When she exited the privy, it didn’t take long for Z to take a hold of her hand once again. Not really needing to swing her cane to and fro, she held it out in front of her, angled slightly outward to prevent from bumping into a wall or another object. Most people, when leading the blind, did not account for the additional space the person beside them required when passing objects. Z, however, seemed to guide her effortlessly down the ship’s narrow corridors and busy foyers.She had considered getting a guide dog at one point and imagined it would be similar to having someone like Z lead her. Getting rid of her white cane, however, was not something she was ready to do any time soon. The idea was akin to leaving the house without wearing clothes.Although she was blind, her eyes still registered light, not so much as seeing it as feeling the brightness. It felt like a sharp twinge in the center of her brain, just behind her eyes. If it wasn’t for the sunglasses she wore most of the t
“His name was Clive,” she lied. “We were together for thirteen years before I finally found the courage to leave him.”“Thirteen years,” he commented. “Bad luck?”She chuffed. If only he knew. “Let’s just say he was a controlling man and leaving him was akin to stepping in front of a charging locomotive. I had tried several times in the past. When he found me, he did his best to ensure I would never leave him again.” She rubbed her arms as memories of his strikes caused phantom pain.“He is the reason you won’t get involved with anyone else?”“Yes.”She heard him set his glass down and settle back against the couch. The bourbon flowed down her throat like a comforting blanket. For a moment, Z seemed satisfied with her answer and she breathed a sigh of relief.“Have you heard from him?”“Not for seven years.” She choked a bit, fearing she had revealed too much of the truth. “Maybe nine,” she added.“What does Clive do for a living?”She stopped mid drink. “He’s an … insurance a
The ship docked in Victoria at 9:00am. Rai barely had time to have a cup of coffee before disembarking. The bus leaving for the zip lines was due to leave in fifteen minutes. She didn’t want to miss it, but no one seemed to know where she needed to go to catch the bus.“I’ll take you,” said Z, presenting his elbow.“I don’t want to be a bother.” She said, feeling like a lost buffoon in a flurry of activity. Everyone seemed to know where they needed to be except her.“Don’t be ridiculous,” he scolded. Someone was in a bad mood, she thought.Not wanting to fuel that temper, she took his elbow and allowed him to guide her to the waiting bus. They arrived just seconds before it departed. “Thank you,” she said. As she gripped the handrails leading into the bus, she felt him follow her. “What are you doing?” she asked, turning to face him.“Making sure you get where you need to go, Miss Landon.”So, they were back to using formal names? “No one asked you to,” she firmly stated.He huf
By the time they reached the ship, Rai was famished. It had been a full day.“Are you hungry?” asked Z.“Yes, I am.”“Would you consider sharing dinner with me?”“Only if it occurs in a dark, quiet place away from people,” she said, rubbing her forehead. “Headache?” he asked.“Yes, too much light, too many things to concentrate on. Being blind can be a real downer sometimes.”“My mum had the same problem. I’ll fix you a tonic that seemed to work for her. Then, I’ll order us some food.”“I need to shower and change into something comfortable.”“You can grab what you need from your cabin, then shower in mine.”She stiffened. “Umm,”“Relax, Rai. I’m not going to ravish you. My shower is larger than yours, and I have a hot tub that might help calm you a bit.”Her head pounded, and right now a hot bath was exactly what she wanted. She nodded and allowed him to guide her to her cabin.Z watched as she skirted around the room like an efficient robot programmed to know exactly wher
Z returned to his cabin, a feeling of elation lightening his steps. He had given Rai a chaste kiss on her soft cheek before telling her what time he would be by tomorrow.Two days, he smiled inwardly. They will be the best two days of her life, and possibly his.After pouring himself a bourbon, he sat down with his computer and made his plans. He had not been this excited about anything since the time he helped plan his parent’s fiftieth anniversary. The smile that agenda had placed on his mum’s face was something Z would never forget. Both of them had come home with stories to tell, and memories that lasted the end of their days.His father had shown such appreciation; it had set Z aback. As the middle son, he had never been Father’s favorite, and always felt a bit like the odd man out. Z was much closer to his mum than his older brother and younger sister. They stayed closer to the money and knew Father was looking to hand them down his enterprise.Z never wanted a part of Taylor
The yacht docked just as Rai finished the last of her coffee.“Ready?” asked Z.Rai took his offered hand and her white cane. He led her to a door. The moment it opened, they were greeted with a warm breeze and the heat of the sun. She looked up at the sky. “Must be a beautiful day.”“Absolutely perfect,” said Z. “Not a cloud in the sky.”Derrick accompanied them to the dock, then slipped a set of keys to Z. “Your car awaits you in parking lot A, sir.”“Thank you Derrick.” Z gripped Rai’s hand tighter as they ascended the dock. “I thought you might like to do a bit of shopping before we head out.”“I don’t really need anything,” she said.“Most of what they sell here is not purchased out of need, Rai. Everything is handmade by the locals. They are more like treasures than needs.”Rai frowned, wondering what types of trinkets she would find. She really was not one for jewelry or dust collectors. Perhaps she could buy something for Anna?“There are three other cruise lines in po
Lord, she was beautiful. Never had Z met a woman who experienced so much pleasure from a simple drive. These two days may prove to be more dangerous than he had anticipated.She handled the two-hour hike like a seasoned pro, as he described the beauty around them. She scented a Jeffery pine and reveled in its strong maple aroma. Odd seeing one this far north. The last time he experienced the hearty tree was in Oregon. He didn’t think they grew in this region.The trail he chose was flat and easy, but the destination was the real reason for taking it.“Oh!” she exclaimed, stopping short and closing her eyes. “There is a lake out there.”“How do you know that?”“The air carries its scent, and the sound ripples off the surface. By the echo, I’d say we were in some kind of a canyon—a rather large canyon that opens at the far end.” She pointed to where the canyon widened, lending a magnificent view of a distant mountain.“Yes, you have just accurately described Perseverance Lake. At t
The evening ended with a fine dinner and an hour of dancing. The exertion had put a healthy color to her cheeks that Z wanted to kiss. “I’m exhausted,” she claimed, holding his arm more closely than usual.“Are you up for a nightcap?”She hesitated, her grip tightening on his arm. “I had a really good time today,” she said, avoiding the question.“As did I.” Sensing her indecision, he turned left at the end of the corridor and led her back to her cabin.She opened the door and turned to face him. Her scent rose up like a siren’s call. Without thought, he pulled her into him and lowered his lips onto hers. Lord, they were soft as rose petals and tasted like port. She opened to him, inviting him to explore and taste her more thoroughly. He groaned, deepening the kiss.She did not fight him, nor did she pull away. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him and matched his ardor with uncompromising freedom. Like everything else in her life, she savored him with her entire being.He p