‘After two years. I’ll bet.’ He glanced at her hands again. She didn’t wear a ring. Why was that? Almost ruminatively he said, ‘What were they thinking of to leave you there so long?’
She blinked and for a horrible moment he thought she was going to cry and he wanted to kick himself. It brought home just how close to the edge she was and he vowed to himself he’d keep a close eye on her. Might even have a word to Wilhelm about her work hours.
‘You don’t want to talk about it?’ He could see her squirming. He wanted her to eat something. He picked up the strawberry he’d kept for last and put it on her plate.
She shook her head. ‘Not particularly.’ But at least she absently ate the fruit. He was ridiculously relieved.
So she didn’t want to talk about it. Good. Neither did he. Especially about her husband. ‘Fine.’
She glanced away but he couldn’t tell if she was upset from her voice when she spoke again.
Such a bright and cheery voice that said back off. ‘Hey, I’m tougher than I look.’ She turned to him and he decided her smile was only just forced. ‘And here I am…’ she spread her arms ‘…talking to a bar manager, on a ship cruising the Mediterranean, and very glad I don’t have to think about anything disastrous.’ She put down her fork.
‘So, talk to me about something light and frivolous. That’s why I’m cultivating you.’
So she was cultivating him, eh? Sounded promising and damn straight he could be frivolous. Well, he guessed that summed him up. Compared to her anyway.
It didn’t seem the time to tell her he was a doctor too. Not frivolous enough. Or about his own transition through med school and rotation to learn the lot, anaesthetics, obstetrics and surgery. He’d had his moments requiring skill and dedication but compared to what he could imagine she’d been through, his world was a cinch.
Though frivolously speaking, he never had to get involved with patients and their real lives because he would only be there for a weekend or a month at the most because he was locum man. So no talk of medicine and he told her what he thought she wanted to hear.
‘I haven’t been on a ship for a while but worked my way up from barman to cocktail master.’ He puffed out his chest theatrically. ‘Took out a medal at the world cocktail championships with a friend.’
He didn’t usually tell people that, it had been years ago, but he guessed the title would sound playful enough for her, and he wanted to see that smile he knew was in there.
‘So what do you do?’
‘I mix drinks when the bar staff are on their breaks, make sure all the behind counter orders are filled and we don’t run out of Margarita mix. I fill in when staff are sick and just try to keep everyone happy.’ He shrugged. ‘Apparently I’m pretty good at that.’
‘I can see you are.’ Now she smiled and it had been worth waiting for. He felt a flicker of satisfaction from lightening her mood and more than a flicker of awareness, as though the moon had just peeked through a bank of clouds outside. Bizarre how good she made him feel.
He leaned towards her and a tendril of hair fell across her face, making his finger itch to push it back. ‘Been for a swim yet?’ He fancied seeing her in a bikini.
‘No. I’m very boring. Just getting used to things and finding my way around. I bet you use all the amenities.’
‘Every single one.’ He flashed his teeth at her and she smiled again. ‘I like a good game of table tennis.’
‘Do you? I used to have a very competitive streak for ball games.’
‘Aha! That sounds like a challenge.’
Tara almost laughed out loud. The fizzing in her stomach was getting stronger. And was it all about a ball game? Was she challenging him? Maybe she wasn’t as bad at this as she’d thought she’d be. ‘We’ll see.’
He went on like a tour guide and she could feel herself relax more every minute. He was like her own personal cruise director. ‘Then there’s Movies Under The Stars, with deckchairs, checked blankets and popcorn, and of course the latest flicks.’
‘Checked blankets, eh? Very observant for a man.’
He shrugged. ‘My sisters have this thing for tablecloths under trees for picnics. So I have a soft spot for checks.’
The image of cuddling up with Nick and a blanket under Mediterranean stars was almost tangible. ‘I’ll watch out for those blankets.’ Though she wasn’t quite sure now just what she was watching out for.
‘So why don’t you let me show you around when we anchor off Naples? Maybe hire a convertible. We could take a drive down to Amalfi, check out Praiano and Positano.’
His chest tightened and he realised he was actually holding his breath. This was crazier by the minute. Her toffee gaze slid over his face thoughtfully and he could almost taste her sweetness. Something whispered sweet was dangerous.
‘Sounds good. I’ve always wanted to see the Italian coastline from those windy roads.’ She opened her eyes wide and he had an epiphany as to what they meant by ‘almost fell in’. Was that a come-on? He sure as hell hoped so because he could feel his body stir like leaves in a breeze at that hint of promise.
‘The roads have to be seen to be believed,’ he warned with a grin. ‘And they appeal to the frustrated Ferrari driver in me.’
‘A Ferrari?’ She pretended to frown. ‘They must pay good wages where you work.’
He guessed he could hire one if he wanted to but he’d be too worried he’d scratch it. Not many cars were dent free on Italian roads. ‘No. But maybe a little sports number so we can put the roof down.’ He grinned. ‘You know, feel the whoosh of air as the buses push us up against the cliff.’ He watched her. Deliberately painting the picture to make sure she knew what she was getting into. To his delight, if anything her eyes sparkled more.
‘Oh, yeah. I’ve heard about that. A little danger that’s not blood-product related would be a great way to remember life is for living.’
Not blood-product related. He wanted to hug her. Felt the rapport. Medical people laughed at the oddest things and he was feeling a little more alive than usual himself.
Tara couldn’t believe she was flirting like this. And had made an infectious-disease joke that he probably hadn’t got. He might think she was loony but the idea of capturing a few hours of wind in her face and amazing views was enticing. Cathartic even. And she couldn’t hide the fact the idea of spending time with someone light and mischievous like Nick wasn’t a big plus too.
‘So tell me about your morning,’ Nick said. ‘Any interesting cases?’
Did he really want to know? She doubted it. Probably the whole ‘I’m paying attention to everything you say’ persona he had down pat. ‘It was fine. A few bouts of nausea and a fractured forearm.’
‘They have an X-ray machine here, don’t they?’ Interest shone from his eyes and she enlarged slightly to explain.
‘Yes.’ She smiled at him for humouring her. ‘Not something
