He headed for the deck to get some fresh air before he spoke with Stasia. He didn’t want to do anything foolish. The more time he spent with Stasia, the more he liked spending time with her. And therein lay the rub. He stepped out on the spacious deck, and as though his thoughts had summoned her, there stood Stasia, staring out at the vast sea. Like a magnet, he was drawn to her.
He stepped up behind her. “We meet again.”
Stasia turned to him and smiled, making his chest get that funny, warm sensation again. “I was just going to take a walk. Would you like to join me?”
“I can’t think of anything I’d like more.” Because it was the gentlemanly thing to do, he offered her his arm.
And this time, without hesitation, she accepted. When she slipped her hand into the crook of his arm, he could feel the warmth of her touch through the fabric of his dinner jacket. He liked that feeling—very much so.
They set off, strolling along the moon-drenched deck, looking like every other star-crossed lover enjoying their evening with the one they loved. Except they weren’t in love, he reminded himself. Sure, they’d kissed, but that had been a mistake. The best mistake he’d ever made.
As the other couples headed inside, they strolled for a while in the quiet of the evening. The only sounds around them were of the sea and occasionally when a door was opened, voices from within trickling out to them.
“You know, we’re docking in Corfu tomorrow. Would you like to go with me on the guided tour and check out some ancient ruins?”
Stasia shook her head. “Thank you. But I don’t think so.”
“What? You don’t like history?”
“It’s not that. It’s just that I have some stuff I need to do.”
She made it sound like work. And he couldn’t imagine what work she would have to do while on vacation. Xander had sent his sister on this trip for her to relax and unwind. Her sitting in her cabin working while he was out sightseeing didn’t seem right.
“Come with me for just a little while.”
She turned a questioning glance his way. “You really want me to go sightseeing with you?”
He nodded. “It’d be nice to see it with a friend.”
She hesitated. He implored her with his eyes. He didn’t know why this was so important to him, but it was.
“All right. I think an outing would be nice.” Stasia smiled at him, making his heart pound harder than normal.
“It’s a date.” Once the words had left his lips, he knew it was a mistake. But when she didn’t correct him, he let it go.
He escorted Stasia back to her cabin, and it seemed so natural to lean in and give her a kiss good-night, but he caught himself just in time. After they agreed on where to meet in the morning, they said good-night. Stasia slipped inside the cabin and a feeling of disappointment fell over him by missing out on that kiss.
DAY THREE
Corfu, Greece
THERE HAD BEEN so much to see.
And they’d hardly covered much of the Mediterranean island, even though they’d set off first thing in the morning. It was now late in the day.
They’d joined a guided tour that took them to one of the island’s picturesque beaches. They didn’t tarry long as they moved on to the Royal Palace, also known as the Museum of Asian Art, with its stunning collection of artifacts from China, Japan and India.
From there they’d visited Corfu’s old town, with its narrow roads and older homes. It was like an archaeological treasure trove.
And Stasia’s feet were sore from all of the walking. “That was beautiful.”
“Yes, you are.” Roberto smiled at her.
Stasia couldn’t help but laugh at his very obvious flirting. He had been the perfect date today. He’d been fun, distracting, and most of all, he hadn’t treated her like she was fragile, like her brother and friends did. While touring Corfu, she hadn’t thought about all the things that had been weighing on her mind. The museum was interesting and the artifacts were definitely worth a closer look.
But now with evening approaching, they boarded the ship with the other tourists. Stasia was exhausted from all the walking, but she didn’t regret a moment of it. Who knew Roberto had such a relaxed side to him? In his short sleeves and khaki shorts, he looked like a laid-back tourist. At this particular moment, he was the exact opposite of the serious businessman who she’d gotten to know over the years.