Love's Call

by Jala Summers

  She leaned forward, put her elbows on the table and rested her chin in one hand. She was pretty eager to see this show too. If nothing else, she could get a good laugh at the spectacle.

  Kyle stopped playing and paused. A dramatic pause, Liana joked to herself, and waited with the rest of the crowd while Kyle let the tension build. He then began to play the first few notes of a familiar melody. She sifted through her mental memory bank in an effort to recall the song he was playing.

  It seemed several other people in the room had already guessed the song, as many shouted out, and hollered their recognition of the tune.

  Some sang ahead, anticipating the words to the song, while occasional shouts of, “Play that” and “Ooh, that’s my song” could be heard from the spirited audience.

  Kyle continued to play the music from the Brian McKnight song, One Last Cry, and one quick glance around the room showed Liana that the women there were like putty in his hands. And he hasn’t even sung one note yet, she thought.

  Finally, Kyle gave the anxious women what they’d been waiting for, as he sang out the first lyrics of the song. “My shattered dreams, and broken heart, are mending on the shelf…”

  And it was all over from there, as the women screamed and shouted like crazed groupies. Damn, Liana thought, you’d think it was Brian McKnight himself singing in here, with the way these women are behaving.

  Alyssa moved her chair over to Liana. “Lia….he can blow can’t he,” she exclaimed.

  “He’s not bad,” she said. But in truth, she was mesmerized too, and didn’t want to talk to Alyssa, for fear of missing out on his performance. She just wanted to hear his rich, buttery toned voice sing out the vocals of the song.

  She couldn’t deny, even to herself, that his voice sent chills up and down her spine. And as that tingling feeling shot throughout her body, she shifted in her seat, uncomfortable when she realized she was actually getting turned on, just a bit.

  She shook her head, ashamed at her reaction. I’m almost as bad as the rest of these groupies. Liana looked around the room at the women bouncing in their seats and waving their hands around excitedly. Yea, almost. But I’m not nearly that bad though.

  She studied his movements--the way he closed his eyes and sang the heartbreaking lyrics with such feeling and emphasis. It was as if the words held real meaning for him and she couldn’t help but wonder if this wasn’t the first time since his divorce that he’d sung that song.

  Kyle continued to belt out the notes, and looked up from the piano keys, to look directly in Liana’s direction. She felt her breathing becoming more rapid and she swallowed as he kept his eyes on her for an uncomfortably long period of time.

  He then closed his eyes as he sang the final notes of the song, getting lost in the riffs and runs. She leaned in to take in the smooth way that he embellished the last words, drawing them out, until nearly every guest in the room was on the edge of their seats. The applause started before he’d even finished, and the screaming continued long after he’d ended the song. Kyle rose from the bench and gave a quick bow.

  Branson returned to the floor. “Whew. What a way to kick it off for us tonight. What’s your name, man?”

  “Kyle.”

  “Alright, Kyle, try not trip over the panties on your way back to your seat. Ladies, take it easy on him, now. Alright, who’s up next? Man, I’d hate to follow that up.”

  The next brave volunteer stepped up to the floor to take the microphone from Branson and prepared to perform his karaoke number. The technician pulled up the program on the television and began scrolling the lyrics with the music, as the next singer performed for the crowd.

  On his way back to his seat, Kyle was intercepted by several women eager to talk to him. He thanked them, soaking up the attention, but was polite as he excused himself to return to the table and enjoy the rest of the karaoke night performances.

  “That was great,” Liana told him when he returned to his seat next to her, “But I’m sure you know that already.”

  “Thank you.”

  Liana turned her attention back to the floor where the next karaoke singer let loose, off-key and all.

  Kyle watched her chuckle at the performer, and realized that he’d actually hoped for more from her. He would have preferred the gushing and attention that he’d received from the other women to have come from her. She was a tough one to crack, and he was almost certain his performance would have opened her up at least a little bit.

  Evidently, I read her wrong, he thought, and took his eyes off of her to watch the contestant jump around on the floor, in an attempt to engage the crowd.

  Then he felt a hand on his shoulder and caught a waft of a sensual, musky perfume fragrance. It was Tiffany. She had pulled a chair up beside his, and taken a seat next to him. She moved her chair in close and leaned over to whisper in his ear. “That was absolutely amazing, Kyle.”

  Kyle smiled broadly at her, and thanked her for the compliment. Tiffany reached out to place a hand on his thigh. “No, really. It was really amazing.”

  Liana raised an eyebrow at the bold woman who had pretty much taken a seat in front of her, blocking her view of the floor and performers. She watched her place a hand on Kyle’s leg, and rose from her seat.

  She’d had enough of karaoke and meet and greets for the night. It was time to turn in. Liana walked over to Alyssa and bent down to tell her, “I’m going to turn in for the night.”

  “Okay, Lia, g’night.”

  “‘Night. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do now.”

  “That doesn’t leave much to do, then. I might as well turn in for the night with you, if I do that.”

  “Real funny, ‘Lyssa.” Liana turned, glancing at the woman who was now pressed as closely to Kyle as she could get while still sitting in her own chair, before leaving the lounge room.

  Kyle looked over to see Liana walk out of the lounge room. He had hoped to be able to get to know her more that night, but so far all of his efforts had proven unsuccessful.

  It’s time, he thought, to stop pursuing the one woman on this entire ship who doesn’t want to be pursued and have fun with the women who do. Women such as Tiffany, who now sat next to him, flirting relentlessly.

  ***

  Her fragrance invaded his senses as he pinned her against the wall of his cabin suite, his lips pressed against hers in a lusty kiss. His hands roamed over her body and she dug her fingernails into his back, pulling him closer to her.

  She was irresistible and apparently hungry for him, for after they’d arrived to his room, she hadn’t waited two seconds before she’d pulled him in for a long, slow kiss.

  The sensuous kiss had quickly developed into something deep and all-consuming, as they seemed intent on devouring each other. They couldn’t get enough. And Kyle was ready for more.

  He took her hand and led her over to the bed. She lay back, ready and willing, and her eyes held his. He could see the yearning there and knew that she had to see the same in his. He moved along the bed toward her, laid his body atop hers, and bent down for another passionate kiss. She moaned her arousal, and ran her hands down his chest to his groin. When she gripped his hardness in her hands, massaging it, he groaned out his pleasure.

  He wanted her now. She was so sexy, so beautiful. He opened his eyes to look at her. And with her eyes closed, caught up in their sensual dance, he noticed how much, at that angle, she looked like Shaila. He quickly came down from his high, and felt himself softening. He stopped his gyrating motions, and she opened her eyes and looked at him.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, propping up on her elbows to look at him. He moved away to sit next to her on the bed.

  “Nothing, I…” he started, but couldn’t quite find the words to explain to the woman in his room that she reminded him too much of his ex-wife. It was the way she moved, the way she spoke, the way she seemed to be just a little too good at seducing a man.

  Hell, he thought, even the way she’s so damn p
reoccupied with my money. But he felt stupid for thinking all of this when he had such an attractive woman right there in his bed, ready to give herself to him. He knew Lloyd and Duane would have a field day if he told them.

  He rose from the bed and went to sit in an armchair in the seating area. Tiffany sat up on the bed, huffing loudly, her exasperation obvious. “What the hell?”

  “Look, I’m sorry Tiffany. I don’t know what’s wrong. I just...all of a sudden don’t feel well.”

  “You know, Kyle, you’re confusing as hell,” she was off the bed, and adjusting her clothes and hair. “You seemed fine just a minute ago. Well, I don’t have time to play whatever game you’re playing. Good night.”

  She moved to the door, and Kyle stood up to walk her out. But she had already opened the door and was out and down the hall, just as Kyle grabbed it behind her. He watched her quick steps as she raced down the hall, and turned the corner, out of his line of sight.

  Kyle closed the door and collapsed onto his bed. What the hell is wrong with me? He had been more than ready to sleep with Tiffany. He didn’t understand why all of the thoughts of his ex-wife had come flooding back at the most inopportune time, and worse, why he had allowed them to affect him the way they had.

  He lay on the bed, eyes closed and tried to clear his mind of all of the invading thoughts.

  In the stillness, he could even feel the gentle rocking of the cruise ship and felt lulled into a state of calm. He took in two deep, cleansing breaths and opened his eyes again. It had worked. But as he lay there, mind clear of the previous disturbing thoughts of Shaila, he couldn’t prevent his mind from drifting toward thoughts of another woman. A woman who, like Shaila, also wanted to have nothing to do with him. The curvy and clearly complex lady who he’d yet been unable to reach--Liana Harris.

  ***

  Liana pulled the sheets over her shoulders and settled into her tiny twin bed. Alyssa hadn’t returned to the room yet, and Liana hoped she wouldn’t pull an all-nighter with some stranger her first night on the ship.

  She assumed that if she did, it would be with Lloyd. Lloyd was just her type. He was the tall, light-skinned type of pretty boy that she couldn’t resist. And she knew it would be hard to pull her friend away from him. She would have preferred to drag Alyssa back to the room with her, to keep her friend out of trouble, but Alyssa was a grown woman, and she had learned a long time ago not to meddle in her business. All she could do was hope that Alyssa exercised at least a modicum of common sense on that cruise ship.

  But though Liana was concerned about Alyssa, she knew it was just a distraction from what her mind had actually continued to revisit that night since she’d returned back to her cabin. Kyle Jones. If Alyssa had found her type, she had to admit that Kyle was definitely hers.

  Though her last relationship was with Brian--an abnormally tall man--before him, she’d always found herself attracted to men of average height, sometimes even on the shorter side. But that was fine since she wasn’t exactly a tall woman either. Kyle seemed to stand no more than five feet, ten inches tall, and that may have even been pushing it.

  His even-toned, chocolate skin seemed so smooth that she longed to reach out and touch it just to see if it felt the way it appeared. And the effortless way that he sang had struck a chord within her that she hadn’t even known was there. When he’d looked at her from behind that piano, as if she were the only person in the room and his song was a serenade meant for her, and her only, she had felt her defenses weakening.

  If I was stupid enough to consider getting with someone on this trip, he would be the one. But I’m not, she told herself, so it doesn’t matter.

  Liana wasn’t interested in a relationship, or even a fling on this trip. She had come here to enjoy a week-long vacation with Alyssa and that was it. At least that was what she’d told herself before she’d met Kyle Jones. Though his friends’ intentions were a bit questionable, she didn’t quite get the same feeling from him when she spoke to him. He had seemed genuine and kind—even sweet. But she knew all too well, that most people’s behaviors didn’t stray much from the company that they kept. If Lloyd and Duane were his closest buddies, it was likely that he was like them---players on a mission. A mission to conquer as many women as possible on that singles cruise.

  Besides, women are already clinging to him. She remembered the way the women had flocked to him after his performance. She closed her eyes, in an attempt to sleep and shake the memory of the petite and fully glammed-out beauty that had taken a seat next to him right before she’d left the lounge.

  She heard a noise at the door and opened her eyes to see moving shadows underneath the door, interrupting the light from the hallway that streamed into the room. She heard muffled voices and laughter from the other side of the door, and a slight pause. The lock of the door clicked and she watched as the door swung open.

  Alyssa walked in, and closed and locked the door behind her. Liana turned so that her back now faced Alyssa. She really didn’t feel like chatting tonight.

  “You still up, Lia?”

  “Uh-uh…” she mumbled from underneath the covers.

  “What a hell of a night, huh?”

  “Not really,” Liana answered.

  “I am really feeling Lloyd. I think we’ll get along just fine.”

  Liana turned back to look at her friend. Alyssa turned on the lamp that sat on a table between their beds. Liana squinted as her eyes adjusted to the bright light. “What happened to your promise to not latch onto him so quickly?”

  “I haven’t,” she said defensively, “I just really like him. That’s all. I’m still open to meeting other people.”

  “Sure you are.”

  “But anyway, enough of that. What about you and Kyle?”

  Liana frowned. “What about us? There’s nothing to tell.”

  “Nuh-uh. I see the way he watches you. And you can’t tell me he didn’t get up there to sing just to impress you.”

  “Well he didn’t impress me,” Liana lied. “Besides, I don’t think that was his intention. I think he got what he really wanted. Because there were plenty of other women there that he did impress.”

  “Nope,” Alyssa shook her head. “Not going to agree with you on that one. He liked you. He wasn’t staring at all of those other women when he sang. Only you.”

  Liana’s heart fluttered at her friend’s words, but she didn’t want to excite Alyssa anymore, and turned her back to her again. “Okay, ‘Lyssa. Whatever you say. I’m going to sleep now. Do you mind turning off the light?”

  Alyssa flipped off the lamp switch and padded to the bathroom. She turned on the light and closed the door.

  Liana, now alone in the dark with only her thoughts of Kyle dancing in her head to keep her company, cursed Alyssa under her breath. Alyssa’s comments had only made it worse, and her racing imagination wouldn’t keep still long enough to allow her to get a good night’s rest.

  Chapter Five

  The pounding knocks on Kyle’s door stirred him out of his sleep. He walked over to look through the peephole and saw Duane and Lloyd on the other side of the door. He pulled it open. Both men walked past him, inviting themselves into the room. He closed the door and followed them back into the suite. “Well, come on in,” he said sarcastically.

  Lloyd asked, “You’re still sleeping in here?”

  “Uh, yea...I was...’till you two clowns came beating down my door.”

  Duane looked around the room and went over to open the bathroom door. He peeked inside and closed it back. Kyle asked him, “What are you doing?”

  “Looking to see where you’ve hidden the ladies. ‘Cause surely after last night, you should have a whole harem of women.”

  “Look all you want, but you won’t find anything.”

  Duane feigned shock. “What? No panties on the floor, bras on the lamps? What kinda madness is this?”

  Lloyd asked, “So what happened to the fine little thing you left with last night?”
/>   “Nothing.”

  “Why not?” Lloyd prodded.

  “Look, that’s none of your business.”

  Duane shook his head, “See that’s a damned shame. I knew you’d let this room go to waste. So you plan to do this the whole trip?”

  “Hey, Duane, how about you get out of my business too,” Kyle said and took a seat on the unmade bed. “So what did y’all want? Why are y’all here so damn early?”

  “It’s not that early. You’re just being a bum, sleeping in all morning,” Lloyd said. “We came to see if you wanted to work out before breakfast.”