high-powered car in the Indy 500. He couldn’t stop thinking about how good it had felt to hold Daisy. He’d been half out of his mind with the thought of her lost in the jungle. Yet when he found her, she was cool and calm, thinking it was the experience of a lifetime. Yes, she was embarrassed that she had inconvenienced others; he could appreciate her concern, but like he’d reminded her, none of what happened was her fault.
While she’d been ill, he’d enjoyed spending time with her, going above and beyond anything he would normally have done for another under-the-weather passenger. She made him forget his awkwardness and put him at ease. Somewhere along the way he grew comfortable with her and free to share his life and a few stories of where the Explorer cruises had taken him around the world. She seemed genuinely interested and asked him question after question until he forgot to be nervous. He enjoyed their three-questions game, and had learned a lot about her life, too, her drive and ambition, the fact that she felt like the odd man out with her family. It seemed natural to talk and laugh with her. Repeatedly he had to remind himself that in another few days, she would disembark and return to her life. Nothing was going to happen in the time they had left. Once she was gone, nothing would change and life would go on as before.
After an hour of tossing and turning, seeking out a comfortable position, Asher decided to get up. He quickly dressed and decided he’d seek out a book in the library area, which was in an alcove off the main meeting room. Most of the nonfiction ones he’d read several times over. The fiction paperbacks were those left behind by guests. Asher was in the mood for a story, thinking reading might help put him to sleep.
As he entered the small alcove, he noticed someone else was sitting on the bench there. His heart sped up when he realized it was Daisy.
She looked up when she noticed he’d joined her. She sat on the bench with her long legs tucked to one side and had a blanket wrapped around her.
“You couldn’t sleep, either?” he asked, sitting down next to her.
“No. My head was spinning, thinking about today. I had such a lovely time, despite everything. Is that what’s keeping you awake?”
“I hadn’t given it much thought. Possibly. I normally don’t have trouble sleeping. I find being on the water soothing.”
“I do, too, although tonight is the exception.”
Sitting down next to her, he reached for her hand. His heart seemed to be jumping up and down in his chest like it was on a trampoline. He was sure his face was heated. He was grateful the alcove was in the shadows.
Her fingers tightened around his. “Thank you, Asher, for finding us.”
“All part of the service offered aboard the Amazon Explorer.” No way would he have gone back to the boat and left her and Jimmy behind.
The tension between them grew thick, and, unsure what it meant or what he should do, he asked, “Why are you out here instead of in your room?”
“After spending an entire week in my stateroom, I thought I’d come here.”
“I’m glad you did.”
“I’m glad you’re here.”
He smiled at her.
“You mentioned the first night of the cruise that your brother lives in Chicago. Do you ever visit?” she asked with a hopeful lilt.
He looked down at their joined hands. “On occasion. Like I mentioned earlier, I’m uncomfortable in the city.”
“Oh.”
“I have a contract with the Amazon Explorer that pretty much ties me up. It’s hard for me to get away for any length of time.”
“I see.”
Her disappointment was hard to miss; he felt he should explain. “By the time I fly back to the States, it’s almost time to return.”
“That makes sense.”
He hoped that was regret he heard in her voice. Already his mind was looking for ways to make an exception, find a way. He quickly dismissed the thought. When Daisy left the cruise, that was it. The end. No need to involve his heart, because in the end there was no way they would be able to blend their two worlds.
“My brother’s been after me for a while to visit, but he’s always busy. I did mention that he’s a heart surgeon, didn’t I?”
“You did. If I ever experience heart troubles I’ll know where to go,” she said.
At the moment,