Page 6 of Deadly Waves

“I love you, Grady.” Sophie’s brown eyes sparkled. “I can’t wait to get naked and order room service with you.”

Grady grabbed her arm and tugged her forward so he could plant a smoldering kiss on her lips. “I don’t suppose you want to practice now, do you?”

Sophie grinned. “What did you have in mind?”

“I’m glad you asked, sugar,” he said. “I think we’re going to run into choppy waters for a bit. Don’t worry, though, I’ll be on top of you when it happens. I’ll protect you with my manhood.”

Sophie giggled. “Be still my heart.”

“WHAT DO you think?”

Jake Harrison stared at Ally’s suitcases with a dubious look. “I think there’s no way I’m carrying those, angel,” he replied after a beat. “I told you that you could take one suitcase.”

“I know.”

“That’s three suitcases.”

“Not really,” Ally said, shaking her dark head. “That’s one suitcase, one garment bag, and one carry-on bag for toiletries.”

She had such an innocent look on her face, Jake almost gave in. Then he remembered he would be the one carrying the luggage. “No.” He shook his head. “You can have one suitcase … and we’re both putting our stuff together in one suitcase. This is three bags of your stuff. I haven’t even packed my stuff.”

Ally feigned outrage. “You can’t expect me to put all of my stuff in one suitcase. It’s cruel and inhumane.”

“It’s also practical,” Jake countered. “You can get as worked up as you want, but everything is going in one suitcase.”

Jake rarely put his foot down with Ally, so she was understandably surprised by his vehemence. “We need to make a compromise,” she said, licking her lips. “I promise to make room for you in the suitcase if you let me take the garment bag, too.”

“No.”

“But … .” Ally adopted a whiny tone that Jake almost always capitulated to. “I have dresses and I want to look pretty for you.”

“You look pretty for me no matter what you wear,” Jake said, refusing to fall for the ploy. “One suitcase.”

Ally narrowed her eyes. She was done playing nice. “Do you want me to go on the cruise with you?”

Jake was surprised by the question. “Of course.”

“Then we’re taking the garment bag, too,” Ally said, crossing her arms over her chest to show she meant business. “I’m not ruining my dresses and you’re going to need a suit in case there’s a big dinner. A suit will get wrinkled in the suitcase.”

Jake honestly hadn’t thought about that. “I … .”

“I’ll let you see my new bathing suit before we hit the ship if you agree to the garment bag,” Ally offered. “It’s pink.”

Jake pursed his lips to keep from laughing. He had no idea why he bothered arguing with her. She always got her way. He almost never minded when she did. “Okay,” he said after a few moments of quiet contemplation. “You have to agree to carry the garment bag, though.”

“Done.” Ally extended her hand and Jake shook it, jerking her to him so he could grace her with a smoking kiss. “The suitcase is going to be heavier anyway,” she said. “That’s where I’m packing all of my shoes.”

“I can’t wait.” Jake said the words in a dry manner, but he was being honest. Several days on a cruise ship with his future wife sounded like a heavenly experience. He couldn’t wait. “Aren’t you going to show me the bathing suit? I want to see what I’m in for.”

“I thought you’d never ask.”