by Mary Smith
“Yes, but she knows I’m gone, and I have plenty of time to do it when I get back.”
“Okay.” Dacey jotted notes on her pad. “Anything else?”
I ran through my mental checklist and nothing came to mind. “Just grab my mail and leave it on my desk. I’ll have Wi-Fi time-to-time, but I’m going to read and relax this trip.” And forget about Keaton.
“Perfect.”
I said goodbye to Dacey at the end of the day and went to finish packing. I’ve never been on a cruise alone. I planned on reading on the deck all day long and work on my tan. When the boat went into port, I was going to shop till I dropped. I would also eat anything and everything I could get in my mouth. I couldn’t forget the alcohol of course. Lots and lots of alcohol.
I sit my packed suitcase by the door, along with my purse, passport, and tickets. I made sure I had my laptop, Kindle, and all my chargers. I was even able to slip in two paperbacks in my carry-on bag if I needed them.
I made sure all my dishes were cleaned, leaving nothing in the sink. I ran a quick vacuum around the house and double-checked that all my laundry was done.
“Okay,” I said aloud, proud of all I accomplished. Now the only item left on my to-do list: have fun.
I rested in the first-class lounge, sipping the white wine. I thought splurging on first-class had been a dumb idea, but right now, I didn’t care. Sure Keaton’s ticket wouldn’t be used, and I had to eat that money.
Can I sue him for the money?
I shook my head. I wouldn’t think about him this week. This was my selfish week of sun, fun, reading, and shopping. I didn’t even take my vibrator because I would be too busy having fun.
The announcement came for me to board my flight. I downed my wine and picked up my bag, heading to my gate. I’d be a liar if I didn’t say I looked for Keaton. There was small part of me hoping he would show. I stood off to the side and scanned the crowd, but he wasn’t there, and it gave me the closure I needed. It proved to me he’d moved on, and so had I.
Ah, Venice.
I sighed to myself as I stepped out of the airport. I hailed a cab and told him what port I needed. Normally, I would have come a day early to explore, but not this time.
I showed my paperwork and boarded the incredible boat, following signs to my cabin. I used my wide ass to push open the door as I tugged my suitcase into my room.
“Damn broken roller.” I kicked the bag and turned only to be frozen in place in shock.
“If you want, honey-bunny, I’ll buy you a new one at our first stop.”
My mouth wouldn’t work, but it hung open. Keaton sat on the bed, looking extremely casual in khaki shorts and a light green polo; he even had flip-flops on. His blue eyes were bright, and I could tell he’d recently had a haircut.
“Pussy got your tongue, honey-bunny.”
I snapped out of my trance. “The term is cat.” I sat my bag on the long dresser.
“Pussy has a certain je ne sais quoi, don’t you think?”
“Do you even know what that means? Better yet, can you even spell it?” Anger pulsed through me. He shouldn’t be here.
“Aw, honey-bunny—”
“Stop calling me that,” I roared, stomping over to him. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“My beautiful girlfriend booked this for me.”
“I’m not your girlfriend. I’m fucking nothing to you.”
“That’s not true.” He jumped up from the bed. “You mean a hell of lot to me.”
“Obviously, you’re on a one-way street called Dumbass Avenue, because I don’t give a rat’s ass about you.” Okay, it was a lie, sort-of. I did wish him all the best, but right now? I wanted to punch him in the nose.
He reached for me. “Harlow—”
“Get off this boat or get another cabin.” I stepped away from him.
“No, my name is on this one, and I’ll be staying here.”
I grunted at him, shoving him hard on the chest. I stomped out of the cabin to find a steward to move me to another room. Right before I found someone, the horn blew, and I knew we would be sailing soon. I finally found someone and requested a move.
“I’m sorry, but this cruise is completely booked. We can fix anything wrong in your cabin, but there’s no way to change.”
I huffed so hard I thought smoke would come out of my nose as I stormed back to my cabin. Keaton was leaning against the door frame wearing his sexy grin. It pissed me off more, and I pushed past him and started grabbing my bags.
“Where are you going, Harlow?”
“Away from you, and if you won’t leave, I will. I’ll get a hotel and fly back to the US in the morning.” I headed toward the door, but he blocked it. “Move. Now.”
“No, you paid for this trip for us and we are going on it. No arguments.” He crossed his arms.
“You’re going to move, or I’m really going to knee you in the balls,” I yelled at him.
The last horn blew, and I knew the boat would be shoving off any moment. “I’m not joking, Keaton Jaco.”
“Neither am I. We belong together, and I’m going to show you.” I saw the seriousness in his eyes. “I’m asking for a second chance.”
I stepped up to him, and we were nose-to-nose. “You don’t listen very well. I already told you I don’t give second chances, especially to someone who treated me the way you did.” I begged the tears not to fall.
“All right.” He moved away from the door.
I swung the door open with all my might only to be deflated with disappointment. The boat was moving.
“Oh, darn it.” Keaton snapped his fingers. “It seems you have to stay.”
I did my best not to turn around and really throat punch him. Instead, I slammed the door, spun on my heels, and stuck my finger in his face.
“You will leave me alone this entire trip. You’re going to sleep on the couch, and don’t even think about touching me.” I tossed my bags on the bed and began to unpack.
No sound came from either of us as I hung my clothes up and put the rest in drawers. I kept my eyes fixed on my task and not on Keaton’s hot ass body.
“Axel is doing good, by the way.” He finally spoke.
I turned on my Kindle and stretched out on the uncomfortable couch. “Who’s Axel? My curiosity is getting the best of me.”
“I believed you named him puppy.”
“The dog?”
He nodded.
“You kept him?” I figured he’d give him away.
“Why wouldn’t I? You gave him to me.” He had a soft smile on his face and looked like the old Keaton I fell in love with.
“Well, it’s nice you kept him.” I went back to my Kindle, trying not to seem pleased about the fact.
I continued to ignore him, but my eyes kept gazing up at him. He made himself comfortable on the bed, his long tanned legs, crossed at the ankles. He had one arm under his head and was staring at his iPad.
“Meadow told me you read the book I sent you.”
I groaned. “She has a big mouth.” I saw his smirk deepen, but he didn’t look over at me.
“Did you like it?”
“Eh, I guess it’s okay.” I played off the fact I loved it and have read it again since the first time. “Wait, when did you talk to Meadow?” I put my Kindle down, suddenly wondering why she didn’t tell me they’d spoken.
“She came over and helped me publish my book.”
I sat up straighter. “You published it?”
He laid down his iPad and turned to me with a glint in his eyes. “Yep.”
“When?”
“Several weeks ago.”
“Oh,” was my brilliant come back.
He rolled off the bed and strolled over to the dresser, opening the top drawer. I couldn’t see what he was doing because my gaze was planted right on his hard ass.
He turned around and held a book out to me. I reached for it, turning and putting my feet on the floor.
“This is yours.
” It wasn’t really a question because I knew the answer.
He took a seat at the end of the couch, resting his arm against the back and holding his head up with two fingers.
“Yes,” he answered.
The bitch in me jumped ship for a moment. “Your grams would be so proud.”
His blue eyes were sad for a second before nodding. I handed the book back to him, but he simply shook his head. “It’s yours.”
“Thank you.” I stood up and put it on the dresser. “I’m going to get some air.”
“I’ll come with you.” He rose to his feet, but I threw up my hands.
“Alone.” I grabbed my purse and left the room.
There were more people out on the decks than I thought there would be. I found myself resting on the rails, watching the coastline drift farther and farther away. Keaton had messed up my plan to be alone and have a week filled with fictional boyfriends and alcohol. Yep, he had to come be all…sexy and shit.
No, he is not sexy.
I would not allow his smoking hot body, gorgeous grin, or blue eyes persuade me to getting back with him. Well, maybe he just wanted a fuck buddy; I’d be half tempted then.
No, Harlow. You’ve already cried over this guy.
I pushed my hand through my hair and got pissed at myself. I’d never lost myself in a relationship. I always remained true to me; but Keaton had swooped in and knocked me for a loop.
“Fuck.” I ranted under my breath. Forty years old and now I was acting like a fucking teenager obsessed with some guy.
Obsessed was the wrong word. I fell in love, but there was nothing left. I couldn’t allow there to be anything left; what if he left me again? I’d already changed after he broke me last time.
Right?
“Harlow.” Keaton softly said my name.
I sniffed, not realizing I’d been crying. I wiped my cheeks.
“Harlow.” He stood next to me. “If you want me to leave, I’ll get off at the next port and catch a plane home.”
I held the rail tightly and stared at the sea in front of me now. My head told me to let him leave, but my heart wanted him to stay. It’d hurt to watch him leave again, but part of me wanted him to suffer too since he’d hurt me so badly.
“No, you don’t have to leave.”
“I wish you knew how sorry I am. I’ll do anything to get you back into my life.”
“You’re wasting your time.” I couldn’t look at him. His eyes still made my knees weak, especially being this close to him.
“Well, you once told me we’d always be friends, remember?”
I knew what I’d told him, but I didn’t acknowledge that right now.
“How about you and I grab a drink at the bar? As friends.”
My gaze remained fixed forward.
“Please,” he softly begged.
The bitch in me came back, and I turned to him, crossed my arms and firmly stated, “No,” and stormed off.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Keaton
In my mind I’d thought this go differently. Harlow and I should be on round three of our sex marathon. Instead, I was sitting alone at the bar, nursing my second beer.
Seeing Harlow again made my heart ache. I couldn’t believe it was possible to love her even more, but I did. I planned on doing everything and anything to get her back. The problem? I really had no plan. Begging and groveling were on the list, but that was about it.
I felt someone sit on my left, and shock caused my eyes to widen.
Harlow.
When the bartender came over, she ordered a white wine. Should I talk first? Ask why she changed her mind? I quickly decided to wait for her to speak.
I watched, through my peripheral vision, as the bartender sat her glass down in front of her. She took a small sip. Even though there was noise, talking and laughter around us, our silence was almost deafening.
“I’m not really a bitch all the time.”
She spoke! “I know.”
“But it is a quality that tends to be louder than the others.” She kept tapping her wine glass stem.
“There’s a lot of good in you, Harlow. I’ve seen it first hand.”
“I don’t give second chances, Keaton. I never have. It’s one thing to have a tiff or an argument, but you crossed a line so far you can’t even see the line anymore.”
My mouth dried. “You’re right and I can’t apologize enough. I want to fix what happened between us.”
She swiveled on the stool and faced me, and I mirrored her pose.
“Keaton, I’m forty years old. I’ve been the exact same person since I was eight. Until you.”
I stopped breathing, just listening to her.
“You turned me upside down. None of my other relationships were like ours. I fell for you hard, fast, and I loved every moment of it. Our talks, the banter, the laughter, all of it made my heart grow more for you, but…” she trailed off and looked away from me.
“Harlow.” I reached for hand, but she moved it from me.
“No, Keaton.” She looked back at me. “You hurt me in a way I never thought I could be hurt. I cried so hard for you; I didn’t think that was possible.”
My heart broke more hearing her words. I saw her eyes well in tears, and all I wanted to do was hold her.
“I came on this trip to clear my head—”
“I’ll leave, Harlow,” I cut her off. “I don’t want to hurt you anymore.”
Our eyes locked onto each other, and I knew her hurt and sadness were all my fault.
“The dedication, was it real?”
“Dedication?” I was baffled by her question. “Oh, you mean in my book. Yes, it’s real.”
She gently wiped the tear from her cheek. “It’s sweet, thank you.” In a very lady-like manner, she slid off the stool and strolled away without another word.
I waved down the bartender for another beer and told him to add Harlow’s wine to my tab. I practically chugged the beer down, hoping it would dull the pain in my heart. Even though I knew it wouldn’t help.
I closed my eyes thinking about the dedication. Grams was my obvious choice, but since I used her name in my pen name, I went with my heart.
My honey-bunny.
I remember writing it with a smile on my face, dedicating my book to her. I opened my eyes and picked at the label on my beer, bored, hurt, and little tired.
After finishing my third beer and then the fourth one, I tapped out and went back to the cabin. The moon lit the entire ocean from the cloudless sky; even the stars were like tiny night-lights. When I walked in, Harlow was nowhere in the room. She must be on the deck, I guessed, and I got ready for bed.
On the couch.
It had a lump and wasn’t comfortable, and the worst part was my legs hung over the armrest.
It’s going to be a long week on this thing.
I turned on my iPad, opened my Kindle app, and did my best to focus on the words of the book I was reading.
About fifteen minutes later, Harlow came through the door with blood shot eyes. I gave her a sad smile, and I waited for her to come over and clock me. She might feel better.
Instead, she breezed past me and went into the en-suite to change, I suppose. When she came out, she wore a tight white tank top and thin shorts, both of which made me hard. I knew she had nothing under there, and I could clearly see her nipples. She had a banging body, and my tongue had touched every inch of it.
I set my iPad to the side and tried to find a comfortable position as Harlow turned off the lights, except the one by her side of the bed. I turned to my left and then my right, but each position killed my back. I should get on the floor; it would be more comfortable.
Harlow signed dramatically, and I saw her toss the covers off her and stomp over to me. “Get up.”
“Huh?”
“You’re rocking the entire boat by tossing and turning. Now, get up and lay in the bed.”
“What?” Did I hear her right? “Where are you
going to sleep?”
“We’ll sleep in the bed, but if you touch me, I’ll cut off your favorite appendage.”
“I promise.” I sat up, removing the blanket I’d stolen from the bed, and I saw Harlow check out my body. Since Grams’ death, I’ve been working out a lot.
“Enjoying the view?” I held back my smirk this time.
She crossed my arms. “I never, ever said you weren’t hot with an amazing body. I said you were an asshole.”
“But I’m your asshole.” I couldn’t be sure she wouldn’t punch me now since I was playing a little too close to the fire.
Harlow rolled her eyes and went back to her side of the bed. “Just remember what I told you.” She jerked the covers up to her chin and put her back to me.
“I promise,” I repeated, sliding in next to her, facing her back. “Goodnight, Harlow.”
She replied by turning off the light.
The sun blazed into the room through the window, and when I opened my eyes, I realized why my arm felt asleep. Harlow was curled up next to me.
I reveled in our closeness. I knew she wasn’t awake yet as she softly snored. Some guys would have been turned off by the sound, but Harlow’s wasn’t loud.
It’s cute.
I gently pulled her closer to me and tenderly kissed her cheek. “I love you, honey-bunny,” I whispered in her ear.
“Mmm…puppy.”
My heart sped up at the pet name she’d given me. Yes, it was dumb, but I missed her saying it. I glanced at the clock and remembered from the itinerary, we were about to dock at Dubrovnik, Croatia. I had plans for us today, but I’d have to wake her first.
“Harlow.” I stroked her cheek. “Honey-Bunny.” I ran my fingers up and down her arm.
She stirred, grinding her ass against my already hard cock. I did my best to stifle the moan, but damn, she felt good. She stretched her arms out and blinked awake.
God, she’s beautiful.
She gasped and quickly moved out of my arms. “Keaton,” she chided.
“Hey,” I held my hands up in defense. “I just woke up too.”
She leapt out the bed and rubbed her eyes. “Whatever,” she growled.
