A Change of Plans (2 page)

After unpacking, I wasn’t sure what to do. With nearly fifteen hundred passengers aboard, I didn’t want to risk missing her. She would have to return to the cabin to get her lifejacket for the lifeboat drill, so I decided to explore our balcony.

The little terrace was only somewhat private. While it had a partial barrier next to the wall, I could see straight down the side of the ship to the other balconies. This was both good and bad. Good because I would get a broader view of the ocean. Bad because I had two swimsuits, and only one was fit for display.

I glanced at the balcony next to ours, straight into the face of the man from the dock. His eyes twinkled, lighting up with interest. He raised the glass he was holding, starting as his
cell phone rang. As he moved to answer it, I heard Elle return and hurried back inside.

The drill turned out to be a bit anticlimactic, the cruisers taking a long time to gather. The need to wait as more people pressed into our assigned lifeboat area itched at my nerves. I tried to think about something besides the close press of bodies, taking shallow breaths to keep from smelling the mixture of perfume, sunscreen, and liquor, plus a dash of cigarette smoke for variety.

Elle nudged me and tilted her head to my right. Our tall neighbor stood beside me, observing the people around us.

“He’s in the cabin next to ours,” I whispered to Elle.

“Convenient.” Her eyes took on a contemplative gleam.

I gave her a warning look. More people arrived, forcing us to squeeze in tighter, and my arm pressed against our tall neighbor’s. He leaned toward me. “Look at them.” He pointed ahead.

Startled at his uninvited comment, I shot him a quick glance and edged a little closer to Elle. I immediately felt silly when I saw he wasn’t even looking at me but at an elderly couple a few feet away. The tiny white-haired woman wore dark glasses, a walking cane for the blind hanging from her hand, as an equally tiny white-haired man guided her to a spot not far from us. He played with her short, curly hair, his fingers twirling a strand around and around. The unconscious familiarity of the movement spoke of decades doing it.

Intrigued that this love story had captured my neighbor’s attention, I peeked at him from the corner of my eye. He had a pleasant enough face, though his nose was a little too prominent for him to be considered handsome. His dark, almost black, hair had a stylish cut with nice body to it. I imagined it would
be wavy when long. When he noticed my scrutiny, he smiled like we were sharing a secret before turning back to the couple.

The frail gentleman had shifted the old woman so we formed a tight circle. With a quick glance my way, he nodded to the man beside me. “You take good care of your lovely lady there, young man.”

Elle choked back a laugh, and our cabin neighbor coughed. My face went hot.

“When times get tough, you should always talk about it.” He gave us a conspiratorial wink. “The ladies need to talk it out, you know.”

As the blind woman laughed and swatted his arm, the crewmembers launched into the briefing and a last-minute group crushed us tighter still. I clutched Elle’s arm and closed my eyes. I didn’t catch a thing the crewmembers said. When the people finally drifted apart, I took a deep breath of fresh air.

The tall man reached his hand out to me. “I’m Braedon Randolph.”

“Lyn North.” A tingle spread through my hand where his dry skin touched mine. I pulled Elle closer. “This is my friend and roommate, Elle Reinhardt. Elle, this is Braedon.”

Before Elle and Braedon could do more than exchange greetings, his phone rang. “It was nice to meet you,” he said as he stepped away to answer it.

I stared at my palm, wondering at my response to his touch. A sharp horn blast signaled the ship’s departure, and my stomach noted the first sensation of movement. My heart raced, and I nearly whooped, forgetting the tingle in my hand. “Let’s go to the bow.” I tugged on Elle’s sleeve.

She made a face. “I said I’d meet the others from lunch by the pool.”

I hesitated, darting my eyes between her and the receding dock.

“You go.” Elle gave me a gentle push. “Just be sure to meet us for dinner at seven, okay?”

I hugged her and made my way to the lower deck, which had a track going completely around the ship. I found a place along the railing, relieved to be alone. I let the ocean breeze blow my hair in a dizzying swirl around my face and shoulders, relishing in the sense of freedom that came with it.

My mind drifted to Elle. I wondered how seriously she would take her self-designated role of matchmaker.

I knew I waited in limbo, like someone who had been injured in a diving accident and sat on the edge of the high dive, trying to decide if she could face the water again. The idea of dating had teased the back of my mind for a while, but I was determined. Not yet. Not on a ship. Fairy godmother Elle couldn’t truly believe a cruise would ever provide me with a happily ever after.

Just as I decided to search for her, I heard voices and turned to find Braedon and his family strolling around the corner. I sighed. Elle would love this.

CHAPTER 2

B
RAEDON RAISED
his eyebrows in recognition. There was no avoiding them then. He had the little girl from earlier in his arms and was accompanied by a man and woman I assumed were her parents.

“Hello again,” I said when they reached me.

Braedon smiled warmly in response and turned to the woman by his side. “Ash, this is my cabin neighbor Lyn North. Lyn, this is my sister, Aislinn Armstrong, and her husband, D’Arcy. This little princess is my niece, Kate.”

D’Arcy locked eyes with me as he took my hand. “Don’t say it.” He ruined the effect by putting on a brooding expression.

I burst out laughing and Kate giggled. I reached to shake her hand, but she buried her face in Braedon’s shoulder, suddenly shy.

After the introductions, they turned to admire the shrinking shoreline, and I wondered how to make a strategic retreat.

Kate raised her head from her uncle’s shoulder and regarded me, her face solemn. “Those are seagulls.” She pointed to two of the white, squawking birds as they glided alongside the ship.

“Yes,” I agreed, equally serious.

“They poop a lot.” Her face scrunched in disgust.

Braedon and I laughed. He tickled her tummy. “Yes, they do.”

His phone rang, and I wondered if he was one of those people who had to be connected at all times.

Aislinn glared at him and whispered, “You promised.”

“Just this one last time.” He tried handing the little girl to his sister, but Kate stretched, wiggling her little fingers for me to take her. I looked to her mother for permission, and Aislinn nodded.

I settled Kate on my hip and pointed at a new seagull that had joined the others. “Look at it squawking at them. What do you think it’s saying?”

“It wants to know if you’re married.”

“I’m not married.”

Kate got a big grin on her face. “You can marry Uncle Bray and be my aunt. I want an aunt. I only have uncles.”

I swallowed wrong and choked, grateful the others weren’t watching us. I hoped so, anyway.

Braedon put his phone back in his pocket and returned to us.

With a pinched mouth, Aislinn held out her hand to him. “You promised, Bray. Hand it over.” Awkward. Braedon relented, and Aislinn stuffed his phone in her purse. I avoided looking at him.

“Sorry about that.” Aislinn scrutinized me. “Kate doesn’t usually take to strangers so quickly. We do really need to get her to dinner now, though.”

The little girl shifted, indicating she wanted to get down, but she took my hand once her feet were on the deck. “I can
walk with you guys,” I offered. “I need to find my cabinmate anyway.”

Now that the ship had moved out of the harbor, the impact of its motion on my balance became more pronounced. Kate giggled at me stumbling as I climbed the stairs. Braedon took my elbow to steady me, clasping the handrail himself. I would be glad when I finally adjusted and got my sea legs. I said a silent prayer of gratitude that I at least didn’t suffer from motion sickness.

“See you around,” I said to Braedon and his family when we reached the lido deck. Kate let me go with a little kiss on the cheek, and I went to join Elle. Naturally, she stood among a circle of people. I could almost see the words ‘date potential’ in her eyes as she glanced between Braedon and me. I ignored her and we headed to the dining room.

Later, we returned to the lido deck for the sailing party. Elle clapped her hands in delight. This was her environment: people, food, and music. She pointed to the band in the middle of the deck. “I want to request a song.”

“I’ll get us some seats,” I shouted over the din of people. She waved her approval.

After I secured a table and some chairs, I sat guarding them. I planned to stay only a few minutes and then make my escape to listen to a chamber group performing somewhere else. Somewhere more quiet and less crowded.

I smelled Jori’s cologne before I heard his voice behind me. “I didn’t see you at dinner.”

So much for not telling Elle. I glanced up. “Hello again.” I did a quick scan of the band area—no sign of Elle.

He sat beside me, pulling a sketchbook and pencil from under his arm. “Are you saving all these seats?”

I craned my neck again in the direction of the band. “Yes, Elle’s just stepped away ....”

“Your friend from earlier?”

“Yes.” Elle was nowhere in sight. I surrendered to the inevitable. “If you aren’t a full-time artist, what do you do for a living?”

He made a wry face. “Modeling. It pays well enough, but I don’t like it.” He observed the people around us as he toyed with his pencil. “I wish I’d thought to come on a cruise before.”

I pointed at his sketchbook. “May I see?”

After a slight hesitation, Jori handed it to me. I flipped open the cover and was immediately captivated. Some would consider his sketches unfinished. They weren’t quite complete pictures but rather parts of pictures—a child’s face, a young woman’s profile, an old man’s hand. Jori used relatively few strokes, yet he still managed to capture the essence of his subjects.

“These are beautiful.” I looked up from the last page. “Have you sold any of your pieces yet?”

“I haven’t tried.” He shrugged. “I guess I don’t believe anyone would want them.”

I was perplexed by his insecurity. “I’m no authority on art, but I know what I like. Your pictures touch me.”

“Thank you.” The tightness around his eyes relaxed. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s said about my work.”

I suddenly understood. “Your family doesn’t get it, do they, your love of art?”

The sound of the pencil as he tapped it on his knee turned to sharp smacks. “No. Especially my father. He thinks I’m wasting my time.”

I hated it when parents tried to crush their children’s dreams. I had only been teaching for three years, but I had already seen too much of it. “You’re good, Jori.” I reached over and touched his agitated hand. “I hope you don’t give up on this.”

“Give up on what?” Elle asked as she walked up behind Jori, followed by her growing entourage. Her eyes widened when he turned to look at her. “Who’s this?”

He stood and took her hand. “You must be Elle.”

Unlike me, Elle didn’t flush very often, but she turned pink as he did his little bow over her hand. For a fleeting moment, I considered playing the matchmaker with them, but I quickly dismissed the thought. That just might give her further ideas regarding me.

“Elle ... and everyone.” I waved the rest of Elle’s group over. “This is Jori. He’s an artist—come and check out some of his drawings.” Before he could stop me, I handed Elle the sketchbook.

I checked my watch and whispered to Elle, “I’ve got to go.” She nodded, occupied by Jori’s sketches.

The Explorer’s Lounge was a small area on the upper deck. Several people had gathered there, and the musicians— consisting of a pianist, a violinist, and a cellist—had already begun playing. The ambiance created by the low lighting, the gilded murals of old sailing ships, and a map of the world made me think of a drawing room. I found a small loveseat to sit in and closed my eyes, savoring the combination of the ship’s sway and the lovely music.

At the end of the third piece, a man whispered, “Excuse me, Lyn. Do you mind if I share your couch?”

Recognizing Braedon’s voice, I opened my eyes. His sister and her family had found places on a sofa to the side, but no other empty seats remained.

“Sure.” I slid over, and he sat down next to me. I closed my eyes again as the next number began, trying to ignore how nice his cologne smelled. What was it today with men’s cologne, anyway?

When the number finished, Kate turned to her mother. “Mommy, I want to sit with her.”

Aislinn looked at me questioningly, and I nodded. Kate headed to me and turned her back so I could lift her onto my lap.

She smelled like baby shampoo, and as she snuggled against me, I had a fleeting thought that I might have been expecting a child of my own by now. Jace and I had talked about not wanting to wait to start our family. I shut down the painful thought, blinking against the sudden burning in my eyes.

After several more numbers, I checked my watch. “Kate, I have to leave to go meet my friends.” She gave me a hug, slid from my lap, and returned to her mother.

As I rose, the ship suddenly swayed and, to my horror, I toppled onto Braedon’s lap.

“Decide to stay for the rest of the music?” he said, trying not to laugh.

My faced burned. “Excuse me.” I tried to figure out where to put my hands to lift myself again. I finally got to my feet, supporting my weight on the arm of the couch. I attempted to straighten, but another shift of the floor sent me askew again, and I landed back in Braedon’s lap.

By then Braedon was laughing outright, and everyone stared at us. This was ridiculous. Braedon raised his hands but didn’t seem to know how to help. The best thing he could have done was give my bum a push, but he had the good sense
not
to do that.

Luckily, D’Arcy came to help and pulled me to my feet.