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Jeena’s direction. Gage paid no mind to the outburst on the other side of the room. He appeared stricken and remorseful.
    “Hell...” He groaned, having taken her elbow and drawn her so near to him that she was practically seated on the line between the cushions of his chair and her own. “God, I’m sorry for making you remember that.”
    “No, Gage.” She smoothed her hand across the one that clutched her arm. “It wasn’t like that. She—” Aly inhaled around the sudden emotion swelling her chest. “She passed slowly over time. There was nothing...physically wrong. She just didn’t want to live—lost the will...”
    “I’m sorry anyway.” He squeezed her arm and gave it a little tug.
    “Thanks.” Her smile harbored none of its earlier somberness. “I’ll never own up to the idea that I have any ‘daddy issues.’ My sister and I are too busy living our lives for that.”
    “I like the sound of that.” Gage applied a soft thumb stroke to the bend of her arm.
    “It’s true. We live our lives in tribute to our mom.”
    Suspiciously amused, he smiled. “How?”
    The high back of the chair provided the perfect headrest and Alythia indulged. “My sister is married to a pretty awesome guy who I’m not ashamed to say I’m just a little in love with.”
    Gage’s whistle ushered in quick, hearty laughter. “Does your sister know this?”
    “She does.” Aly joined in when Gage laughed again. “Doesn’t matter, though. The man only has eyes for her. He’s been known to actually stop talking midsentence when she walks into a room. And that’s just a little piece of what makes him so incredible.” She sighed, but the sound held a dreamy vibe. “Men like him are in short supply.”
    Gage focused on where his thumb brushed Alythia’s skin. “So while your sister is taking great men off the market, you’re putting great clothes on it?”
    Alythia’s expressive gaze widened. “That’s a fantastic way to look at it. Hmph, do you mind if I use that?”
    Again he performed the permissive wave. “Not at all.”
    “Your attention, please.”
    The mixed conversations were interrupted then by the sound of the captain’s voice merging in among the warm drone of voices, clinking glasses and laughter.
    “We are within thirty-five minutes of our arrival time and ask that you please begin your return to the main deck...”
    “We’ll have dessert and coffee upstairs, guys,” Gage called out while the captain continued his message.
    “Can we talk more later?” he asked Alythia while the others were pushing out of their seats.
    Her smile brightened and she accepted when he offered her his hand.
    “I’d like that,” she told him, barely noticing the looks passing between the other couples at her and Gage’s expense.

Chapter 4
    A s the captain’s instructions hadn’t demanded an immediate return to the main level, some decided to indulge in a few additional moments of getting acquainted. Alythia and Gage had the main cabin all to themselves for over fifteen minutes following the group’s departure from the dining area. The bride and groom were the first to rejoin them.
    Alythia didn’t frown on Orchid’s missing earring or too-tousled hair. A little lovemaking among the clouds would be the first of many happy memories for the soon-to-be-married couple, Alythia hoped.
    Her contented thoughts about lovemaking at plus or minus forty thousand feet began to ebb when the last two “couples” arrived. Myrna was smoothing down flyaway tendrils of her straight shoulder-length bob. The gesture may not have seemed so out of place were it not for Dane. He strolled in behind Myrna and made no secret of drawing her back to him for a throaty kiss before he situated himself inside his jeans and tugged the zipper in place.
    Zeke and Jeena proved to be a bit more discreet. They were not quite beyond the cabin’s viewing range when Zeke plied Jeena’s cheek with a parting kiss. He took it upon himself to