Jacquelin Thomas - You and I

“You look great, Cherise, so stop worrying,” Elle said, leaning against the rail. “C’mon, everyone is waiting for us at the pool.”

“Where is the baby?”

“With Daisi,” Elle responded, referring to her sister-in-law. “She can’t swim, so she said she’d watch Briana. Kaitlin’s going to take Chandler to her as well.”

As they stepped outside, Cherise beheld her surroundings. It was so amazing the way the sun seemed to wash the ocean in brilliant waves of color.

“Cherise, we haven’t been out here more than five minutes and you’re already getting stares from all of the men out here.”

Laughing, she shook her head. “You’re crazy, Elle. You know you’re the one they’re looking at.”

“I think it’s you.” She stopped walking. “Oh my goodness, I don’t believe it.”

Shading her eyes, Cherise followed Elle’s gaze. Standing nearby was a tall, slender man with a clean-shaven head and dark skin that seemed to glisten in the July sun. Even on his slim frame, muscles bulged everywhere. His swim trunks hung low on his hips. The effect was so devastating—so sexual. It didn’t seem fair. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on Steven’s body, and muscles rippled in all the right places. Her skin began to tingle.

“You know him?”

“Yeah. He did some architecture work for Brennen,” Elle responded. “I’ve only been around Steven a couple of times, but he seems really nice.”

“Elle, he’s the guy I was just telling you about,” Cherise told her. “The one I met in the hallway. His suite is across from mine.”

“He’s the sexy guy you were talking about? It’s a small world.” Grinning from ear to ear, Elle waved. “I guess he is nice-looking. I never really noticed before.”

Steven waved back.

Cherise ran her fingers through her hair. The thought of seeing Steven again made her nervous. “Well, you’re married to Brennen Cunningham—it’s probably hard to see beyond that man. He’s not exactly hard on the eyes.”

Elle cut her eyes at Cherise. “Have you been eyeing my man?”

“Only when you weren’t looking,” Cherise responded with a chuckle.

“Hello, ladies.” Steven’s deep, sexy voice greeted them as they walked up to him.

Elle reached up and hugged him. “I can’t believe you’re here. Talk about a small world. I was just telling my cousin that you and Brennen have worked together in the past.”

Never taking his eyes off of Cherise, he murmured, “It is a small world. Is Brennen here with you?”

“He should be down here shortly,” Elle responded. “Steven, would you like to join us? We’re going to spend some time around the pool. Oh, I’m sorry. You might be with someone.”

Cherise held her breath awaiting his response. She hadn’t seen him with anyone, but that didn’t mean he was vacationing alone.

Steven dropped down to sit beside Elle. “I’m here by my lonesome, I’m afraid.”

Elle nodded. “Well, how have you been?”

“Busy working.” He turned to face Cherise. “What about you, Cherise? Are you traveling with someone?”

Cherise shook her head. “Nope. Outside of my family here on the ship, I’m solo.”

He had the prettiest brown eyes she’d ever seen. They were a mixture of various shades of earth-born colors that had been warmed by the sun. Those gorgeous eyes were now gazing at her left hand.

“You’re not married, then?”

Cherise smiled. “No, I don’t have a husband.” She hoped he couldn’t hear the regret in her voice.

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Raising an eyebrow, Cherise asked, “Really?”

Elle removed her sarong. “Well, on that note, I think I’ll go for a swim. You two just stay here and chat.” She winked at Cherise. “Have fun.”

Wearing a swimsuit that featured bold lime-green flowers against a black background, Elle sashayed to the water’s edge.

“I’m afraid my cousin’s not very subtle,” Cherise said.

“Neither am I.” Steven’s dark brown eyes met hers. “The truth is that I was hoping to run into you again.”

“Really? Why is that?”

Steven inclined his head. “Cherise, I find you very beautiful and I’m intrigued. I want to know more about you.”

Cherise scanned his face to discern if he was running game, but he seemed sincere. She relaxed a bit.

Steven found a couple of empty lounge chairs for them to sit down and continue their conversation.

Members of Cherise’s family began drifting down to the pool area.

Brennen came and sat down beside Steven. While the two men talked, Cherise was joined by Ivy, who sat down on her other side. “You work fast,” Ivy whispered.

“Who’s the hunk?” Jillian asked, dropping down beside Ivy. They all spoke in hushed tones.

Ivy glanced at her sister. “Are you serious? He ain’t all that.”

“I guess you need glasses then,” Jillian retorted. “That man over there is fine.”

Laughing, Cherise agreed.

Jillian’s husband walked up and grabbed her by the hand. “Let’s test out the water.”

They left.

“You have a huge family,” Steven said, when Ivy disappeared with her daughters in tow.

“You have no idea. The others haven’t come down yet,” Cherise responded with a chuckle. “It’s a bunch of us.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “It’s a family reunion?”

She nodded. “In a way. It’s just mostly the siblings and cousins that go on the cruise. We leave the elders at home, but then they go on their own cruise as well. This year, they are sailing to Mexico in October.”

“That’s pretty cool,” he said.

“Elle has five—no—six brothers and four sisters. I have three brothers and one sister. She and Julian, my brother that’s here on the ship, are twins. He’s the only one who came this time.”

“Wow,” Steven murmured. “I always wanted siblings. I’m an only child.”

Cherise smiled. “There were times when I wanted to be the only child in the family.”

He laughed. “Well, it looks like you all are pretty close.”

“We are,” Cherise confirmed.

“Steven, why don’t you join us?” Brennen asked, when he climbed out of the pool. “We have dinner reservations at Torino’s.”

“I’d love to,” he answered.

Cherise rose to her feet. “I think I’m going to check out this pool. How about you?”

Steven shaded his eyes with his hand. “Is that an invitation?”

“Sure,” she responded.

Elle and Jillian watched in amusement as Cherise strolled toward them with Steven. They paused at the pool and Cherise stepped in, wading toward the middle.

He did a surface dive and sank into the water near her.

Cherise felt the water shift as he dove in. She pushed wet hair out of her eyes and moved away as he playfully splashed water in her direction.

“Two can play at this game, mister.” She burst into laughter.

After frolicking in the water with Cherise as if they were children, Steven climbed out to get something for them to drink.

“Looks like the two of you are getting along well,” Elle whispered in Cherise’s ear.

“We are,” she whispered back.

Elle pulled herself out of the water. “I’m going up to check on Briana and take a nap. I’ll see you all at dinner.”

“Your cousin’s leaving?” Steven asked.

She nodded. “She wants to go check on her baby.”

Cherise splashed water on Steven and swam away.

“Oh, you want to play games, huh?” Steven raced behind her. “Wait until I catch up with you…”

He left the threat floating on the wind.

Steven smiled to himself as he watched Cherise frolicking in the pool with her cousins. He still couldn’t get over how many Ransoms were on the ship. He liked that they were all so close.