"No you don't. Can you imagine how much trouble I'd be in if you fell?" she asked, smiling to take the heat out of the scolding.
"All right." Kate lowered herself to the deck but stood on her tiptoes. After five minutes of not seeing anything, she turned away from the railing. "Let's go see if Uncle Ade and George have finished eating yet." Without waiting for Libby's response, she moved down the steps.
As Libby followed she felt someone looking at her and met Adrian's eyes from across on the second deck. He smiled at her and she almost missed her step. Catching herself before she fell, she continued down. Kate hadn't seen him, she was so sure they were in the cabin, and was about to head down the next flight of steps.
"Kate!"
Kate turned and Libby pointed to Adrian and George. Kate changed direction and moved to where the two men were lounging against the railing, talking. Libby paused, admiring the way Adrian stood, leaning back against the railing, his feet crossed. He was relaxed and comfortable.
As she approached she noticed that the teenager standing next to Adrian was wearing a Kent Downer T-shirt. When she got closer, she heard the boy talking about how awesome the concert had been and how he'd love to meet Kent.
Adrian was listening to the teenager, a smile across his face. It must be great to hear the praise and still have your anonymity. The best of both worlds.
Libby joined them and Adrian shifted a little so she could be part of the circle.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if you look to the port side of the boat, you'll see a whale. For those of you non-nautical people, that's the left side of the boat," a voice announced over the loudspeaker.
There was a stampede to the left as passengers rushed to see the whale.
Kate was one of the first, and surprisingly George was right behind her. Libby wasn't sure whether he was concerned for Kate's safety or just as eager as she was. From the grin on his face as he turned to see where they were, she suspected it was the latter.
By this time there was no room left at the railing. She turned to Adrian. "Don't you want to see them?"
"I'd prefer to spend the time with you." He tugged her closer so they were standing facing each other. He brushed a stray bit of hair out of her face. "Have you recovered from your scare?"
Libby nodded, her mouth dry. How could one person affect her so much?
Adrian brushed his lips against hers, a soft whisper of a touch. "Do you want to see the whales?" he asked.
"I've seen whales before," she answered.
He seemed intrigued. "You've been whale watching before?"
"I used to go out fishing as a kid. Sometimes we'd see whales or dolphins."
"With your family?"
"No, with my friend Piper's family on their boat."
"Your parents didn't fish?"
Libby laughed. "Fishing is not the fashionable thing to do."
Adrian checked to make sure George was still with Kate and then pointed to the empty seats on the right side of the boat. "Let's get a seat while we can."
They sat next to each other, their thighs touching. Libby took a breath of the fresh harbor air and sighed. "I'd forgotten how much I like to be out on the water."
"Did you used to go out a lot?"
"Almost every weekend in summer, until Piper moved back to Texas when I was twelve."
Adrian's forehead crinkled. "Didn't your parents miss you?"
Libby laughed, but it was a cynical laugh. "They were always working or off having lunch with their friends, so I don't think they even realized I wasn't at home."
"What about your brothers and sisters? Have you got any?"
"Older brother and sister. They're both quite a bit older than I am. I was the mistake." She said it lightly, but it still hurt to know the truth. She'd messed up their nice, neat nuclear family, and though no one said it in as many words, it had been obvious she was an accidental afterthought. There was a ten-year gap between Libby and her brother. Not wanting to dwell on her own family, she asked, "What about your family? Any regular weekend outings?"
She'd never seen someone shut down so fast. One moment Adrian was smiling at her and the next his face was wiped of all emotion. "No." He glanced away. "We really should get a look at the whales. Come on." He stood and offered her his hand.
Libby wondered whether she should push the issue. No, now wasn't the right time. It wasn't something he wanted to confide in her. She ignored the stab of hurt. They had agreed theirs was to be a casual relationship. She forced a smile and let him help her up. "Sure."
His hand trembled in hers, his whole body tense. She rubbed her thumb over the back of his hand as they walked across the deck. He glanced at her and she put all the openness and support she could into her smile. Some of the tightness released and his eyes lost their shuttered look.
Still, he wasn't going to open up here.
***
Both Kate and George had their cameras out, snapping shots of the whales as they breached the surface of the water close by. Some of the people who had rushed over at the initial sighting had moved away to get something to eat, or to seize the opportunity to secure one of the empty seats.
Adrian kept hold of Libby's hand as he leaned over to Kate and said, "What do you think, kiddo?"
She turned to him, her eyes shining with delight. "They're awesome, Uncle Ade."
His heart swelled and he relaxed further. It amazed him how much joy Kate brought into his life, just by being a kid. She made every moment exciting, made you see it from her perspective, and included him in a childhood he'd never had.
He straightened and watched the two whales leaping out of the water. He'd been stupid not to expect Libby to ask about his family when he'd been prying into hers. He'd wanted to know more about her, but when she turned the questions onto him he'd instinctively shut down.
She seemed to understand. She was still holding his hand, anchoring him to the now so he didn't flash back to those terrible days as a child. Those days when he would rather go hungry than risk upsetting his father with his presence. He wanted to explain to Libby, wanted to tell her all the sordid details, and it scared him. He'd never told any woman, never trusted one enough.
But it might horrify her. She might think less of him, worry he could turn into a monster like his father. He'd always worried it was a possibility. Adrian shared his father's genes. Would she want the extra baggage he brought with him?
He closed his eyes. It didn't matter. This was a fling. In a couple of weeks they would go their separate ways. There was no need to tell her.
As if she knew he was thinking about her, she stroked his hand and when he met her eyes they were kind.
Realizing he was clenching her hand tightly, he relaxed it and tried to smile. There was no reason to confide in her. She didn't need to know.
But part of him wanted her to know.
Chapter 13
Libby was exhausted, but it was a good exhaustion. The type of exhaustion that said, ‘I've had an awesome day doing awesome things.'
Even Kate was quiet during the elevator ride up to their floor. She held Adrian's hand and leaned against him as if she didn't quite have the energy to stand straight.
"How about we get room service and watch movies tonight?" Adrian suggested.
"Sounds good, Uncle Ade." Kate stifled a yawn.
Libby grinned. Kate must be tired if she wasn't getting excited over room service.
Adrian turned to her. "Would you like to join us?"
Libby had editing she should do, but right now her brain felt like mush. She might as well give herself the whole day off. She was too tired to work. "I'd love to."
The elevator dinged.
"George?"
George looked at Adrian and Libby, then said, "No, thanks. I've got to check on a few things."
Adrian got out of the elevator and turned toward his room.
"I'll meet you there," Libby said. "I need to have a shower." The harbor spray clung to her skin and she wanted to wash it off.
"George, you can walk me to the door while Uncle Ade walks Libby." Kate removed her hand from Adrian's and took George's instead.
Adrian and George shared a look and George nodded.
"Shall we, ma'am?" Adrian held out his arm in an old-fashioned gesture and Libby grinned.
"Why thank you, kind sir." She placed her arm in his and they walked the short distance to her room.
"Thank you for a lovely day." She leaned forward and kissed him on the lips.
"You're most welcome, ma'am." He drew her into his arms and kissed her again, long and deep, drawing all her feelings to the surface in one sweet kiss.