Page 34 of Revenge Honeymoon

Em? Did he call her Em?

She almost fainted.

Only Emily noticed the dejected look that marred Sylvia’s pretty face. The cruise director only let that slip for a few moments before pasting on her usual wide smile.

“I suppose I need to go to work anyway.” Sylvia shrugged and wiped her mouth with a folded napkin. “I’m sure we’ll see each other again. It’s not a very big ship.”

As Max and Emily headed for the exit, he leaned in close and whispered, “Thanks for saving me back there.”

Emily had the strong awareness of her own heartbeat.Boom. Boom. Boom. “Save you?” If he came any closer, her heart might burst.

They rounded the corner and headed for the stairs.

“She was coming on to me pretty strong. Didn’t you notice?” Max cleared his throat. “Or does that sound as if I’m stuck on myself? Did I misread her?” He looked over his shoulder. “I did, didn’t I? Penny used to tell me it was all in my head.”

Since when did a supremely handsome man come up with the idea that he was unattractive? Not possible.

“What was all in your head?” To hear his insecurities was truly fascinating.

“My assumptions about women.”

She shook her head. “I don’t think it was a wrong assumption.”

“You don’t?” As they reached the stairwell, he slowed his steps. “Okay. Because I have been doubting my abilities to read women lately.”

Considering he had yet to notice Emily’s blushes, word stumbles, and simplistic flirtations, maybe he was onto something.

“Women can be subtle sometimes.” Her chest tightened as she said the words.

Why not just confess?

You are super-hot and I am on fire for you, but you haven’t even noticed.

Yikes. No. That would not be good. Focus, Emily, focus.

“But her?” She thumbed toward the buffet entrance. “Yeah, she was full-on flirt level five thousand.”

“Five thousand?” His gaze followed the direction of her thumb just in time to see tall, svelte Sylvia glide toward the elevator. “I don’t know. She scares me.”

“She does?” Emily choked on the question. Max being scared of any woman seemed ludicrous. He could have any woman he wanted.

“She’s the type of person who is hot and cold.” As he spoke, he kept his eyes on the cruise director as if expecting her to turn around and bite his head off. “I don’t know what to make of her. Where is the real Sylvia under all that?”

“She wasn’t very nice to you when we were checking in.”

“How did you know—?” His brow furrowed. “Were you and Ruby next in line behind me?”

“I’m surprised you didn’t remember Ruby.” She wanted to say: no man ever forgets Ruby.

“My mind was all over the place. I didn’t know what I was doing, and I was in a bit of a panic because Penelope flaked on me.” He scraped a hand through his hair. “Not as if I was surprised she flaked, but it was a free vacation. I thought she wouldn’t pass it up. Then she didn’t show.” He sighed. “I’ve never been on a cruise, and I was freaking out about being stuck on a ship for ten days. Alone. My God, it was horrifying to think about.”

“Yeah, well, you kinda knocked me over, so maybe it’s better you don’t remember.” Emily gave a half-hearted laugh.

“I did? Are you serious?” He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. “I thought I’d run into a garbage can.”

Yep. He said it. She was the size, weight, and shape of a garbage can. Great. How does a woman come back from that?

“Nope.” Again with the laugh. Could she fade into the ocean-themed wallpaper and turn invisible? “It was me.”

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