Lawyer Sasha Carson is reluctantly on a cruise with her best friend. She hates being on a floating city with no land in sight. The last thing she expects to find is Manuel Alfonso. When she meets him at the elevator, she can barely control herself, but knows Manuel is the kind of man who can break her heart, body and soul.
Manuel Alfonso is on the cruise with his little brother to get away from home and his responsibilities. When he sees Sasha, he wants her. He knows Sasha feels something for him, too, but there’s something in her fighting their attraction. To make matters worse, he has a secret that threatens to end their little love games before it gets good.
What will it take for Sasha to let Manuel in, and to let love reign?
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Cruise With Me
Copyright © 2011 Kendra Mei Chailyn
ISBN: 978-1-55487-909-0
Cover art by Martine Jardin
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
Published by Devine Destinies
An imprint of eXtasy Books
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www.devinedestinies.com
Smashwords Edition
Cruise With Me
By
Kendra Mei Chailyn
Dedication
To SC,
Sorry I thought you were stuck up. I hope this makes you smile and here’s to all the places we can go.
Chapter One
Sasha Carson suddenly didn’t feel so well. The more she thought about what she was about to do, the more she felt ill. She exited the shuttle bus with her purse clutched to her side and peered at the giant ship across the way. She knew she needed a vacation, but damn it, Anna could have picked something a little less—floating. She couldn’t swim and the last thing she wanted was to be on board a floating city in the middle of the ocean with no land in sight. Who came up with that bright idea? That wasn’t vacation at all—a cruise was more like attempted suicide. Sasha knew precisely what Anna would say to that thought. Ugh, Sash, stop being such a drama queen!
She swallowed and allowed her best friend to take her hand. Breathe, Sash. You’ve prosecuted some of most dangerous criminals in the country without batting an eyelid. Surely, you can conquer a stupid cruise.
She hauled in a breath, lifted her chin and took the first step toward what was no doubt going to be a terrifying experience. This was all because she had made a stupid promise. Sasha had promised Anna that as soon as she could get her practice up and running, they would go on a trip that Anna would pick. Sasha should have known the blonde walking beside her with the grin on her face would choose a cruise. Anna had only been obsessed with ships since…well as long as they’d known each other. The only good thing about the cruise idea was that their luggage would be waiting for them in their suite and they didn’t have to lug suitcases around.
“You don’t have to be so nervous,” Anna chided. “It’s only a ship.”
“Easy for you to say,” Sasha muttered. “You can swim.”
They crossed the parking lot and headed into the small building to be checked in before they were even allowed anywhere near the floating city. Sasha’s heart slammed against her chest and she visibly winced.
I can do this. I can do this.
After the crew checked their papers, the two were allowed in through a set of turnstiles, down a small, flower-lined walkway and then were stopped once more to check their tickets and finally, allowed to board the ship. Sasha gripped the rail because her knees were shaking too badly. Her stomach did a slight heave and she held her breath, hoping to settle it before anything happened.
“Can we find our room? I’m suddenly not feeling so well,” Sasha admitted.
It wasn’t to be rude or a stick in the mud—she really did feel like her breakfast was about to make a second appearance. Anna must have seen the look on her face because her friend nodded and quickly consulted a map, then a porter and soon they were on their way, up a glass elevator toward their room.