CRUISE TO ROMANCE
Authors: Toby Poznanski
CRUISE
TO ROMANCE
BY
TOBY
POZNANSKI
A Ravensbook
Romance
Text
copyright ©2015 Toby Poznanski
All
Rights Reserved
Ravensbook
Publishing Co.
ISBN:
978-0-9861562-1-2
For
Stephen
“A book without sex is like toast
without butter!”
“Oh, pul-leeze!” A warm tropical
sun caressed Jennifer Mitchell’s skin where she basked by the ship’s solarium
pool. Enclosed in air-conditioned comfort, the solarium rivaled the most
beautiful of tropical rain forests. Lush trees and plants of varying shades of
green, sat clustered about the glass enclosed deck while Birds of Paradise,
Anthurium and flowering Bromeliads peeked through thick ferns, lending a jungle
air to the delightful garden. Sounds of water splashing and people laughing
blended with the Caribbean music playing softly in the background. The calypso
band, tucked away in a corner by the pool bar, played a unique blend of island
magic and American romance. Jennifer turned from her manuscript on cooking,
island style, and smiled at her best friend. “Don’t you think of anything
else?”
“Not if I can help it,” Sheila
giggled. “You should try it some time.”
“I have,” Jennifer lied, “and
it’s terribly overrated.” She stretched lazily and settled deeper into the
cushioned lounge while her best friend openly stared at her with an incredulous
look. The garden atmosphere and cool temperatures of the solarium kept
Jennifer comfortable while reading and analyzing recipes. It was the perfect
place to work on her new book on Caribbean cooking. With the soft music and
intoxicating scents of jasmine and frangipani filling the air, she felt as if
she was already on one of the Caribbean islands breathing in its cool, fresh
air, and sampling its exotic recipes.
“Then you’ve never had a good
lover.” Sheila sat up and threw her legs over the edge of her lounge to get
closer. In a confidential tone she continued, “Now you’ve got the chance.
This cruise ship has some good looking single men abroad. Get to know a couple
and try it out. You’ll never see them after the cruise is over in two weeks.
It’s the greatest opportunity to experiment that you’ll ever get.”
Jennifer wrinkled her nose in
distain at the thought and wondered how in the world she ever became best
friends with Sheila, a pert little blonde with a quick smile and a body that
shouted “Hey, guys, look at me!” She pulled the bodice of her blue maillot
higher and lowered her eyes to her manuscript. How could she confess the
embarrassing truth that she had never had a lover? Besides, she wasn’t on this
trip to find romance; she was here on business. How could she possibly write a
book on Caribbean cooking if she’d never been in the Caribbean to sample the
authentic dishes of the islanders?
She looked up at Sheila with a
quick frown. Thanks to Sheila’s friendly persistence, she had agreed to this
cruise vacation. But she truly intended to work. Getting the contract for two
cookbooks was the break she had been hoping for. Nothing was going to
interfere with her success and her deadlines, not even the handsome men on
board. She shook her head slightly. This morning during embarkation, it
looked like a Mr. Universe convention was about to board. Heaven help her, but
those men were gorgeous specimens of the male animal.
Sheila reached out and placed her
hand on Jennifer’s arm to comfort her. “Okay, so you don’t like the idea.
Maybe you should think it over. Life’s short and all you do is write cooking
articles for the newspaper.”
“I’m a columnist,” Jennifer
corrected trying not to think of how lonely she often felt. “Not only that,
you know that I’m under contract for two cookbooks: one on Caribbean cooking
and one for on-the-go singles. I have deadlines to meet. It’s important to be
serious about my work. That’s what this cruise is all about. I thought we
agreed. I work. You play.”
Jennifer tried to smile. She
couldn’t deny the lure of Sheila’s suggestion. She loved her work and her
cooking. She glanced down at her body and winced. Okay, maybe she loved her
cooking just a little too much. But this was a business trip---well---sort
of. Except for the complete makeover she’d signed up for after pouring through
all the cruise ship’s brochures.
“When was the last time you had a
date?” Sheila asked softly.
Jennifer squirmed in the ensuing
silence. ‘Seven months’ was not going to pass her lips. After all, she had
her pride. So what if she had a hard time meeting eligible men? She never,
well . . . hardly ever, came into contact with single men that she had anything
remotely in common with. Sheila knew that only too well. Sheila, on the other
hand, drew men to her like bees to honey. Although she hated to admit it,
Jennifer wished a few of those men would show her some of that flirty attention
they showered on Sheila.
“I rest my case, Jenny. If you
don’t do anything else on this cruise, find yourself a lover.”
A lover? The thought both
enticed her and frightened her. She didn’t think she had the nerve to make
love to a man she didn’t know well. Nor was she positive that she wanted to.
A few college romances certainly hadn’t left her with the skills to interact
with a man romantically. She had survived on her quick wit and sense of
humor. In fact, None of her romances fell into the steamy type. Truthfully
they were little more than affectionate friendships with young men who knew as
much about romance as she did about sports. Which, of course, was nothing.
Jennifer watched Sheila smile and
look around the solarium before resting her gaze on a group of young men across
the pool from them. Obviously, they had been in swimming. Droplets of water
glistened on their wet bodies as they moved in the filtered sunlight. Their
discussion appeared animated and friendly, their comradery enviable. Sheila
was already sizing up the men and their lover potential.
Jennifer looked over Sheila’s
curvy seductive body. No doubt about it, Sheila was beautiful. On top of that
she was charming and light-hearted. As far as Jennifer knew, there wasn’t a
mean bone in her body. They had been friends ever since Jennifer moved to Ft.
Lauderdale from Pennsylvania three years ago. Never once had she felt
uncomfortable and out of place with Sheila. Until now. Sheila was making her
face her own feelings of inadequacy, and she didn’t like it one bit. But
Sheila was right in her analysis. Jennifer often longed for strong arms to
hold her, but she always bore in silence her romantic dreams and unfulfilled
needs. It was her own fault if she’d never had the experiences she secretly
wanted.
Growing up the youngest in a
family of beautiful women hadn’t been easy. She’d realized at an early age
that she couldn’t compete with her two older sisters. Their mother, still a
size six in her forties, had handed down her sparkling personality, her
delicate bone structure, and her golden blonde hair to her two sisters, Kara
and Naomi. But not to her. Uh-uh. No quicksilver personality for her. Just
average bones and light brown hair that her mother often referred to as ash
blonde. Not that she was complaining. She did have a flawless complexion and
sooty eyelashes like her father. Surely someone with a little talent could
help her make the best of her looks. That’s why she had chosen to have a
makeover aboard ship. It seemed a perfect way to slide into a new look without
all of her family and friends making too much out of it.
Sheila gave her a speculative
look. “Okay. So you can find a lover if you want one. Prove it.” She
glanced toward the men she had been watching. “You’ve been eyeing that hunk
over there since we boarded this morning. The one in the black bathing suit
with the royal blue trim. The first one of us to bed him gets this trip all
expenses paid by the loser.”
“What?” Jennifer choked out.
Had she heard her correctly? “No way.” She glanced across the pool to the
group of men joking and laughing. He was there. Mr. Gorgeous, himself. She’d
noticed him earlier at the embarkation counter right before they boarded. A
hot flush covered her chest and face. Had she been that obvious?
“Not willing to put your money
where your mouth is?” Sheila teased. “What’s the matter? Chicken, Jennifer?”
Jennifer tossed her manuscript
aside and tried to hide her embarrassment. “No.” Another lie, she thought.
What would it be like to be held by a man like him? Her body warmed as she
admired from a distance his lithe strong body, his dark hair flecked with gold
from the sun, and his air of self-confidence and sophistication. He looked to
be a few years older than she was and in excellent physical condition. A
light spattering of hair covered his broad chest and his well-defined muscles
gleamed beneath the suntan oil he was lavishly spreading over his body. His
face was nicely carved, with generous lips and dark eyes outlined with even
darker lashes. He had one little dimple that teased at the corner of his mouth
when he smiled that cocky smile he flashed at her this morning. Mr. Gorgeous
was enough to make any woman, regardless of age, go faint.
Shaking her head, Jennifer once
again glanced at her body and grimaced. At twenty-five, she was borderline
plump. Gaining weight came with the territory, she told herself, knowing that
she just liked to eat a little too much. Oh, well, she sighed. It was too
late to lose ten pounds to attract Mr. Gorgeous. She turned to Sheila. “You
would win hands down,” she admitted reluctantly.
Sheila stood up and shimmied into
her cover-up. “Where’s your spirit of adventure? Take the bet Jennifer.
You’ve got until dinner to make up your mind.” With a tone of caution, she
continued. “If you don’t want him, I do. But if you think he’s worth the
effort, then try. I’m not spending my two weeks with a cookbook.” She smiled
knowingly at Jennifer. “I’m going to take a walk. See ya.”
Jennifer watched her friend walk
away with a lively sway to her hips. Sighing heavily, Jennifer wondered if
maybe Sheila was right. A good lover would certainly boost her self-confidence
up a few notches. It didn’t take too much imagination to realize that. The
cruise really was the perfect opportunity to meet a couple of interesting men.
The truth was, she would love a chance to get to know Mr. Gorgeous. What was
the worst that could happen? He wouldn’t be interested? Well, it wouldn’t be
the first time. Having been upstaged by her sisters many times, she knew the
risks. But there were other men on board who would be willing. Of that, she
had no doubts. Maybe it was time to unpack her courage and go after what she
wanted.
Jennifer had planned to change
her image and her single status along with it. She just hadn’t expected
everything to happen so fast. Jennifer couldn’t find a good reason to put it
off. The opportunities were now. The thought was exciting and compelling,
though she wished that Sheila had found someone other than Mr. Gorgeous to go
after. It wouldn’t be easy, but she was willing to try.
Jennifer glanced down at her
watch. Her first appointment at the spa was only minutes away. Thank
goodness. If she was going to try to compete with an accomplished flirt, she
would need more ammunition than what she presently had. She swung her legs
over the edge of the chaise lounge and stood up. There wasn’t an ounce of
glamour in her, but maybe by tonight there would be. With a determined set to
her shoulders, she picked up her beach bag, stuffed in her manuscript, and
headed for the spa and fitness center. She couldn’t bear to think of Sheila
together with the man of her dreams. It was time to stop playing second string
to Sheila. She would take that bet and do her best to win it. Mr. Gorgeous,
look out!
* *
*
“I need a complete
makeover. The works.”
In the lavish
reception area of the ship’s Lotus Spa, Jennifer rose from her soft easy chair
and handed her clipboard containing all her personal information and beauty
goals to the shorter of the two women standing before her. A small water
fountain bubbled atop the reception desk and the sweet scent of gardenia
drifted through the room. The pale peach walls framed classical style oil
paintings of sensuous women enjoying the luxury of ancient Roman baths. But
what really took her breath away was the stately Swedish-looking therapist she
had just been introduced to. The woman was tall and tan, with high cheekbones
and full lips. Of course, she had a figure to die for. Was there some
unwritten law that all blondes were beautiful? Or just Swedish blondes? Maybe
she should skip the fat wrap and just do her hair platinum blonde.
Ms. Sweden laughed
softly and gave Jennifer a long telling glance. “My but you are anxious. Care
to tell me why?”
Jennifer felt her
face color with embarrassment. She wouldn’t quit now; she just couldn’t. “Um,
well . . . there’s this hunk on board and I, uh . . .”
Ms. Sweden nodded,
took the clipboard from the receptionist, and motioned for Jennifer to
accompany her. Looking closely at Jennifer as they walked deep into the quiet
corridor elegantly decorated in soft golds and greens, Ms. Sweden confided in a
low voice, “You’ve come to the right place, Ms. Mitchell. Most women don’t
realize they need help.” Then she smiled. “You’re one of the lucky ones.
You’ve got plenty to work with.”
Jennifer tried to
return her smile. It wasn’t easy asking a beauty queen for help. “Oh, I’ve
got plenty alright!”
Ms. Sweden laughed.
“May I call you Jenny?”
“Please. What is
your name?”