She thought some exploration was in order. The way the ship moved was soothing and yet exhilarating. The coast of the mainland slipped into the distance until it was just them and hopeful seabirds following in their wake. Her favorite part quickly became the forward deck, in front of the windbreaks. She imagined a lot of people tried to reenact that Titanic scene. It wasn’t on her list of things to do. But the ship’s forward motion through the cool sea air was exhilarating. The buffeting of the wind was almost as good as a sailboat. Her hair was a tangled mess, but she didn’t care. Her head was clear.

As the deck departure party started to wind down she decided it was time to wake Tam. Tomorrow would likely be a stressful and potentially unhappy day, if Tam’s banking contact decided to resist Tam’s request, or was more deeply involved than they knew. Tam would need a good night’s sleep and much more of a 204


nap might have her sleepless later.

As for herself, she wasn’t sure how she was going to sleep with Tam’s body only inches from hers. But she’d slept well the night before and right now, lungs filled with nothing but ocean air, she felt composed and steady.

She wasn’t expecting Tam to be gone, though. The towel was still there. Kip turned toward the elevators, thinking perhaps Tam had gone to the cabin, when a hand slipped around her waist.

“How’s the missus?”

Kip grinned and leaned into Tam’s grasp. “Surprised you woke up. You were really out.”

“I was looking for you.” Tam offered her one of two plastic cups filled with ice and something that was amber in the sunlight.

“Plain iced tea?”

“Thank you.” She was thirstier than she had realized. “Did you have a nice sleep?”

“Yes—and thank you for the cover. I’d have cooked. You look like you’ve been forward.”

Kip put a hand to her wrecked hair. “It’s really wonderful up there.”

Tam held out her hand and Kip took it. They explored the forward area again, breathing in the air together, then circled down the ship on the exterior decks, one at a time, peeking into bars, the casino, the gym, even the library. They scanned dinner menu choices and decided on Italian, giving themselves an hour before the reservation to clean up.

It was so awkward navigating showers and modesty in the small cabin that Kip knew she was blushing, and brightly enough that her skin didn’t hide it. She hoped Tam thought it was the hot shower. At one point, to let Tam pull her suitcase out of the closet, Kip climbed up onto the bed, still only wrapped in a towel.

“These cabins are cute, and I really like the shelves and how they keep things from sliding off, but the floor space is a little limited.”

Tam, kneeling next to her suitcase, looked up at Kip. “I can’t say I mind the interior view at all.”

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Well, that wasn’t helping. “You’re dressed already. I’m at a disadvantage.”

“How about I step out for a few minutes and you finish up?”

Relieved, Kip agreed. Tam, in new tailored black slacks and white blouse, looked poised and elegant and confident and...

everything that Kip wasn’t. The moment the door was closed Kip abandoned the towel, scrambled into her undies and attacked her hair with brush and blow-dryer. She had brought clothes from her stash at the cabin—nice enough but not very elegant. She could have bought something this morning, but when they were possibly only going to be on the ship for one evening, a little black dress hadn’t seemed necessary.

At least she had brought along a wrap blouse in a vibrant purple that she’d left at the cabin one weekend. Her jeans would have to do, but they had only been worn a few times and the indigo dye was flattering. She wished she had slinky, strappy slides or her tallest pair of heels, though. Even as she brushed some color onto her cheeks she told herself that she wasn’t going on a date, but that message got lost in the one from the mirror. It said she was dowdy. Uninteresting. And short.

Tam knocked, then opened the cabin door. “Ready?”

“Yes.” She abandoned all the paraphernalia that wasn’t helping her ego in the least and busied herself finding her cabin key card. When she turned to look at Tam, she was warmed by the admiration in Tam’s eyes. Maybe, all in all, she didn’t look too bad.

“That blouse is a crime,” Tam said. She pulled the cabin door all the way open and stepped aside to let Kip out first.

Kip was feeling better by the minute. Over her shoulder she asked, “In what way?”

From behind her Tam said, “The front way and the back way.”

Kip laughed.

“Sorry, that sounded stupid, didn’t it?”

“No.” She slowed so they could walk side by side in the wider main corridor. “Thank you. You look so elegant I was worried I was frumpish next to you.”

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“I think it would take you a while to achieve frumpish.”

“Okay, that’s one of the more unusual compliments I’ve ever received, but I thank you.”

Tam again reached for her hand as they walked. Kip told herself it was just to maintain their cover as a couple, but when she looked around she saw a thousand people who simply didn’t care about them in the least. She tightened her grip and received an answering squeeze from Tam.

The restaurant was quiet and largely occupied by couples.

Tucked along the starboard side of an upper deck, they had a spectacular view of the darkening sky and endless expanse of rolling ocean. As they discussed the menu it wasn’t appropriate to compare Tam to Meena, but what else was new? She couldn’t help it. Some of the differences were subtle. Tam was attentive, but Meena had seemed smothering. Tam showed concern that Kip enjoy her food, even when she was picking red onions out of the salad. Meena would have kept asking. Something about Meena had made her feel like a child being coaxed to let mummy make it better. Tam treated her like a competent woman. After asking if the salad would be okay, and Kip’s assurance that it would be, Tam didn’t ask again. But when they ordered their main course, Tam asked the waiter if Kip’s dish contained red onions. It didn’t and all was well. It was so foolish, her heart, as was the part of her that felt seen and treasured. Foolish and wonderful heart that simply didn’t hear the part of her that knew these feelings couldn’t possibly be allowed to thrive.

Dessert—a trio of cheeses with a trio of chocolates and fresh berries—had arrived when Tam put a small jeweler’s box with the ship’s logo on the table. Kip’s heart flipped over. No way. Stupid assumption. It wasn’t...

“What’s this?” Her voice sounded perfectly natural, she thought.

“A very belated birthday present. I really messed with yours.”

Fortunately, she had the presence of mind not to blurt out “I had the best damned kiss of my life on my birthday.” Instead she opened the box.

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Twinkling silver earrings set with rainbow stones gleamed at her. “Oh... They’re lovely, thank you.” She hurriedly took the simple gold studs she wore every day out of her ears and replaced them with the new pair.

“How do they look?”

“Lovely. I knew you would object to something... Let’s just say they had a genuine stone version and that’s not what you’re wearing.”

Kip laughed, knew she was blushing and didn’t care. “They’re perfect. Thank you.”

“My pleasure.”

They agreed to walk off dinner with a stroll around the deck.

The foredeck seemed the best place to go, and was well worth the stairs. Above them the sky was a dark bowl studded with stars.

As they stood in the protection of the windbreaks, the air was still and refreshingly cool.

Kip found herself at a loss for words. She wanted to say so many things, none of which she could, and they crowded out every other thought in her head.

She didn’t object when Tam pulled her close. She nestled her ear to Tam’s chest. So comfortable and warm, so familiar, like home.

Tam said softly, “I was thinking that if I kissed you now I wouldn’t be tempted later.”

Kip had to look up at her. “Seriously?”

Her face was in shadow, but she could see lights reflected in Tam’s eyes. “No, I’m lying through my teeth. I’ll want to kiss you later.”

“Please now,” Kip whispered.

Their lips met with the quiet sizzle of starlight, both of them almost still. Then Kip put her hands in Tam’s hair, felt Tam grasping her hips possessively, and the kiss deepened into exploration, not gentle, but not harsh. Intentional, careful and focused. With a shared gasp, there were more caresses in a leaping fever, opening layers of aching in Kip for something she had never known before.

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When they parted Kip again put her ear to Tam’s chest, as much for steadiness as for the pleasure of the pounding she heard. She was frightened by how much she wanted to give Tam, and Tam’s racing heart told her that she had some power over Tam as well.

“I think,” Tam said in a low voice, “that it would be best if we said good night now and you went to bed. I’ll wait and join you in a bit.”

Kip nodded and caught herself before she rubbed her cheek against Tam’s breast. All she would have to do was turn her head slightly.

Instead she stepped back. “Good night, Tam.”

“Good night...Pippa.”

It did make Kip laugh and she retreated to the cabin, more than a little dizzy and parts of her sodden beyond any experience in her life.

She brushed her teeth, changed into a T-shirt and put her beautiful new earrings on the bedside table. She tried to only take a third of the bed, but her body felt swollen and awkward.