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  My heart was pounding. I’d really hoped that either I hadn’t really said what I’d thought I had or he’d not heard me. Still, I whispered, “No.”

  “Why would you put that on a list of things to do?”

  I swallowed hard. Maybe it was the darkness of the theater that made it easier to confess, but I found myself revealing my reason. “Because it’s something I’ve never done before.”

  “Don’t do it, Lindsay. Not with any of those guys Brooke has wrapped around her finger. You deserve better than her cast-offs.”

  I didn’t know if it was Ryan—a guy, a friend—talking, or Walter’s godson who was supposed to watch out for me offering advice.

  “Why do you care?” I asked in a low voice.

  “Because I like you, and I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  He liked me. So what was I supposed to do now? Give up my quest to find the perfect guy to have a fling with? And what if that perfect guy was Ryan?

  But it couldn’t be. A fling with Ryan was totally out of the question. But could there be something more between us?

  CHAPTER 18

  Ocho Rios

  Day Five

  I woke up the next morning, and contemplated the wisdom of keeping my head buried beneath the pillow.

  Ryan “liked” me, but I didn’t know if his interest went beyond being just a friend because as soon as the movie began, he started watching it as though he hadn’t said anything incredibly enlightening. And I hadn’t asked exactly what he meant because I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about any answer he gave. I’d run different scenarios through my mind.

  We had a fling, parted ways, felt awkward every time our paths crossed in the future.

  We had a fling, and when the cruise ended, we didn’t part ways. What were the odds of that happening?

  He’d told us that first night that he’d broken up with his girlfriend. What if he was like Brooke, looking to forget someone?

  He didn’t seem to be, but what did I know?

  Did I want to risk getting involved with Walter’s godson? I simply didn’t know. Mostly because I was scared. I’d never been in a serious relationship before, and it frightened me to think of how much it might hurt if things didn’t work out. A fling was safer. No commitment. No expectations beyond the fling.

  But suddenly the idea didn’t seem as appealing. I just didn’t know what to do except to continue on, and see what today brought my way.

  I’d watched a special on TV about kissing, and about how kissing was really nature’s chance to get close enough to sniff the other person, and determine if the chemistry was right. It wasn’t the most romantic thing I’d ever heard, but I was beginning to think that I needed to apply myself more diligently to that item on my list that said “Kiss lots of cute guys.”

  I threw off the covers, scrambled out of bed, crossed the cabin, slid open the glass door, and stepped onto the balcony. I raised my arms above my head, and stretched to one side, then the other.

  It was a glorious morning, the island visible in the distance. I was supposed to meet with Brooke soon—and who knew how many guys. Today was the day for a personality change. Today I would find Mr. Perfect-for-One-Night.

  I spun on my heel and froze as my gaze fell on Ryan, standing on his balcony watching me.

  “How long have you been there?” I asked.

  “Longer than you.”

  He sipped from a mug, and I could smell the aroma of coffee now that I was aware that he was here.

  I stepped toward the low wall that separated our balconies. “Are you still planning to hang around with us today?”

  “No reason not to. Is there?”

  “No reason at all.”

  I wanted to move away from him, but at the same time I wanted to stay where I was. What if he was the one? What if he wasn’t? “I guess I need to get ready.”

  “I’ll meet you in the hallway.”

  I went back inside and got dressed. Cargo shorts, tank, old tennis shoes. I’d read the brochure on Dunn’s River Falls and knew that while the temptation was to go barefoot over the slippery rocks, shoes were recommended. As a matter of fact, once I’d known that I’d be on this cruise, I’d spent a good deal of time planning everything so that it would become the best vacation ever.

  Just goes to show that sometimes the best-laid plans don’t work out. But we were still in the early stages of the cruise, and I had several more days and nights to see to it that I accomplished my goals.

  After settling a visor onto my head, I pulled on matching wristbands. I stuffed a beach towel, suntan lotion, some snacks and a bottle of water from the minibar, and a romance novel into my backpack, along with other essentials. We’d be gone most of the day. Then this evening there would be more partying in the various clubs that dotted the town.

  I hitched my backpack onto my shoulder, and headed out the door. Ryan was waiting in the hallway with his own backpack slung over his shoulder. Like me, he was wearing scruffy-looking tennis shoes.

  “Let’s go,” I ordered.

  As Ryan and I came on deck, the ship was docking at the pier. We were greeted by white sands and palm trees. An island paradise.

  “There you are!”

  Brooke rushed up to us and grabbed my arm. “I’ve hooked us up with Jake.”

  “Jake?”

  “He’s an activities director, and he’s going to lead one of the trips to Dunn’s River Falls. Come on. We’ll be leaving soon.”

  I followed her through the crowd, with Ryan on my heels.

  “Wonder why she didn’t get us into a group with a Jane or a Joan or a Josie?” he asked quietly behind me.

  Because that wasn’t Brooke’s style. I was really beginning to feel quite flattered that she’d ever approached me, and was including me in her activities.

  Jake was a cutie, not much older than us. Or at least he didn’t look much older. The usual suspects—Chad, Shooter, Marc, Michael, Cameron, David—were gathered around him. There were also two girls who Brooke introduced as Donna and Cathy, although she didn’t seem too impressed with them.

  “They were like leeches, sucking up to Jake so they could be part of his group,” Brooke whispered beside me.

  Ironically I figured she’d been just as leechy.

  “I was checking out all the activity directors this morning,” she continued, “and Jake is definitely the cutest. No ring on his finger.”

  Jake clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. He had short-cropped blond hair and green eyes. He looked strangely out of place, dressed in his Enchantment uniform polo, instead of an old T-shirt like the rest of us.

  “Okay, guys, I’m Jake. I’ll be your activity director today. I need you to very quickly give me your first names.”

  We all gave him our names, which I figured was probably a complete waste of time. How was he going to remember us all?

  “Okay,” he continued once we finished the introductions. “We’re going to walk through a government building and into the town. People are going to be trying to sell stuff to you. But we’re on a schedule this morning, so don’t stop to make any purchases. Go straight to the minivans. Seven to a van. Our group will take two.

  “When we get to the falls, I’ll take your cameras. The rest of your stuff we’ll lock in the van. The falls are slippery, so you don’t want to be carrying anything. If you have water shoes, you’ll want to put them on. Any questions?”

  Brooke raised her hand.

  “Yes, ma’am?”

  “Are you married?”

  He laughed. “No, miss. Any other questions?”

  Everyone looked around at everyone else silently. I did have water shoes in my backpack. I’d put them on at the falls.

  “Did you hear him?” Brooke asked me. “He called me ‘miss.’ How cute was that?”

  Jake clapped his hands again and smiled broadly. “All right then. Let’s rock!”

  It was interesting walking into town. It was a bustling array of peopl