“No, I didn’t. I’m looking forward to the howlers, and to our visit to the zoo.” The restaurant’s manager was circulating through the dining room, greeting guests and stopping to chat. He approached their table.
“Buonasera! Good evening,” he said in a heavy Italian accent.
Marin turned in her seat to greet him, her forearm heading straight for her wine. Jason lifted the glass out of the way just in the nick of time. She didn’t even notice. He grinned and set the glass back down… out of her way.
The manager introduced himself and told them what part of Italy he came from, explaining the great pains he took to ensure that his restaurant’s fare remained true to his roots. “I hope everything is to your complete satisfaction this evening?”
“Everything is wonderful, thank you,” Marin gushed.
Three courses and a shared dessert later, Jason leaned back in his chair. Conversation had flowed easily, and he couldn’t remember a single date he’d enjoyed more. “I’m stuffed.” He tossed his napkin on the table in defeat. “I don’t think I’ve ever eaten as much or as well as I have on this cruise.”
“Me either.” Marin giggled. “I just hope I can still get into my jeans for the trip home at the end of this week.”
I’d like to get into your jeans . . . He shook his head. He needed to take it slow, get to know her better. He didn’t want to rush into anything. He had enough sense to listen to his gut, and his gut told him to proceed with caution. Marin was not “cruise fling” material. She was the type of woman you took home to meet the family, and he wasn’t there yet. Why would he be? They’d just met.
“What?” Marin’s brow creased.
“Hmm?”
“You’re shaking your head.”
He shrugged. “Just thinking about how much time I’m going to have to spend on deck sixteen to work off all of these calories.” Sounded plausible, and much better than I was wondering if you might be wearing matching bra and panties under that sexy dress.
“Deck sixteen?”
“That’s where the gym is located.”
“That’s where the spa is too.” Marin rested her chin on her fists. “I’m having a massage on Friday. Can’t wait.” She reached for the napkin on her lap and set it on the table. “Well, we can start on the calories by taking a walk on the promenade deck. I did a few laps there on Monday morning. It’s nice. You have to go up a flight of stairs and down another to go all the way around the ship. Three laps is about a mile.”
“I wonder what it would be like to live on a cruise ship for months at a time?” he mused. “A variety of places to eat, someone cleaning your room every day, a gym, spa, pools… What more could you want?”
Marin grinned. “I’ve wondered the same thing. I’ve been having breakfast at different places each morning. It’s been a lot of fun to share a table with other guests. So far, I’ve met people from Germany, Japan, the US and Canada.”
Their waiter came to take Jason’s cruise card. “That does sound like fun.” He imagined Marin striking up conversations with fellow guests, total strangers. She had a way about her, warm and friendly, open. “I’ve just been ordering room service.”
“You’re welcome to join me. Since tomorrow’s an excursion day, I planned to head up to the lido deck for the buffet. It’s faster.”
“What time?”
“Seven. I’m an early riser.”
“I can do seven.” The waiter returned. Jason signed the slip and added an additional tip. The service and the food had both been exceptional. “Ready for that walk?”
“After this meal, it’ll be more like a waddle,” Marin said, sliding out of her place.
They strolled to the elevators, caught one right away, and Jason pushed the button for the promenade deck. Marin leaned against the mirrored surface, a satisfied smile on her face. “Thank you for dinner, Jason. That was an excellent meal.”
“I’m glad you joined me. I’ve never been into the club scene. I’d much rather spend the evening in a quiet place sharing good food and conversation than having my ears blasted by loud music. I don’t enjoy having to shout to be heard.”
“Me either, but lots of people like to dance, and it’s nice that the cruise ship has something for everyone.”
“Do you dance?”
“Only at weddings and anniversaries.” A dreamy look softened her features.
What was she thinking about? Some guy she’d danced with recently? His gut tightened at the thought. The elevator doors opened, and Marin stepped off before him. Despite her frequent near misses, she possessed a natural grace. He’d love to dance with her. Perhaps one night at Club Fusion might be nice if it meant he could hold Marin in his arms. He opened the door to the outside for her.
Marin sucked in a long breath. “It’s so nice out here.” She moved to the railing and swiped a hand over the surface. “Have you noticed the way the salt collects on the outside railings? I think it’s interesting, the way it coats everything out here. I read online that the railings onboard are the only remaining pieces of real wood. Everything else is fake. Wood’s a fire hazard.”
He laughed. “You really do like your factoids, don’t you?”
Grinning, she shrugged. “I guess I do.”
“Let me feel that salt.” He reached for her hand and rubbed his thumb over the tips of her fingers. “Huh. I hadn’t noticed.” Twining his fingers with hers, he led her along the walkway at a leisurely pace. Other couples walked along around them, and a few hardy souls in gym shorts and T-shirts were power-walking or jogging. “Nice night.”
“Perfect.”
They reached the aft of the ship and stopped to watch the water churning from the propellers. Once they reached the other side, Marin gasped. “Look at the moon!” She tugged him to the railing and leaned out to get a better look. “It’s full.”
Jason placed a hand on the railing on either side of her. “That’s really something.” The moonlight formed a wide path of ocean swells limned in silver, and a million stars twinkled overhead. He’d never considered himself a romantic man, but… “Marin?”
“Hmm?” She glanced at him over her shoulder, her eyes luminous.
“Is it all right if I kiss you?”
A shy smile graced her upturned face. “Under the circumstances… in this particular setting, it would be a shame for us not to… take advantage.”
Gently he turned her by the shoulders, intending only to brush her lips with his, but when she put her arms around his neck, his good intentions skipped away on the crests of the silver-tipped waves.
Drawing her close, he kissed her like he’d wanted to from the first moment he’d laid eyes on her. Deeply. The tiny sounds of pleasure she made had him panting for more. She tasted of Chianti and the chocolate dessert they’d shared. Sweet. Rich. Heady. His heart pounded and his blood rushed. He wanted her.
“Get a room, you two,” an older man teased.
Jason ended the kiss and struggled to regain his shattered composure. Never before had a single kiss given him so much pleasure or aroused him so completely. “Sorry,” he called to the seniors walking hand in hand.
“Don’t be.” The woman shot them a knowing look. “You youngsters enjoy the night and that gorgeous full moon. Don’t let this old man stop you. He’s certainly stolen his fair share of kisses on one cruise ship’s promenade deck or another over the years. You see, cruises and romance go together like peanut butter and jelly.”
“Like crackers and cheese,” her husband added. “Just might steal another kiss right now,” the man said, catching his wife around the waist. “You open to a bit of advice, sonny?” he asked, winking at Jason. “If you want to keep things spiced up in your love life, just take that pretty lady of yours on a cruise at least once a year.”
“Sound advice, and I’ll certainly take it to heart.” Jason saluted the couple and turned back to Marin. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t be. They were sweet.”
Once again h
e threaded his fingers through hers, liking the way her skin felt against his. Loving that she didn’t pull away. “Shall we walk some more?”
“Definitely.”
“Do I get another kiss when I walk you to your door?”
“Maybe.”
#
Marin took her place in the semicircle around their guide. Jason hooked his little finger with hers, and a ridiculously giddy thrill tingled all the way through her.
Conway, their tour guide, held up a small yellow fruit with a dark brown apostrophe jutting out from the top. “Who can tell me what this is?”
“A cashew,” someone in their group called out.
“That’s right, and did you know that if you bit into this nut as it is now, your lips would blister?” Conway pointed to the cashew-shaped nut on the top. “We burn off the outer shell, and even then we must wear gloves to handle the nut if we don’t want our hands blistered.” He went on to describe the complicated method used to harvest the cashews. “Harvesting cashews is labor intensive, and that’s why they’re so expensive. You may have noticed the table out front as you entered the sanctuary. A few of our locals are selling cashew wine here today.”
Marin shared a surprised glance with Jason. She’d never heard of cashew wine before. It might be something worth trying.
“It’s very sweet,” Conway continued, “and it continues to ferment after you drink it. That’s why if you get a little buzz from it today, you’ll get another one the day after. It’s a two-for-one kind of wine.”
Their guide led them down a path into the jungle. “The family of howler monkeys we’re going to see today are not in a zoo. There are no fences holding them in here. We’re in their natural habitat, a corridor that landowners in Belize volunteered to leave alone so the monkeys have a place to flourish.”
Conway motioned toward a loose mound of sandy soil teaming with tiny red ants. “Be careful not to step into one of those. They’re fire ants, and they sting.” He continued to point out items of interest along the way, including termite nests and fruit-bearing trees used for food and medicines by the locals.
Marin reveled in the jungle surroundings and held her camera at the ready, hanging on every word and taking it all in.
The group followed Conway along the jungle path, and when they came around a bend, he pointed out a troop of black howler monkeys in the treetops ahead. Conway walked to the base of one of the trees and clapped. The dominant male howler let loose with an ear-shattering barking howl.
“There’s a new baby just born a couple of days ago,” the guide said, pointing to the mother. “You might be able to see him, but he won’t leave his mother at this age. Howlers rarely touch the ground, but the younger ones will come closer to have a look at you.”
As if on cue, a small male climbed down to a low branch, as curious about them as they were about him. Marin raised her camera and crept closer to get a better shot. Suddenly, an arm wrapped around her waist, and she found herself suspended in air. Jason’s grunt filled her ear as he swung her around and set her down again.
“Fire ants,” he whispered, nodding his head toward the teeming mound she’d almost stepped into.
His arms encircled her shoulders and he hugged her close for a moment before letting her go. His voice held no harshness this time, and his touch was… tender. Her heart melted. “Thanks, Jason.”
“Anytime.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “Look, Marin. There’s the baby.”
Leaning back against him, she gazed up into the canopy of leaves just in time to catch a glimpse of the tiny howler clinging to his mama’s belly. She snapped a picture. The dominant male continued to howl. “That really is loud.”
“They’re not aggressive,” the tour guide said beside them. “It’s all bluster.”
Marin milled around with the others in their group, snapping pictures, but her mind was filled with thoughts of Jason. He hadn’t scolded her for not watching where she was going. Nope. He’d simply moved her, with a whisper and a caress.
A different experience for her. Her brothers and previous boyfriends had been impatient with her tendency to step into things, spill drinks, trip. Perhaps she’d misjudged Jason after their first unfortunate meeting. Now he seemed sweet, considerate. She enjoyed spending time with him, and his kisses left her breathless and weak-kneed. Would that all change once he got to know her better? Would he too eventually lose patience with her clumsiness?
Rain splattered the leaves overhead as the tour came to an end. She didn’t mind getting wet. The day was warm and the rain soft. You could almost run your hand through the mist and come away feeling as if you’d been brushed by velvet. On the way back to the bus, Marin stopped at the table where two old men sat behind a row of bottles and animal effigies carved out of wood. She read the handwritten labels on the old Coke bottles filled with cashew wine. “How much for one bottle?”
“Five dollars.” One of the men leaned forward.
Expensive, but she really did want to try some. Besides, her purchase would support the local economy. She fished five dollars from her purse just as Jason joined her. “We can share,” she offered.
“Great idea. I did want to give cashew wine a try.”
“Me too.” She smiled at him. “We’ll have to finish this on the bus. They’ll never let us take it onto the ship.”
“I think we can handle it. We’re stopping for lunch on the way back. I hear they’re serving green chicken.”
She shot him a puzzled look.
“Iguana.”
“Yeah, right.” She laughed. “That joke is getting old, buddy.” Marin unscrewed the cap on the bottle of cashew wine and took a taste. “Mmm. It’s sweet, with just a hint of the nutty flavor,” she said, passing the bottle to Jason.
He took a swallow, his eyes staring into hers. “Like cashews and fruit. I’d like to kiss you now, just to taste the wine on your lips.”
A flutter kicked up low in her belly. She just might be falling for Jason Doherty. Scary. Exhilarating. Motion at the edge of the building that housed the museum caught her eye. “Hey, look.” She pointed. “It’s the same animal I saw in the ravine in Playa del Carmen. They’re called agouti pacas, or gibnuts.” The small animals had reddish-brown coats with white spots like fawns, and their feet were tiny and delicate. “They’re rodents,” she informed him. “I looked them up after our excursion to Tulum.”
“Of course you did.” Jason reached out and tucked an errant strand of her hair behind her ear. “I like that about you, Marin. You have an inquisitive nature.”
The flutter in her belly started up again, along with an echoing sensation in her heart. Yep. She was falling for Jason.
4. Coral Reefs, White Sand Beaches, Starlit Nights and Romance at Sea…
The coral reefs off the coast of the island of Roatán are part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, and they are the second largest barrier reef in the world. A favorite spot for divers and snorkelers, the Roatán reefs are home to an abundance of marine life. Snorkelers can expect to encounter turtles, rays, eels, sponges, lobsters, crabs and a variety of colorful reef fish—a veritable wonderland under the waves.
Jason’s hair was crusty with salt. So was his sunburned skin. He’d just spent one of the best days of his life snorkeling the coral reefs off the coast of the island of Roatán, Honduras—above a shipwreck, no less! He settled back into the seat of the bus taking them back to port, enjoying the view. Roatán was beautiful, a rich green jewel set in crystal clear turquoise-blue water, and he wanted to come back and spend more than a day there.
“This experience is going to influence a few new designs.” Marin yawned and laid her head against the seat rest. “Seeing the rays and sea turtles swimming around, the colorful reefs and the fish, everything… amazing. This has been my favorite excursion.”
“Mine too. The beach was incredible and the snorkeling… fantastic. I’d like to go back to that resort sometime, stay on Roatán for a week or so.”
“Me neither. All the sun, swimming and fresh air has wiped me out.” Jason draped his arm over the back of the seat they shared and stared out at the rolling hills and lush tropical landscape.
“Thanks for sticking by my side while we were snorkeling today. I was a little nervous, and having you there helped.”
“My pleasure.” He glanced at her. Marin had no idea how hot she looked in her bathing suit, and since he wasn’t the only guy who’d noticed, he didn’t intend to leave her side. “Do you want to skip the formal, grab a few slices of pizza, a couple of beers and watch a movie under the stars tonight?”
“Great idea.” She smiled at him. “Do you know what’s playing?”
“Nope.” Her eyes were the same shade of blue as the deeper parts of the ocean today, and she had that dreamy expression on her face again—entirely kissable. The more time he spent with her, the more he wanted her. She was so sweet, quirky, interesting, not to mention gorgeous. Plus, they had a lot in common, and he genuinely enjoyed being with her. “It’s usually a recent blockbuster though.”
“OK.” She yawned again. “It’s a date. I just need time to shower and change. The movie starts at seven. Should we meet on the lido deck at six?”
“Um, no. Our rooms are right next to each other. Let’s walk there together this time.”
She giggled. “I was wondering whether or not we’d get around to doing that.”
“I didn’t want to push.” He dropped his hand to her shoulder and drew her close for a second. “Didn’t want to come across like I was hovering around your door.”
The rest of their trip back to the ship was spent in companionable silence. He’d never felt quite this relaxed before. Maybe it was the cruise or the day’s exertion. Maybe it was Marin’s company. Whatever the cause, he savored the moment, the view and the delectable woman leaning against his side. Another irrepressible grin broke free. He must look like an idiot.
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