Page 19 of Love on Deck

I hated to admit this, even to myself, but it felt nice to be hugged. Even if it was by the devil’s spawn himself.

When was the last time I’d hugged someone beyond a quick greeting or a farewell? Probably Derek, the last guy I had dated. But that hadn’t lasted long.

Jack inhaled deeply, his chest pressing against mine, then exhaled and relaxed into me. It was like we were doing a yoga move. Warmth seeped into my chest, thawing my ice-cold heart.

“This isn’t so bad, is it?” Jack’s voice in my ear was like a shot of heat through my body.

Nope. This was not good. We could fake date for a week so my sister could relax during her wedding and my career’s trajectory would be secured, but I would not develop feelings for this guy. I’d end up like every other girl who was victim to his green eyes and smooth talking—disappointed.

I pulled back, averting my gaze. My cheeks were warm, and I didn’t want him thinking my blush was because I enjoyed whatever that was. It was a hug. Studies had been done to prove that eight second hugs literally released oxytocin and boosted your immune system, so really, it was science. They were impossible not to enjoy.

Pulling my bag strap higher on my shoulder again, I fished in my pocket for my room key, then turned toward my door.

“Where are you going?”

Away. To breathe. To remind myself why those feelings were just a biological reaction. In no way could I allow myself to fall victim to Jack’s ridiculous charm. “To cram some work in.”

“Hey, we agreed—”

“No working on the ship. Yep, I remember.” I flashed him a smile before unlocking my door and slipping inside to the refuge of a dark room. I slumped on the desk chair and exhaled. What had I gotten myself into?

CHAPTER EIGHT

LAUREN

How did we end up in this mess? How did I manage to find myself in line at the guest services desk on the ship with Jack and Amelia, the tinkling of slot machines and laughter from enthusiastic players in the casino behind us only further grating my nerves? I was a block of hard parmesan, and all of these things were slowly chipping away at me.

“I don’t think it will come to anything,” I said for the fiftieth time. “There is no way they’ll be able to accommodate us so last-minute. Cruise ships have crazy rules.”

Jack shot me a warning look. “Amelia’s right, though. We might as well try.”

Might as well try to give up our own personal space and the safety of our separate rooms every night? Make an attempt to sacrifice those valuable, sacred spaces where we can recharge each night for another day of fake liking each other?

“Isn’t it their job to be accommodating?” Amelia asked. “You’re in the hospitality business. You should know.”

“Which is why I don’t want to make extra work for them right now. They probably have requests falling out of their ears.”

Jack’s eyebrows lifted. “I think the expression is coming out of their ears.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Either way, there’s too much stuff leaving orifices.”

Amelia looked mildly disturbed at this exchange. She pulled her vibrating phone out of her pocket and put it to her ear. “Hang on guys, it’s Kev. Hi, baby.”

She walked toward the tall windows on the other side of the room to get away from the casino noise. Blue ocean sparkled through those windows, and I inhaled patience.

“I’m sorry,” Jack said.

“You’re talking like it’s a done deal already.” I smoothed a loose lock of hair back into my knot and patted it down to ensure it was all in order. “They might not be able to move us.”

His eyebrows bent together, disbelieving. “You know they will.”

“Well, as long as Amelia stays on the phone over there, we only have to pretend to try.”

Jack was still for a minute. “You think she’ll believe it if we say they couldn’t help us?”

No. “It’s worth a shot.”

Jack stepped a little closer, making his cologne fly up my nose against my will. It had a weird effect of calming me and grating at me at the same time. Stupid, hot, nice-smelling man who wanted to share my room and my personal space.

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