You're What?!

“I was rude to you at breakfast the next morning—”

“I thought you were a…a—”

“A real jerk?”

She smiled. “Probably better than what you thought I was.” His laugh was low and easy. “And to think I almost—”

“—asked for another table?” Kevin finished for her. “Me too. How about if we start over?” He extended his hand and straightened his back in mock formality. “My name’s Kevin.”

Michelle clasped his hand in hers. “I’m Michelle. Nice meeting you, Kevin.”

“Would you care to accompany me to lunch? I know of this perfect table.”

Michelle emitted a nervous chuckle. His hand was still on hers—a fact that was both comfortable and unsettling at the same time. “I’d love to, Kevin.” She extracted her hand, only for him to bend her arm in his.

They strolled on, with Michelle all too aware of the muscular arm that occasionally brushed the side of her breast.

Four (#ulink_a5342ced-f951-56fb-8053-2bd31fb00eb7)

When they approached the table a few minutes later, they chose different seats on opposite sides, then sat and stared at the menu selections. They avoided eye contact for several minutes, until the waiter took their orders and removed their props. Now Michelle let her gaze travel slowly to his, her heart thudding beneath her sundress. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this way around a man. And she wasn’t sure she liked it. It wasn’t part of her plan at all. Making peace with this stranger was one thing; getting hot and bothered was quite another.

“Do you swim?” Kevin asked, seeming unaware of her musings.

“Y-yes,” she stammered. “Nothing too serious, though. Just like to play around. in the water,” she finished quickly, feeling like a babbling fool.

“I noticed you had a book with you the other day. After lunch, why don’t we put on our suits, catch up on our reading and hang out at the pool for a while?”

She just stared at him, thinking of the skimpy new bikini in her room.

“Unless you’d rather have the afternoon to yourself…”

“No,” she practically shouted. Then finding a remnant of poise, she started again. “No. Your idea sounds perfect.”

Lunch was served and she turned her attention to her chicken salad and melon, grateful when Kevin filled in the spaces with idle talk of the ship and the weather. He truly was a kind and interesting man.

And so good-looking.

Each time she met his steely gray eyes, she thought he could read her mind. If she didn’t find the old cynical Michelle pretty damn quick, he was certain to revert to his original opinion of her.

How she finished her meal and found her cabin, she wasn’t quite sure. But now, standing in front of the mirror, appraising her chartreuse bikini, she wondered how she’d get through the afternoon without making a total fool of herself. How could she act poised around him dressed like this? A shudder coursed through her as she wrapped herself in a white cotton cover-up and slipped into a pair of sandals. Halfway out the door she remembered her book and went back for it, stopping to look at the half-naked clinch scene on its cover. Rolling her eyes, she exhaled a loud breath and made her way down the hall and toward the Pool Deck.

In navy blue swim trunks, Kevin stood sideways in front of the mirror and sucked in his stomach. He didn’t look heavy, he decided. Just a little soft. How long had it been since he’d played racquetball with Paul? All work and no play. Paul was right. He’d become a dull and out-of-shape body mechanic.

He turned back to the sink and leaned straight-armed against the vanity. Paul had been right about many things. He did need a vacation, as well as a change in attitude.

But was he ready for the next step? The mere idea of dating balled a knot of anxiety in his stomach. With Jessica it had been easy. It had been lust at first sight. He’d been just a kid, and he’d never given romance a thought. They’d met on campus, studied together, hung out at the student union and copulated like rabbits.

He lifted his head and stared into the mirror. Next year he’d turn forty. He knew less about women now than he’d thought he did in school.

He pushed off the counter and paced the small quarters. Michelle was intelligent, witty and…and…okay, beautiful. The face and body he had tried to ignore. Unsuccessfully.

Was that the attraction? After all, it had been over four years since…

He stopped pacing. Wait a minute. He’d only held her hand. There was a big chasm between hand-holding and…

This train of thought was crazy. He didn’t know a thing about this woman. Even if he did, that wouldn’t mean she was interested in him. And what about sexually transmitted diseases? He’d never even bought a condom, let alone used one.

He pulled a T-shirt over his head, shoved a newspaper under his arm and practically ran from the room.

“Slow down, man,” he grumbled under his breath.

Grace under fire. That was what he needed. He drew on it every day in the operating room. Where was it now?

Michelle read the same page for the third time, trying again to concentrate on the words in front of her. Finally, she shoved the bookmark into place and laid the novel aside. She tugged at her cover-up, checking that nothing provocative was exposed, just as she spotted Kevin approaching. She wished his white body was a turnoff, but as he strode confidently toward her, his commanding posture and lean physique made her stomach do another somersault.

“Is this seat for me?” he asked, smiling down at her.

“I haven’t had a better offer.” Michelle gestured for him to join her, doing her best to match his casual air.

“It doesn’t look like you’ve been in the water yet,” he said, looking her over.

“No. Not hot enough to tempt me yet.” Poor choice of words. And a lie, to boot. It could be twenty degrees cooler and she’d still be feeling this unyielding heat.

But the idea of removing her cover-up and displaying her body seemed about as appealing as jumping overboard. The chartreuse bikini had seemed like a good idea after a week at the tanning salon. Now she was sure it would look like a neon sign that shouted, Take Me, Take Me.

Michelle looked out of the corner of her eye. Kevin had unfolded his paper and was reading the business section, oblivious to her discomfort. She reached for her book, if for no other reason than to provide a prop for her unsteady hands.

She flipped the page pretending to read. A moment later she turned another one, the silence becoming unbearable. She couldn’t see what had captured his interest. It must be an engrossing article since he hadn’t turned the page once. Finally, she gave up the pretense of reading and sauntered over to the pool. Still covered, she sat gingerly on the edge and dangled her legs over the side. The water was warm yet refreshing. If Kevin wasn’t behind her, she’d shrug out of the cover and slide in.

But in a flash he wasn’t behind her. Without moving her head, she watched his long legs slip into the water next to her.

Whose idea was this, anyway? Spending the afternoon with this…this handsome, eyes-of-steel, male person. She let her breath out slowly, trying not to show her anxiety.

He splashed water in front of him with his feet, still not saying a word. Just when she thought she couldn’t take the silence another moment, he spoke.

“What are you hiding beneath that white thing?” He turned his head and she caught his devilish smile. “Midriff bulge or an appendix scar?”

Michelle straightened her back. “Neither. I…I didn’t want to get sunburned.”

He arched a disbelieving eyebrow. “Okay. Leave it on.”

That did it. She never could back down from a challenge. Implied or otherwise.

As with removing a bandage, she decided fast was best. She stood, untied the sash, dropped the cover and dived into the tepid water. Doing a perfectly clean crawl, she swam the distance of the pool and back to Kevin before stopping for air.

Her chest was heaving rhythmically below the surface. Kevin was staring at her openmouthed, his gaze at water level.

“Nice…stroke,” he said, his eyes eventually straying north.