Chapter 3
“You can run,but you can’t hide,” Jordan shouts after me as he follows me through the corridor leading to our cabin.
“Excuse me? What makes you think I’m running from you?”
True, I didn’t jump. Not that stupid, but I had to twirl around, toss my life vest, and weave my way through the crowd to hide the blush I’m sure was glowing on my face.
I stomp toward my door and wedge myself through it. Eff my life.
What did I do to deserve being stuck with Jordan for the next twelve days and nights?
Jordan’s still wearing his ridiculous life vest which gets stuck when I try to shut the door on him.
He gets himself in, and I head for the bathroom. Everything’s smaller on board a ship, and there’s barely room to turn around in the bathroom, or as they call it, the head.
He shrugs off his life vest and drops it on the floor. “If you’re not running, then let’s mosey over to the bar and celebrate.”
He grins as if we’re good friends and had agreed to spend the trip together.
“Celebrate what? Sorry, I’m in a grouchy mood. Jilted bride. Cancelled wedding. Dumped by my bestie. Did Jade fill you in on my life history?”
He crosses his arms and nods, trying to look serious, but a small quirk lifts the left side of his lips.
Bet he hangs left.
My eyes involuntarily shift downward and to the left, or to my right, his left.
“Hey, I know you’re not having a good day,” he says. “That’s why Jade sent me to cheer you up. Christmas is a bad time to be alone.”
Which is why I agreed to come on the cruise. Except I was supposed to be with my bestie among a sea of strangers.
“What’s in it for you?” I’m already weirded out by finding a strange man in my cabin.
“Free Christmas cruise,” he says.
“Don’t you have family? A girlfriend? Somewhere to be?”
“No one’s talking to me other than Jade,” he says. “I voted the wrong way in the last election.”
“Oh….” My jaw drops. “That’s horrible. Not that I want to know which way is wrong for your family.”
“I don’t mind telling you,” he says. “I’m a straight shooter and unfiltered.”
Gah. Now I’m picturing him shooting without protection.
Why is my mind so freaking dirty?
I change the subject.
“If Jade cared about cheering me up, she’d be here. We planned to shop and spa the entire cruise together.”
“Something popped up last minute,” Jordan says, and I picture eight inches popping up.
This is what I get for narrating some of those raunchy romance novels I get paid for.
“What popped up?” My voice squeaks through narrowed vocal cords.
“Aiden Lin, that Navy SEAL she’s in love with. She needed a last-minute replacement, and here I am!” He spreads his hands like he’s a ringmaster doing a “ta da!” gesture.
