LITMIR.BIZ

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of them in front of the iguanas and then headed down into the circular dome that led to the ocean floor. The top aquariums were self-contained, but the bottom wasn’t an aquarium at all; the glass opened onto the ocean floor and the animals of the reef.

      He loved watching Safire’s reaction. He also loved having her hand in his or his arm around her.

      She had on orange capris with a light orange sleeveless top that was made out of chiffon with a lining underneath. It billowed out at her hips and made her look ethereal. She had on strappy gold one-inch sandals to go with it. It was all simple, but it made her look simply stunning.

      She had also started touching him back—nothing major, but without seeming to think about it, she put her hand to his chest when she pointed out the shark swimming in a huge circle around the aquarium tier. Every time she touched him, it sent a quiver through his body and puffed his ego up just a little bit more. If only she knew what she was doing to him. Later, she grabbed his shoulder and shook it when she realized that what she was seeing was an octopus.

      “You just got that?” he teased.

      She swatted at him. “Who knew they could curl up like that? Where’s the beak?”

      “I think we’ll have to wait till they feed it.”

      She checked her watch.

      “We better go,” she said, “before we miss the safari.”

      They got something of a tour of the island as they were taxied to Bluebeard’s Castle. Then they had a tour of the castle and ate at Room with a View Restaurant. It gave them a chance to sit down and relax and talk for a while.

      “So what do you do?” she asked.

      “I’m a radiologist. I like it, and it’s a good living. What about you?”

      “I’m sure it is interesting. And you don’t have all the odd hours to contend with, right?”

      “I’m on call every other week, but mostly it’s nine to five. It was one of the things that attracted me to the practice. I love work, but I like to have a life as well.”

      “I’m a teacher. History. And the paper grading and class prep never end.” She chuckled. “But I like it.”

      Jeremy could tell that there was more she was about to say, but she left it at that, so he let it go.

      “Where are you from?” he asked.

      “North Miami—born and raised. And you?”

      “You’re from Miami and you’ve never been on a cruise before?”

      “How did you know I haven’t been on a cruise?”

      “You just seemed a bit awestruck the first day I saw you.”

      She laughed at that. “I guess so. I was on a cruise with my family when I was little, but I don’t really remember it, so I guess this is my first. But what about you? Where are you from?”

      “I’m in Miami now,” he said, “coming from D.C. I went to Howard University, but I got a good job offer in Miami when I was finished with school, so here I am. I’ve been in South Miami for a few years. Now I live in Richmond Heights. I like the city, and there’s stuff to do, so I don’t get bored.”

      “Do you date a lot?”

      “Ouch. Here come the real questions. I date a bit. I like to get out and have fun.”

      “What does that mean—get out and have fun?” she asked.

      “It means that I date, but that I haven’t found the right one as yet to make a serious commitment. I’m always open about that.” The worried look on her face told him that Safire wasn’t too pleased with his answer. “I’m hoping it might be you,” he added to temper the news.

      “Have you been married before or serious? Do you have any children?”

      “You don’t hold back, do you?” he said and chuckled. “I don’t have children, but I’d like to one day. I have not been married before. I dated a woman in college, but it didn’t work out. School took too much of my time, and she didn’t understand.”

      Jeremy noticed that Safire was asking all the questions.

      “I don’t want to be the only one under the microscope,” he said. “What about you? Do you date? Have you been married or serious? Children?”

      “No to all of the above. No children. No marriage. No serious relationship, actually. I guess I’ve spent too much time trying to get my education behind me and then trying to get acclimated to teaching and paying off student loans and dealing with family obligations. I haven’t really dated since high school, but that doesn’t bother me.”

      He wanted to ask about her family obligations, but he let it go. There would be time for more details later. For now, it was time for them to get a move on and get some shopping done.

      They waited a few minutes for the next safari and took it to downtown Charlotte Amalie. They got off at the waterfront, where there were so many shops that they didn’t know what to do.

      “Okay,” he said. “What are we looking for? I’d like to get something in gold for my mom. Maybe something crystal. That’s as far as I know.”

      “I’m more in the silver range, perhaps some shells or tokens—tight budget.”

      “That’s fine, too.”

      They held hands as they walked up and down the passages on Main Street, stopping in stores.

      He leaned over the counter in the jewelry store, circling her waist where she stood next to him. He kissed her arm, and she laughed and then waved him away. She helped him pick out a rope necklace and matching earrings for his mother, a pair of gold chains for his father and brother, a locket for his grandmother and a watch for his grandfather.

      He wished he could get her to pick out something for herself, but he knew that she wouldn’t have it. He contented himself with the fact that she was letting him, at least in small ways, be openly affectionate with her.

      She got her presents in one of the places that specialized in silver, and then they went to a souvenir shop where he got rum balls and perfume for his coworkers and casual friends, and where she got shells for hers. The rest of their time was spent window shopping, trying tropical-flavored ice creams, and walking Main Street and Back Street before returning to Emancipation Garden to catch a safari.

      Along the way, they decided that when they got back to the ship, they would change for dinner, eat and see a movie that night.

      “I thought we were going shopping,” she said.

      “What? We did. We shopped till we dropped. I’m shopped out,” he said and then chuckled.

      “Look at these teeny little bags we have.” Safire held up her little bag of shells and jewelry.

      “But these are easier to pack, you see.” Jeremy pointed to his little bag of jewelry and perfume.

      “Next time, we have to get bigger things. Not more expensive things, just bigger ones. We should look like we just spent four hours doing something.”

      Both of them laughed.

      Back aboard the ship, Jeremy kissed Safire goodbye as if it weref a regular habit between them. He then headed to his room to rest for a little bit, shower and change.

      When he got to her stateroom, she was still changing. He lingered at the door, and she was out in a few minutes with a green dress on—a sleeveless one with thin straps. Like the others, it showed off her curves. Like the last one, it was cut close to her body and snug against her breasts. This time, she had a green shirt over it that was a sheer material. With her strappy one-inch heels and all made up, she looked breathtaking. This woman was growing on him in a very short time.

      After dinner in the Captain’s Boardroom, they picked a

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