Winter's Embrace (3 page)

Chapter Two

The next day the Seattle sky was dark and gloomy as
they boarded the ship. The group took much longer to settle in than
Winter
anticipated, but all she could think about was the
kiss that hadn’t happened, and every time she peered at Stone, her lips burned
with expectation.

The ship hadn’t left the dock, and Oliver Stout
already suffered from seasickness. His wife, Emma, was beside herself with
worry. It took three and a half hours but she finally got them settled.
Hopefully the pills the doctor had in a large bin in front of the infirmary
would help.

It wasn’t even noon, and she felt washed out from
helping with the luggage and answering endless questions. When she opened the
door to her room, she smiled. It was luxurious and bigger than the last time
she sailed. That room had been so tiny she’d stubbed her toes repeatedly on the
bed frame every day.

The balcony beckoned to her, but it would have to wait
until later. Right now, she needed to revive her body and her brain. She liked
being a hands-on, accessible tour guide, but right this moment she needed a
pick-me-up.

After a quick shower, she slipped on one of the robes
hanging in the closet, tightened the belt and padded outside. The ocean’s vastness
never failed to awe her. Closing her eyes, she took a deep, cleansing breath.
It was going to be a good cruise, Stone or no Stone. He’d been out of her life
for ten years now. She didn’t need him.

The balcony door opened, startling her. “What are you
doing here?”

Stone gave her one of his sexy grins. “We have
adjoining balconies.”

“Only if the person next to you
approves.”

He slowly surveyed her up and down. He took a step
closer and handed her a glass of champagne. “Are you objecting?”

The butterflies dancing in her stomach refused to
stop. He made her wary. She hadn’t had these feelings for so very long, and she
wasn’t sure that she liked it. “No drinking on the job.”

“Just one little toast.”
Stone opened his mouth, but he stopped.

The other side of the balcony opened. “I would like to
get in on that if you don’t mind.” Beck raised his eyebrows at Stone and then
grinned at
Winter
.

“Listen guys. These balconies are meant to be private
unless both parties agree.”

Beck nodded. “I see. I’m the third wheel.”

“No! There are no wheels.” She could lose her job if
she was seen fraternizing with one of the clients. “We will toast and enjoy our
last view of Seattle for seven days. Then we will all close our balcony doors.”

The way the two men eyed each other surprised her. She
took a small sip of champagne after Stone gave Beck a glass. “Excuse me, sounds
like someone’s knocking on my door.”

Winter was thankful for the diversion until she opened
the door and found Mimi standing there.

“Oh great, champagne.
I’d
love some!” Mimi brushed past her and headed for the balcony. “Well, well, what
do we have here?”

Winter glowered at Stone. Somehow this was his fault.
“Come join us, Mimi, the more the merrier. After our toast, we are all closing
the adjoining balcony doors.”

Stone cocked his eyebrow and gave her a mocking smile.
“You’re serious?”

Beck poured Mimi a glass of champagne and handed it to
her. He smiled at her, but she only had eyes for Stone.

“Bon Voyage!” Winter toasted quickly, hoping to get
the other three off her balcony. She’d led tour groups where men tried to cozy
up to her and always handled it, before Stone. She needed her job. She liked
her job, and she was not going to let an old boyfriend who dropped her ruin it.

Mimi sidled up next to Stone, smiling at him; her
perfect, blonde hair blew in the wind like something out of Hollywood. “I wish
my balcony attached to yours, Stone.”

Winter looked at each of them and put down her glass.
“As great as this little impromptu get together is, I can’t exclude the others.
The rooms are so small it would feel like a marching band was squished in
here.”

“I remember the marching band.” Stone’s eyes glinted
at her.

Mimi’s eyes narrowed. “You two already know each
other?”

“Hardly at all.
We
were in the high school marching band our senior year. No big deal. I haven’t
even thought of it in years. It’s always nice to meet new friends and see old
ones, too.” Winter put her arm around Mimi’s slender shoulders. “I will make
sure these men stay on their own balconies. We meet for lunch in an hour,
remember? We can go over activities and such.”

Mimi had such a mulish expression on her face that
Winter
had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from
smiling. She hustled Mimi out the door and closed it behind her.
Now to get rid of the men.

“Listen guys.”

“It’s all right. We understand.” Beck topped off her
glass with the last of the champagne. “I wouldn’t want you to lose your job.
Our balconies will all be private.
Right, Stone?”

Stone stood at the railing watching the sea. Finally,
he turned around, went to his own balcony, and closed the adjoining door.

Beck followed suit, and
Winter
breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t really the men that worried her, it was
Mimi. Winter had led enough groups to know the type. If she didn’t get what she
wanted, she would be a thorn in everyone’s side and Mimi wanted Stone.

She laid her clothes out on the bed and was ready to
disrobe when she heard a “
psst
.” Tightening the belt
on her robe again, she stomped out to the balcony.

Stone was trying to peek around the door and railing
to see her. “No big deal? We met while we were in the marching band. We fell in
love playing music. It was a big deal!”

Before she could respond, he was gone. Winter huffed,
pulled the curtains closed, and got dressed. She remembered Stone playing the
tuba while she played the clarinet. She also remembered tumbling head over
heels in love with him. She didn’t want to remember. Falling in love had been
so exciting and so sweet.

Why didn’t she measure up? He dropped her for another
girl. Why wasn’t she enough? Winter longed for a husband and children, but she
never got past a second date. Eventually, they’d find her lacking, so she
always broke it off first before they could do what Stone did.

Some nights she felt so lonely and lost. Maybe she was
meant to be alone. The thought made her heart ache with longings of what would
never be. Even on tours she felt alone. She was the group leader, not a friend,
never a friend.

* * * *

The second day of the cruise,
Winter
stood at the cabin door trying to
will
herself to
open it. She had her job to do, but her heart hurt. The lump that formed in her
throat yesterday by the pool hadn’t disappeared. If anything, it felt bigger.

Yesterday had been a normal day at sea. She’d gone
over the list of activities with her group. Half wanted to play TV Trivia in
the vintage lounge, and the other half wanted to hang out by the pool. She
wanted to play trivia, but the Stouts claimed that they needed her help at the
pool.

It took all of her courage to put on her suit. She
wore a turquoise one piece with a white mesh cover. When she got to the pool,
she gulped. She’d known Stone as a young man, a boy really. Now he had the body
of a man.
A beautifully toned man with large biceps and
six-pack abs.
He turned her blood hot.

After the Stouts settled into poolside chairs, Stone
took her hand and jumped into the pool with her. They laughed and played, and
she thought she saw something akin to love in his eyes. The love light dimmed
as soon as Mimi joined them. Beautiful Mimi filled out a bathing suit like no
other.

The whole afternoon was spent watching Mimi sit next
to Stone, drinking and laughing. It had happened again. She’d lost him to
another woman, regardless of what he’d said on the plane.

Today would be different, she hoped. Pulling open the
door, she decided to brazen it out and act happy. Yesterday wasn’t good, but
now she knew the score. Just like ten years ago, his touch and his gaze were
lies.

As she walked down the long hall to the elevator, she
gave herself a pep talk. Turning the corner, she came face to face with Stone.
Everything within her wanted to turn and run, but she was a grown woman, she
had to stand strong.

“Good morning,
Winter
.”

Winter nodded and glanced away from his piercing gray
eyes. “Good morning.
Looks like it’s going to be a gorgeous
day.”

He took a step toward her. Glancing up, she panicked.
“Don’t.”

Stone sighed, and stepped away, but she could feel his
gaze on her.

“The elevator is here.” He gestured for her to go
first.

It was empty, and
Winter
braced herself. She never could hide her feelings very well and she didn’t want
Stone to know he hurt her again. “Did you get a chance to look over the
activities for today?” She was trying for calm, but her voice sounded a bit shrill.

“I’ll probably do whatever you do.”

“Stone, don’t, I have a job to do and you’ve become a
distraction. I hope you understand. Besides, you’ve made friends with Mimi and
I can tell that you two enjoy each other.” She silently cursed, she was
rambling on like an idiot.

Stone stared at her and he made her long for things
that couldn’t be.

The elevator bell finally dinged, the door opened, and
they were at the top deck. The group was scheduled to eat breakfast out in the
fresh air. Leaving the elevator, she spotted Beck at a large table.

“Saved you a seat.”
Beck stood and pulled out the chair next to him. “You look fetching this
morning!”

Fetching? It was not a word she usually heard. “Thank
you. Where is everyone?
At the buffet?”
She welcomed
the chilled air after the Texas heat.

“Some went to the buffet already and, now that you’re
here, the only person missing is Mimi. I saw Mrs. Stout in the hall. I guess
Oliver had another bout of seasickness. She’s ordering room service.”

“Oh, thank you. I’ll have to check on them after
breakfast.” Stone stared at them with a scowl on his face.
Too
bad for him.

“Well I’m starved. Shall we gentlemen?”

“I’ll wait for Mimi.” Stone’s voice sounded anything
but pleasant.

Winter smiled at Beck and went with him to the buffet.
Was it only day two? How was she going to grin and bear it while her heart and
body traitorously sang out for Stone?

Summoning up a smile, she grabbed a plate and went
through the line. The first port would be Skagway tomorrow, and they needed to
discuss the details for the excursion. They weren’t obligated to go on the one
she picked, but they all did. Winter tried to pick the easiest one for the
Stouts to navigate.

She smiled at the group as she headed back to the
table. She greeted the Walters, Ben and Joyce, a quiet couple in their
thirties, and the Panes, Lily and Dave, a fun couple who had just retired.
Winter murmured a good morning to Mimi then quickly averted her gaze. Mimi was
holding hands with Stone.

Breakfast had become a trial. Watching Stone and Mimi
chattering and laughing bruised her already tender heart. She needed to buck up
and put it all behind her. She just didn’t know how.

But for her own sanity, she needed to learn quickly.
The rest of the passengers seemed oblivious to her plight. She listened,
talked, and made suggestions for the day’s activities.

The Walters and the Panes both decided on the French
wine and cheese tasting. Then they planned to go to the casino. Winter wished
she could join them. Wine sounded really good about now. Too bad, she wasn’t
supposed to join any activities that involved alcohol or gambling.

The rest of the group was
enthusiastic to go and see the ship’s Variety Show in the blue theater.
Everyone made plans where to meet later.
Everyone except for
Stone and Mimi, who planned to go to the casino.

He obviously enjoyed women, gambling, and drinking,
which wasn’t a problem, except he was still playing her for some reason.

“The activities don’t start for a few hours. How about
we visit the duty-free shops?” she suggested.

“Shopping is my life!” Mimi practically squealed in
delight. She grabbed Stone’s arm and began to bounce in her seat.

Winter bit her lip. Mimi was such a pain in her side.
“Well, let’s get going.”