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He combed her hair away from her face. “I’m going to be very suspicious if they don’t.”
She laughed. “Are you warning me to take lovers who look like you?”
“I don’t want you taking any lovers, no matter how they look.”
She snuggled against him. “I wouldn’t have married you if I hadn’t thought I’d be faithful. Don’t you intend to be?”
“Yes, but don’t change the subject. We’re talking about children.”
She drew her lower lip through her teeth. “I’d like a few. We’d make very pretty and tall babies.”
“Being tall is good, but they’d also be smart.”
“I should have added smart. What about you? Do you have a certain number in mind?”
“No, but a few sounds good.”
“What else didn’t we discus
s?”
He pulled her closer. “We won’t know until it comes up.”
“Hmm…”
Her breathing slowed as she fell back asleep, but a long while passed before his conscience let him close his eyes.
When he woke Wednesday morning, he was alone in the bed and the wheelchair sat outside the bathroom. He threw back the covers and quickly crossed to the door. “Ana, is Marie in there with you?”
She slid open the door a crack and peered out. “Good morning. My vision’s better, and I don’t need her. If you’ll help me put on my mascara, I’ll be ready for the day.”
Her breath smelled of peppermint toothpaste, and she looked so sweetly innocent he swallowed the string of curses hovering on his lips. “At least let me help you back into the wheelchair.”
“I got out and I can get myself back in.”
“If your vision has improved, can you see my face well enough to tell how little I think of that idea?”
“No, but I can imagine it.” She relaxed against the jamb and let him slide open the door. She took his hand to sit down, and waited while he used the bathroom. When he came out, she was right where he had left her.
They spent the morning by the pool. Alejandro swam laps, and Ana relaxed on a chaise longue in her own pretty blue one-piece bathing suit. She recognized the captain’s voice when he greeted her. His white uniform was nearly blinding, but today she could see his blue eyes. “Good morning, Captain. I’m enjoying doing absolutely nothing, but I suppose you’re always busy.”
“Always.” He sat down on the end of the chaise beside hers. “Your husband is a fine swimmer.”
“Yes, he is, but let’s hope he doesn’t have to rescue us if the ship sinks.”
Reyes’s laughter caught Alejandro’s notice, and he swam to the end of the pool.
“What’s so funny?”
“Your wife made a joke about the Siren sinking, which it won’t. The Ortiz Line has never lost a ship, and the Siren won’t be the first.”
“I suppose it was in poor taste,” Ana remarked.
“It’s all right in port,” Alejandro replied. “Just don’t do it when the ship’s crowded with passengers who could be frightened.”
The captain stood. “Good advice. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.”
“Thank you.” Ana waited until she was certain the man had gone. “He wasn’t flirting,” she whispered.
