MAYBE HE WAS getting too old for these excursions, but his heart just wasn’t into this cruise. Stuart enjoyed the energy of people, loved how he always seemed to meet someone interesting, but he was beginning to think that finding another love like his Rachel was unlikely.
Perhaps he was being greedy.
One great love in a lifetime was more than some received.
Lately, he’d become far more reflective than usual. He needed to shake things up—breathe life into the empty shell he was quickly becoming—because he was well aware that the sand in his hourglass was quickly slipping through that tiny hole.
Not that he was trying to be maudlin or anything, but the realization that you weren’t immortal was a sobering one.
He wanted to spend his final years with someone he could laugh with, enjoy more than carnal pleasures with, see the world and soak up the adventures he had left to him with.
His secretary had secured him a full activity list but as he perused the itinerary, he just wanted to chuck it into the ocean.
He didn’t want to live by lists any longer.
Board meetings.
Suck-up executives.
Gold-digging women.
He was tired of it all.
Was there no one in this world who was simply happy to be alive?
Stuart took a final look at the paper and purposefully crumpled it. No more itinerary. He was going to go wherever he fancied. Maybe he would just sit in the lounge or the upper deck and people watch.
But as he walked onto the bright sunlit deck, the delighted squeals of people overhead drew his attention. The slide. A slow smile found his mouth. Damn, he hadn’t enjoyed something so reckless in a long time.
His doctor would say, “Don’t even think about it,” but the young man who still lived inside his old body was saying, “Hell yes, let’s go!”
Stuart picked up the pace and felt lighthearted for the first time in a while. This was what his life was missing: good old-fashioned fun.
If he had a heart attack on the way down, well, hell, he’d enjoyed a good life, and the National Cancer Society was going to rejoice in the big sum of money he’d written to them in his will.
Life was for the living, right?
So let’s get to living.
* * *
ONE THING WAS for sure—the view was amaze-balls.
The deep blue sea stretched endlessly as the liner churned through the water at a leisurely pace. The skies matched the blue of the water and the salty breeze was invigorating.
If nothing else, he’d have to thank J.T. for this view because, yeah, it was pretty awe-inspiring.
The giant slide curved in loops and long straightaways, encircling the ship before dumping them into a deep pool.
“You ready for this?” Teagan teased Vanessa as they climbed the stairs to the entrance. “You can still back out.”
“You can back out if you want. I won’t think any less of you,” Vanessa returned, her eyes sparkling with the adventure. “I’ve always wanted to do this, but my husband wasn’t a fan, so I missed out on all the things I would’ve done.”
“Such as?”
“Zip lining in Bali, river rafting down the Colorado, horseback riding in Yosemite...so many things,” she answered wistfully before adding with a bright smile, “But not anymore. I’m going to do whatever I want from now on. Want to come with me?”
He laughed at her persistence. “You’re too much woman for me, Vanessa. I would never be able to keep up and then I’d have to turn in my man card.”
She laughed. “Oh, honey, I won’t tell if you won’t.”
He liked the easy banter with the older woman.
Suddenly, something caught Vanessa’s eye. “Look at that. My friend from the upper deck.” Vanessa gestured and Teagan saw none other than Stuart Buck, the man Harper had her eye on.
“You know him?” he asked.
“Oh, no, we just talked a little. He seems like a good guy. Very handsome, too.”
Yes, indeed.
A thought began to germinate. Teagan had never professed to be a matchmaker, but he was staring at low-hanging fruit. Vanessa was a hot tamale of a woman and Stuart looked as if he could use a dose of spice in his life. And if Stuart was busy with Vanessa, that would certainly put a wrinkle in Harper’s game, which pleased him more than it should.
Underhanded?
No more so than what Harper was doing chasing the old man.
And you know, he felt zero guilt.
None.
Zilch.
Someone had to look out for the guy. And that someone was going to be Teagan.
“He looks like he could use a friend,” Teagan suggested. “Go ahead and tell him to come up with us.”
“Are you sure?” Vanessa asked, but she was clearly pleased with his offer.
“Why not?” Teagan shrugged. “He doesn’t seem to be here with anyone. What’s the harm?”
Vanessa was definitely open to the idea but she hesitated just the same. “Goodness, I don’t even know his name. He could be an ax murderer or something.”
“I have it on good authority, ax murderers were excluded from this particular cruise,” Teagan answered. “I think you’re good.”
“You don’t think it’s weird for me to just wave him down?”
“Naw. I can’t imagine anyone who could show him what fun looks like more than you.”
Vanessa’s eyes sparkled at his flattery. “You are a silver-tongued devil but I love it. You’re right, I’ll just ask him and see what he says. All he can say is no, right?”
“That’s the spirit.”
“Stop being so damn adorable,” she told him as she walked away.
Vanessa returned with Stuart in tow, already making introductions. “This is my friend Teagan. He’s the sweetheart who suggested we grab you and bring you up with us.”
“Thank you,” Stuart said with a good-natured smile. “Nice to meet you.” Then he turned to Vanessa and said, “You know, it dawned on me that we never actually introduced ourselves last night. I’m Stuart Buck.”
“Vanessa Vermuelen,” she replied with a mild blush and a covert glance Teagan’s way. “Very nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine, I assure you.”
Oh, this is already playing out perfectly.
Teagan grinned. “Man to man, I ought to warn you, Stuart, Vanessa is addictive. She’s too much fun for one person to handle.”
Stuart smiled with interest, the expression on his face both charming and intrigued—damn, Stuart has skills—and said, “That’s where experience comes in handy, young man. Experience and wisdom.”
“I don’t know,” Vanessa played along. “I’m not sure if you’re up to this challenge. I’m in my sexual prime, if you know what I mean, and I have a voracious appetite.”
Stuart’s laughter reached his eyes. “Duly noted. If my ticker can handle this slide, I think I can handle just about anything. Shall we?” He gestured and Vanessa giggled as she stepped up to the tube.
“Want to go together?” Vanessa asked, and Stuart didn’t need to be asked twice.
Except, being the gentleman, he turned to Teagan first. “Do you mind if I steal your girl?”
“Only if you promise to show her a good time,” Teagan warned playfully. Stuart grinned and maneuvered himself behind Vanessa, gingerly clasping around her waist, hugging the curvy woman to his chest.
“Three...two...one...”
Whooosh!
They were down the slick tube of water, squealing like schoolkids. Vanessa’s echoing laughter faded as they disappeared.
Teagan grinned, feeling pretty good about his intervention. He didn’t know Vanessa at all but there was something about her that he just liked.
But now that Vanessa was busy with Stuart, he was going to find Harper.
Maybe he could persuade her to go on a ride down the tube, too.
The waterslide tube, of course.