Free Caribbean Cruising by Rachel Hawthorne

where Cameron had ordered another round of drinks. My daiquiri definitely wasn't a virgin. Although I had a feeling that I was going to remain one for a while longer.
    Not that there was anything really wrong with Cameron or Michael. They were fun guys, but I just couldn't see myself getting up close and personal with either one of them.
    Besides, I rationalized, I didn't want to hurt either of their feelings by choosing one over the other.
    I didn't quite know how to gracefully leave. I was also a little more miffed at Brooke for taking off without even telling me.
    "Did Brooke say anything about me before she left?" I asked.
    "She told us to take good care of you," Michael said. He wiggled his eyebrows.
    "I see. Well, you've certainly done that."
    I took a big sip of my daiquiri, and closed my eyes against another brain freeze. I'd gone from fascinating flirt to dead-girl flirt in a heartbeat.
    I opened my eyes, and saw Ryan standing between Michael and Cameron. He jerked his head to the side, turned, and headed for the dance floor.
    Was that an invitation?
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    "I'll be right back," I promised, without thinking.
    When I caught up with Ryan, I discovered that indeed he'd asked me to dance because he started in close, his gaze holding mine.
    "Where's the girl you were with?" I asked. Immediately I wanted to bite off my tongue. It was not cool to admit that I'd noticed him dancing with someone else.
    "I'm playing the field," he said with a grin. "So which is it going to be for you? Tweedle Dee or Tweedle Dum?"
    I slapped his arm. "They aren't that bad."
    "They don't look that good either."
    "They're from Oklahoma."
    "That explains it then. You know the reason Texas doesn't fall into the Gulf of Mexico is because Oklahoma sucks."
    "You only say that because you go to the University of Texas." Oklahoma and Texas were long-standing rivals. Even I knew that. I was fairly certain that Oklahoma had their own Texas jokes.
    "Where's Brooke?" he asked.
    I felt the heat rush to my face. "She went off with David."
    "David?"
    "One of the guys we met."
    "I see."
    I heard the music beginning to wind down, and panic set in.
    "Listen, I really don't want to go back to the table and be alone with those guys. Could you walk me out, maybe make it look like we're…you know…hooking up?"
    He grimaced as though he really regretted what he had to say. "If I did that, you might feel like I was looking after you, and I know you don't want that."
    I was desperate to get out of there. "I could make an exception this once."
    "Well, as a favor to Walter…" He slung his arm around my shoulder, and we walked out of the club like we were an item. As soon as we were in the wide corridor, I stepped away from him.
    "Thanks."
    "Anytime."
    "What are you going to do now?"
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    "Go back in and party some more. I'd invite you to join me, but I know it would cramp your style."
    I stared at him a minute, and then I released a deep sigh. "You overheard me talking to Julie last night."
    "After I got something to eat, I was going back to join you when I heard you tell her that you didn't want me hanging around."
    "So why did you dance with me afterward?"
    "Walter expected it."
    Ouch! So everything he'd done was because Walter expected it. "Listen, don't take what I said personally. I just had plans for this trip…" I shrugged. "I have things that I want to accomplish—"
    "Sleeping with a guy."
    I closed my eyes. He really knew more than I wanted him to know. I wish I'd never taken a sip of champagne. I opened my eyes. "I want this trip to be memorable, to do things that I've never done before. And yes, making love to a guy is on the list of things that I want to accomplish while I'm on this cruise."
    "Parasailing?"
    I looked at him.