Aboard the Wishing Star Read Free

but secretly Kara made one small wish. Viv had been after her to make one and they were, after all, sailing on the Wishing Star .

Chapter Two
     
     
    "How do I look?" Viv spun in a gold bikini.
    "Stunning as always," Kara said.
    "Stop tugging at your cleavage," Viv said. "You look great. Guys will come flocking. Just wait and see."
    Kara looked in the mirror. "I'm too pale."
    "Not for long." Viv pulled on a black mesh cover-up Kara could see her swimsuit through. "Come on, hurry. We don't want to miss the bon voyage party."
    Kara tied the red and gold sarong she'd borrowed from Viv around her waist. They headed to the top deck to check the view and then went down to the deck below, where two hot tubs stood on each side of the pool. The pool had a bar at one end and a grill at the other. Waiters in Hawaiian shirts handed out umbrella drinks while a Calypso band played. Kara and Vivian reached the hot tub and Kara dropped her things on a chair and eased down into the warm, bubbling water, wiggling her toes while Viv went up to the bar to get two pina coladas.
    Calypso music played as the ship eased out of the dock heading for open seas. She could see another ship in the distance, and a third a bit farther out, one following the other like ducks in a row. She was so busy watching, lost in thought she didn't notice Nate until he spoke.
    "Alone at last." Nate's voice was resonant and sensual, and his words wrapped around Kara as she turned to look at him. He winked at her, climbed into the hot tub, and then sat, leaning his powerful, well-muscled body back against the hot tub. "Did they find your luggage yet?"
    She tried not to stare at Nate's bare chest. "No."
    "It could be down below clearing customs even as we speak."
    "I hope so."
    He glanced at her swimsuit.
    The swimsuit that fit her all too snug.
    "At least you have a swimsuit. What else do you need on a cruise?" He winked.
    "Well perhaps a nice dress to wear to dinner."
    "I'm sure your luggage will turn up soon."
    "I hope so."
    "So, we're sailing on the Wishing Star . Have you made a wish yet?"
    Was he psychic?
    She wouldn't admit she'd wished to see him again tonight.
    "I made a wish. But I can't tell you what my wish is."
    "Because you're afraid it might not come true?"
    "No." She smiled.
    "I'll tell you mine later if it comes true."
    "I hope you get your wish."
    "And I hope you get every one of yours."
    He couldn't know she was full of unfulfilled wishes.
    If she were honest with herself, she'd been making wishes for the past month. Whispered wishes in the dark.
    "I hope so too."
    Viv came back with two pina coladas, took one look at Nate, and practically purred. "Well, hello again."
    "Hello," he responded with a polite smile as she handed Kara a drink. He returned his full attention to Kara, his gaze interested and warm "Kara and I were just talking about wishes."
    "Well, tell her to hurry up and make one or she's going to miss out. She doesn't listen to me."
    "I suspect she's already made her wish." He smiled.
    Kara returned his smile. It was nice having him take up for her.
    A man who resembled Nate entered the hot tub.
    "This is my cousin, Adam. Adam, this is Kara," Nate draped his arm across the top of the hot tub behind her, "and you've met Viv."
    "Nice to meet you, Kara." Adam nodded and moved over to sit next to Viv, who leaned forward displaying her cleavage and purred, "My pleasure."
    Nate leaned closer, his brown eyes looking into Kara's. "Is this your first time on a cruise?"
    Kara blushed. "Yes. This is my first time cruising."
    When was the last time a handsome man had flirted with her?
    She couldn't remember. But then she didn't get out enough to meet handsome men. She eyed the muscles of Nate's chest and arms and couldn't look away.
    He must be a military man, either a Marine or a Navy Seal, judging from the tattoo of a parachute and a swimmer on the upper part of his right arm. She couldn't see the tattoo on his left bicep clear enough to tell what it