Aboard the Wishing Star Read Online Free PDF Page A

open until we sailed."
    Kara placed her napkin on the table. "We'd better go."
    Nate held Kara's chair as she stood to join Viv.
    "Thank you." Kara was still embarrassed and tongue tied around Nate, but she hadn't forgotten her manners.
    "Good night."
    She felt Nate's warm gaze follow her as she walked away, the silk brushing across her body, making her aware of every movement, caressing her skin.
    "Wait till we finish shopping," Viv said. "You'll look so good; Nate will want to eat you up."
    The thought of his lips against her skin made Kara shiver.
    Viv laughed. "I know someone who's having naughty thoughts."
    "What if I am? I could listen to him talk all night. That voice..."
    "Mmm hmm." Viv nodded. "I would do more than listen. Nate is one sexy hunk of a man."
    "If I was looking for a man, and I am not ," Kara said, as they passed two jewelry boutiques, "a scuba dive instructor would not be on my list. That's a dangerous job."
    Viv paused in front of the tux rental shop. "Picture him in this," she tapped on the window in front of a black tux. "Or better yet, picture him taking it off, just for you, slow, one piece at a time."
    Kara froze, the image clear in her mind. "Hmmm." She moved on past the liquor store, away from tuxes and dangerous thoughts.
    Viv laughed as she followed. "You have steamy thoughts of him; you want to see him naked."
    Her singsong voice rankled.
    She could be so exasperating.
    "I do not."
    She hadn't thought of it until Vivian brought it up. But now the visual image wouldn't go away. So maybe she hadn't been thinking of seeing him naked a few minutes ago, but now...
    Maybe he'd wear a tux on formal night to the Captain's Dinner. It wouldn't hurt to make another small wish ... to dance under the stars with him.

Chapter Four
     
     
    Viv held up two swimsuits. A flashy silver one and a white one that would turn transparent when wet.
    "I can't wear either one of those," Kara said. "I'd scare the fish."
    Viv rolled her eyes. "Listen, you can get the ultimate tan on a trip like this and the best way to get one short of tanning topless is to get the smallest swimsuit possible."
    "I am not tanning topless."
    "Yeah, you're too shy. That's why you need one of these."
    Kara sighed and turned back to the racks. "Why does shopping for a swimsuit have to be such an ordeal?"
    "It doesn't have to be. It can be fun if you let it."
    "I don't see how this can ever be fun."
    Viv laughed. "Think about it. What if you snuck your boyfriend in to help you in and out of them?"
    "Viv, you didn't!"
    Viv laughed and winked.
    Viv always did think up the wildest things. We had such fun in high school. When did my life become so serious I stopped having fun?
    Kara reached for a red bikini with little white daisies on it that tied at the hips. "I'm going to try this one."
    "All right Daisy Mae." Viv smiled. "Go try it on."
    When Kara tried it on she couldn't believe her luck.
    She looked in the mirror. Wow. Is that really me?
    The red bikini fit like it was made for her, nothing to pull at or tug on and it emphasized her curves.
    She liked it. She liked it very much.
    When she emerged, Viv was still looking through the racks.
    "I'm getting this one."
    "Really?"
    Viv's surprised expression made Kara smile. "Yes, really."
    Kara found a dress she liked and hurried to make her purchases since the shops were closing.
    On the next floor they passed a shop with the prettiest gold sandals Kara had ever seen in the shop window. "I'll bet those are expensive."
    "They'd go with everything. Elegant." Viv yawned. "Too bad the shops are closed. Hey girl, do you want to go clubbing?"
    "Not tonight. I'm tired and you're yawning."
    "A little coffee and I'd be good to go."
    This would probably be the only night Viv didn't stay up dancing until dawn. Her favorite thing to do.
    "We have the rest of the week," Kara said.
    "Righto. You look knackered."
    "What?"
    "Tired."
    "Oh. Yes, I am."
    When Viv opened the cabin door the lights were dimmed. She