"We don't need to help?"
"No."She shook her head."Oh, and apparently we get to keep these costumes.They had them made to our measurements so can't use them again."
"And we will?"He wasn't going to think about how he wanted to use Sarah's outfit again.Not if he wanted to be able to walk out of here.
"You never know," she said with a wink.
He laughed.If she only knew.
"Anyway, I'm heading back to the cabin for a shower then I thought I'd order room service.Considering we haven't really done all that much the last few days I'm exhausted.I like the idea of getting in my pjs and hanging out in our room.I'll probably eat out on the balcony."
This was his chance.They could eat dinner together and he could suggest they spend the rest of the cruise exploring the ship and all the ports they were stopping at before returning to Miami on January first."Want some company?"
Eyeing him with suspicion, she took a moment to answer."Are you sure you want to be in the same room as me,alone?"
He deserved that.Although they had been alone each night when he slipped into their cabin late.She might have been unaware of it, but it had still happened."That's a fair question and the answer is yes."
"Hmm..."She folded her arms over her chest, a smirk on her lips."I'll believe it when I see it."
He'd barely opened his mouth, to say what he wasn't sure, but she didn't give him a chance to reply.She hip-checked him then took off for the guy who had been their point of contact for this whole Santa and elf thing.
Asha had to bite his tongue and force himself to stay where he was when the guy's gaze roamed over Sarah, checking her out from head to toe.He couldn't blame the guy.She was every man's wet dream even in an elf costume and he had no claim on her no matter how much it felt as though he did.
And watching another man look at her with desire solidified things for him.
They were going to see where their attraction could go.He'd be a fool not to.She'd been the only woman he'd ever wanted this badly or even thought about a future with.
After his divorce he'd resigned himself to never having the family he'd always wanted.Sarah was the first woman since his ex he could see himself having that with.
And he'd stupidly put all these roadblocks in their way—his age, her age, the fact she worked for him—except none of them really mattered.
He had enough experience to know the chemistry between them was rare—special—and he didn't want to let fear of what others would think of them together derail what could be the most important relationship of his life.
8
Stepping out of the bathroom, Sarah rubbed a towel over her wet hair and said, "All yours."
"Thanks.If you want to order food while I shower, get me a burger.I'm not fussy about what it comes with," Asha said as he stood from where he sat on the edge of the bed waiting for her.
"O-okay."The sight of him had her stumbling over her words and if was a good thing she'd stopped walking because she probably would have stumbled over her feet too.
He'd stripped down to his briefs while she'd been in the shower and with all that bronze skin on display in front of her it was hard to get her brain to work.Or her lungs.
Swallowing, she licked her dry lips."Burger.Right.Drink?"
"Beer?Or whatever.Again, I'm not fussy."Asha stepped around her and into the bathroom, door gripped in his large hand, he glanced over his shoulder and said, "I won't be long."
It wasn't until the door closed between them, the latch clicking into place that she took a full breath.
She'd seen him without a shirt before, a couple of times actually, but none of those times had the same impact as being alone in a room with him did.
He was ripped.Some might consider him old, but not her.His age didn't even factor into her attraction.Or maybe it did.Because he wasn't immature or clueless as to what he wanted from life even if he did have a body to rival someone half his age.
And he definitely wasn't an immature frat-boy college student like the one she'd married thinking he had the same image of their future she did.
Shaking her head, she dislodged thoughts of her ex-husband and moved toward the phone and the room service menu.She needed to get her head out of the past and in the present.
Asha had the right idea, a burger sounded good.A beer too.Maybe after they'd filled their tummies and relaxed a little, she could ask him if he was interested in going on a date.
