Manda laid in Hunter’s arms. They found a deck called the Sanctuary Deck where fewer people lounged. A majority of the cruise guests had gone off ship for the excursions in Honduras and others were crowding the pools.

“Have you ever been tempted?” She ran her fingers through the sparse hair on his exposed chest.

“I’m being tempted right now.” He kissed the top of her head. “You don’t know how much I want to drag you back to my cabin with me.”

Manda pressed a kiss against his chest. “Probably as much as I’d like you to.”

“There’s only one thing that’s stopping me.” He turned on the chair so he was lying on his side, his head propped up with his hand.

“What’s that?”

“I don’t want you to ever think this was just a hookup or a cruise fling.”

“You said that last night too. If I thought this was going to be a fling, I wouldn’t have gone there the other night.” She buried her head in his chest.

“I don’t want to be the reason you have another panic attack.” Hunter hugged her close.

“Oh, Hunter. Do you realize I’ve had less panic attacks since I got here? I usually deal with one or two a day. Even in a job I’ve worked at for the last five years.” She looked up at him and smiled. “Instead, my face hurts from smiling so much.”

“I’m thinking that’s a good hurt?”

“Oh, it is. When I was asking about being tempted, it wasn’t about me. It was about fans.”

“You’re a fan, aren’t you?” He winked.

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

He let out a deep breath. “Yes, I have been tempted. Did it go anywhere? No. And after it came up, I felt really bad.”

“How far did it go?”

“She invited me back to her hotel room. On my way there, I heard my father’s voice in the back of my head asking me what I was doing. I sent her a message saying I wouldn’t be there but invited her to the concert the next night. She never showed up.” Hunter ran a hand through her hair. “Does that make you think less of me?”

She shook her head. “I was eighteen and in my first year of college when I let my boyfriend talk me into sex. It was pretty awful and extremely awkward. It took me years to let someone else touch me again.” She rolled over onto her back. “Twenty-seven years old, and I’ve been with two people.”

“Same age and same number of people.” Hunter smiled. “That’s not a bad thing. Not that having a high number of partners is either. With you, it wouldn’t matter either way.”

She closed her eyes. “I feel the same way. Although I’ll admit, it’s rather refreshing to know we’re both on the low end of the scale.”

Hunter glanced at his watch. “They’re doing a kitchen tour soon, and the Chef is supposed to be doing a demonstration. Did you want to go to that?”

“Oh, yes. That sounds like a blast.” Manda sat up. “Maybe later we can hang out by the pool?”

“Watch the sun set over the ocean?” Hunter suggested.

“Heaven.”

* * *

The couple enjoyed the kitchen demonstration, but Manda was slightly disappointed that they didn’t actually get to cook. Dinner came next, then they ventured up to the top deck to stake out a place to watch the sun set.

“Did you want to go on an excursion tomorrow or stay on the ship?”

“We have to go. It’s Cozumel.” Manda pulled her sunglasses out of her bag.

“Well, that’s a must. I’ll make some plans when I get back to my cabin. I want to make this special for you.”

“The excursion isn’t leaving until nine, so we can have breakfast before we head out.”

“I found myself up at seven this morning, even though we didn’t have to be anywhere.” Hunter chuckled.

“Me too, but I’m an early riser. I’m usually at work by seven-thirty. It’s nice to have some time to get things done without a ton of people around to interrupt.”

“You work in a hospital, right? I’d think there’d be a lot of people around at any time of day.”

“Not in the office part. The nurses give me hell sometimes, which is fine, but I like the quiet.”

They settled in on one of the cozy couches on the upper deck and looked out over the ocean. “It’s beautiful out here. If I ever get the chance to go on another vacation, I’m coming back to the Caribbean.”

“You should take that extra vacation time you have built up and come on the road with me this summer.”

Manda chuckled. “Didn’t we talk about this already? I don’t think you’d like to see me on a tour bus for four months. I can’t image it would be good for my panic attacks.”

“Yeah, we did. We do have the option of driving separate from the tour bus, though. I’d be okay with that if it made you comfortable enough to join me for a bit.”

“You mentioned your tour being done in August, right? Do you know what you have next?”

“I’m supposed to head to the recording studio to work on my next album. I have quite a bit of it written, but I haven’t had a chance to record it.”

“So, from the tour, you go back to Nashville until the recording is done?”

“I can record anywhere there’s a studio. I’m sure I can find one near you. If not in Bryton, there has to be one in Indy somewhere. Even Chicago’s not as far as Nashville.”

Manda looked out over the sky. The vibrant blue sky started to darken, and the sun was a ball of orange bouncing on the horizon. “How are we going to work this out?”

“We’ll figure it out, don’t worry.” He kissed her forehead.

A couple ran naked across the deck in front of them.

Manda covered her mouth and turned her head into Hunter’s arm. “Ohmigod!”

“I wouldn’t be caught dead running naked on a cruise ship.”

Manda laughed. “You wouldn’t catch me running naked anywhere.”

“What about in a private lagoon somewhere—just me and you. No one around?”

“You could probably convince me to skinny dip.” A blush crept onto Manda’s face.

“As long as I could guarantee no one was around, I think I could lead you astray.”

“Maybe.”

“Speaking of private lagoons, do you have any ideas for tomorrow? I have my concert the following day.”

“Maybe we should just stay on the ship. You’ll need time to rehearse, right?”

He shook his head. “Wait. I promised to take you to Cozumel. We’re definitely going on the excursion. I’ll practice before the show.”

“As long as you think you’ll be ready.”

“I will. Now, what sounds fun?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, there’s an underground secret river excursion we could go on. It’s like seven and a half hours, though.”

“Maybe something a little less adventurous and more above ground?”

“Cooking?” Hunter grinned. “We missed the class on the ship yesterday.”

“I’m intrigued. What did you have in mind?”

“They have a class about making salsa and margaritas. Then you can learn to salsa dance.”

“That sounds like a lot of fun,” Manda said. “Maybe we could check out some of the local culture after that?”

“I think that’s doable.”

Manda snuggled into his arms as they watched the last dying embers of the setting sun drop below the horizon.

“I think that was the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen.”

“I agree. Although, I think it has to do with having the most beautiful woman in the world in my arms.”

“You’re crazy.”

Hunter squeezed Manda to pull her closer. “It’s true.”

“To you, maybe.”

“Isn’t that all that matters?”

“I guess it is.” Her smile turned into a yawn.

“Looks like I should get Cinderella back home before her coach turns into a pumpkin.”

“I don’t think we’ve been back before midnight this entire trip.”

“And you know, what? It’s been wonderful.” Hunter held out his hand and helped her to her feet.

They walked hand in hand back to her cabin and exchanged a kiss before Hunter sauntered off to his own cabin.

* * *

Manda collapsed onto the couch and sighed. All she wanted to do was make love to him again. Manda made a frantic call to Diana. She needed some girl talk time with her new friend. Diana agreed to meet her for drinks, so Manda threw on a shirt and her jeans and headed to the Porthole Pub.

“What’s the matter?” Diana was sitting at a table waiting for her.

Manda practically paced as she reached the table. She pulled out the chair and flopped down into it. “I’m so glad I’m not charged for cold water on this trip because I think I’ve taken three cold showers a day for the last two days.”

Diana laughed. “A little pent up are we?”

“Ohmigod, you have no idea how much I want Hunter Cross.” The waiter dropped off two glasses of red wine at their table. Manda downed the first one. “Can I have another? Or maybe you should just bring the bottle?”

“Are you panicking? Should you really be drinking if you are? When my Dad had serious panic attacks, drinking was never a good idea.”

“I’m not anywhere near panicking. I’m the calmest I’ve ever been in my life. I haven’t had a panic attack in a few days. But damn it, I want him.”

“You know, you can have a fling. It’s not like anyone is going to stop you.”

“He doesn’t want a fling. And I really don’t either. He wants to make sure I know this is long term, but I’m so over the top turned on that I don’t even know how I’m going to make it to the rest of this trip.” Manda glanced around the room and leaned in. “We made love the night of the costume ball.”

“Really?” Diana’s eyes widened. “Why are you so pent up then?”

“Because we haven’t gone there since, and I so want too.”

“So, do something about it.” Diana laughed. “You’re nearly thirty. You’re not a teenager. Tell him you want him. Show him you want him.”

Manda took a deep breath. “Seduce him?”

“Of course, and even if it ends once the cruise is over, you can still say you had a good time. And you did what you wanted.”

“What I want?” Manda stared down at the table. “I’m not sure I’ve ever done what I wanted. I’ve spent my entire life pleasing everyone else. I danced because my Mom was the teacher. I went into development because everyone said I was good at it. When my boss needed someone to work, I was there. When my brother needed a babysitter, I was there.”

Diana reached out and put her hand on Manda’s shoulder. “Then make the rest of this trip about you. Remember your wants and needs. Hunter wants to do what you want to do. Let him. Let someone take care of you for once.”

Manda nodded. She drank another glass of wine. Diana was right. This is what she needed to do. Tomorrow, she would do her best to seduce Hunter.