Page 12 of Bumping into You

Vivian

Ok, well don’t be mad, but she bought a last-minute ticket for her fiancé and he will be joining us too. Just for the activities I signed up for. They have their own table so we don’t need to change any of that. I just wanted you to know.

Gwen

No worries, Courtney already filled me in on this addition.

Vivian

Ok, great! I hope it’s not too much of a problem.

Gwen

We’ll make it work. The three of you need to go talk to a guest service agent and they will get you set up.

Vivian

Thanks G, I’ll message you if we have any issues.

Of course you will,I think and then, after counting to ten to calm my mind, I text her a thumbs up and take a sip of my coffee.Thank goodness for coffee.

After putting down my phone, I turn to the ocean. I don’t know what it is, but just seeing the ocean brings me a sense of calm. The chaos of the past few months, with Bradley breaking up with me, me planning a wedding for my best friend, my business taking off . . . there’s been a lot weighing on me. Most of it good, but the stress of it all caused a tightness in my chest.

Being here now, staring at the ocean, it feels like I can breathe again, that everything will be okay. I take a sip of coffee, close my eyes, and let out a deep breath.

“Well, this must be fate,” says an accented voice I couldn’t forget if I tried. “Alright there, not-my-valet?”

My eyes shoot open, glancing at a pair of piercing blue eyes. McHottie. What are the odds that I’d see the not-my-rideshare driver again? Why in the world is he on this same cruise?

“What are you doing here?” I bite out, setting my cup back on the table.

“Cruising.” He shrugs, setting his plate of food across from me like he doesn’t have a care in the world. Oh, to be so lucky.

“Obviously, but why are you setting your things at my table? What if I’m saving it for someone?”

His eyes glint with mischief as a dimple appears next to the smirk he’s sporting. I don’t have time for this guy’s flirtatious ways. There is too much happening today.

“Are you waiting for someone?”

“Well, no . . . but you didn’t know that.”

“No harm done then, and seeing as there isn’t another open table,” waving his hands around as if showing me the space, “and we already know each other, I think you can find it in your heart, Rose, for me to join you for lunch.” Raising his eyebrows, he waits for my answer.

I roll my eyes and give a brief, almost imperceptible nod. He takes the seat across from me.

Adjusting in my seat, I look out to the ocean and take several breaths. In for four beats, pause, out for four beats, pause, and repeat. I’m not going to let McHottie spoil the calm that has finally washed over me. Even though his presence causes my calm to slip ever so slightly.

I try to avoid looking at him as he takes a bite of his burger. It’s like a flipping sexy hamburger commercial up in here. Eating a burger should not look so sensual. Why does he have to look so good doing it?

“What’re the odds that both of us are on the same cruise?” McHottie asks, bringing me back to this odd little luncheon.

I swallow a bite of salad before answering. “Considering it’s a cruise port town and roughly six to seven thousand people can be on this ship, I’d say it’s high chances we both ended up here.”

“Fair enough,” he says, relaxing back in his seat and tilting his head as if he is studying me.

Sighing, I ask, “What?”

“Nothing, just trying to figure you out.”

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