Jingle All the Way Read online

  * * *

  —

  Asher seldom had trouble sleeping. Being on the river relaxed him and it was rare for it to take more than a few minutes for him to drift into slumber. This night, however, his mind raced with the speed of a high-powered car in the Indy 500. He couldn’t stop thinking about how good it had felt to hold Daisy. He’d been half out of his mind with the thought of her lost in the jungle. Yet when he found her, she was cool and calm, thinking it was the experience of a lifetime. Yes, she was embarrassed that she had inconvenienced others; he could appreciate her concern, but like he’d reminded her, none of what happened was her fault.

  While she’d been ill, he’d enjoyed spending time with her, going above and beyond anything he would normally have done for another under-the-weather passenger. She made him forget his awkwardness and put him at ease. Somewhere along the way he grew comfortable with her and free to share his life and a few stories of where the Explorer cruises had taken him around the world. She seemed genuinely interested and asked him question after question until he forgot to be nervous. He enjoyed their three-questions game, and had learned a lot about her life, too, her drive and ambition, the fact that she felt like the odd man out with her family. It seemed natural to talk and laugh with her. Repeatedly he had to remind himself that in another few days, she would disembark and return to her life. Nothing was going to happen in the time they had left. Once she was gone, nothing would change and life would go on as before.

  After an hour of tossing and turning, seeking out a comfortable position, Asher decided to get up. He quickly dressed and decided he’d seek out a book in the library area, which was in an alcove off the main meeting room. Most of the nonfiction ones he’d read several times over. The fiction paperbacks were those left behind by guests. Asher was in the mood for a story, thinking reading might help put him to sleep.

  As he entered the small alcove, he noticed someone else was sitting on the bench there. His heart sped up when he realized it was Daisy.

  She looked up when she noticed he’d joined her. She sat on the bench with her long legs tucked to one side and had a blanket wrapped around her.

  “You couldn’t sleep, either?” he asked, sitting down next to her.

  “No. My head was spinning, thinking about today. I had such a lovely time, despite everything. Is that what’s keeping you awake?”

  “I hadn’t given it much thought. Possibly. I normally don’t have trouble sleeping. I find being on the water soothing.”

  “I do, too, although tonight is the exception.”

  Sitting down next to her, he reached for her hand. His heart seemed to be jumping up and down in his chest like it was on a trampoline. He was sure his face was heated. He was grateful the alcove was in the shadows.

  Her fingers tightened around his. “Thank you, Asher, for finding us.”

  “All part of the service offered aboard the Amazon Explorer.” No way would he have gone back to the boat and left her and Jimmy behind.

  The tension between them grew thick, and, unsure what it meant or what he should do, he asked, “Why are you out here instead of in your room?”

  “After spending an entire week in my stateroom, I thought I’d come here.”

  “I’m glad you did.”

  “I’m glad you’re here.”

  He smiled at her.

  “You mentioned the first night of the cruise that your brother lives in Chicago. Do you ever visit?” she asked with a hopeful lilt.

  He looked down at their joined hands. “On occasion. Like I mentioned earlier, I’m uncomfortable in the city.”

  “Oh.”

  “I have a contract with the Amazon Explorer that pretty much ties me up. It’s hard for me to get away for any length of time.”

  “I see.”

  Her disappointment was hard to miss; he felt he should explain. “By the time I fly back to the States, it’s almost time to return.”

  “That makes sense.”

  He hoped that was regret he heard in her voice. Already his mind was looking for ways to make an exception, find a way. He quickly dismissed the thought. When Daisy left the cruise, that was it. The end. No need to involve his heart, because in the end there was no way they would be able to blend their two worlds.

  “My brother’s been after me for a while to visit, but he’s always busy. I did mention that he’s a heart surgeon, didn’t I?”

  “You did. If I ever experience heart troubles I’ll know where to go,” she said.

  At the moment, Asher felt in desperate need of a heart specialist. “Daisy,” he said, his voice low and full of emotion. “Today.”

  “Yes?”

  “I…I couldn’t bear not knowing what had happened to you.”

  “Well, yes,” she said, making light of his comment. “Losing a passenger wouldn’t look good on your job résumé.”

  He frowned. “It’s more than keeping my job. With you, it’s personal.” Unable to resist her a moment longer, he gathered her in his arms and kissed her. He could tell she was surprised at first, because she tensed before she relaxed. Her arms went around his neck and she scooted up to her knees and leaned in to him. He ravaged her mouth, unable to get enough of her, taste enough of her. How long they kissed he didn’t know. When they drew apart, Daisy pressed her forehead to his and released a deep sigh. He closed his eyes and continued to hold her. This woman. He didn’t know what it was about her, but she drew him in unlike anyone he’d ever known.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Everly barely slept. Asher had kissed her, and it had been wonderful. Better than wonderful. It’d been years since she’d felt anything close to what she had when Asher pulled her into his arms. She felt giddy just thinking about it.

  Her entire life she’d hated her name. It made her sound like her family had picked her up at a plant nursery. Several times between kisses Asher had softly whispered her name. Even though she’d told him she went by Everly, he continued to call her Daisy. He’d made it sound like one of the most beautiful words in the English language. When he said it in that special way she could almost get to like her given name.

  Staring up at the ceiling in her tiny stateroom, Everly closed her eyes and let the memory of the closeness she’d felt toward him wash over her. Now that it was morning, she could barely wait to see him again, barely wait to tell him how much his kisses had meant to her.

  By the time the captain’s voice came over the loudspeaker system, announcing it was time to rise for breakfast, Everly was up, dressed, and ever-so-eager to see Asher. She needed to know if he felt the same way she did. They’d sat and talked for hours, then kissed and talked some more.

  To her disappointment, Asher wasn’t at breakfast. Breakfast and lunch were served buffet-style. Once she had filled her plate with scrambled eggs, bacon, and an English muffin, she took her seat at an empty table, hoping if Asher did arrive that he would choose to join her.

  Janice Brown came to sit with her and was followed by her husband. “We so enjoyed the piano playing last night. You said it had been some time since you’d played, but it didn’t show,” the older woman said after taking a seat and neatly spreading her paper napkin across her lap.

  “Yes…I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed it. I don’t have a piano in my condo. I played quite a bit growing up. Our family is musical. All my siblings play one instrument or another.”

  “That’s wonderful.”

  Janice’s comments reminded Everly of the fun she’d had with her musically talented family over the years. It was where she fit in most. She might not be able to compete on a soccer field, but she could race her fingers up and down a keyboard with the best of them. One tradition she’d enjoyed was the Christmas Eve hayride the entire family took through town, singing beloved carols to shut-ins and first responders, along with family and friends. The previous C
hristmas she’d chosen work over spending time with her siblings. A decision she regretted.

  “It’s good to see that you’ve recovered from your adventures from yesterday,” David said.

  Everly brightened and sat up straighter. “It was amazing to meet those warriors and get a glimpse of their culture. I believe getting lost in the rainforest might possibly be the highlight of my Amazon adventure.”

  “We were all quite worried about you,” Janice said, as she delicately spread strawberry jam across her toast.

  “None more than Asher,” her husband added. “He’s quite levelheaded normally, but that went out the window when he realized you were missing.”

  Everly felt a chill of excitement race down her spine. Surely Asher would be concerned about any passenger who appeared to be lost in the rainforest, but she couldn’t help but feel that with her it was personal.

  “That’s not normally how he responds, and we should know,” Janice added.

  “How do you mean?”

  David answered. “Five years ago, Janice and I were on an Antarctica cruise and Asher was the naturalist aboard the ship. It was the experience of a lifetime.”

  Nodding, Janice agreed. “David and I signed up with only a handful of others to go kayaking.”

  “In Antarctica?” Everly was shocked.

  “Yes,” Janice said, smiling proudly. “It was the most exciting thing I’ve ever done. David talked me into it, and I was glad he did, especially when I consider what happened.”

  “I can’t even imagine doing such a thing,” Everly said, and she meant it. Give her a cozy spot in front of the fireplace with a good book and she was happy.

  “Oh, it was quite the adventure. The worst part for me was transfering from the Zodiac into the kayak and then from the kayak back into the Zodiac,” Janice said.

  “You’re getting us sidetracked, honey,” David said, cutting her off.

  “Sorry, dear. I tend to do that.”

  David gently patted her hand.

  “What I wanted to tell you was that Asher was the head of our group and while we were in the water a pod of whales surrounded us. I don’t remember being more frightened in my life,” Janice said, trembling slightly with the memory.

  “I don’t think there was one of us who wasn’t terrified of what could happen.”

  Janice placed her hand over her heart. “My biggest fear was getting tossed out of the kayak and into the frigid waters…Of course, we had on protective watertight gear…Still, the possibility left me terrified. Only heaven knows what those huge whales would have done once we were flapping around in the icy waters. They might have viewed us as their next meal.”

  “It must have been horrifying,” Everly said. It certainly wasn’t a situation she’d ever want to experience.

  “Like I said, Asher was with us and handled the situation beautifully,” David said.

  “He was wonderful,” Janice agreed with a nod.

  “He calmly had us form a circle together and told us to remain stationary with our oars out of the water. He spoke to us, soothing our fears, and said we should enjoy this rare opportunity of viewing whales in the wild.”

  “Once we relaxed and the orcas swam up close to our circle, we were able to observe these marvelous creatures in a way few will ever have the opportunity to experience.”

  “It was magnificent,” Janice said.

  “It was the highlight of our trip,” David concurred.

  Janice smiled. “Christmas card–worthy. The best part was that David was able to get photos!”

  “My point is,” David continued, “Asher was completely calm through that entire episode. Yet when he discovered you were missing yesterday, he was beside himself with worry, barking orders, asking questions. It left us all shaken because we know he generally is a rock in these types of situations.”

  Everly smiled, hoping to hide how pleased his reaction made her feel. He did care about her above how he would for another passenger. When he’d held and kissed her, he’d repeatedly mentioned how alarmed he’d been when he realized she was lost. Remembering his words warmed her romantic heart, the very heart that had lain dormant for far too long.

  “I believe Asher is quite taken with you,” Janice said, lowering her voice to a whisper. “And I, for one, think it’s delightful. You’re both young and unattached. While we don’t know you well, we’ve had the opportunity to spend time with Asher twice now and we both think he’s a wonderful young man.”

  Everly blushed like a schoolgirl. She was out of her element; if Jack or anyone in the office at Easy Home could see her now, they wouldn’t believe she was the same woman. To hide her pleasure, she paid close attention to her breakfast.

  “Janice,” David warned, “you’re making Daisy uncomfortable. We need to change the subject.”

  “I apologize, Daisy.”

  “Nonsense,” Everly said. The two had made her morning.

  In an obvious change of subject, Janice asked, “What are your plans for this Christmas? It’ll be here before you know it.”

  “I’m heading to Indiana to be with family.” She regretted being away from them the last couple years.

  “That’s great.”

  “It’s a little hectic. All my siblings are married with children. It’s a madhouse for sure, but my parents wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “You’re sure to have a marvelous time.”

  “What about the two of you?” Everly asked, certain the couple was like her own family-orientated parents.

  “Our son and daughter and our five grandchildren will be joining us. We were on a cruise last Christmas and I don’t think they’ll ever forgive us.”

  “We promised not to do that again,” David said, chuckling softly. “You’d think we’d disinherited the children from the way they acted.”

  “Was it another Explorer expedition?” The Browns seemed to enjoy these cruises, and like nearly everyone else, this wasn’t their first adventure with the company.

  “Not this time; we went the luxury route on one of those fancy cruise ships from Singapore to Hong Kong, and it was splendid. I’d do it again, just not over Christmas.”

  The purser’s voice came over the speaker and announced that Asher would be giving another lecture and asked for everyone to gather in the meeting area in fifteen minutes.

  * * *

  —

  Asher knew he should never have kissed Daisy. He’d lowered his guard and did the very thing he swore he wouldn’t do: become emotionally involved with Daisy. If he was looking for an excuse, he’d blame his lack of discipline on the stress of that afternoon, when he discovered her missing. When he’d gone down for the night, his mind refused to rest. All he could think about was Daisy and the relief he felt when she’d been found. He hadn’t even realized Jimmy was missing until someone pointed it out. All he could focus on was Daisy.

  His mistake was venturing into the meeting area. Or more specifically, not going back to his room when he found Daisy there. He’d had no idea she would be curled up reading there. It had been a weak moment, the two of them alone, moonlight spilling over her. He couldn’t imagine any woman more beautiful than Daisy in that instant. He knew he was going to kiss her, knew he wouldn’t be able to stop himself, and so he’d given in to the impulse and woke with a hundred regrets.

  Nothing would come of this short fling. In another five days she would be out of his life and he would be out of hers. The attraction they felt toward each other was situational and would quickly fade. If he wasn’t careful, things could easily get out of hand, and that was something Asher fully intended to avoid.

  Unsure how best to deal with what he’d started, he spent a good portion of what remained of the night arguing with himself. By morning, he decided his only option was to put as much distance between himself and
Daisy as the cruise allowed.

  No more surreptitious glances. No more seeking her out at mealtimes. No more lengthy chats. And definitely no more kissing. It wouldn’t be easy. Even in this short amount of time, he’d grown accustomed to her company and enjoyed it more than he wanted to admit. He needed to start now. Today.

  Coward that he was, he skipped breakfast, fearing Daisy would be too much of a temptation. He spent the time he was normally at breakfast building up his resolve to avoid her as much as possible while still maintaining a friendly camaraderie. When the time arrived to give his lecture, he was ready to face Daisy.

  * * *

  —

  Everly sat in the first row, front and center, for the lecture, eager to see Asher. For his previous lectures, she’d sat in the middle. Choosing a position in the front row was sure to relay the message that she was eager to see him.

  The room filled up quickly with the other passengers before he appeared. Her wish was that when he saw her, he’d acknowledge her with a smile and talk to her before he started his lecture.

  He didn’t. In fact, he acted as if she was invisible.

  “Good morning,” he said, smiling and looking out over the group. He seemed to have a warm welcome for everyone but her.

  Unable to hide her disappointment, Everly looked down at her hands. The woman sitting in the chair next to her brought out her knitting. Everly wished she’d had something to occupy herself, as she felt like she was naked. She needed something that would take her mind off the way Asher had ignored her.

  “This morning I’d like to talk to you about the animals you can expect to see this afternoon as we slowly traverse the river.”

  “Dangerous ones?”

  Everly welcomed the question. True, she had an irrational fear of spiders, but that wasn’t all. Snakes were by far her biggest fear. Her brothers had taken delight in chasing her with garden snakes. Every time she ran across one, she’d scream like the barn had caught fire. Her father would come running and Jeff and John would dissolve into laughter. She could only imagine the dangerous snakes that populated the Amazon.