LITMIR.BIZ

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with a beaded motif accent at the hip. “Thanks.”

      “So, how does it feel to be a married woman?”

      “I never thought I’d be this happy.”

      “Yeah. If that smile gets any wider, you’ll be competing with the sun.”

      Janae giggled and looped her arm in Karen’s. “I’m so glad you’re my friend.”

      “Me, too.”

      “Come on. You need to help me eat some of my cake. We’ll have a chance to talk more over lunch Monday.”

      “Lunch? Aren’t you and Terrence going to be a little busy this week?”

      Janae smiled and wiggled her eyebrows. “We’ll be plenty busy, but he has to rehearse for his show that’s on Wednesday night.” He was one of several performers on the weeklong jazz cruise. “So, are we on for lunch?”

      “Definitely.”

      After she ate a small piece of cake, Janae’s brother Devin asked Karen to dance. Then she enjoyed dances with Janae’s other two brothers and father. She started toward her table only to be pulled back to the floor by Donovan Wright, Terrence’s best man and manager. By the time the short affair concluded, her feet were killing her.

      Janae came up behind her. “Karen, we’re leaving now. What time do you want to meet on Monday?”

      She grinned and glanced over to where Terrence stood watching them. “Maybe you should be the one to decide. Your new husband looks like he’s ready to eat you up.”

      “The feeling is mutual. How about one o’clock?”

      “That’ll work. I’ll meet you at the entrance to the buffet.” They spent another minute talking and then Karen said, “Enjoy your wedding night.”

      “I plan to,” Janae said with a wink.

      Karen smiled and shook her head, recalling how the two had met. She had practically dragged Janae to Terrence’s—or Monte, as he was known in the music world—concert. What started as a backstage meet and greet after the concert had ended in marital bliss for her friend. She briefly wondered if she would get her own fairy-tale ending, then shoved the thought aside. The only thing I’m focusing on is having a good time for the next week. Good music, good food, fabulous islands...me time.

      Janae’s parents and Terrence’s grandparents had elected not to cruise, so Karen stayed behind with Janae’s brothers to see them off. She followed the family back down the hallway leading to the ship’s entrance, where they would disembark. As they said their goodbyes, male laughter drew her attention.

      She turned to see three men standing nearby, engaged in a lively conversation. All three were good-looking, but one in particular piqued her interest. He stood a few inches taller than his companions, with broad shoulders and the muscular build of a professional athlete. Her gaze lingered over his smooth golden brown features—close-cropped dark hair, chiseled jaw and full lips curved in a slight smile. The man was a serious piece of eye candy. Her gaze traveled over his body, then back up to his face to find him watching her with quiet intensity. Her heart rate kicked up a notch. Embarrassed that he had caught her staring, she quickly turned away. Moments later, she couldn’t resist another peek.

      Suddenly, he paused with the drink halfway to his lips and swung his head in her direction. His smile inched up, and he saluted her with his drink. Her breath stalled in her lungs.

      “Karen?”

      “Huh, what?” She tore her gaze away and tried to focus on what Janae’s mother was saying. “I’m sorry. What did you say, Mrs. Simms?”

      She chuckled. “I asked if you were going to miss your students this week.”

      “I love my little darlings, but I plan to enjoy a week without lesson plans and mediating ‘he said, she said’ arguments.”

      After a few minutes of polite conversation and a round of hugs, Karen wound her way around the ship toward her suite. Several men called out greetings and offered to buy her a drink, and one propositioned her for more, but she ignored them all. A vision of Mr. Eye Candy worked its way into her mind and she pushed it away, reminding herself that she was taking a break from men and focusing on herself and her career goals.

      * * *

      Damian Bradshaw half listened to his friends as they once again listed all the reasons why this cruise was a good idea. The cruise was an annual event, and they had invited him several times over the years, but he always declined.

      Troy Ellis slung an arm around his shoulders. “Man, you can’t tell me you’re not looking forward to some fun aboard a luxury cruise. Good music, good food, exotic ports—”

      “And a ship full of fine, single women,” Kyle Jamison cut in. “Mmm, mmm, mmm,” he said, staring after a group of women walking by and smiling at them. “See what I mean? Damian, this is exactly what you need to get back in the groove.”

      “Who says I want to get back in the groove?” Damian muttered.

      Troy dropped his arm and shook his head. “It’s been five years, Damian. When do you think you’ll be ready to move on?”

      Damian clenched his jaw. He didn’t need to be reminded how long it had been since he lost his wife. He had lived every one of those moments without her, counted every second since she’d died from a freak accident. He had no desire to open his heart to the possibility of pain again. “I have moved on.”

      Kyle crossed his arms and pinned Damian with a glare. “Have you really? You’re one step up from a recluse. You’re either at the office, at the gym or locked in your house. You probably don’t even remember how to date.”

      “We have a lot to do at the office,” Damian countered. The three friends co-owned a consulting firm and traveled around the country providing safety training to schools and corporate groups.

      “All of which our dynamic office assistant, Delores, can handle until we get back. He’s right, Damian,” Troy said softly. “It’s time. Joyce wouldn’t want you to live the rest of your life alone.” He grinned. “And, since we know you’ve been out of the game for a while, we’ll be more than happy to offer you some pointers on how to attract a woman,” he added, trying to lighten the mood.

      Damian chuckled. “Yeah, I bet.”

      “We need to get this party started right. I’m going to get a drink,” Kyle said.

      Troy nodded. “Good idea. Let’s go.”

      “I’ll wait for you guys.”

      “You want me to bring you something?” Troy asked.

      “Yeah. Bring me a beer.” He watched them saunter off and flirt with two passing women.

      He leaned against the railing, shoved his hands into his pockets and contemplated his friends’ words. He hated to admit it, but they were right. He’d immersed himself in his job, staying at the office way past normal hours, working out at the gym to the point of exhaustion, then going home to an empty house and losing himself in thoughts of what could have been, what should have been. Damian rarely did anything that could be considered fun and hadn’t thought about taking a trip. Even when Joyce was alive, she preferred a quiet evening at home to going out or leaving town, so they’d never traveled far. When they did, they only went on occasional weekend getaways.

      He took in his surroundings. Boarding passengers streamed past him, their animated chatter and excitement filling the air. He couldn’t remember the last time he had taken a real vacation. Maybe he needed this cruise after all.

      “Here you go.”

      He accepted the beer from Troy. “Thanks.”

      Kyle held up his bottle. “I’d like to propose a toast. To a week of great music and endless pleasures.”

      “Hear,

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