Between snorkeling, parasailing, and water skiing, J.J. was exhausted by the time he and Diana plopped into two comfortable chairs beneath an umbrella on the beach to relax.

The warm crystal blue waters were paradise to swim in, and the white sandy beach beneath their feet was heaven.

“Who needs a pedicure with sand like this?” Diana scrunched her toes in the sand.

A waiter came and took their drink order as they lounged at the water’s edge.

When they were hungry, they swam to the Tiki bar and had a lovely lunch with the best lobster J.J. had ever eaten while listening to the calypso music of Caribbean steel drums.

“I wish the cruise was longer so I could go on more excursions.”

J.J. sat back in his chair and took a deep breath. “If this cruise were any longer, I’d be ready for the funny farm. It’s fun to try everything, but I’m going to need a vacation from my vacation.”

“Oh, come on. You’re having a blast, and you know it.”

“Yes, I am but we’ve been on the go for the past several days, and between the sun, the excursions, the humidity and such, it’s taking a toll on me. And let’s not forget the insatiable vixen that captured my heart.”

“You’re crazy. The humidity is a fantastic moisturizer. My skin is far better than before I got here. Who needs a spa when you have this?” She waved her arms before them. “As for the last part, I for one, am sleeping better than ever.”

J.J. chuckled. “Sleep? What’s that? You have more energy than a two-year-old. I can barely keep up.”

“I have the right incentive. My job.” She nodded. “I’m up for a promotion, and I want it. But I have to prove I can do it. That means knowing everything that a customer could want to do, advising them on the best place to suit their needs to give them that one-of-a-kind experience. You can’t do that if you don’t give it a try.”

“True.” J.J. wanted to kiss her. Diana had just given him the idea of the best way to propose his presentation for his interview. “The customer is always right after all.”

“Yes, they are, and if you steer them in the wrong direction, they won’t soon come back. Hotels are all about return customers and making them feel like family.”

“Keep talking.” J.J. had a feeling that Diana was the key to snatching that V.P. of Marketing position, and the more he thought about it, the more he wanted it.

“For instance, if I had the time, I’d try the beginner, intermediate, and advanced tours for snorkeling. You never know what experience a customer will want, but if you try them all, then you know what to suggest for each person in their party.” Diana lit up as she spoke, she obviously loved her job.

“Are you the concierge at a hotel? That’s the mentality they need. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to a concierge and all they do is give you a list of things to do, but no experience on what you’ll receive.”

“Exactly my point. I’m—ah—the events coordinator for a hotel, and we’re looking to expand our services.” Her hesitation this time was minimal.

He suspected this was closer to the truth, but why be so closed-mouthed about it?

“And the parasailing. That was so much fun I can’t wait to do it again. While I was up in the air, gliding above the water, I could see the sea life, fish swimming, kids frolicking below. It was like one of those out-of-body experiences where you see everything. There’s nothing like it. I will definitely do it again.”

“You’re right, it was incredible.”

“The water skiing was okay, but it’s not something I’d recommend because it’s something you can do at home and probably cheaper. Here, you have the wild colors of the surrounding, the blue and green of the water, the crystal blue skies, the luxurious powdered sands, the vivid colors of the tropics, and to soar above it all is more than I can put into words. Now if I can just make my boss understand. He’s afraid of flying, so this is not something he’ll give a flying fig about, but customers will definitely want the details.”

“Well, you’re doing a damn good job of it.”

“If we have time, I’d definitely like to try zip lining. It’s a hot trend, and if I try a couple of the tours, then I’ll know better what to suggest.”

“I’m game if you are.”

“Really?”

“Sure, my treat. Let’s go.”

Diana bundled up her beach bag in record time, and they were off.

She had the right idea, the more they sampled of the excursions, the better equipped they were to offer suggestions. This was the perfect break J.J. needed, and it was just the right spin to put on his presentation at the interview.

The tour they chose was great. The driver was pleasant and pointed out various points of interest along the way. They loaded into a truck that hauled them on a short ride up a steep hill. The crew helped them with their rigging, while the guide told them what to expect.

“I’m nervous,” Diana admitted.

“I have some buddies who’ve done it and said it was great.”

On the first level, they went separately. It was a bit nerve-wracking, but J.J. loved it. What he loved most was the high pitch scream of Diana right behind him. Her scream turned into one of hysterical laughter once she got going. He glanced over his shoulder, and the smile on her face said it all. She was having a grand time. So was he.

On the second level, they went separately again, but this time they were anxious to get going, and that section was even more fun.

The guide suggested they go together on the third level, so they slipped their arms around one another and down they went to the final level. They separated at one point and laid back.

He felt like Peter Pan soaring through the air and doing acrobatics. It was the most fun he’d ever experienced in his life. Flying through the air with a spectacular view of the island and the ocean, canopy covered jungles all around, and monkeys screeching at them for encroaching on their territory.

When they returned to the ground and turned in their gear, he found Diana standing before a cage feeding a banana through the bars to the cutest spider monkey.

She turned to face him with tears in her eyes.

“What’s wrong,” he said, wiping her tears away.

“Nothing.” She turned away. “You’ll think I’m stupid.”

He pulled her into his arms and said, “That’s the last thing I’d think. Come on, what’s the matter?”

“It’s just that this has been the best vacation I’ve ever had.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“I don’t know if I can make you understand. My family is fairly well-to-do. I’ve been all over the world with my mother, seen wonders most people would kill to see, but in all that time, we never did anything like this. This cruise has made all the dreams a reality, but at the same time neither my mother nor my father are present to experience it with me. I’m with a man I barely know.”

“Ah—I see. In that case, it makes more sense than you’ll ever know.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really.” J.J. kissed her. “Come on let’s get some dinner on the way back to the ship.”