lives, and whether or not he’d remembered to pay the utility bills, he rarely took a moment to relax. The best part of the cruise was being so far from anything that could require his attention. He might actually be able to relax—to breathe a little.

  He walked up to his assigned table, where two other men and two women were already seated. There was also one empty chair. He assumed it would be for another woman, as the pattern was clear to him. It came as no surprise to him that he would be seated at a singles table.

  He’d been single for a few years. Not long after his second marriage had crumbled, he’d decided he’d rather be single. Freedom was something he valued.

  Thomas settled at the table and introduced himself to a few of the people there.

  “Welcome to paradise.” The woman beside him smiled.

  He noticed her tattoos. “Thank you. Nice ink.”

  “You only live once.” She winked at him.

  Thomas chuckled and glanced away. He didn’t have anything against tattoos but he could think of much better ways to spend the money it took to buy them. He’d been accused of being far too frugal by both of his ex-wives. But they never seemed to understand what he witnessed on a regular basis.

  “Have you seen the line-up for the visits to the islands?” A man on the other side of him held out a piece of paper that he’d been studying. “I can’t believe they’re going to fit so much activity in such a short amount of time.”

  “It’ll be longer than you expect.”

  The woman who spoke sat down across from him and held his attention. She was beautiful, with long dark hair and a confident smile. It was impossible not to notice her. Immediately his gaze shifted over the expensive jewelry she wore and the top of the line purse she carried. He couldn’t seem to stop himself from assessing her as wealthy and spoiled. He glanced away as the conversation continued to flow.

  “Those tattoos are so beautiful. May I take a closer look?” The woman across from him leaned close to the woman beside him. He caught a whiff of her perfume, which tickled his senses in ways that surprised him.

  “I got one in every place I traveled. If I couldn’t get one there, I got one as soon as I returned so that I could remember what I’d experienced. They’re more emotional depictions than actual scenery, but each one has a little detail intertwined in it that represents the place I visited.”

  “What a lovely way to remember your time there. I’ve traveled many places myself, and I k
now I always leave a piece of my heart behind and take a little piece of the place with me in its place.”

  “That’s a very sweet sentiment.” Barry cleared his throat. “I find that people don’t think enough about what we actually leave behind, though.”

  As the discussion launched into ecological responsibility, Thomas tried to focus his attention elsewhere. The last thing he wanted was a debate with the people he’d share a table with for the remainder of the cruise.

  He noticed that the woman across from him didn’t engage in the discussion either. He took another moment to admire her. The gleam in her eyes indicated that she had a strong will, and her poised demeanor gave him the impression that she was comfortable with herself. No matter how impressed Thomas was, he couldn’t draw his attention from the jewelry she wore. Another wealthy woman with good intentions. He’d met a few of those.

  When she ordered the same drink as what he had, he was resigned to the introduction. The silk of her palm against his skin inspired him to take a deeper look into her eyes.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Natasha.”

  “Thanks.” She smiled at him. He admired the way it revealed subtle dimples in her cheeks. “It’s nice to meet you too, Thomas. Is this your first cruise?”

  “Could you tell?”

  “I see the way you’re drinking everything in.” She laughed. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

  “I’m really looking forward to it.”

  “Me too. Though the one drawback about traveling alone is that it’s not as much fun to explore the islands.”

  “You don’t think so?”

  “No, it’s just not the same as having someone there to discover things with you.”

  “So, why are you traveling alone? I mean, if you don’t mind me asking?” He accepted his drink and took a swallow. He continued to hold her gaze. Something about her kept him interested.

  “I had no one to bring along.” She shrugged. “It was a birthday gift from my ex-husband.”

  “Your ex-husband gives you birthday gifts?” He grinned. “All my ex-wives give me is itemized lists of what belongs to them.” He laughed.

  “Hm.” She raised an eyebrow. “Wives?”

  “Two.” He shrugged. “Can’t say I didn’t try. I suppose I’m not husband material.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that.” She took a sip of her drink. “I think even the greatest loves aren’t always meant to work out.”

  “Is that what your husband was to you? A great love?” He stared into her eyes, and it seemed as if everyone else around him had disappeared. The conversations were just a dim sound, the lights and music had no impact on him. But the way her cheeks flushed and her chin tilted away from him in response to the question intrigued him.

  “Yes.” She focused her attention on him and returned his gaze. He noticed that she didn’t shy away from the question despite her initial reaction. “Or, at least I thought he was. Weren’t you in love with your wives?”

  “Maybe.” He swirled his drink and lowered his eyes.

  “Maybe? Then maybe not. Some people get married because it seems like the right thing to do.”

  “I guess.” He took another swallow of his drink and set the glass down on the table.

  “I see I’ve touched on a sore topic.” She leaned back in her chair some but did not shift her eyes away from him. “Kids?”

  “None. Well…” He chuckled. “None that are biologically mine anyway.”

  “What do you mean?” She was interrupted by their meals being delivered.

  He focused on his food and hoped that the commotion of the arrival of the meals would dismiss the conversation. The draw he felt to her struck him as a bit too intense. The more he spoke with her, the more he noticed the tiny things about her that all worked together to make her gorgeous to him—the flick of her eyes, the curve of her lips, the subtle scrunch of her nose—each aspect was burned into his memory.

  As soon as the waitress walked away, her eyes were upon him again.

  “So what did you mean?”

  “Oh, it’s just what I do for a living. I’m around a lot of children. They’re not my kids, but I guess in some ways I feel that they are. How about you?”

  “I have one daughter—Emma. And she’s the light of my life.”

  There was that smile again, the one that revealed the dimples in her cheeks. He couldn’t help but smile in return.

  Chapter 3

  There were a few red flags, Natasha had to admit. One, he didn’t want to discuss his past, although since they’d just met, perhaps that was to be expected. Two, he seemed to draw back from her, not as if he was frightened but as if he preferred not to be engaged. Still, the more Thomas pulled back, the more curious she was. Was it time for her to be take a chance?

  “If we’re both here alone, maybe neither of us should be alone?” She smiled and finished the last of her drink. When she set the glass down she found him staring hard at her from across the table. The way he pinned her with his eyes made her wonder if she’d been too bold.

  “You think I would be good company?” His lips curved enough that she relaxed.

  “Maybe I’d like to find out.”

  “Maybe?” He quirked an eyebrow.

  Not one to beg, she began to eat her meal.

  Barry pushed his food around on his plate. “This is the strangest chicken I’ve ever seen.”

  “Maybe that’s because it’s duck.” Natasha laughed and speared a bite of her food.

  “Duck? Real duck?” He scrunched up his nose. “This is what I’m supposed to eat?”

  “Just try it. Just one bite. You might like it.” Thomas chuckled.

  Yes, he’s definitely someone who spends time around kids. She held back another round of laughter and returned to her food. By the time the meal was over she’d forgotten about the invitation that she’d extended. Once more she was caught up in the riveting tales that the woman across from her was sharing. When the dessert dishes were taken away and more drinks were offered, she was surprised by the sudden strength in Thomas’s voice.

  “Another sambuca for me and one for Natasha as well.”

  She looked up at him and raised an eyebrow. “Thank you.”

  “We need something to toast our adventures together, don’t we?” He locked eyes with her.

  Natasha’s eyes widened as she nodded. Clearly he was going to be full of surprises. That could keep things very interesting.

  “If you’d like, we could take a walk after our drinks. I can show you a few little-known secrets about cruise ships,” Natasha said.

  “You want to educate me?” The way his lips quivered, she suspected that he was holding back laughter.

  “I don’t know. Do you think you’d be a good student?” She accepted the drink the waitress handed her without ever looking away from him.

  He accepted his drink as well.

  “You know what they say—any student can be taught, it’s up to the teacher to find a way.” He laughed and held up his glass. “To our adventure.”

  She laughed as well and clinked her glass against his. The flirtation was childish, but fun. Already she had the idea that she would enjoy his sense of humor.

  “Yes, to our adventure.”

  Barry drew Thomas into a conversation about spearfishing that failed to hold her attention. She shifted her gaze toward the mostly silent woman beside her. She couldn’t be certain, but she was fairly sure that it was the same woman she’d seen earlier in the day. A spark of guilt flushed her cheeks as she realized that she hadn’t even caught the woman’s name.

  “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Natasha.” She smiled at her.

  “I’m Michelle.” The woman smiled at her but made no effort to shake her hand.

  “Is this your first time on a cruise too?”

  “Yes, I’m afraid so.” She fiddled with the straw in her glass of water.

  “Not enjoying yourself?”

  “It’s not that.
I guess I just don’t quite fit here, you know?” She shrugged. “I’m sure it will get better as the trip goes on.”

  “You’re welcome to join me if you’d like company on the excursions to the islands.”

  “Oh, thank you, but I’m not sure that I’ll go on every one. I will find you if I do, though.”

  “Wonderful.” Natasha studied the woman’s expression. The heaviness in her eyes, the way she seemed to force her smile, and the hesitation in her movements made Natasha question what might be going on in her heart. She was distracted by Thomas as he stood up from the table.

  “I’m ready for some fresh air. You?” He met her eyes again.

  She noted the way that he always looked her directly in the eye. It impressed her. Perhaps the way he avoided her through the first part of their meeting was just a fluke. She stood up as well and said goodbye to the others.

  Thomas brushed a hand across her arm as he led her toward the door of the dining room. The light touch sent a nearly imperceptible shiver through her. A touch—from a man who wasn’t Lucas—a man she might enjoy getting to know. Her mind swirled with all the possibilities until she forced it to grind to a halt. It was just a touch after all.

  When they reached the deck she took a deep breath of the sea air. The sunset still glowed on the horizon, but most of the guests had retreated to their rooms or the various activities on board the ship. She stepped over to the railing, quite aware that Thomas followed right behind her. When he stood beside her, his elbow brushed against her arm in a subtle, easily accidental movement that caused her to shiver.

  “So what are these secrets you want to share with me?” He tilted his head to the side. The glow of the sunset danced across his tan skin to make it seem as if he was coated in gold.

  Her heart fluttered. She took a breath and reminded herself to take it one step at a time.

  “Well, there are two important things to remember on a cruise. One is to always find a cozy spot away from the crowd. The deck might not look very crowded now, but in the peak hours you will trip over lounge chairs and sunscreen puddles.”

  “What if there aren’t any cozy spots?”