Caribbean Cruising Read online

  CHAPTER 29

  Cancun

  Day Nine

  Wearing swim trunks and a muscle shirt, Ryan showed up at my door minutes after we docked. I was wearing a spaghetti strap tank and shorts over my bathing suit. I had a canvas tote that carried all my beach essentials, and a netted bag that had my snorkeling equipment in it. Ryan took both from me.

  Then he took my hand. I was nervous, excited, scared, and happier than I’d been the entire cruise.

  “Where are we meeting Brooke?” he asked.

  “We’re not. She called this morning, and said she had some other plans. Which works for me.”

  “Works for me too.” He leaned down and kissed me. “So, are you ready?”

  Smiling, I nodded. “Definitely.”

  The white sandy beaches and the blue, blue waters of Cancun were just what the doctor and Cupid ordered. We’d spread our beach towels over lounge chairs beneath umbrellas. I set my tote bag nearby. I was wearing a water-repellant wristband with a zippered enclosure inside, which I’d placed anything of real importance: money, the key to my room, my I.D.

  “You want to snorkel first?” Ryan asked.

  “Sure.”

  We got ready. Everything seemed so different this time. Before I’d been a novice, learning the ropes. Not that I was totally experienced but I was more familiar with what I was doing. Plus this time I didn’t have Jake around to distract me. Or Brooke. Or anyone else.

  It was just Ryan and me.

  My ankle was feeling much better. I tried not to put too much pressure on it, but I was fairly certain it would be fine in the water.

  As soon as we were geared up, Ryan and I headed for the water. I still felt funny walking over the sand with flippers, but I was also excited about exploring the corral reefs and seeing the brightly colored sea creatures.

  We got to the water’s edge, turned at the same time so we could back our way into the water, and took each other’s hand. Only there was another difference this time. We weren’t holding hands for balance. We were holding hands because we wanted to be connected.

  Once we were snorkeling, gliding through the water, we continued to hold hands. We pointed out various fish and crabs and urchins to each other. It was a more deeply sharing experience than we’d had previously. Although we’d shared the world beneath the sea before, it just had a different feel this time that was difficult to explain.

  Everything seemed brighter, more colorful, more alive—as though I was viewing every aspect of this special world differently. I wasn’t thinking about my to do list or what I needed to check off.

  I was simply enjoying the moment, enjoying being with Ryan. It was so magical, and I was glad that this last day before the ship turned toward home that I had Ryan all to myself.

  When we’d seen all we wanted to see, we headed back to shore. As soon as we were out of the water, I sat on the sand and removed my flippers. “That was awesome,” I said.

  “I never get tired of snorkeling,” Ryan said. “It’s such a fascinating world.”

  He stood and helped me get to my feet. “How’s your ankle?”

  “It just has a little twinge, so I might even be able to dance tonight.”

  “Great.”

  We walked back to where our loungers waited. I dropped my gear onto my bag and stretched out on my stomach so the heat, sun, and breeze could dry me off. It felt wonderful.

  “Want something to drink?” Ryan asked.

  “Yeah, I’ll take a margarita.”

  “I’ll be right back.”

  I reached for my sunglasses, put them on, and watched him jog to the thatch-roofed building, where drinks were being made. “Lindsay Darnell,” I murmured, “you were crazy not to have been spending all your cruise with him.”

  We spent the afternoon lounging in the sun and sipping margaritas. I was feeling terrific. Lying on my back now, I looked over at Ryan and found him watching me.

  Smiling, I crooked my finger and wiggled it, signaling for him to join me. With a grin he got up, came over, and stretched out beside me. Although we were on a crowded beach, we weren’t the only ones sharing a lounger.

  Since we were both wearing bathing suits, it felt really intimate. Ryan lowered his mouth to mine. It was wonderful. Hotter than the sand beneath us.

  And I couldn’t help but wonder: If this is what the afternoon holds for me, what will the night hold?

  The evening was more fun than the afternoon had been. Ryan and I ate dinner at the Hard Rock Café. Drank more margaritas, and talked as much as we could in a place were loud music made it difficult to hear.

  “What’s college really like?” I asked.

  “Some partying, mostly studying,” he said.

  “I hear the classrooms are big.”

  “Your core classes are usually held in auditoriums. Upperclassman classes are smaller.”

  “I’m nervous.”

  “You’ll do great.”

  I reached across the table and took his hand. I liked being able to do that without worrying about what he thought or if it was the right thing to do.

  “Are you ready to head back to the ship?” he asked.

  I wasn’t…and yet I was. It was our last night at a port. In the morning the ship would set sail. We’d spend tomorrow evening on the sea and arrive in Galveston the day after that. It seemed that everything was moving quickly now. Coming to a close.

  “I’d like to walk along the beach first,” I told him.

  “We can manage that.”

  When we reached the beach, I slipped off my sandals. The sand felt wonderful beneath my soles.

  The sun had almost set. The sky and the ocean were beautiful. I felt as though I was in paradise. And then Ryan took me into his arms and I knew that I was.

  The kiss was slow. Exploring tongues. As somewhere off in the distance, the sun sank below the horizon. A ship’s horn blasted. The roar of the surf filled my ears, or maybe it was simply the rush of my blood.

  Our bodies were pressed close. Our mouths closer. I couldn’t have placed the kiss into a category if I’d had to. It was too incredible for words.

  Ryan drew back slightly, and pressed his forehead to mine, his arms looped around me, his hands resting against the small of my back. My arms were wrapped around his neck.

  “So what did you think?” he asked.

  “Spectacular.”

  “The day?”

  “You.”

  “So does that mean that you want to spend tomorrow together as well?”

  “Definitely.”

  CHAPTER 30

  The Enchantment

  Night Ten

  The last day and night of the cruise were insane, as though everyone onboard could sense the minutes ticking down before the cruise ended. Everyone wanted to cram in one more moment of fun, one more margarita, one more dance, one more kiss.

  Our little group had spent much of the day together at the pool and the miniature water park. Riding the waterslides. Playing water volleyball. Soaking up the sun.

  The entire time, Ryan was at my side, sneaking in kisses now and then. When we scored in volleyball. When we shared nachos. When we went down a waterslide together.

  I suppose it was becoming evident to everyone that we’d hooked up, because none of the other guys were trying to get my attention.

  With my back to his chest, his arms around me, I stood on the top deck with Ryan and watched the sun set on our final night of the cruise. Sometime tomorrow we’d arrive in Galveston. I couldn’t believe that I’d been gone for a little more than a week. In a way it seemed like a lifetime.

  We weren’t the only ones on the deck. It was crowded up here, and I wondered if Mom was up here with Walter. If she was, I didn’t see her.

  “Do you want to hear something totally crazy?” I asked Ryan.

  “Shoot.”

  “I had all these plans for this to be the very best vacation of my life. Nothing went as I planned. But you know what? I don’t think I