Page 50 of Cocky Cruiser

From what I’d seen so far, I learned that the beaches in Hilo were different from the beaches I was used to. The black sand was actually fine, black lava rock, and unlike the beaches back home, there wasn’t much sand before you reached the water.

But the water was definitely more beautiful. Almost the same color as the ocean in French Polynesia, Hawaii was a unique tropical paradise all its own.

The guide informed us that we had about twenty to thirty minutes to swim in the cove before we had to head back to the ship.

“I hope we see some sea turtles,” I said as I took off my cover-up.

Cohen took his shirt off, and I was momentarily stunned by his perfect physique. “Me too, guppie.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off him for several moments and was finally shaken out of my trance when the guide started talking. “If you see a sea turtle, please do not touch them. They are endangered, so make sure to maintain a safe distance.”

Cohen didn’t acknowledge me ogling him, but his smirk as he walked away told me that he’d noticed.

My face heated with embarrassment. I felt like a little kid with their hand caught in the cookie jar.

The water in the cove was still and calm, and the temperature was perfect. “I really wish we had snorkeling gear. I’d love to see the turtles clearly.”

“The water is pretty clear. I don’t think you’ll have a problem seeing them,” Cohen said.

As I swam, I scanned for sea turtles. Even though I’d been able to interact with one at the aquarium in Auckland, I really wanted to see one in a natural environment.

“Adele,” Cohen called out. The excitement in his voice was obvious as he waved me over. “There’s one over here.”

“Where?” I asked, swimming over to him. I frantically looked around in the water for the sea turtle.

Cohen pointed behind me, and I spun around. “There, about ten feet away.”

I gasped as I saw my favorite animal bobbing on the surface of the water. “Oh, my God.”

The turtle submerged itself under the water, and I squealed in delight. “This is the best day ever!”

I could hear Cohen chuckling behind me as I watched the sea turtle swim once it came back up for air. The next time it dived under, I did as well and snapped some pictures with my phone.

When I came back up, the turtle resurfaced moments later. “Thank God for waterproof phone pouches.”

After a minute or two, my favorite animal submerged again and swam away.

“Wasn’t that amazing?” I asked Cohen as I turned around and faced him. “I’m so glad I had my phone with me. This lanyard with the waterproof pouch was the best investment ever.”

With his soft gaze and warm smile, his happiness was undeniable. It made my face heat and my stomach knot because I’d seen Chance and Aubrey look at each other the same way hundreds of times.

Love.

Could Cohen be falling for me like I was for him? Hope blossomed in my chest at the thought, even though I shouldn’t have let it.

“What?” I asked, darting my eyes away. His gaze and what it could or couldn’t mean made me uneasy. I didn’t like not knowing where I stood with him.

As if my question snapped him out of a trance, Cohen’s demeanor changed. “Nothing. Just happy that you got to experience that.”

I smiled. “Me too.”

No matter what happened with Cohen after the cruise ended, I’d always be grateful to him for the gift he’d given me. I’d never forget the places we’d visited and the experiences I’d been able to enjoy.

Even if I never wanted my time with him to end.

Chapter Sixteen

Even though she wouldn’t admit it, Adele’s marine biology side was geeking out because of our excursion in Maui. It wasn’t every day that people got to see whales, and it had to be a dream come true for someone interested in a career in marine biology.

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