by Ancelli
“Wow…it’s not that type of party.” She placed her hands on the edge, lifted herself out of the water, and walked away from him.
“Wait.” Kyle rapidly got out of the pool and followed her. He caught her by her wrist. “I’m sorry, I know it’s too soon. I just couldn’t help myself.”
She tugged her arm free, picked up her towel, and dried herself. She ogled his body. Kyle could see the desire in her eyes as she licked her lips, watching his abs, all of which made him smirk.
Destinee eyed him, trying not to gaze down at his manhood. “What’s your story, Kyle?”
“What do you mean?” He cocked his eyebrow.
“Tell me, what is a handsome man doing on this cruise ship alone?” She picked up her dress, and slipped it on. “Why the sadness in your eyes?”
“I’m not sad.” He shrugged.
“If you don’t want to tell me, then say so.” She dropped the towel on her bag.
“Fine. After this, I’m done talking about my unhappiness, as you put it.” Kyle picked her towel up, drying his hair and his torso with it, then grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head. “I came on this trip to mend a broken heart.”
“Aww…” Destinee whispered. “Who broke your heart?”
He gave her the look that a parent gives their child when they misbehave. “My wife. I mean ex-wife.” He stared at her, waiting for a reaction, but she just waited for him to finish. “She walked out of our home, and she’s divorcing me.” As he talked, Destinee looked away. He guessed she was hurt, too; it was all in her eyes. “I thought we could have fun together, forget the people that hurt us.”
“Why did you say ‘us’?” she softly asked.
“You have a story, too.” He took her left hand in his, and caressed her ring finger. He could see the imprint of a wedding ring. “Are you married?”
“It’s a long story…” Destinee pulled back her hand, and grabbed her things.
“I have all day to listen.” He slipped on his shoes. “I shared my story.”
“Fine.” Her eyes shone. “I’m separated from my husband.”
Kyle clenched his jaw. What the hell did she mean, separated? “Separated, not divorced?” he raised his voice. He hadn’t expected that answer.
Destinee pouted, and glared at him. “Yes, you heard me right. Separated. We haven’t divorced yet.” She picked up her hat. “He decided he was better off without me, so we went our separate ways.”
Kyle cleared his throat. “He left you?”
“I am done talking about my relationship.” Destinee stared at him. “So, whatever we decide to do,” she pointed at him, “is between you and me.”
He stared back at her without saying a word.
“If you have a problem with what I just told you, it’s okay. I am still going to enjoy my vacation, with or without your company.” She slipped on her sandals. “I have to go.”
If Destinee wanted to play games, then let the fun begin. “Can I have my stuff in your bag?” She dug in her large purse, and handed Kyle his things. “I’ll be knocking on your door at seven.” He would follow her lead until she was ready to open up.
She smiled. “See you then.” She sauntered away.
***
Destinee walked away. Why did it hurt to talk about her separation? Kyle hadn’t had a problem sharing his story. His slightly full lips looked so kissable, she was tempted to have a taste. She shook her head. It was too soon. She didn’t want him thinking she was that easy. Every time he smiled, the corners of his mouth lifted, making deep indentations in his cheeks, sexy dimples. His green eyes held mischief behind them when he gazed back at her. Damn, the man had her libido in full effect. Destinee could still smell his woodsy cologne. His body was perfectly fit, down to his toes, as drops of water ran down the cuts of his abs. Why couldn’t she just let her guard down and let him in?
She walked down the hall toward the staterooms, and knocked on the door.
The door swung open. “Look who’s here…come in sweetheart.”
Destinee smiled, entered the room, and closed the door behind her.
Chapter Three
Later That Evening…
Destinee pinned her unruly hair up into a twist. “Why did I get my hair wet?” she asked herself out loud, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She applied eye shadow, mascara, and a glossy bronze lipstick to her lips. She pouted her lips, and then smiled. Kyle made her feel beautiful. His eyes sparkled anytime he gazed at her, regardless of what she might be doing at that moment. He made her feel like she was the only woman around. When they’d been in the pool, she’d noticed a few model-sized, thin women, but he only had eyes for her. Destinee was lucky to have met a loving man like him, and if she played her cards right, she would be getting lucky tonight. “You go with your fast self.” She chuckled.
She squeezed some cocoa butter lotion on the palms of her hands, and smoothed it over her thighs. Destinee chose a long-sleeved, short romper that exposed her bare back. She was a little uncomfortable showing so much skin, but her ex always mentioned how much he loved her shapely figure. Why didn’t she show it off more often? Destinee looked at herself one more time before slipping on her five-inch black stilettos. This wasn’t like her. Normally, she barely wore heels; however, on this trip, she was going to come out of her comfort zone and be more feminine. She’d started earlier, with the sexy, barely there bikini. The effect on Kyle had been worth it. His trunks had tented as he’d gawked at her ass. Lawd, he had a sculptured body, especially the V-cut leading down to his impressive package. Kyle, she assumed, knocked on her door. “Coming…” She picked up her purse, strolled over to the door, and swung it open.
“Damn.” Kyle’s husky tone sent shivers along her spine as he inspected her body from head to toe. “You look amazing.” He gazed into her eyes.
“Thank you.” Destinee examined the man in front of her. He was a work of art standing at her door, looking like a model out of GQ magazine. Kyle’s hair was messy as always, and he wore a white dress shirt and black slacks. “You don’t look so bad yourself.” She slid her palm down his chest. “You clean up well.”
He smiled, exposing those sexy dimples, and right then and there, she wanted to jump his bones. She needed to stop thinking like a horny schoolgirl.
“We have a reservation.” He held out his hand.
“Reservations? I thought it’s a buffet, or assigned seating?” Destinee took his hand, and he squeezed it.
“I wanted you to have the best.” Kyle stared at her figure. “You don’t think that’s a little too short?”
Destinee closed the door behind her. “What? You don’t like it?” She slowly twirled around.
Kyle sneered, “Oh I love it, but…”
“But what?” She chuckled, lifting her eyebrow in amusement. “I’m a big girl. I can wear what I want to.”
“Never mind.” They walked hand in hand down the hallway.
***
“So…” Destinee watched him closely as they waited for the waiter to return with their food. Kyle gazed back at her; to him, she was the most beautiful woman in the room. She was the only woman he saw. No one else mattered at that moment.
“So…” he repeated.
“Tell me a little bit about yourself.” She grabbed her champagne flute.
“What do you want to know?” He couldn’t stop staring at her glossy lips. He was dying to taste her lips, both sets.
“Anything you want to share.” Destinee placed the glass down and leaned forward in her chair.
Kyle cocked his eyebrow. “Well, lets see.” He tapped his mouth with his index finger. “I’m about to turn thirty-three, and divorced.”
“No kids,” she mentioned.
“I didn’t have any need for children.” He picked up his drink and took a gulp as Destinee rested back in her seat.
“Oh, that’s sad.” She whispered.
“Maybe.” He placed his glass down on the table. “What about you?”
“Wel
l, Mr. Kyle.” Her lips twisted as she thought about her answer. “I’m a year younger than you and I’m a registered nurse.”
“A nurse, huh.” He chuckled. “Where do you work?”
“I’m currently unemployed.” Destinee glanced around the restaurant.
“Unemployed!” Kyle didn’t mean to raise his voice.
She laughed. “Yes, I’m living with my parents, and I’m enjoying life before I start looking for another job.”
“Really.” Kyle eyed the woman in front of him. Destinee had to be full of shit. She was an independent woman. “Where are you from?”
“Here and there. Seriously, I’m living in Missouri now.”
“Missouri?”
“Yes, I told you I’m staying with my parents, but I’m originally from Connecticut. Where do you live?”
Kyle cracked his neck. Missouri was too far away from him. “San Diego.” He took a gulp of his drink.
“It’s too expensive to live in California.” Destinee played with her napkin. “I was thinking about what you said this afternoon, and I’m curious to know why your wife would leave you?” She took a sip of her red wine. “I mean, a nice person like you.”
Kyle leaned back. He didn’t want to dwell on his divorce, but she kept digging. He wanted a night of fun, not looking back at regrets. “If you ask her, she might say I’m not that nice.” He cleared his throat.
“She’s not here now. I am.”
“It all started when I made a decision to become a firefighter. I wanted a job where I could make a difference.”
“Oh, now I understand.” She grinned, staring at his chest.
“What?” He smiled back.
“Your body.” She scooted her chair over a little and wrapped her hand around his left bicep. “I’ve met a few firemen in the ER. Your job can be dangerous.”
“It can be, but I was trained to survive. If something happens to me…” Kyle stared at her. “Then it was my time to go.”
Destinee’s nose flared. “You shouldn’t say things like that.”
“It’s the truth. Tomorrow is never promised, that’s what my mother-in-law always says. I finally agree with her.” He chuckled.
She moved back in her seat. “Continue your story.”
“It was my first year on the job, a rookie. We received a call about a fire downtown. When we arrived, a few things went wrong and we were trapped in the flames.” Kyle remembered that he hadn’t felt any fear while he was in the burning building. “While I was trapped, the only thought that was going through my mind was giving thanks that I didn’t have a family, that I wasn’t leaving behind a wife and kid.”
Destinee entwined her fingers. “What about your parents, siblings?”
“It’s different. I didn’t have a choice in my parents having me, but I had a choice in starting a family.” Kyle shrugged. “I never thought I would love someone enough to be married, until I met my wife.” Kyle closed his eyes for a second and he envisioned the first time they’d met, eleven years before.
***
Kyle pulled up at a gas station, got out of his vehicle and swiped his card, when all of a sudden, the woman at the pump ahead of him started cussing.
“I can’t freaking believe it!” She looked into her car. “No.” She turned around and he couldn’t take his eyes off her ass. “I’m going to be late…no…” the woman said to herself. Kyle thought she was crazy at first, and then she placed her hand over the handle and pulled, but her door wouldn’t open.
That’s when he realized she must have locked her keys in her car. “Need some help?”
She sighed, pointing inside the auto. “My keys. I have to get to work, I can’t be late.”
“I can call a locksmith.” He opened his car door and picked up his cell phone.
“Thank you.”
He Googled the contact information for the closest one, then called and gave them the address. He strolled over next to her. “They’re on their way.” She gazed at him with those mesmerizing brown eyes; it was like she had hypnotized him from that very moment. In so many ways, she was different than the women he was used to dating, starting with her curvy figure.
“Thank you again.” She leaned against her car, and looked up to the sky. “It’s a beautiful night, don’t you think?” She grinned, still glancing at the stars.
Kyle also beheld the stars up above. “Yes, it is.” It was really late, and the area they were in wasn’t the best neighborhood. Kyle didn’t feel right, leaving her alone.
“A shooting star,” she said excitedly. “Make a wish.” She closed her eyes for a few seconds.
Kyle chuckled; she was a breath of fresh air, defiantly different. I wish I could get to know her better…that was his wish. He extended his hand. “I’m Kyle.”
She gazed at him and smiled. Right then and there, he was a goner. She shook his hand.
“Dee.”
He felt electricity as soon as her soft hands touched his.
“Dee, I can wait with you, if you don’t mind.” He watched her closely.
“I don’t mind. I would like it if you would…”
***
Kyle continued talking as he reminisced in his head. “She made me see life differently. Dee laughed at everything, even when there wasn’t anything to smile about. She lived every day like it was her last. I would do anything for her.” Kyle cleared his throat. She was the beat of my heart.
Destinee bit her bottom lip. “But why did she leave?”
“I couldn’t give her what she wanted.” His nose flared.
“What was that?”
Kyle could still remember the sadness in his wife’s eyes the night their marriage ended.
***
They were out to dinner at a Thai restaurant. Dee wasn’t saying much, which wasn’t like her. Something wasn’t right; Kyle could sense it.
“Tesoro, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she said softly, eating her shrimp pad Thai.
Kyle placed his fork on the table, and stared at her. “I know you, and something is wrong. Spill.”
“I want a baby,” she replied without looking at him.
“I don’t think I heard you correctly.” Kyle continued watching her. “Did you say you want a baby?”
“Yes.” She finally looked at him. “Kyle, we’ve been married for almost eight years, and I think is time for us to start a family.”
Kyle pushed back his seat and crossed his hands over his chest. “Where is this coming from?”
“I saw my niece today and…”
“And?”
“I want to be a mother someday.” Her eyes were shiny with unshed tears. “I’m not saying now. Don’t you want to be a father?”
“No,” he calmly stated. “Dee, I’ve been honest with you from the start. I told you I didn’t want kids and you were on board with it and now, apparently, you’ve changed your mind. Well, I haven’t.”
“I didn’t want any kids, but things have changed, Kyle. Don’t you want a little you or me running around?”
“No, Dee, I don’t want any kids.” As he watched tears roll down her cheeks, Kyle knew he was hurting the only woman he’d ever loved, but he needed to be honest with her. “I’m not saying this to hurt you.”
“Why?” She wiped her tears with a napkin.
“Dee, I don’t want to leave a child without a father. My job is too risky. I always fight and pull through for you…Aren’t I enough?”
“You didn’t want a wife, either, but you married me.” Dee raised her voice, making the other customers glance their way. “So, you’d rather leave me with nothing than leave me with a piece of you.”
“Dee.” He touched her hand, and she pulled back from his caress. “I can’t compromise on this.” Kyle usually gave in to his wife, but not this time. “I don’t have room for a baby in my life, our life.”
“Then we have a problem…” Dee whispered, “Because one day I do want a child.”
***
/> “A child,” he softly answered. “She wanted to start a family and I told her I didn’t want any children, that my life wasn’t arranged to have a baby.” He looked at Destinee. “Dee didn’t like my answer, and now we’re divorcing. Why did you separate from your spouse?” He rapidly changed the subject.
“We grew apart.” Destinee played with her napkin.
“That’s it?”
“Yes.” She touched his knuckles with her finger. “You know what I think?”
“Tell me.”
“I think we should forget about the past, for now. Let’s leave the pain behind us and use this vacation to get to know each other and have fun.” Destinee caressed his knuckles.
“What kind of fun?” he asked with mischief.
“Anything…” She winked.
Kyle picked up his glass. “To leaving the past in the past…no regrets.”
Destinee raised her flute and they toasted. “No regrets…”
The waiter placed the food on the table, and excused himself. Kyle and Destinee began eating, and enjoying themselves making small talk. She chuckled, and then covered her mouth with her hand.
“No, you didn’t just say the Lakers are the best basketball team?” She continued laughing.
Kyle smiled. Her laughter was addictive. He was having a great time—who would’ve thought? Destinee was into sports. He didn’t mind listening to her laugh all night long. “They are!”
“Really, where were they this season?” She placed her elbows on the table and leaned forward.
“You’ll see, they’ll have a comeback.” He picked up his fork and continued eating his food. “And when they do,” he smirked, “I will be calling you.”
“I know my cell isn’t working out here in the middle of the ocean at the moment, but by chance do you have your cell with you?”
“Yes.”
“Can I see it?” Destinee opened her palm, waiting for him to hand over the gadget.
“For?” Kyle gazed at her suspiciously.
“You don’t have my number, silly. I’m going to input it—or maybe you don’t want it?”
