Page 13 of Cocky Cruiser

“‘Free Bird.’”

“Favorite ice cream?”

“Rocky road.”

She nodded, seemingly pleased with my choice. “Favorite Netflix binge?”

I laughed. “Peaky Blinders,hands down.”

Pierre brought our second course and refilled our glasses, ending our Q and A for the moment. “Can I get a Moscow mule with lime, please?” Adele asked, handing Pierre her cruise card.

“Anything for you, sir?” he asked.

“Old fashioned.”

Pierre left to get our drinks, and we made small talk about the cruise as we ate. “Do you think we’ll be able to swim with dolphins?” Adele asked. “I’ve always wanted to do that.”

A knot formed in my throat, and I took a drink to wash it away before answering. “I’m sure one of the ports will have that excursion. I think it’s standard among cruises.”

I started to think about Cara and the list she’d left me, the one I kept with me at all times. Swimming with dolphins was one of the items on it.

Adele’s brows furrowed. “Is everything okay?”

I pushed the thoughts away and forced a smile. “Yes. Sorry.”

Before Adele could say anything else, Pierre brought our drinks, along with our entrees.

Thank God.

I took a long swig, almost draining the glass, and Pierre raised a brow. “Would you like another, sir?”

“Yes, please, that would be great.”

Adele and I talked about our meals as we ate. I was glad she didn’t resume our previous conversation because I definitely wasn’t ready to go there with her yet. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be, even though it was practically unavoidable.

A few minutes later, Pierre came back with my second drink. “Have you decided on dessert for tonight?”

“I’ll have the crème brûlée,” Adele answered.

“Chocolate cake for me.”

By the time we finished our entrees, I’d downed my second drink. I couldn’t get Cara out of my mind, and I didn’t want to think about her while getting to know Adele. “So is crème brûlée your favorite dessert?”

She smiled brightly. “Actually, it is. I was so excited when I saw it on the menu.”

“Well, looks like it’s one of their standard desserts, so you can have it every night if you want.”

Adele laughed. “I don’t know about that. Dessert is my favorite meal, and all the choices sound delicious. I want to try them all.”

I chuckled. “Well, luckily you can.”

When our desserts came, Adele’s eyes widened in glee. I enjoyed seeing her happy, and her joy was infectious; she was starting to lift my sour mood. “This looks amazing.”

“I don’t love dessert as much as you do, but I do have a soft spot for chocolate,” I said, eyeing my cake.

“Can’t go wrong with chocolate,” Adele commented as she cracked into the caramelized sugar topping. “But this is just so satisfying.”

My eyes darted up to watch her as she scooped up some of the creamy custard and slowly slipped the spoon into her mouth. Her eyes closed as her face lit up in bliss, and she hummed in appreciation.

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