Page 2 of Deadly Waves

“We could do both,” Mandy suggested. “We could roll around while you’re telling me about the surprise.”

The idea held some merit, but James knew she would have a million things to do once he confessed and he didn’t want their playtime cut short before it even got started. He would save that for when they were in their hot tub instead of the guesthouse later that night.

“I’m going to just tell you instead,” James said. “Something tells me you’re going to put a to-do list together in the next five minutes and loving me is going to be an afterthought.”

Mandy shook her head. “Loving you is always my first thought.”

“And that’s why you get surprises,” James said, kissing her cheek before pulling his head back. He wanted to see her face when he told her the big news. “How do you feel about going on vacation?”

“I love going on vacation,” Mandy replied. “We’re going on vacation in the fall, though. We’re going to New Zealand. Er, you didn’t forget, did you?”

James smiled. How could he forget that trip? She’d surprised him at Christmas with a new camera and plane tickets. “I would never forget our big adventure,” he said. “I’m trying to see if I can find a way for us to actually spend the night in a hobbit hole.”

Mandy pressed her lips together and raised her eyebrows, making the expression he loved most in her repertoire. He would never tire of any of her expressions, but that one made his dreams a happy place.

“This is a different vacation,” James said. “It actually came up because of work, but when I was approached, I immediately thought of you.”

“You immediately think of me all of the time,” Mandy said, resting her hand on James’ wrist. “What’s the surprise?”

She was like a kid on Christmas morning. She couldn’t wait to rip off the paper herself so she wanted someone to spoil the gift for her.

“Give me a kiss and I’ll tell you,” James prodded, grinning.

Mandy made an outraged face. “James!”

“I can’t tell you without a kiss,” James said. “My memory isn’t what it used to be. I need a kiss to refresh it.”

“You suck,” Mandy muttered as she rolled up to the balls of her feet and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth.

James cupped the back of her head and held her there, deepening the kiss before releasing her. He almost lost his mind and forgot the surprise during the exchange, but he knew she would never allow that. “What were we talking about?”

Mandy didn’t miss the hint of merriment in his expression. “Tell me now!”

James barked out a laugh. She was impatient. It wasn’t one of her finer traits and yet he loved it all the same. “We’re going on a cruise.”

Mandy stilled, the words taking her by surprise. “Really?”

James couldn’t decide if she was processing or disappointed. “Unless you don’t want to.”

“No, I want to,” Mandy said hurriedly. “It’s just … what if we sink and the sharks get us?”

James snorted. Of course her mind would go there first. His wife was both in love with and terrified of sharks. She had shark everything – including slippers and panties – and yet she was afraid to get in the ocean on their honeymoon because she was convinced she would get eaten.

“Never change, wife,” James said, his expression momentarily earnest before he returned to the fun of the afternoon. “The cruise ship is not going to sink. I promise. If it does, I’ll be there to protect you from the sharks.”

“Will you punch them?”

“Maybe.”

“This is kind of exciting,” Mandy said, her eyes wide as she contemplated the possibilities. “I’ve never been on a cruise before.”

“I haven’t either,” James said. “I think it will be a fun experience for us to share.”

“But … you said it was for work,” Mandy said. “Will I get to see you?”

“This is a new cruise ship line,” James explained. “The owner wants us to run security protocol during the first trip. He’s set up special suites for us.”

Mandy narrowed her eyes. “Us?”