Aboard the Wishing Star (19 page)

"Maybe when she moved she decided to reinvent herself."

"I liked the old Viv better. She was my best friend."

Kara could tell by the look on his face there was something he wanted to say, but was holding back. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm not sure I should tell you. As you said, she's your best friend."

"No, I want to know what you think. You've been around her nearly as much as I have this week."

"Well, you may not have noticed this, but she's jealous."

"Jealous? Of me?"

He nodded. "That's probably the root of the problem. You're beautiful, intelligent, thoughtful, and loving."

Kara knew there was more than a grain of truth in what he said about Viv's jealousy. It would ruin their friendship. She nodded. "I think you may be right."

"If she's not feeling good about herself, she may try to pull you down in order to feel better. But sweetheart, don't let her do that to you. Stand up for yourself."

"I will."

"Good." He held out an egg roll. "Try a bite?"

"Yes, I love Chinese food." She took a small bite and smiled at him. He returned her smile and continued eating.

After they finished eating, they headed to the dance club, which was playing country western music. She followed Nate onto the dance floor, and they joined a line dance that had just started. He linked his thumbs into his back pockets and danced without a care.

Kara noticed how the other women eyed him. She wondered how many women he had back home. The music switched to a slow dance, and she moved into his arms feeling she belonged there.

They danced for a while. He sent her that sexy grin and her heart flipped. It felt dreamlike as he spun her around the room and the same floating feeling came over her that happened whenever he was near. He made her senses spin.

"Would you like to go up on deck?"

"Yes." That's not all she'd like.

He held out his hand. She slipped her hand in his, and they walked to the elevator then took it to the main outer deck. He led her to the rails, still holding her hand.

"The sky is clear tonight," he said.

The moon and stars were bright and they stopped to look up just in time to see a shooting star. Kara gasped and caught her breath as it fell.

"That was so beautiful," Kara whispered.

"Not near as beautiful as you, sweetheart." His voice rumbled in her ear.

He turned her to face him and his compelling eyes riveted her to the spot. He swept off his hat and then putting a large hand to her waist, he drew her closer and bent to kiss her.

His lips pressed against hers, gently covering her mouth, and she returned his kiss with reckless abandon, her arms moving around his back to hold onto him, pulling him closer, letting him know how much she wanted him.

Still his kiss deepened and she wanted to melt. His arm around her back held her close. He broke the kiss and gazed into her eyes, studying her with a curious intensity.

Delightful shivers of wanting ran through her.

"This is our last night at sea."

"I know." She answered, unable to keep the sadness out of her voice. Even though she'd wished with all her heart, after tonight she'd never see him again. Sorrow came over her and she drew a deep breath, forbidding herself to cry.

"I'd like to visit you, if that's all right," he said.

"Oh." A cry of relief escaped from her lips. She gazed up at him with longing and wonder as her heart soared.
It isn't the end. Wishes do come true. It isn't over
. "Yes," she said, "I'd like that."

He pulled a pen and paper out of his pocket. "Give me your address and phone number."

She gave them. He wrote them down and stuck them in his pocket. "We spent our first evening together standing by the deck, watching the waves."

She smiled. "I remember."

"Why don't we go have another cappuccino?"

She took the hand he offered her. "That sounds nice."

Kara's heart leapt. She wanted to dance and jump and shout.

He wants to keep in touch. To see me again.

Joy bubbled in her soul. Her emotions had taken a roller coaster ride and the sadness she'd felt only made her joy that much greater.

They entered the bar and sat, waiting for their drinks. Nate took her hand in his and rubbed his thumb across it in a slow soothing motion. "So, sweetheart, you'll be back to work on Monday."

"Yes, and I dread it."

"Because of the job or because of Daryl?"

"Both. I realized just before I came on this cruise it wasn't what I really wanted to be doing. That was before Daryl showed up. But I'm just not sure what I want to do instead."

"How are you going to handle Daryl?"

"I've told him we can only be friends. Since I only see him at work it should be okay. Awkward though. I need to find a new job and sell my house. There's a lot to do when I get home."

He looked so serious as he sat listening. "He's already stepped over the line. Showing up on the island. And he's probably the one who sent you those panties. You could charge him with sexual harassment right now."

"I was planning to leave the job anyway, but I don't even have a resume yet."

"You're my girlfriend and no one messes with my girlfriend. If he so much as touches you, if threatens you, I'll kill him." The look in his eyes and the expression on his face told her he was serious. "If he gives you any trouble, any trouble at all, I want you to call me."

"I will."

"Good." He squeezed her hand. "If you get scared for any reason, or you just want to talk, call me."

"I will."

Just hearing him say these words made her feel safer.

His girlfriend.
Her heart wanted to sing.

An announcement came and they were quiet, listening to directions for leaving their bags outside the rooms tonight.

"We have to go and pack." She sighed with regret. "We're out of time. I wish we had more time."

"I'll walk you back to your cabin. We have a little time yet. I pack fast." He winked.

He walked her back to her cabin and she turned to look up at him, knowing this would be their goodbye kiss.

As he bent down she rose up on her toes to reach him, her arms sliding around him as he pulled her close. Their lips met with a sweet harmony in a dance they'd done many times and knew well.

His kiss was slow, thoughtful, his tongue exploring the recesses of her mouth. She kissed him back, lingering, savoring each moment, and not wanting it to end. And yet there was a barely contained hunger within each of them that demanded more.

Raising his mouth from hers, he gazed into her eyes. They stood in silence, drinking each other up.

He touched his fingertip to her lips. "Good night, sweetheart."

"Good night, Nate." With reluctance she opened her door. She turned to him one last time. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too." He ran his finger across her lips. "I will call you soon, sweetheart. This isn't goodbye."

How could he read her? How did he know it was what she most needed to hear?

"Sweet dreams," he said.

"You too. Good night."

"Night." He turned and went down the hall.

She closed the door and leaned against it. The cabin was quiet and empty.

Kara packed her suitcase and set it outside the door for the cabin steward. The bags had to clear customs before they could re-enter the United States. She laid out winter clothes for tomorrow and packed her carry on.

Viv came in as Kara zipped it.

"So," Viv plopped on her bed, "Are you ready to go back to the real world?"

"No. Not really."

It was like waking up from a dream to face the real world. Her shrunken world where nothing ever changed. But she'd grown and no longer fit into that world. She had to go back to her job and her boss. God help her. She dreaded seeing Daryl.

If only the captain could sail her away, anywhere far away from Ohio. For the first time in her life, she didn't want to go home. But she had no other choice.

They went to bed and set an early wakeup call to be sure to have breakfast before they disembarked. Kara slept though restlessly and dreamed about her job going wrong.

*****

As they disembarked, Kara suddenly sensed Nate wasn't far behind her. Even in a crowd his presence was compelling. She turned as she heard his laugh, and her gaze flew to where he stood, their eyes meeting across the crowd.

He waved and she waved back. She wanted to go to him, but the crowd wedged them in like sardines, and the large family behind her kept pushing.

"Come on, Kara, we have to keep moving," Viv said.

Kara sent Nate a look of regret.

"You're pining like a love sick puppy," Viv said. "It's over, let it go."

"It's not over. He's going to call me," Kara said.

"They all say that. If I had a dollar for every time I heard that one, I could take us both on another cruise."

"Well, that would be nice, seeing as I took you on this one."

Here was the opening for a thank you. As Kara waited for it, with no response from Viv, it became clear that a thank you was not going to come.

Good thing you don't have those dollars because I wouldn't want to go on another cruise with you. Once is enough. Right now I just want distance.

They made their way down the exit ramps and into the room that held luggage. It didn't take long to find theirs.

Kara looked about for Nate but he'd already gone. How long would it be until she saw him again? Maybe Viv was right. Maybe he would forget all about her.

But one thing was certain. She'd never forget him.

Kara waited at Viv's apartment for the taxi driver who was now fifteen minutes late. Her cell phone rang.

Oh, good. It's the cab company.

"Hello."

"Ma'am could you give us your address again? And the nearest cross street?"

Kara rattled off the number again.

"He'll be there in eight minutes."

"Thank you."

She waited and another text came through her phone from Nate.
Wish you could stay a few more days.

She texted back,
I do too
.

Then stay
.

I can't, I have to go back to work
.

His third text came in just as she sent hers.
Don't go
.

Where was the damn taxi?

Maybe the fact it wasn't here was a sign she wasn't supposed to go. She certainly couldn't stay at Viv's apartment another night. One night had been enough, both of them tense and stepping around each other. They'd had pizza and watched a movie, which still hadn't been relaxing. Viv was ready for her to go and she was more than ready. They'd gone to sleep and Viv had headed off to work early in the morning after a quick goodbye.

The taxi service called again.

"Hello, is there a problem?"

"No problem, ma'am. He's just having trouble finding your apartment. Are you out front?"

"Yes, I've been out front for 45 minutes now, waiting, and I have a 12:30 flight."

"We'll have you there in plenty of time."

And if I miss my plane I'll know I'm supposed to stay.

Nate's words rang through her head again.
Stay. Just a few more days. Don't go
.

Maybe I shouldn't go. Not yet.

The taxi driver pulled up in front of her and she pushed the thought away as he got out to load her bags. She'd make her flight. It was a 45-minute drive to the airport, but she'd make it. This was just one of those days when things went a bit bumpier than usual.

Inside the cab she leaned back against the seat after giving the driver her airline and flight time. Palm trees flashed by, blue sky and clouds and then they were on the highway, leaving it all behind, the driver losing no time as he cut across lanes and sped up.

They reached the airport, but he was going too fast and drove past the drop off point where she should've gotten out to check the bags with her airline. "Hey, my flight is North point, remember?"

"Sorry miss. It is back the other way now. I cannot back up."

The street was one way. Of course he couldn't.

"Well, you can circle back around."

"No, miss. I cannot."

Damn it.

This was making her later still and now she had to schlep her bags all the way to the other end.

Well, there goes your tip, buddy. Thanks a lot.

Kara paid him, collected her bags, and started walking. The hot, Florida sun beat down, and the jeans and top she'd worn because she'd be going back to a colder climate clung to her body as she pulled her carry on and the bag she would check, their wheels rolling along behind her.

She reached the counter and caught her breath. It was okay now; she was going to make the flight. All she had to do was check her bag and get inside where the A/C was, get something cold to drink, and everything would be fine.

"Your bag is over the limit by five pounds. It's a ninety dollar charge."

Oh, no. Her credit card was maxed. She couldn't pay it.

"I'll have to take some things out then."

"Maybe you can fit them into your carry on."

She opened her bag and started pulling things out. Books, souvenirs, seashells, and the edible panties.

Oh God. That needed to go into the trash.

She tossed them in the trash container.

"You're throwing that away?" The attendant rescued the edible panties. "My wife would like these."

"Keep them. I'm glad to be rid of them."

Maybe that's why she was having difficulties. Those things were bringing her bad luck. Once she was rid of them, everything would go smoothly again.

Now that the other bag could be checked, she busied herself with stuffing all she could into her carry on. The seams bulged.

Hope it doesn't break.

The attendant held out her ticket and ID. "You're all set. Gate seven."

"Thanks." She took the ticket and ID and stuffed them into the pocket of her jeans. The cool air of the airport felt good as she stepped inside and moved over to the line for security.