Page 11 of Dreamboat

“We’re having dinner together tonight?” she asks as if she wasn’t hoping for it.

“You know we are.”

She nods. “We can do that before we watch Clever perform a few magic tricks.”

I’d prefer to skip that but she promised the guy she’d show up, so I want to be by her side when she does. Clever has done nothing to hide his interest in Delia, and I’m not about to clear a path to give him what he wants since I want her more than he possibly can.

“You can pick me up at my cabin at seven,” she says as she suddenly moves to stand.

I take it all in, marveling at how her swimsuit looks like it’s painted on. Her body is beautiful, but with the sun glowing behind her, her face is breathtaking.

“Enjoy the sun and the pool.” She looks toward it.

I’d invite her to stay and do the same, but she obviously has other plans.

I glide to stand, too. “I’ll see you tonight, Delia.”

She scoops up a tote bag, her sunglasses, and what looks like a white cotton cover up before she slips her feet into the same sandals she was wearing last night. “I’m looking forward to it.”

As am I, so I nod.

My gaze stays pinned to her as she walks away. Her blonde hair bounces off her shoulders as her lush ass sways with each step.

“Jesus,” I say under my breath. “Tonight can’t come soon enough.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Delia

My first apartment in Manhattan was a quaint little studio with a lumpy mattress and a dead houseplant that the landlord warned me not to toss in the trash. I didn’t. Instead, I watered the damn thing almost every day and added the best plant food I could afford to the soil.

It did nothing. It was completely brown and crumbling when I moved out a year later, but it must have meant something to the landlord because he gave me back my entire security deposit even though I took a chance and painted one of the walls a horrid shade of green.

I did that because one of my professors at the time believed that green paint could electrify a person’s soul. I bought into it and went to the hardware store, gathered everything I needed to transform my tiny space and spent an entire Saturday afternoon following his advice.

As it turned out, that advice was nothing but a test. When class resumed on Monday morning, he asked for a show of hands for those who painted over the weekend.

My hand shot up, along with a few others.

The professor laughed and told us that we had bought into his advice because of his position as an educated superior.

That pissed me off enough that I challenged him in my next paper. He apparently saw that move as worthy of a high grade and I finished the course with nothing but accolades from him.

That was but one of the many adventures I’ve had throughout my long journey to learn as much as I can in my lifetime.

Drawing in a deep breath, I glance around my cabin. It’s smaller than that apartment I called home for twelve months, but I feel much less claustrophobic on this cruise ship. I suspect that’s because I can see the ocean through the small rectangular window on the wall next to the bed.

The entire cabin is decorated in a muted way with wood trim and white linens. The carpet that covers the floors extends into the corridors. It’s a clean and comfortable look that feels calming to me.

When Callum gave me my birthday gift, he apologized for not booking me a stateroom but they were all spoken for on this particular cruise. I know he chose these dates because he felt it worked best into my schedule. He was right.

A soft knock at the door sends my gaze in that direction before I glance at the vintage gold watch on my wrist.

It’s two minutes to seven.

I look toward the full-length mirror that is near the door. It’s a perfect spot for it. Each time I’ve been on the cusp of leaving the cabin, I check myself out.

Tonight I’m wearing a simple red dress, red heels and I’ve pinned my hair up into a messy bun. It screams sophisticated and stylish to me.

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