you?”
After a nice long, hot shower, I dressed for a balmy evening and went to find my girl. Okay, so not my girl, per se, but the one I was currently bending over backward to please…all while my mind—and my heart—were in knots. I didn’t really know what I planned to say to her when I found her, but I knew when I’d designed the day’s meals with the chef that morning, I’d asked that dinner be ready in a half hour from now.
I also knew as I strode down the short passageway that I owed the woman an apology.
Maybe what I’d said earlier was insensitive. Perhaps the way I’d assumed I knew what was best for her was my attempt at playing king, as she so astutely accused. And just maybe, presuming to know what she needed to heal was high-handed.
But she had to realize I was in deep with her, and I couldn’t help wanting to make things right in her life. Help her wipe out the pain of losing her husband, and when she was ready…fill that void myself. If she thought I was playing king, was there any chance she would just let down her guard…and be my queen?
At the last cabin door in the corridor, I paused and listened near the door. Rio’s soft voice could be heard. Was she singing? I put my ear against the panel and held my breath, really zeroing in on what sounded like a lullaby. As quietly as possible, I tried the polished nickel knob and found it unlocked, so I pushed the door open a few inches.
Rio lay on the bed with her little feline friend asleep on her chest. While she absentmindedly stroked his silky black fur, she sang softly to him. It was precious and gut-wrenching at the same time. Before her husband died, the woman had confided in me that they were desperately trying to have a baby. As Abbigail’s due date loomed closer on the horizon, she was probably lamenting her childless, and now husbandless, life.
My quiet knock pulled her from her tune, and she scanned me with her soulful eyes where I stood in the doorway.
“I come in peace,” I said, offering the Vulcan salute. The gesture had the desired effect as a coy grin spread across her lips.
“I think you’re way too tall and antagonistic to be a Vulcan, Tree. No matter which generation you favor.” She giggled. Rio put up her hand to make the foreign greeting’s symbol but had to hold her fingers apart with her other hand.
“Fail,” I said teasingly. “No true Vulcan involves two hands!” I threw my head back and laughed harder.
“I don’t think I’d be Vulcan regardless.” She shrugged and sat up taller against the headboard when Robert scampered away from the commotion. “They’re much too placid for my temperament.”
“Mind if I hang out with you?” I asked, motioning to the bed.
“It’s a free country last time I checked.”
“Baby, can we stop? I wanted to apologize before dinner. The captain told me he wanted to power down for the night, so I asked the crew to set up our meal on the bow. Does that sound okay?”
“It sounds great. Perfect, actually. Is it warm outside?”
“It is. It’s a beautiful night to enjoy the stars. Do you want to shower and change?” I ducked my head to try to read her expression while explaining, “So I can have an idea of timing for the chef.” Every question or comment felt like I was walking the plank. One wrong comment, and I’d be swimming for the safety of the shore. This time, maybe literally.
“Yeah, okay.” She was thoughtful for a moment and then added, “Actually, that sounds like a great idea. I’d like to wash this day off me.”
There was definitely a dig buried in that remark, but I refused to take the bait. We would have a lovely night under the stars if it killed me.
But there was a niggling feeling in the back of my mind that this woman had the power to do just that. If not physically, then emotionally. I wanted to rediscover the connection we had when we first became friends. Before Sean Gibson died and left this girl’s amazing, fiery spirit and lust for life snuffed out like one of the fires she was so fond of starting.
I also knew I couldn’t be the only one who wanted to fix things between us. She had to want it too. We both had