Page 43 of Cruising with You

“You’re welcome. Now, where’s your boyfriend? It’s his turn.”

“He texted a few minutes ago and said he was on his way. He should be here any––”

“Hey, Pretty Girl,” Gage’s deep voice greets me as his dark brown loafers carry him closer.

With a quick kiss on my cheek, he compliments, “You look gorgeous.”

“Why, thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.”

The guy is rocking a gray sports jacket with a freshly trimmed beard and his curly brown hair styled to perfection.

Why, hello, James Dean look-alike.

He smirks. “I can read you like a book, Nora. Might wanna save the dirty thoughts until we get home.”

Gasping, I smack him on the chest. “Cocky much?”

“Only with you.”

I shake my head. “Uh-huh. Sure. This is Becca, by the way. She’ll have the difficult task of wiping that smug expression off your face so that you look presentable for the interview.”

“Honey,” Becca interjects, “If you want a bunch of attractive young ladies to buy tickets for the singles’ cruise, then I’d keep the cocky look. Girls are a sucker for a bad boy they can tame.”

“Well, obviously, I failed at the taming part,” I quip, “or you wouldn’t have been able to figure out his game so quickly.”

Laughing, Gage raises his hands in surrender before sitting down on a stool beside me. “Ya know, I’m right here, ladies. I can hear you.”

“Which is why your cocky is still showing,” I tease.

“I like that you’ve turned an adjective into a noun.”

“Only with you. Thanks for bringing Bertie a coffee. She’s having more man trouble.”

“I told her to come on the cruise. You could hook her up with the bartender you were flirting shamelessly with when I ran into you.”

“You remember that guy?” I ask, unable to hide my surprise.

“Hell, yes, I do. He was all over you. Creating special drinks. Letting you sit at his bar. All of it. Disgusting. Oh, I told her it was your idea to set them up, so…yeah.”

With a giant grin, I lean forward and plant a quick, over-the-top kiss to his cheek that leaves a stain of lipstick in its tracks.

“Now, now, Nora. I did not paint that masterpiece on your face for the past thirty minutes only for you to ruin it by sneaking away to the nearest closet with your boy. Keep it in your pants.”

Cheeks heating, I cover my face with my hands, but I am careful not to mess up Becca’s hard work.

“But can you blame her, Becca?” Gage razzes beside me. “I mean, it’s hard to turn down a face like this.”

Thankfully, Becca knows how to dish it right back at him. “Aaand, there’s the cocky Nora was talking about.”

Gage doesn’t bother to deny it because, well…he’s him, but I’m saved from any more banter when Jess’s head pops through the doorway. “Alright, you two, we’re ready for ya.”

“Perfect timing. Gage is officially done,” Becca answers. “Good luck! Can’t wait to see your interview on the air.”

“Me too.”

Once they’ve gotten us hooked up with baby microphones, we sit down in a pair of cushy armchairs, and Gage reaches for my hand. His gesture warms my heart, and I catch myself staring at him with a dopey grin on my face.

“What are you looking at?” he asks, amused.

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