All of Me

* * *

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, hear!” Troy said.

They looked at Damian expectantly. Sighing, he clinked his bottle against theirs, then tilted it to his lips.

Kyle smiled. “Now, the first lesson when picking up women is to find one who wants no attachments beyond the week and is just out for a good time.”

“Usually, she’ll be with a group of women, make eye contact and check you out from head to toe,” Troy added.

Kyle nodded. “She’ll find a way to cross your path at least twice, be wearing an enticing little number and give you a smile that says she’s up for whatever you want.”

“If you’re interested, return her smile but don’t approach her right away.” Troy leaned closer. “Continue to flirt from a distance, maybe send her a drink. You know, heighten the desire.”

“Now you’re ready to make your move,” Kyle said, clapping Damian on the shoulder.

“And, because we knew you wouldn’t, we slipped a couple boxes of condoms into your bag,” Troy finished with a smug smile. “Think about it, this’ll be the perfect way to make that first step back into the land of the living.”