Page 5 of Cocky Cruiser

I arched a brow. “How do you know I’m not from here?” Even though I’d lived in the States for several years, I still had a strong Australian accent.

He jerked his head toward Jeannie’s boyfriend. “Colin told me. He said his girlfriend had a friend visiting from the States, also.”

“Ah, makes sense. Well, my brother and I were born in the States but moved here when I was around three. We stayed until a few years ago, then moved back to the States. My brother wanted to bring his wife and son to see where we grew up, so here I am. What about you?”

“I’m taking a cruise out of the Sydney port on Friday. Thought I’d see a little bit of the Australian land before hopping on a boat for nineteen days.”

My eyebrows flew up. “Nineteen days? Where the hell is this cruise going?”

“Crazy, right?” Colin interjected as he handed Cohen a beer. “I couldn’t stay on a ship that long.”

Cohen chuckled, exposing his dimples. I was a huge sucker for dimples, and my sex clenched in appreciation. “It goes from Sydney to Hawaii with stops in New Zealand and French Polynesia along the way.”

“That sounds amazing. I’ve never been on a cruise before, but I’ve always wanted to.” I took a sip of my drink and sighed. “One day, I guess.”

“Would you like to come with me? I happen to have an extra ticket.”

I practically spit out my drink, choking a little. I furrowed my brow. “You’re joking, right?”

He replied with a sad yet whimsical smile. “I’m completely serious. The person I planned to go with couldn’t make it, and I’m stuck with an extra ticket. Everything is already paid for.”

I studied his face, trying to figure out who would pass up what seemed like a trip of a lifetime. Jilted ex, maybe? “Would we have to share a bed or anything?”

Cohen burst into laughter. “Not that I would mind, but no. I actually purchased a suite with a separate bedroom that you are more than welcome to. I can take the pull-out sofa bed.”

I glanced at Jeannie, trying to gauge what she thought. She shrugged, giving me a thumbs-up and mouthing, “Go for it.”

Was I crazy for considering going on a nineteen-day cruise with a total stranger? A ridiculously hot total stranger, but still. The circumstances under which Chance and Aubrey met flashed in my mind, and I couldn’t help but smile. “You know what? Sure. You only live once, right?”

Chapter Two

Iwasn’t sure what the hell I was thinking when I invited the blonde bombshell on the cruise with me, but it felt right. I briefly thought that Cara would approve of my spontaneous invitation of the beautiful stranger, wanting me to live life in the moment. I raised my beer to Adele. “Ain’t that the truth?”

Adele laughed, and the sound was musical. Not much made me smile anymore, but her laughter was an exception. “My brother is going to lose his shit.”

“I think any brother would. But it’s your life to live, not his.”

Adele narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re not some serial killer, are you? You didn’t kill the person who was supposed to go with you and bury the body somewhere, did you?”

I laughed. “No. I’ve been planning this trip for a long time, and something unavoidable came up.” Chest tightening, my stomach knotted as I thought of the circumstances surrounding the trip. “If there was any possible way for the other person to be here, they would.”

I didn’t want to tell Adele the full story. The pain was still too intense. But I had a feeling I would tell her eventually. She was already so easy to talk to, and we’d just met.

“I can vouch for him,” Colin added. “I’ve known the bloke for over fifteen years, and he’s a good guy.”

I smiled at my friend as Adele nodded in understanding. “Okay. But just so you know, my brother has already gone to jail for me once. And I’m sure he isn’t afraid to do it again.”

She got another laugh out of me. This girl was something else, and I wanted to know the details behind that story. I took a sip of my beer. “Understood.”

Colin’s girl pointed an accusing finger at me. “If anything happens to her, so help me God…” She paused, bringing her finger up to her throat and slowly dragging it from one side to the other. “I will find you.”

“Jesus Christ, Jeannie,” Adele said with a strained laugh.

Raising my hands in surrender, I chuckled. “Brother and best friend willing to go to jail if anything happens to her. Definitely noted.”

Colin and Jeannie stood. “We’re going to go order a pizza and some wings from downstairs. We’ll be right back.”

As they walked away, Adele gave me an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry about her. She can be intense.”

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