Abby

I woke up to the smells and sounds of the ocean filling our room. My eyes opened and took in the beautiful view of blue water rushing by the boat. I still couldn’t believe I was here—on a cruise! And staring out at the ocean from behind these beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows. I felt Colin’s arms tighten around me as he began to stir, then his lips pressed a kiss between my shoulder blades.

“Morning,” he said.

“Good morning,” I said.

“How’s the view?”

“Open your eyes and see for yourself.”

I felt his hand drifting along my side as it moved to my waist. His hand made its way up my body, caressing my shoulder as goosebumps rose upon my skin. He moved my hair off to the side and dipped his lips to my neck, kissing the crook of it as I sighed.

“The view is wonderful,” he said.

“I was talking about the ocean,” I said.

“And I was talking about you.”

I turned over into his arms and found his lips. It felt so right to have him next to me. My body yearned for his touch as his arms encased me, cloaking my back. My arms snaked around his neck as he settled between my legs, his swollen girth at the ready in the event it was called upon.

Then, my stomach growled.

“Sounds like someone’s hungry,” he said, grinning.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“Why?”

“Because I—know you wanted something else.”

“All I want in this life, Abby, is you.”

His words echoed off the corners of my mind as I rose up to kiss him again.

We slid out of bed and got ourselves dressed. The dining room was nearing the tail end of breakfast service, but we got there in plenty of time. We slowly woke up over delicious cups of coffee and indulged in pancakes that melted in our mouths. Everything was so fresh and ripe. Cooked to perfection and served with the utmost care and presentation. The pancakes were in all these different shapes and the fruit on the table was carved into a variety of flowers and animals. I was in awe of the talent on this ship, and I couldn’t wait to explore and take it all in.

“So, what would you like to do today?” Colin asked.

“Anything and everything,” I said.

“Well, do you want a spa day?”

“Not really. Maybe later in the week? I kind of want to explore.”

“We could get into our bathing suits and hit up one of the hot tubs on the open deck,” he said.

“Oh, that sounds fabulous. When do they start serving drinks?” I asked, giggling.

“One hour ago,” our waiter said.

I turned my face up to look at him as a sly grin crossed his cheeks.

“First timer?” he asked Colin.

“Oh, yes,” he said.

“Wonderful! You are going to have a fabulous time, Miss,” our waiter said. “Adult beverage service begins concurrently with food service.”

“And since food is served twenty-four-seven on this cruise, then the alcohol is, too,” Colin said.

“To the hot tub, then,” I said.

We finished up our breakfast before we made our way back to our room. We changed into our bathing suits before slipping on some clothes, then headed out to the open deck. Colin slipped his hand into mine as we ventured out into the sun, the heat beating down on my face as I turned my gaze toward the sky. I felt free out here. Disconnected from the hectic world I’d been thrust into. Colin stood by me as I took everything in, basking in the sun and gripping tightly to his hand.

“Whenever you’re ready,” he said.

Walking over to a hot tub, we quickly stripped down to our swim suits. Colin signaled for one of the staff as I lowered myself into the hot water. It was roiling with bubbles and shivering my skin. I felt myself relaxing instantly as I sat in one of the contoured chairs carved into the walls of the hot tub.

“I’ll have a Tom Collins, and the lovely lady here would like—?”

“A margarita,” I said.

“Getting the party started early, I like it,” the staffer said, with a broad smile. “A Tom Collins and a margarita, coming right up. Ma’am, do you want it frozen or on the rocks?”

“Surprise me. Your favorite style and flavor,” I said.

“Okay then, I love surprises! I’ll be back with your drinks,” the staffer said.

Colin got in and settled down beside me. Our hands found each other as the two of us sat there in silence. No one was out on the deck yet. It was just the two of us in the hot tub. We were gazing out over the bow of the ship, watching the water part for the massive ship. There was blue sky and clouds as far as the eye could see, and the water seemed to go on for years.

“It’s just us,” I said, smiling.

“Just us,” Colin said.

“Wanna get a massage after this?” I asked.

“Whatever you want,” he said.

“Well, I want to do what you’d like as well.”

“Don’t worry. I was thinking I’d pick the show for tonight. There’s a variety show after dinner that’s supposed to be wonderful.”

“Sounds like fun,” I said, grinning. “What types of acts will they have? Do you know?”

“From what I saw on the flier, there’s a magician, some singing acts, a couple of comedians, and a fire eater.”

“What? I’ve never seen a fire eater in person,” I said.

“Well then, you will tonight!”

“A Tom Collins for the gentleman, and a frozen pomegranate and raspberry margarita for the lady.”

“Oh, that sounds fantastic,” I said. “Thank you.”

“Just give me a wave if you need me and I’ll come running,” the staffer said. “And please, if you don’t like your drink, Miss, just let me know and I’ll make you another.”

“Thank you, but I’m sure it’ll be just fine,” I said.

I settled against Colin’s body as we sipped our drinks. My margarita was perfect, with just the right amount of alcohol. The bubbles were popping around us as the sea filled our vision, and I looked over at Colin. He seemed so relaxed and fluid—as if he hadn’t a care in the world. The way he looked right now, no one would believe he had been through the crazy turmoil that was our reality.

I watched him turn his gaze to me as he smiled.

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing. Just admiring the view,” I said.

“I thought that was my line,” he said, winking.

“Well, I stole it. So there.”

“Don’t worry. You’ve stolen a lot more than that.”

I felt my heart flutter and quickly took another sip of my drink.

“I remember the first time I ever saw the ocean,” I said.

Colin’s eyes locked onto my face as I closed my eyes.

“I was with my mother. My dad was out of town working and I was so upset. He was supposed to go on this beach trip with us. For weeks he had promised he would be there. But in the end, his work kept him away and my mother and I had to travel without him. Anyway, we flew into San Francisco and checked into our hotel. She tried to distract me by going on a walk through the city, but it killed me that my father wasn’t there.”

“I’m sorry,” Colin said.

“Don’t be. He ended up making it. My mom and I got food to take out onto the beach so we could watch the sun set over the water. She kept telling me that Dad would be there soon, but I didn’t believe her. Then out of the blue he just walked right up behind us.”

“Really?” Colin asked, chuckling. “Just like that?”

“Yep. Just like that. Even my mom was shocked. He told me when I was older that he’d put his foot down with his boss. It cost him a promotion, but he said he wouldn’t have traded it for anything. That was the first time I saw the ocean, and it was then that I fell in love with California. I was eleven at the time, and in my mind, it was magical and brought families together under impossible circumstances. The ocean and the state. I’d like to think that still holds true, even though San Diego chewed me up and spat me out.”

I felt Colin pull me closer before he pressed a kiss to my temple.

“Wanna know the first time I ever saw the ocean?” he asked.

“Of course,” I said, grinning.

“I was with my dad, too. It’s the only memory I keep of him that’s positive. It was before my view of him was tainted, and shifted with the type of man he turned out to be.”

Reaching over, I squeezed Colin’s knee as he gazed out over the water.

“I was probably no more than five or six, but I remember it like it was yesterday. We were walking along the beach and he was holding my hand. He’d pick me up every time a wave came barreling into shore that he thought might knock me down. Then we found this puddle that had been created and he sat next to it while I played. Nothing special about it. I just remember him being there. Being present. Being protective over my safety and guarding me any way he knew how.”

“Wow. That’s why you’re so protective,” I said.

“What?” he asked.

“If that’s your only positive memory of your father, then that’s probably why you’re so protective all the time. In your mind, it’s the only positive lesson he taught you. So you took it to heart as an adult.”

“I guess I never really thought about it that way,” he said.

With my head resting on his shoulder, I allowed the water to carry me into his lap. We finished our drinks and set them aside, then allowed our gazes to be swallowed up by the ocean. His legs parted for me so I could sit between them, then his arms threaded around my waist. I tucked my head underneath his chin as we sat there, digesting the memories and enjoying each other’s presence.

This was what I wanted. Time to just be with him. Not him and his business, him and his worries, him and his meetings or him and his schedule. Just him.

Just him. The man I knew Colin to be when he could cast off his mask as a businessman.

The question was, could he be that man when we weren’t here? Could he be that man back in L.A.?

I wasn’t sure if it was possible, but I didn’t want to think about that right now. All I wanted to do was take in this moment with him, learn about the man I was engaged to, and soak up his presence.

We could figure out the rest along the way.