Page 16 of Cruising for Christmas
The intensity of his gaze had Norah’s face heating. She was convinced she’d have a permanent blush on her face for the duration of the cruise.
“That is true,” she said.
Shay raised an eyebrow. “Okay. Well, we need to meet mom and dad soon. Ryan and I are going to go get ready.”
Norah waved as they walked away. “I guess we should get ready, too.”
They both stood and got out of the hot tub. Ian grabbed towels off a nearby cart and handed one to Norah.
“You can shower first if you’d like. I’ll sit on the balcony and yell if I see anymore dolphins.”
Her eyes widened as excitement spiked through her. “Would you really?”
A small smile touched his lips. “Yes, I would really. But the problem is that if you’re in the shower, you probably wouldn’t hear me or want to come running out.”
She giggled as they made their way back toward their room. “That’s probably true. I guess I’ll live vicariously through you.”
8
Their first stop on the cruise was in Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Norah looked at the excursion list and didn’t see anything that sounded interesting, so she planned to tag along with Shay and Ryan. The three of them walked through the town, stepping into a few shops and purchasing some souvenirs before settling at a beach to sunbathe for a few hours before they needed to be back on the ship.
They found some lounge chairs and laid their towels out on them. Shay and Ryan immediately went down to the water, leaving Norah to herself. She pulled her sundress over her head, so she was only in her swimsuit, and put it in her beach bag before laying down on the chair, reclining fully and closing her eyes. The warm Caribbean sun was exactly what she needed this holiday. Christmas had gone well with Shay’s family. They made her feel welcome, and she enjoyed their company. Norah was thankful her parents had gone to Bali. This was the holiday of dreams… aside from being forced to share a room with Ian.
Not that she was complaining anymore. He was a nice guy and seemed to take their rooming situation in stride. Plus, he was hot as sin. She’d have to be crazy not to find him attractive. It was only a shame he wasn’t attracted to her.
What are you thinking, Norah? This is your best friend’s brother. He’s off limits! Not only would it be completely weird, he’s much older, and Shay wouldn’t approve.
A shadow fell over her, and she cracked open her eyes to find the man himself standing beside her lounge chair.
“This seat taken?” he asked.
Surprised, she looked at the empty lounger beside her and shook her head. “It’s all yours.”
From behind her sunglasses, she watched as Ian stripped off his shirt, revealing his toned chest. His chiseled abs and tanned skin had her nearly salivating. She shifted on her lounger as heat shot through her, which had nothing to do with the hot sun.
He laid his towel out and relaxed back on his chair, propping his arms behind his head.
“What do you normally do for Christmas, Norah?”
She swallowed, her dry mouth making it hard to speak. Before responding, she picked up the bottled water in her bag and took a large gulp before relaxing back on her lounger. Why was he suddenly flustering her? It wasn’t like they hadn’t already spent three nights together sharing a room.
“I usually spend it with my parents and siblings, but they all had other plans.”
He turned his head toward her, but the tint on his sunglasses made it impossible for her to see his eyes. “Are you bummed?”
“Not at all. I was actually relieved.”
“Why is that?”
She sighed. “They’re pretty critical of me. Don’t get me wrong. They love me, and I know it comes from a good place, but sometimes they come across overly-harsh.”
“Regarding?”
Damn, he is nosy.Norah stared at his dark shades, wishing she could see his eyes. Was he genuinely curious, or was he just making conversation? She didn’t know.
“My relationships. My job. My life choices.” She chuckled. “Take your pick.”
“Are you in a relationship?”
