Whoa, Nora. Back up a few steps. You’re not looking for that, remember? And neither is he. Which is…kind of perfect…especially because he’s a Leo.
“I’m not expecting to find my soulmate on this ship,” I answer him after a few seconds of silence. “Honestly, I’m not even looking to find my soulmate right now.”
“Then what are you looking for?” he pushes, clearly intrigued.
“I’m not looking for anything. But Gem insists I keep an open mind because the experts are saying this eclipse could make or break a Cancer’s love life.”
Nodding his understanding, he clarifies, “Okay. So, let me get this straight. Your best friend is trying to convince you to find the love of your life on this ship. However, you’re not interested in finding him because you feel like you’re going to be forced into something that you’re not ready for. All because of this magical eclipse and the power it has to make or break your love life, regardless of what you want. Am I right?”
I hate being put on the spot, especially when he hits the nail right on the head, but he doesn’t move a muscle as he waits for me to reply. “Fine. Yes. I guess that pretty much sums it up.”
Gah! I am so drinking the Kool-Aid.
Satisfied with my grudging response, he rests his elbows on the table then leans forward. “Let me make a suggestion. We can both agree that, according to the astrology experts, you and I are not soulmates. Correct?”
Even though my mouth is tilted up, my heart pinches with the knowledge that I might as well cross this guy off the list right now if I’m going to believe what Gem keeps telling me. Which makes me feel like a crazy person because…it’s Gem. And it’s astrology. And it’s a bunch of hoopla that makes me cringe as I consider giving any of it actual merit.
“Yup,” I acknowledge. “According to the stars, you and I are not soulmates, so I guess that’s a pretty accurate statement.”
“Well, then, what if we change my birthday for the week? Just to get Gem off your back. You can convince her you’re giving this whole soulmate thing a very hard try, you think you’ve found him, and everything is exactly as you dreamed it would be.”
“And?”
“And we’ll just enjoy our week together, then go our separate ways. That way, Gem’s concern for her friend’s love life will be put to rest, and we’ll both have a great week with the knowledge that it can’t turn into anything more because we aren’t compatible in an astrological sense. How does that sound?”
I laugh. “It sounds like you’re trying to get laid.”
He joins in before acknowledging, “I’m not going to lie and say I haven’t thought about what you look like naked since our fake proposal at the football stadium. I want you. Plain and simple.” My breath catches before he continues. “But if you weren’t interested, I’d still want to get laid, which puts me in a predicament too because I’m not a dick and don’t want to give any of the other girls on this boat false hope that I’m looking for something when I’m not. And I assume you don’t want to give any sorry saps that Gem sets you up with any false hope, either. To me, my plan sounds like the perfect scenario.”
I consider his proposal from all sides, wondering if there really is a downside to any of it. I get this gorgeous guy to myself for a week. I get Gem off my back. I get to enjoy my time here without the stress of running into my potential mate when I’m not looking for that kind of a connection right now.
Honestly, I can’t see a downside. With another smile, I reach for the heart-shaped pin placed on the edge of the table and set it in Gage’s hand before pinning the second one to my black cocktail dress above my left breast.
Confused, Gage asks, “What the hell does that mean?”
“You really are a crappy listener,” I tease. “Didn’t you hear Gem explain it?”
He shakes his head, not looking the least bit sorry.
“It means I’m in. Let’s have a good week, and we’ll leave it at that.”
“You’re serious?”
“Yup.”
His gaze heats. “Perfect.”
Phone buzzing, Gage pulls it out and reads the message before grimacing.
“Is there a problem?” I ask.
“My buddy, Justin, can’t find his key and thinks he left it in my room. Pretty sure he’s just drunk off his ass and left it in the casino. At least we both paid for the wifi so he can reach me.” He wags his phone back and forth. “I gotta go and help him, though. Would you want to meet up later?”
The hope in his eyes melts the last of my reservations. “I’m actually super tired. This whole planning thing is pretty draining. But maybe we can get together tomorrow?”
“Deal.” Standing up, he presses a quick kiss to my cheek before casually running the pad of his forefinger against the pin on my left breast. “Sweet dreams, Pretty Girl.”
“Sweet dreams.”
7
Nora
“I’m sorry, what’s that?” Gem jumps right into the interrogation as soon as the room empties. Some of the speed dating participants left alone, while others left in pairs. Regardless, everyone was exhausted and has finally given Gem the privacy she was looking for to start her questioning.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I deflect.
“Sure, you don’t,” she mutters under her breath before jabbing me in the red pin attached to my dress. “This.” Jab. “Right.” Jab. “Here.” Jab.
“Oh, this ol’ thang?”
Crossing her arms, she gives me a look that tells me, I’ve got all night. Spill.
I cave in ten seconds flat. “Fiiine. Gage and I were chatting––”
“During the entire speed dating event.
