An hour later, Steven stretched and yawned. “I’m tired, so I think I’m going to head on back to the boat and take a nap.” Brushing sand off of his swim trunks, he added, “I’ll see y’all later tonight.”
Cherise stood up to give Steven a hug. “I’ll see you later.”
“I’d be careful if I were you,” Ivy muttered as she straightened her hat. “You and Steven have been spending a lot of time together.”
“He’s a nice guy, Ivy,” Elle interjected. “Let Cherise enjoy herself. You should be doing the same thing. That guy Montel has been trying to get your attention from the moment we stepped on the ship.”
“Hmph,” Ivy uttered. “He can keep right on trying, but I’m not interested.”
Picking up her tote, Cherise said, “Ivy, I’m just having fun with a handsome man. I don’t have any illusions about anything. I’m here to have a good time on my vacation. You should try it.”
Ivy groaned and walked away, shaking her head.
Elle and Cherise laughed.
It was time for them to head back to the boat, so they gathered up towels, totes and children.
Inside the ship, Cherise followed Ivy into the suite. She sank down on the edge of the king-size bed. “I am so tired.”
Ivy dropped down beside her. “Cherise, I’m really glad you and Steven are spending time together. He seems like a real nice guy. I just say the things I do so that I can keep my family from trying to set me up with a guy.”
“Steven and I have a good time together and I enjoy his company.” Cherise strolled into the bathroom and jumped into the shower.
Afterward, she climbed into bed and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the fluffy pillow. Cherise slept until Ivy woke her up an hour later. She and the girls were already dressed for dinner.
Later, Ivy stuck the last hairpin in Cherise’s upswept hairstyle. “You look gorgeous,” she told Cherise. “When Steven sees you tonight, I’m not sure you’ll be able to get rid of the man.”
Laughing, Cherise turned away from the mirror to face Ivy. “I don’t know about all that.” Deep down, she hoped her cousin was right, but she didn’t want to get her hopes up.
“Just wait until he sees you.”
Cherise stood up and took off her robe. Reaching for the magenta dress she was going to wear to dinner, she added, “Ivy, I have a confession to make. The truth is that I really like him. Steven and I seem to really click. I can’t explain it, but we have so much in common.”
“Steven seems like one heck of a catch,” Ivy said. “And from what I’ve heard about him, it sounds like he’s definitely husband material.”
As she zipped up her dress, Cherise broke into a smile. “You need to follow your own advice, Ivy. Have you even said more than two words to Montel?”
“I’m not interested in him. There is only one man I’d like to spend time with right now and he’s not on this boat.” Ivy headed to the mirror to inspect her appearance. “Montel is nice, but he comes with a lot of drama.”
Cherise folded her arms across her chest and asked, “So what’s up with him?” She watched Ivy apply her makeup like a pro.
Without missing a beat, she replied, “Oh, he has seven children by five different women for starters.”
Ivy applied her lipstick, and her look was completed.
“Oh, yeah, that’s straight crazy,” Cherise said. “You definitely don’t need that. As for Steven, I’m just going to see what happens, Ivy. I’m taking it one day at a time.” Cherise powdered her face and applied a clear gloss to her lips.
She stole a peek at the clock. It was almost time to head downstairs.
Some of their relatives were waiting in the lobby when they stepped off the elevator. Cherise spotted Steven among them.
“You ladies look beautiful,” he said.
“Thank you,” Ivy and Cherise chorused.
Steven placed Cherise’s hand on his arm and led her into the dining room. Speaking low enough for her ears only, he said, “Cherise, you are truly a sight. Your dress looks like it was inspired by the South Seas.”
Cherise smiled. “Thank you,” she murmured softly. She had never met a man who was able to find beauty in almost everything. Even me, she mused silently, and the thought pleased her immensely.
Cherise woke up early and headed straight to the gym. She was surprised to see Steven already there working out.
“I didn’t know you’d be here this morning,” she told him.
“This is how I usually start my day,” Steven responded. “I figured I’d do the same while on vacation.”
She nodded in agreement. This was something else they had in common. Cherise made a point of going to the gym at least three times a week.
Cherise got on the treadmill beside him. “Don’t be offended, but I don’t usually talk when I’m working out.”
Steven smiled, then stuck a set of earphones in his ears.
She did the same.
Once Cherise was in her zone, Steven ceased to exist while she focused on her workout. She was determined to maintain her weight while on the cruise, although all the wonderful food didn’t make it easy.
The ship was slowing down as it pulled into port. They had arrived in Tunis, Tunisia. Cherise finished her workout and then went through a series of stretching exercises.
Steven joined her as she was finishing up.
On the way back to their suites, Steven said, “Brennen invited me to join you all today. I hope you don’t mind. I don’t want you to think that I’m trying to monopolize your time.”
Cherise smiled. “No, it’s fine, Steven. I enjoy your company and would’ve asked you myself.”
They made plans to meet in thirty minutes.
Ivy had just walked out of her bedroom when Cherise entered the suite. “We need to make sure we dress modestly to respect the traditions of this country,” she told her.
Cherise nodded. “There’s so much history here in Tunisia. I know we’re not going to be able see everything, but I definitely want to visit the ruins of Carthage.”
After a quick shower, Cherise selected a modest maxi dress with a thin shawl to drape around her head and shoulders. She slipped on a comfortable pair of sandals and stuck a pair of sneakers into her oversized tote.
They met everyone in the lobby area of the ship.
Cherise couldn’t stop smiling when she spotted Steven. Cherise knew the truth. She was falling in love with Steven.
The passengers traveled from the ship via coach to the Tunis city center, but Steven’s first glimpse of Tunisia was one of sun-kissed beaches and deep blue seas. It was paradise.
As they strolled the streets of Ville Nouvelle, Steven found himself sketching pictures of Cherise surrounded by French architecture, sidewalk cafés and patisseries.
They wandered through the colorful medina and souks, savoring the sights, sounds and smells enveloping them. He found that Cherise wasn’t afraid to try new cultural delicacies and was an avid explorer, preferring to take in the historic attractions instead of shopping.
“What are you drawing now?” she asked, walking over to where he was sitting.
He showed her his artwork.
“Is this really how you see me?” Cherise wanted to know.
“It