You and I. Jacquelin Thomas

      “Have your family been giving you a hard time about me?” Steven asked her, later that evening. They had decided to have dinner alone at one of the restaurants on the ship.

      Cherise smiled. “Not really.”

      “That’s good. I know that we’ve spent most of this cruise together—I’m not complaining, but this was supposed to be a family trip for you.”

      “Ivy and I are the only ones not coupled off, so meeting you has been great for me.”

      Steven eyed her. “You’re so incredible.”

      Cherise grinned. “I’m just me, Steven.”

      “It’s just a relief for me to meet a woman with no drama. I find your honesty so refreshing.”

      “Sounds like your last relationship was a total trip,” Cherise commented. She’d definitely had her share of bad ones too.

      “It was,” Steven admitted. “I found out that she was married to some man in northern California. We were together for almost a year. I hate secrets.”

      Cherise chewed on her bottom lip. Steven noticed he had not seen her do that until now.

      She had suddenly grown quiet, prompting him to ask her, “You okay?”

      She nodded. “I’m just not as hungry as I thought.”

      Steven studied her. “Are you sure everything is fine?”

      Cherise reached over and covered his hand with her own, sending tremors of desire through his body. “I’m fine. I think my body’s just winding down from all the walking we did earlier. I hope you don’t mind if I renege on our plans to go dancing. I’m just not feeling up to it tonight.”

      “No, not at all,” Steven responded. “I understand completely.”

      She gave him a small smile. “Thank you.”

      They left the restaurant a few minutes later, and Steven escorted her to the suite.

      “Good night,” she said.

      Steven pulled her into his arms, kissing her.

      She responded hungrily. When they parted, she asked him, “Would you like to have breakfast with me?”

      He nodded. “I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do. Sleep well.”

      Steven considered going back to Moonstone’s, a club featuring live entertainment, but decided to call it a night. It wouldn’t be the same without Cherise.

      Cherise paced back and forth in her bedroom.

      Spending time with Steven these past few days had been so perfect. She had strong feelings for him, and for a brief moment she’d allowed herself to consider that they might be able to continue seeing each other once they were back in Los Angeles.

      That all changed when Steven announced how he hated secrets. What would he think about the one she was carrying around?

      She didn’t have a husband hidden away, but it was something she never wanted him to find out about her. For years she’d tried to keep it buried deep, but every now and then something would happen to bring it back to the forefront of her mind.

      “I’ve done everything to make up for what happened all those years ago,” she whispered. “As much as I care for Steven, this is not something I can ever share with him.”

      Cherise sat down on the edge of her bed, chewing on her bottom lip. She picked up a pillow, holding it close to her chest.

      “I’m falling in love with you, but this is one part of my life that I can’t share with you. Not ever.”

      She pretended to be asleep when Ivy and the girls entered the suite. Cherise just wanted time alone to deal with her troubled thoughts. If given the chance, she would’ve done things so differently, but there were no do-over’s in life.

      Steven walked forward, pausing in front of Cherise as they strolled around the ship. “These last few days have flown by. I can’t believe this is the last night of our cruise.”

      Cherise nodded. “Tomorrow we go back to our lives.” They stopped at a gift shop’s perfume and cosmetics counter. She picked up a sample of Italian cologne, sprayed a little on her left hand and sniffed. “I’ve had a really good time. It was a great vacation—partly because I met you.” She placed the bottle back on the counter, then picked up another and sprayed cologne on her other hand. “Do you like the way this one smells?”

      Steven sniffed her arm. “It smells nice. Reminds me of peaches,” he responded.

      Cherise turned away from the perfume counter, eying him. “So what happens between you and me when we leave the ship tomorrow?” she asked him.

      “We both live in Los Angeles, so I don’t see why we can’t continue spending time together,” Steven responded. “Unless you’re not interested in dating me. Are you?”

      Her eyebrows rose in amazement. His question had caught her off guard, but she warmed under the look he gave her. “Of course I’d like to keep seeing you.”

      Steven gave her a smile that sent her pulses racing. “That’s exactly what I hoped you’d say,” he confessed as he wrapped his arms around her. “I don’t want whatever we have to end.”

      “I don’t either,” Cherise admitted, giddy with happiness. “I never expected to meet someone like you on the cruise. To be honest, I wasn’t even going to come, but Ivy and Elle talked me into it.”

      “We were supposed to meet,” Steven said.

      “Do you really believe that?” she questioned.

      He nodded. “I’m so glad that I don’t have to deal with drama.”

      “Same here, but Steven,” she said with a chuckle, “I’m not perfect. Things are great between us, but I’m sure we’re going to have some times when we disagree on whatever.”

      “As long as we’re always honest with each other, we’re going to be fine,” Steven responded. “My aunt used to always tell me that two people who care about each other should never have secrets.”

      Cherise kept her expression blank. “You’ve mentioned your aunt a few times. You must be very close to her.”

      Steven nodded. “I am. I can’t wait for you to meet her. I hope they come home soon.”

      “You said that they live in Ghana, right?”

      “My uncle has a job there. He and Aunt Eula Mae have been in Ghana for ten years now, but he’s supposed to be retiring soon. My aunt wants to come home.”

      Cherise wrapped her arms around him. “Family is everything, isn’t it?”

      “See, this is why we belong together. You and I have so much in common, including our love for family.”

      His mouth beckoned her and Cherise was unable to resist. She pulled his face down to hers, planting a kiss on his lips.

      “I want you so much that I can’t think right,” he whispered hoarsely.

      “I want you too,” she responded. “But…”

      Steven nodded. “You’re right. I don’t want to rush things between us either.”

      “So what do we do now?” she asked him.

      “Join the rest of your family,” he suggested. “That should keep us out of trouble. It won’t stop me from thinking about making love to you, but I certainly won’t act on it.”

      “What? You’re worried about the men in my family?”

      “More like the women. Especially Ivy. That woman is no joke.”

      Cherise laughed. “You got that right.”