entered her stateroom.
“Are you sure you feel up to this?” he asked, noticing how pale she was. The last thing he wanted was for her to overdo it.
“I’m tired of being trapped in this room. I’ll have you escort me back if it’s too much for me.”
Now that he saw her, he wasn’t convinced this was the best idea. “I’m holding you to that.”
Asher helped her stand, keeping an arm around her waist. It took a bit for her to get stable on her feet. “How dizzy are you?”
“Only a little.”
He wasn’t sure he believed her. “Remember, if it’s too much, you need to say something.”
“I will.”
They walked to the meeting area and then turned back before they entered the room. Asher didn’t think Daisy would appreciate anyone seeing her in this weakened condition.
“How are you doing?” he asked, after going the entire length of the hallway. All the support she needed was for him to wrap his arm around her, but he enjoyed holding her this close and was reluctant to release her.
“Okay, that’s enough for now. I’ll help you get back to bed.” He could see Daisy was exhausted and refused to admit it.
“I’ll walk more tomorrow.”
“Promise me you won’t get up and try this alone.”
“Okay.” Even her voice was weak.
Once inside her stateroom, Asher helped Daisy back into bed and made sure she was comfortable before he left. Sometime later he went to check to be sure she hadn’t overdone it. As he suspected, he found her sound asleep.
As he gazed down on her, he drew in a shaky breath. Even sick and feverish, she was lovely. He’d felt drawn to her in ways he rarely had with any woman. It’d been a long time since he’d felt this strong an attraction. Understandable, seeing that his opportunities to meet women of an appropriate age were few and far between. He’d never been great with romantic relationships and he didn’t expect that to change. Locking braces with Mary Lou Chavez was the first in a short list of romances gone bad.
He had to remind himself that nothing could or should come of this attraction. In less than two weeks, Daisy would return to her busy life in Chicago, a life vastly different from his own. For his part, he’d greet the next passengers with the same enthusiasm with which he met every cruise. Life would continue as it had before, and within a month, possibly two, he would hardly remember her name.
He admired that Daisy found the gumption to go with the flow and that she enjoyed all the social and cultural opportunities available in Chicago. Having worked in remote areas for all these years, it’d been a long time since he’d taken in things like a professional baseball game or a trip to the theater, both of which he enjoyed. His brother had done his best to persuade Asher to accept a teaching position at a major university in Chicago and give up his vagabond ways, without success. Asher knew himself well enough to recognize he would never be happy living in a big city. The noise. The congestion. He’d shrivel up and die within a few months if he didn’t have the space to roam in the outdoors.
He frowned, feeling sad and depressed at his thoughts, wondering at the twisted path they had taken or why he was even thinking about such matters. Almost immediately, the unwelcome answer came to him. It was Daisy.
Everly.
All he had to do was remind himself that it was Daisy he was attracted to. He suspected Everly was someone else entirely.
* * *
—
For a couple days Asher brought Daisy all her meals and meds. She looked forward to his visits. He often took time to chat with her, but not for nearly as long as he had earlier in her convalescence. She couldn’t fault him; he was always pleasant. Something had changed, though; she wasn’t sure what it was or what had happened. He seemed to be withdrawing from her in subtle ways. When she asked, he explained that he had to prepare for his lectures, although she was fairly certain they were the same ones he’d delivered a hundred times before.
It helped that she was gaining strength each day, getting out of the room and walking more. She was almost ready to join the others for meals and probably should have, except she cherished being alone with Asher.
By the end of the sixth day, she decided it