Sweet Christmas Kisses (116 page)

To think she’d spent so many years dating
eligible
young men, including Clyde, who didn’t have a tenth of Tony’s ability to make a woman almost swoon in their arms.

Frankly my dear, you need more of these kisses to regain confidence in yourself.
With seven days at sea she should get a fair dose of that
lalala
medicine, at least one kiss a day, and feel energetic enough to resume a normal life when she returned home.

“You seem far away,” Tony said as they were ordered to put on their lifejackets.

She fumbled with hers and chuckled at her crazy thoughts.

“Let me help you.” He slipped the orange ring around her neck, wrapped the straps around her waist and buckled them.

“I’m so happy you came with me.” Could she keep him with her when she returned home?

After the drill, Tony left her to go to his stateroom and Julia returned to her suite to empty her suitcases. Clothes played an important role in her life. As a designer she believed every outfit should have a meaning and a goal. Tonight she wanted to start her cruise with hope in the future. When she was done organizing her clothes in drawers and shelves and on hangers, she chose a printed green silk dress for dinner and matching high-heeled pumps.

She had just finished brushing her hair when a knock on the door surprised her. Nerves tangled in her stomach at the thought of welcoming Tony in her suite after their brazen kiss, yet she skated to the door with a loud, “Come in,” and opened it.

“For you, Ms. Dutton.” A steward held a vase of roses and stargazed lilies and walked in to set the vase on the glass and wood cocktail table. “There’s a card.”

“Thank you.” The man left before she recovered from her surprise. Could someone have discovered her whereabouts? With a bit of apprehension, she took the card and read.

Dear Julia, wishing you a fun trip, one day at a time, Tony
.

He couldn’t have chosen a better way to put her in a happy mood. Eager to go and thank him, she grabbed a wool jacket and a little green purse, and tucked in her card key, cell phone, lipstick, and a couple of tissues.

She opened the door and gasped. He stood in front of her. “I came to get you. Why don’t we go to the top deck and watch the ship sail away? There’s a band playing. It’ll be fun.”

“Cool. I’m ready.”

“And lovely as usual.” His gaze dropped to her shoes and skittered up. “It’s the first time you’re not wearing long boots. You’d better take a wind breaker. It’ll be quite windy once the ship sails.”

Was he always attentive to people’s need? He’d been so attuned to hers. She went to fetch a windbreaker. “Oh Tony, you didn’t give me time to thank you. The flowers are so beautiful. Look.” She waved to the vase. “I’ve never received flowers before.”

“Never? No way. The ex didn’t... Jerk.”

“Can I thank you properly,” she asked with a cheeky smile that made him grin.

“Absolutely. I count on your
proper
thank you.”

Before she’d even reached his lips, he framed her face with his palms and molded his mouth around hers. Her jacket and purse fell from her hands and she entwined her fingers behind his neck. Wrapping his arms around her, he pressed her against his hard frame, tasting and devouring her lips and tongue. She returned kiss for kiss, and stroke for stroke. How had she lived without Tony and his kisses?

Too suddenly, he eased her away from him. “Let’s go. We don’t want to miss the sailing.”

He set her windbreaker on her shoulders, picked up her purse and gave it to her. Tucking her hand in his he pulled her toward the elevator. On the top deck, the sea breeze enveloped them. A band played live music and a female singer in a red rhinestone shirt and silk pants sang in Spanish, English and Italian. Passengers crowded against the rail to watch the ship depart the port while a few couples danced next to the pool.

An arm around her waist, Tony kept her close to him and navigated through the throng until they reached an empty space against the rail. He stood behind her and pointed at places they had visited the day before. “Turn around. I’ll take your picture with Barcelona in the background.” He shot at least three pictures from various angles, checked them and nodded his satisfaction.

“Can I take your picture?”

“Me? What for?”

Stupid question.
To keep it with me and remember this happy day
. “Please.” She leveled her phone and snapped a picture. “Stunning,” she whispered to herself. Irresistible with his navy blue shirt and beige windbreaker, and his hair fluttering over his eyes. “This one is for me.”

They lingered on the deck and watched the sunset, then Julia stopped by her suite to leave her windbreaker and brush her hair. “I’ll do the same in my room,” Tony said.

“Okay, I’ll come with you.” She was curious to see his quarters and felt guilty when he opened the door to a dark room and switched on the light.

“It’s perfect for me but I’ll bet it’s too small for your taste.” She caught the sarcastic look he threw her.

She surveyed the queen-size bed flanked by a night table on each side, the desk topped with a mirror, and the large frame with an ocean painting hanging on the wall above the bed in lieu of a window. It wasn’t luxurious but looked quite comfortable. “I would have been content with this cozy room. It’s Clyde who insisted on a suite. Later, it didn’t occur to me to change since I thought you’d be sharing it too.”

“I’m sorry, Julia. I’m not criticizing you. Give me a minute and I’ll be ready.” He went to the bathroom and reappeared with his hair neatly combed. “The ship Daily Patter mentioned dinner is informal today. I won’t need a suit jacket.” They strolled to the end of the ship and climbed down the wide stairs to the dining room located on the sixth deck.

Tables of various sizes gathered the passengers. Julia remembered she’d asked for a table for two. Privacy for the newlyweds had seemed so important at the time. The maitre d’ welcomed them at the entrance and a waiter dressed in a black tuxedo led them to a small table against the large bay window. He seated her, pushed her chair to the table and unfolded the napkin on her lap. A smile escaped her and she almost rolled her eyes. What fastidious care for the passengers. The waiter handed her an open menu.

Her eyes rounded at the multiple choices of appetizers, salads, soups, pasta and entrées. “Oh Lord, I’m going to put on a lot of weight during this cruise.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll hit the gym first thing in the morning. Now, we better enjoy the high life for a few days. There are so many delicious items on this menu.” He licked his lips like a hungry teenager and she chuckled.

They placed their orders. Tony asked for two glasses of Merlot. The assistant waiter in charge of the drinks returned a few minutes later and poured the wine.

“Cheers.” Tony raised his glass to her.

“Cheers.” Julia took a sip and observed him pensively. “Your mother doesn’t cook your favorite meals?”

 When their appetizers arrived, Tony attacked his chicken pâté with gusto and finished it in a few bites. “My mother was always too busy with her travel agency and her many trips to organize tours. We grew up on grilled steaks and pasta, or ordered pizza, hamburgers, and Chinese food.”

Who did he mean by
we
? To find out more about him, she probed. “Your dad didn’t cook?”

His jaws tightened. “My father left us when I was two. My brother was eight. My mother opened the travel agency to support us. Life wasn’t easy for her while we were growing up.”

“What happened to your father?” she blurted. Too late she bit her lip. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have asked.”

The waiter cleared their plates and brought the salad. Tony continued his trip to the past. “It’s old history now.” Yet his gaze remained hard, unyielding. She’d bet he was still suffering from his father’s desertion. “He was a reporter and traveled a lot. He got his girlfriend pregnant and married her. They moved to California. We didn’t see him for years, and then...”

“Don’t say more. I shouldn’t let you spoil your fun time with sad reminiscences.”

“It’s okay. I want to share it with you. His daughter had leukemia. She was fifteen and needed a spinal fluid transplant. I was eighteen and a good match. Her only hope. Mom refused when Dad contacted her. But he came to see me with the girl. He asked forgiveness and begged me to save his daughter.”

“Did you do it, Tony?” Emotion clogged her throat. She wasn’t hungry anymore.

Without wasting a bite, he nodded. “I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I hadn’t.”

Julia’s eyes filled with tears. She seized his hand and brought it to her cheek. “You’re such a generous soul.”

“Unfortunately, the poor girl never recovered completely and died three years later. Dad hardly survived a year after her death. He left me a huge part of the fortune he’d accumulated over the years.”

The waiter placed their entrées in front of them. Tony added with a derisive smile, “So you see, I’m not a pauper. I can afford a cruise with you.”

Oh dear, she had offended him when she’d offered to pay for his fare, and later his cabin. Seeing him always cheerful and confident, Julia would have never guessed he had a rough childhood and a lot of hard feelings bottled up deep inside him.

“It’s such a sad story. Maybe it’s good that you came along. You, too, need to forget a difficult experience.”

“I forgot long ago.” The pain and resentment in his eyes belied his words.

She shook her head. “Not deep down. I can feel it’s still there.”

His eyes widened. “Are you analyzing me by any chance?”

 “I wouldn’t dare. I am the one who always lacks self-confidence. Seriously, you should have seen a shrink years ago.”

“No kidding.” He arched a sarcastic eyebrow.

“Some are very good. My brother Brian talks highly of his mentor. He hopes to become as good as him one day.”

“Really? It’s good to know.” His lips curled at the side.

“Tony, I appreciate you sharing so much about yourself with me. I feel I know you well now. As much as you know me.”

“I don’t think so.” He rubbed his chin and considered her for a moment. “So far, I’ve told you what I wanted to tell you. The rest will come when the time is right.”

“What rest?” She frowned, unable to follow his reasoning. He could be so enigmatic sometimes, almost intimidating. “Maybe the other job you’ve hinted at several times without revealing what it is?” Was he a spy by any chance? Or a secret agent? She couldn’t imagine him involved in anything unlawful.

 “In due time,” he repeated. “We can’t spill all our secrets at once.” His eyes narrowed, ominous. “I’ll bet you have a few secrets you wouldn’t share with anyone.”

She blushed, thinking of the time she’d been arrested for smoking pot with a group of other teenagers and had to do community service as punishment. Or the other time she’d run away at seventeen with the
love of her life
to get married in Las Vegas. Thank God, Josh had found her, punched the boyfriend, and lectured her on the consequences of throwing away her family and her future for any man.

“Well, too many skeletons in your closet?” Tony probed with an ironic smile.

She shook her head. “Nothing more than a few peccadilloes.”

“And they turn your cheeks bloody red?” Her hands flew to her cheeks and he burst out laughing. “As I said, you’ll tell me about them when you feel the time is right. But let’s forget the past and enjoy the moment. Here’s our waiter with more delicious plates. Shrimp and filet mignon. I’m ready to move to this ship permanently.”

She squinted at her plate. “I’ll never be able to eat a four-course meal every night,” Julia lamented as she tasted her shrimp. “Hmm, it’s delicious.”

Unfortunately, the ice cream with banana flambé dessert was even better. “How are we going to sleep after all this food?”

“Too early to think of sleep. We need to digest. They have a show with the ship dancers in the main theater.”

They followed the crowd to the theatre. Julia enjoyed the performance, the dance, songs and costumes. Tony commented on the setting, lighting, and music.

“What a wonderful evening.”

“It’s not over yet. I read in the Daily Patter there is a good singer performing in the Skywalk lounge. What do you think?”

“Let’s go.” She didn’t want the evening to end.

They strolled to the lounge on the eighteenth deck. The place was crowded with people lazing in comfortable sofas and chairs around the dance floor and drinking while listening to the soft music and romantic songs. Many couples twirled on the dance floor.

Tony opened his palm. “Shall we?”

She put her hand in his and he pulled her into his arms. As the dance progressed he squeezed her tighter against him. “Thank you,” he whispered against her ear when the song ended. “I love dancing with you.” They waited for the next piece and continued their slow swing.

 With her cheek pressed against his chin and her eyes closed, Julia absorbed the music with all her soul and listened to Tony’s heart beat against her own.

 She, too, was ready to move to this ship permanently, with Tony of course.

In a way, three thousand passengers on a huge ship provided excellent privacy. Tony and Julia were lost in the crowd. For their first day at sea, Tony had spent most of the morning at the gym with Julia. Later they had explored the ship, jogged a few laps around the promenade deck, and played trivia in the Explorer lounge. After dinner, they’d watched a variety show and danced in the Skywalk lounge.

On Day Two, the ship had anchored off the coast of Monaco. A tender had taken them to shore and an excursion bus had given them a tour of the principality, the palace, the famous casino and the cathedral where Princess Grace Kelly was buried next to Prince Rainier.

The stop in Naples was on Day Three of their cruise. Julia had chosen an organized tour of Pompeii. Tony had taken more pictures of Julia than he could count. He shot one more of her examining the stone ovens of an ancient bakery in historical Pompeii.

“Come and stand here at the entrance of this house.” She crossed the muddy alley and stood where he indicated. Tony clicked several times on his camera. “Splendid. A unique pose.”