Free CRUISE TO ROMANCE by Toby Poznanski Page B

when she leaned over.  Why hadn’t he taken advantage of what
she offered instead of avoiding her like he did last night?
    Instead of joining Mike, Sheila,
and Jennifer at dinner and then the discotheque, he’d made himself scarce,
telling himself he was doing the right thing.  The problem was, to Ryan’s way
of thinking, Jennifer was somewhat inexperienced.  She had to be.  Her total
lack of sophistication came through whenever he was with her.  Before this
attraction between them got out of hand, Jennifer needed to know that he wasn’t
looking for forever.  If he could get her to understand, they could have a
great time together.  He continued to watch her as she bent over and touched
her toe, then straightened, then bent over to touch the other toe.  Watching
her graceful movements and those long bare legs certainly got his motor
running.
    Ryan nodded to two of his
salesmen as they entered the gym to get ready for the class on the exercise
equipment.  He might just have to bow out if he couldn’t slow his racing
libido.  A smile teased at his lips when Jennifer sat down.  The ladies were
going to try sit-ups.  This should be good.  Seeing her lying on the floor in
casual disarray, made him want to go over and make love to her.  She would
enjoy his lovemaking.  He wouldn’t be like some of the younger men that had
noticed her—they would overwhelm her and leave her unsatisfied.  He, on the
other hand, was a capable and exciting lover.  If all she wanted was a
shipboard romance, he would be happy to oblige.  Maybe he should just go over
and say hello . . .
    Jennifer hadn’t said much, but she
knew Ryan and Mike were watching their class warm-ups.
    “You do look good in my short
shorts,” Sheila teased, “and my cropped top is just perfect for exercising.”
    Jennifer smiled, her mind on the
sit-up she was trying to execute.  “Thanks for the loan, but I think I’ll have
to find something else.  A pair of shorts that I can button would be great!” 
She uncurled and straightened her back.  If she could just keep her feet flat
on the floor, she would be happy.  “It’s bad enough that part of my butt is showing,
but when I raise my arms above my head, I come dangerously close to exposing my
breasts.  Those guys over there don’t miss a thing.”
    Sheila laughed.  “You look fine. 
Let them look.  It makes them want you more.”
    “Oh, Yeah?  That’s fine for you
to say, Sheila.”  Jennifer caressed the small round curve of her tummy.  “I’m
tired of men just looking.  I want some real action.  Maybe I should have a
talk with Mike.  I’m beginning to doubt Ryan knows how to please a woman.”
    “Uh, oh.  You shouldn’t have said
that, Jenn,” Sheila warned.
    “What?”  Jennifer looked at her
in surprise.  Oh, no.  Had Ryan overheard them?  Jennifer looked off to the
exercise machines.  No Ryan.  Then she looked over to the side.  There he was,
standing not more than four to five feet away, looking blind-sighted.  He’d
heard enough to get the wrong idea.  She could feel the blush cover her body as
her eyes met his startled gaze.
    Sheila was laughing so hard she
couldn’t stop, but all Jennifer could feel was dismay.  It wasn’t until the
words of the woman behind her penetrated that she was able to tear her gaze
away from Ryan.
    “What a hunk!” the woman
laughed.  “No wonder Jennifer was trying to keep him under wraps.”
    Jennifer rolled her eyes upward. 
She’d blown it this time.  Ryan probably thought that she wanted Mike.  He
would never want to speak to her again.  Jennifer felt Sheila’s hand on her
shoulder, but she couldn’t bring herself to look at her—she was too busy taking
deep breaths.  Jennifer could tell Sheila was still laughing when she told her
in a broken whisper that Ryan had just left the gym through the spa.  “Go after
him Jenn, before this whole thing gets out of hand.”
    Jennifer moaned.  “It