Love and Fire by Katie Ingersoll Page B

finished for him.  “I own that book!”  She looked
at him carefully.  “You know that Paola was sick, right?  You didn’t force her
to kill herself.” 
    “Didn’t
I?”  His face twisted for a moment.  Tammy wasn’t sure if he was going to yell
at her, or start to cry.  “I should have been better to her.  I was just a
horny dog, out doing what I wanted.” 
    “True. 
Maybe you should have been better to her, but you didn’t cause her to be sick. 
Depression, anxiety, whatever; they are disorders, sickness of the mind.” 
    Jake
studied her with sad eyes.  Remarkable.  She should be running away
screaming by now.  He stood and held his hand out to her.  “If you’re
finished, you should run up to your cabin and get your suit.” 
    Tammy
nodded and finished her coffee quickly.  It meant a great deal to her that he
had opened up.  She hoped his philandering ways were behind him, if they were
going to see each other beyond the cruise.  There’s enough time to think
about that later. 
     
    If
Tammy thought the Camuy caves were beautiful, it paled in comparison to the
beach Jake took her to for snorkeling.  White sands and impossibly blue water
was what she saw when they arrived.  He had already arranged for a boat to take
them to the reef.  The instructor would dive with them.  He was patient with
Tammy, explaining the dos and don’ts.  Jake had snorkeled several times, and
just stood  back and watched. 
    She
had a brown one piece swimsuit that looked like bronze as the sunlight hit it. 
How refreshing to see an attractive woman wear a swimsuit that accentuated
rather than revealed.  Her cleavage was definitely showing for a change, and
Jake had to divert his eyes often.  Her body caused an automatic reaction in
him that he hadn’t experienced in a while.  Sex was just something he did;
sometimes for a release of frustration, sometimes just because he was lonely. 
Looking at Tammy he didn’t just want sex, he wanted to make love to her.  He
didn’t know when she would be ready for that, but he was positive it would be well
worth the wait. 
    Once
in the water he was delighted to see how well she took to it.  She grinned and
pointed like a child.  When a large sea turtle swam past them, he thought she
was going to follow it out to sea.  She kept reaching for its cream and black
spotted fins.  It was the only time while they were in the water that the
instructor had to shake his head no and stop her from doing something. 
    Every
little thing, every color, caught her eye and seemed to mesmerize her.  Jake
couldn’t have thought of a better outing for her. 
    As
they sat side by side on the boat heading over the short of distance to shore,
he loosely laid his arm across her shoulders and listened to her talk
animatedly about all they had seen. 
    “The
colors, Jake; I just don’t have words to describe them!” 
    He
lightly pinched her chin with his thumb and forefinger.  “Maybe now you can
create that painting.”  
    “Yes! 
I would like to look for some postcards before we head back to the ship.” 
    “We
can do whatever you like for the rest of the day.” 
    She
smiled back at him and if she could have read his mind she would have heard, I’ll
do anything you want, for as long as you want.  
     
    Jake
and Tammy ate lunch after the boat dropped them off.  The café was another of
the more outdoor than indoor sort in the heart shaped Magens Bay. 
    Tammy
leaned back in her chair and sighed contentedly.  I wish we could stay here for
the rest of the cruise.  It’s so beautiful.” 
    “Tomorrow
is our last port stop.  The next two days after are at sea as we sail back to
Miami.”  Jake said with a frown. 
    “You
seem sad.”
    “I
am.  I thought this would be the longest six days of my life after I was on
board.  Then I met you.  It changed things.” 
    “I
understand.” 
    “Do
you?” 
    “Yes.” 
    “I
want to see you again after the