Carmen awakened with a start, feeling a throbbing headache that seemed to threaten to split her head in two. The sound of the ocean and the shower running somewhere in the distance echoed in her ears, making the pounding in her head worse. She groaned and rolled over in the bed, pulling the covers over her head, hoping to block out the noise.
But then she heard it again—the sound of the shower.
Suddenly, her eyes flew open, wide as saucers. She sat up in her bed, panting heavily, trying to comprehend what was happening. She searched her surroundings frantically, only to feel a sense of relief wash over her when she realized she was in her own suite, and not in someone else's room. Her mind was already clouded with a heavy hangover, and being in a stranger's room would have added to her confusion.
Despite this realization, there was still a puzzle to be solved: why was the shower running in the bathroom?
Was it Simon who had turned it on? Had he taken her back to her room after she passed out by the pool? Had he followed her after she stormed out of his room?
Carmen's heart ached as she thought about it. The conversation from the previous night flashed before her eyes, and she regretted not listening to her instincts and declining to stay on the cruise. Staying had only brought her more pain and hurt. Who would have thought Simon would turn out to be such a liar? The man who had been so kind and accepting of her had a weird connection with none other than Jenna Rivers. The mere thought of it made Carmen feel sick to her stomach.
Carmen couldn't help but wonder about the connection between Simon and Jenna. Why did Simon help her escape from the wedding? Were they in a romantic relationship? Had Jenna somehow convinced him to assist her with her crocodile tears? Despite Jenna's reputation and Simon's shrewdness, it seemed highly improbable. Unlike Ronin, whose childhood love for Jenna had blinded him to her true nature, Simon was far more perceptive. It was impossible for him to fall for someone like Jenna, she thought to herself.
But then again, she couldn't shake off the feeling that maybe she was wrong. Maybe he had just used Jenna like he used her.
There was that saying after all, "Once a liar, always a liar."
Carmen shook her head, trying to push those negative thoughts out of her mind. She didn't want to think about Simon and Jenna anymore. Instead, she needed to focus on getting herself together and figuring out what to do next. If possible, she needed to find out the next port on the route and get the hell out of this cruise.
But…she still needed to find out who the hell was in her shower.
Carmen swung her legs over the side of the bed, feeling a sudden wave of nausea hit her. The room spun around her, and her head throbbed with a dull ache. She groaned and rubbed her temples, trying to shake off the hangover. She shouldn't have gotten drunk so much. It always fried her brain and left her feeling like a wrung-out dishcloth.
Somehow, she stumbled towards the bathroom, but she barely landed a knock on the door when the knob turned and someone pulled open the door. Carmen gasped as she came face to face with a pair of the most beautiful brown eyes. It was like staring into a bottomless pool of melted chocolate.
Her breath hitched in her throat as she tried to peel her gaze away from his face, but couldn't. His features were chiseled and sharp, his jawline defined and strong. A hint of stubble dusted his chin and upper lip, making him look rugged and masculine.
Her heart raced like a maniac underneath her chest, and her legs suddenly felt like jelly. Carmen struggled to keep her balance, gripping onto the door frame for support. The man stood there, looking at her with an unreadable expression etched on his face. His gaze seemed to be searching her for some sort of answer, but Carmen was too lost in his mesmerizing eyes to form any coherent thoughts.
"What are you doing here?" she blurted out, her legs trembling beneath her.
But before Carmen could even register his response, her legs buckled beneath her, and she braced herself for the impact of the hard floor. The room spun around her, the scent of alcohol still heavy in the air, and she felt dizzy and disoriented. Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her, holding her steady and preventing her from falling. It was Ronin, and his touch sent shivers down her spine.
With the strength and agility of a seasoned athlete, Ronin lifted Carmen into his arms, and she felt her heart skip a beat as she looked up into his deep brown eyes. She couldn't believe that this man, who had been so cold and distant to her before, was now holding her so tenderly. He carried her across the room with effortless grace, as if she weighed nothing at all, and gently laid her down on the soft sheets of the bed.
As he turned to leave, Carmen's gaze followed him, watching as he walked into the small dining room. She heard the sound of running water and the clinking of glasses, and wondered what he was doing.
Moments later, Ronin returned with a glass of water and a small white tablet in his hand. He held out the glass and tablet to her, his eyes gentle and concerned.
"Here. It will help," he said softly, his fingers brushing hers as she took the glass and tablet from him.
Within seconds of swallowing the tablet, Carmen felt a wave of relief wash over her. The throbbing in her head began to subside, and she felt the tension in her body start to loosen. She took a deep breath, savoring the feeling of coolness in her throat as she handed the glass back to Ronin.
As he took it from her, their fingers brushed again, sending a jolt of electricity through her body. She couldn't help but notice how warm his skin felt against hers, how strong and calloused his fingers were. She wondered what it would feel like to have his hands on her skin, tracing every curve and dip.
But the moment passed as Ronin took the glass away and set it on the bedside table. He turned to leave, his eyes avoiding hers.
Carmen felt the urge to speak up and demand an explanation from him about why he was in her room, but at the same time, she found herself intrigued by the new side of him that he was revealing. She had always thought of him as cold and aloof, but now he seemed to be capable of showing care and concern. Carmen was unsure of how to react to this new version of Ronin, and it left her feeling somewhat perplexed.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart, and looked at Ronin with a mix of confusion and curiosity. She had always seen him as a tough, no-nonsense guy, but now there was a hint of vulnerability in his eyes that she had never seen before.
Ronin must have sensed her hesitation, as he took a step back, his expression turning guarded once again. Carmen noticed how the shadows danced across his face, highlighting his sharp features, as he stood there in silence. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment that he was pulling away from her once again.
"Well, I must say, passing out by the pool is quite the classy move," he rolled his eyes, arms crossed on his chest. "Next time you decide to indulge, make sure to have a five-course meal beforehand, won't you?"
As Ronin made his way towards the door, Carmen's heart sank with shame, her cheeks flushing with heat. She felt an overwhelming desire for the ground to open up and swallow her whole, just to escape the embarrassment of the situation.
But as he reached for the doorknob, Ronin paused and glanced back at her. Carmen could feel his eyes piercing into hers, and she couldn't help but feel a jolt of electricity run through her body.
Ronin's voice dripped with annoyance. "Make sure to remind Mr. Walsh to take better care of his woman," he said with a hint of sarcasm. "Otherwise, who knows who will be there to hold your hair back the next time you hurl your guts out." he said, before disappearing through the door.
Carmen's face was already heated before, but now it was burning. She couldn't believe it had actually happened. Had she been so drunk and out of control that she needed him to take her to her room and hold her hair while she threw up? This was a difficult fact for Carmen to accept.
However, it wasn't the only thing that bothered her. The moment she saw her ex-husband, Ronin, she couldn't shake the other fact from her mind. Ronin had not only helped her when she was at her most vulnerable, but he had also touched her without any hesitation.
She recalled the only time Ronin had held her hand during their wedding, which was at the behest of his mother, who was attempting to capture a photo of them together. Despite her mother-in-law's best efforts, Ronin had recoiled at the sight of Carmen, and his face had twisted in disgust.
Carmen was filled with bitterness as the memory resurfaced, but before she could push it away, the door to her suite suddenly burst open and Simon stormed in. He looked furious, his jaw clenched tightly as his eyes bore into hers.
Carmen couldn't help but flinch at Simon's anger, realizing that she had never seen him so mad before. Simon seemed to notice her reaction and ran a hand down his face in frustration.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," he said softly, moving to sit next to her on the bed and stroking her cheek. "Where were you last night? I looked everywhere for you."
Carmen was taken aback by Simon's sudden change in tone, but she also felt a twinge of annoyance. It was clear that he hadn't actually searched for her in her own suite, and she couldn't help but roll her eyes at his lie.
"Please," Carmen said, pushing his hand away. "Don't touch me. And maybe you should consider knocking on the door first the next time you decide to barge in."
Simon looked confused by her reaction, but he let out a sigh. "Carmen, you can't stay mad at me forever. I know I hid things, but trust me, it was for your own good."
Carmen couldn't hold back her frustration any longer. "Unless you give me a valid reason for why you helped Jenna run away, I don't want to hear it—"
"You know I can't tell you, Carmen. You're not ready for the truth," Simon frowned, wanting her to understand. "Not yet."
Carmen felt the same hurt and irritation from the night before creeping up her spine. She stood up from the bed, her hangover much better than before.
"Well, then," she said, showing him the door. "I guess we have nothing more to talk about."