He was about to take a drink when he noticed she didn’t have anything in front of her. “Can I get you anything to drink or eat?”
“Actually, yes. I’d love an espresso. I need the caffeine.”
It was only then that he noticed the shadows beneath her eyes. They were faint, as though they were covered up, and you wouldn’t even notice them unless you were looking for them. Something was keeping her up at night. And then he realized what it might be. She was still grieving for her husband. Sympathy welled up in him.
“I’ll be right back with caffeine.” He got to his feet and walked away.
He couldn’t even imagine what she was going through. It was just one more reason that remaining a bachelor was a good idea. Families were messy with entanglements, emotions and responsibilities. It was easier to just deal with himself.
He ordered two coffees. Though he didn’t rely on caffeine to get him up and going in the morning—that was what running was for—that didn’t mean he didn’t appreciate the flavor and warmth of a cup of coffee.
He’d picked up the coffees and started back to the table when he noticed a young guy headed straight for Stasia. He couldn’t blame the guy. She was a beautiful woman. And if she weren’t his friend’s sister as well as being a widow, he definitely would have pursued her. Nothing serious, but they’d have made some great memories together.
Roberto slowed down, unsure what to do. Maybe Stasia knew the man. Maybe she’d welcome the company. As Stasia smiled at the man, Roberto’s body tensed. He knew it shouldn’t bother him. It wasn’t like the guy was horning in on a date. They’d merely bumped into each other.
Maybe he should head over there and take his seat. After all, this was his time with Stasia. Was that a thing? Could friends claim time with each other?
Or perhaps he should head to his cabin. He could get some work done before meeting up with his family for dinner. Just then his phone vibrated, letting him know a new email had landed in his inbox.
But instead of withdrawing his phone to find out what required his attention, he continued gazing in Stasia’s direction. He wanted to be sure everything was all right before he moved on.
Stasia’s smile faded. He couldn’t hear what was being said, but the shake of her head let him know she was no longer interested in the man’s company. And yet the man didn’t move on. Instead the man reached out to touch her. Stasia quickly withdrew her arm.
That was it. The decision had been made for him.
Without giving himself time to reconsider what he was about to do, Roberto headed across the busy deck, weaving and bobbing around the vacationers. He did his best to keep an eye on the situation—it was what Xander would want him to do.
He wondered if Xander had picked this cruise specifically for his sister because he knew Roberto would be on it. If so, it was strange that Xander hadn’t mentioned anything to him.
The young man made himself comfortable in his chair and that wouldn’t do. Roberto walked up to Stasia. The easiest and fastest way to get rid of her newfound admirer was simple.
“Sorry it took so long, darling.” Roberto placed the coffee on the table and then kissed Stasia’s cheek.
He noticed the softness of her skin and wondered if her lips would be just as soft. The thought of sneaking in another kiss crossed his mind, but just as quickly he dismissed it.
As Roberto straightened, he noticed the gentle floral scent of her perfume. It was pleasant and fresh like spring. It so suited her because anytime he’d been around Stasia, she’d been sunny and energetic.
The man across the table sat there with his mouth slightly agape as his gaze moved between the two of them. Was it so hard to believe they were together? Sure, he was a few years older than Stasia, but he wasn’t an old man by any stretch of imagination.
“I...uh...” The man practically tripped getting to his feet. “Gotta go.”
And that was it. The guy turned and made a quick retreat to the bar. Roberto could only wonder if he was seeking a drink to calm his nerves or if he was about to try his luck with one of the young women sitting at the bar.
“What did you do that for?” Stasia’s eyes reflected her confusion.
The lack of a smile on her face led him to wonder if he was in trouble. “I saw the guy bothering you.” The guy had been bothering her, hadn’t he? He hadn’t misread her agitation with the young guy, had he? “You weren’t interested in him, were you?”
For a moment, Stasia didn’t respond. Roberto started to worry he was going to have to track that guy down and apologize. That was about the last thing he wanted to do on this trip.
At last, she shook her head. “I think he was hitting on any available woman on the cruise. I tried to tell him I wasn’t interested, but he was the type that didn’t take no for an answer.” And then her gaze narrowed in on him. “And you couldn’t think of any other way to get rid of him other than to act like we’re a couple?”
Roberto smiled. “It worked, didn’t it?”
She sent him a funny look as though she wasn’t sure what to say. Luckily, she didn’t know how that innocent kiss had affected him. He’d make sure not to do that again. Getting sucked into Stasia’s orbit did strange things to his mind.
* * *
Had that just happened?
Stasia resisted the urge to touch her cheek where just moments ago Roberto’s lips had been. They’d known each other for years, but they’d never shared a hug, much less a kiss. Usually, it was a passing hello or a nod of recognition.
And it wasn’t like he was the first man to kiss her cheek. Why was she letting it get to her like this? When he’d kissed her, her heart had pounded, her mouth had gone dry and her palms had dampened. Sheesh! She really needed to get out more.
She assured herself that it was just the shock of Roberto acting like her significant other. It had caught her completely off guard. Everything would be fine now.
Stasia’s mouth suddenly felt dry. She took a large gulp of the strong coffee. That might not have been her brightest idea. She coughed.
Roberto sent her a concerned look. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, then coughed again. “Swallowed the wrong way.”
She took a more conservative sip and it calmed her throat. “I should be going. There’s so much on the ship to explore. I’m not even sure where to begin.”
“They have an app. Did you load it to your phone?” When she looked at him with a blank look, he said, “Could I have your phone?”
She pulled it from a pocket in her black purse and handed it over. He quickly downloaded the app and handed it back to her. “There you go. It’ll give you a schedule so you know what’s available. Oh, I almost forgot. You should switch your phone to airplane mode to avoid premium roaming charges.”
She swiped her finger over the phone until she had the right screen. “Got it.”
“And one more thing. You’ll want to hook up to the ship’s Wi-Fi.”
He talked her through the process, and in no time, she was set to go. “Thank you. I wouldn’t have thought of that. You must go on a lot of cruises.”
“Actually, this is my second. But I do a lot of research. It’s one of my hobbies. I research locations, periods in history, all sorts of things. I guess you could say my mind is filled with all sorts of trivia.”
“That