"Oh, my god! Three o'clock. Stalker alert!" Kenzie warned as she pretended to look down at the menu, ready to order for her meal.
Earlier, before entering the restaurant, they still found Madelyn waiting for them. They flashed their wedding rings and had to deal with a few nasty exchanges before they went inside to have their dinner.
To Kenzie's shock, the brunette took a table not too far from them, clearly observing how they acted together.
Andrew just shook his head, saying, "I'm sorry. I'm too gorgeous for my own good. Just ignore her."
"Whatever." Kenzie rolled her eyes, but at the same time, she could not agree more. Someone like Andrew probably has more than one stalker in his life.
She also had a few, but her father and her brother took care of them.
"You are just lucky that with the way she judges me with her stares, I want to stay married to you just so she would bleed with envy," she added as she continued to scan the menu.
Andrew chuckled and said, "Excuses. Excuses. You know you are falling for me already."
"Dream on," she countered, but smirked at the end.
"Didn't your parents ever tell you it's not good to lie? How about the saying follow your heart? You should try it some time," he teased and winked.
When the waiter arrived to take their order, Andrew offered, "Let me guess. You'd like a Ceasar salad?"
"Ah, how do you know?" Kenzie asked with a frown before looking at the food attendant and confirming the request.
"Most girls eat only that," Andrew thought.
"And I'll also have one five hundred grams of this lemon butter snapper, please," Kenzie added with a smile.
"Oh, no, sweetheart. I like my shrimps. You don't need to order for me," Andrew cut her off, assuming the fish was for him.
"No, Andrew. The fish is for me. And yes, I eat green salad, but I also need my protein," she explained. "I don't starve myself to death eating just grass. What's the fun in that?"
For a second, Andrew paused. It took him that long to recover before clarifying, "You can eat an entire five hundred grams of fish? How do you get to look like that?"
"I work out and I eat fewer carbs," she said as she handed the menu to the server. "I know how to take care of myself. It's one of those life lessons from my parents."
While waiting for their food, Andrew took the chance to get to know more about her now that she was sober. "So... about your ex - "
"I don't want to talk about him. He and my friends broke my heart - more like used me to get what they want, and that's the reason I left my hometown. I don't want to see them ever again," she briefly explained. "I want to start anew. Meet new friends - "
"And now you have a husband... a fine one at that," he inserted himself, smirking at the end.
When she just snorted, Andrew continued with his probing, "So... tell me about your family."
'Oh, no.' These were the type of questions Kenzie was avoiding. Telling the truth would go against her goal of starting fresh... at least... she feared that it would.
She took her time, but when she saw how Andrew was lowering his gaze at her, waiting, she spoke, "Ummm... Well, my mom is a cook. And my dad, he... Um."
Kenzie was trying to find the right way to explain to Andrew who her father was, but it was because she needed more time that she tried to change the topic. She blurted out, "I like your shirt, by the way. Really nice material."
"This plain white shirt?" He glowed as soon as she nodded. "You know what it's made of?"
"No." She shook her head and asked, "What?"
"Husband material," he was swift to reply.
Kenzie wound up shaking her head, beaming at his words. She heard the man say, "avoiding the question, I see."
"Fine!" She cleared her throat and started to say, "Well, um... My dad, he... he does a lot of things."
For a second, she pouted her lips, and she explained, "Sometimes, he would venture into... real estate... Ummm.... hospitality. Really, just whatever he thinks is good for the moment. He is kinda good at that."
"I get it... And I have high respect for those who have to work multiple jobs for the family. Your dad must be really hardworking," Andrew supplied, nodding his head in genuine admiration.
"You... you can say that again," Kenzie softly returned.
"Any brothers and sisters?" Andrew resumed his probing.
"Two brothers and one sister." Kenzie smiled, somewhat being sentimental at the mention of her family and revealed, "Actually, part of the reason why I approached you was because you gave me the feel similar to that of my twin brother, Kyle."
"You were in a formal suit, you are tall and you have dark hair - but yours are darker - "
"I'm sorry to burst your bubble, sweetheart, but I'm not for brotherly love." He placed a hand on his chest and resumed, "For you, I'm the real thing. Husband material, remember?"
Kenzie tried to hold down a giggle. She warned, using the pointed ring on her finger, "Stop that or I'll kill you with my murder weapon."
"Hell, no! That guy was crazy, but if you are in it to commit a crime, how about we agree on a perfect crime," Andrew said, leaning forward, his eyes glistening in Kenzie's direction.
"What crime?" Kenzie asked, utterly curious.
For some strange reason, Kenzie felt something off. It was with the way he grinned that she was sure it was yet again another one of his provocative ideas.
"How about... I steal your heart and you steal mine?" He revealed.
Kenzie burst out laughing in her seat, snorting while she was at it. Her face turned crimson red as she said, "It wasn't what I expected, but... I kinda think that was cute."
"So you think I'm cute?" He asked, giving a sly grin.
Kenzie: "I said what you said was cute, not you! You are obviously not cute - "
Andrew: "You think I'm hot - "
Kenzie: "Yeah, sure - wait! You are putting words into my mouth!"
Andrew: "You think I'm sexy?"
Kenzie: "Stop it."
Andrew: "I've been called many things but definitely not cute."
Kenzie: "Fine! You are sexy and hot!"
Andrew: "Husband material."
Kenzie sighed and surrendered. "Husband material. Happy now?"
Andrew's lips curved into a sexy smirk, letting Kenzie know that he won again.
***
Later that evening, Madelyn still followed the couple to Andrew's suite. The two frequently peaked through the door, checking if she was still around the corner.
After seeing that Madelyn was going nowhere at eleven in the evening, Andrew suggested, "Sweetheart, looks like you are sleeping in my bed again."
"Make me!" It was Kenzie's way of disagreeing.
"I probably will."
"Are you ready?" Andrew asked, placing a hand behind Kenzie's waist. Kenzie gulped, looking down at the water slide snaking down to the ship's deck. Andrew had convinced her to take the plunge after three days of putting it off. Yes, they have been out in the sea for four full days, and going down the famous slide was one of Andrew's bucket lists for Kenzie. "I can't do this." She shook her head and repeated, "I just can't!" "Oh, come on, Kenzie. Live a little," Andrew urged. She found herself looking at the deep blue ocean and added, "Andrew, I am definitely in for living a little, but this is just not what I expected. I can see the ocean from here, Andrew! I can't do this!" From behind her, Andrew chuckled and said, "Sweetheart, you aren't jumping into the ocean. You'll just land in the landing pod below, right on the ship's deck. Trust me when I say you aren't escaping me that easily. Now, go on. I'll follow."
Andrew's light brown eyes were staring at Kenzie adoringly as they stand by the vessel's bow. His hands gently caressed her face while slowly leaning closer. Kenzie felt her heart going wild, just gawking at Andrew's athletic face. She gulped, realizing what was about to happen. Seconds apart, Kenzie closed her eyes, anticipating their second, yet their very first, meaningful kiss. Just as she was inches away from Andrew's lips, a loud banging awoke her from her dream. Kenzie groaned as she awakened, frowning at the realization that her special kiss, even in a dream, had just been interrupted by the very same man. "Kenzie, sweetheart. Time to wake up!" She heard Andrew banging at the door of his bedroom suite. "Damn, you Andrew. I can't believe I dreamed of him kissing me," she muttered under her breath. Her mouth twitched before adding, "And I was looking forward to it." She could only keep
Kenzie should have seen the signs. It was right in front of her ever since. From Andrew's suite, she was leaning against the balcony railings, watching the endless waters, when she recalled how she often met new acquaintances, especially girls. "So, you are Kenzie, right? Kyle's brother?" "Kenzie, we've been friends for some time now. Are we ever going to meet your brother?" "What's it like to be you? Did I mention your brother is so hot!" It was... mostly about Kyle, really. They wanted to be friends with her because they wanted to have a chance with her twin brother. Kenzie, at least, had a few honest approaches. She remembered Kennedy, who was probably one that she considered a good friend. Back then, when she met her at her father's office, Kennedy said, "So, my dad said, since your dad and my dad are working together on a project, we should be like... friends." Kenzie and Kennedy still hit it off, only th
"Sir? What can I do for you?" Passed midnight, Andrew made a phone call to his assistant, Wendell Reyes. "Wendell, I need you to do a background check on someone for me. Kenzie Wright of Monroe City in the US. I sent you the details in the email. I need to know everything about her. Your life depends on it," Andrew directed while trying to keep his voice down. "Well, since you put it that way, Sir. I will do as you say. I'll check with our resources and let you know soon," Wendell replied. Andrew did not want to have to find out this way. He earnestly preferred to hear everything from Kenzie, but he felt strong walls guarding her when it came to her background. For the life of him, he could not fathom it.Most girls in her shoes would have already given him their life's story, but not Kenzie. A week had passed, and she remained a mystery to him. Andrew could only hold on to her name. Thus, he just had to know more. "Wait
"On top or under?" Andrew asked, still giving off that sly grin. "Oh, please. Don't even get me started," Kenzie retorted. "Can we have another set of questions?" "Again, sweetheart, your mind is dirty," Andrew insisted. "These questions could mean anything." He leaned back in his seat before including, "I personally would like to be on top of everything, like my career." "Fine! I like to be on top too." She gave her answer. A hissed left Andrew's lips before he informed, "This is going to be tough in bed then." "I knew it!" She answered, shaking her head before taking in more of the Ramyeon broth. "You are always green." "Next, what is your favorite part of my body?" He asked before sharing, "You already know mine." As soon as his eyes landed on Kenzie's chest, she saw him wink. She winced and unwittingly covered her chest, despite it being perfectly concealed by Andrew's over-size shirt. "Pervert!"
"Kenzie, can I kiss you?" The request repeated in her head again and again. Kenzie was not shocked at all. Andrew was always teasing and to say there was sexual tension between them was an understatement. Andrew, asking for a kiss, did not surprise her. It did, however, sparked butterflies in her stomach, a sensation that was far louder and rowdier than she ever felt for Brad, her fake boyfriend of two years. 'Wait, why am I feeling anxious? This would not be the first time we would kiss,' she asked herself, still maintaining to bury her face in Andrew's solid chest. 'Do I want to kiss him? Of course, silly! You dreamt of him doing it! Just get over it and get some relief!' Quietly, she scolded herself. Kenzie knew she was in denial. Why? Maybe it was because she had recently gotten off a bad relationship and that she was hurt badly? The truth was, Kenzie was not sure if she was ready for this again.
Chuckling, Kenzie brought her knees up to her chest as she sat on Andrew's bed. "Sorry." "It's okay, sweetheart. I'll take whatever you can give." Andrew was lying on the bed with a massive boner. The two had brought their make-out session to the bedroom when Kenzie decided she was not ready to go all the way. The second she said no, Andrew rolled off her and laid on his back. He groaned and looked down at his angry bulge. He sighed and said, "Well, I guess I need to take care of this." He sat up and turned to Kenzie, offering, "Are you sure? Because there is still time to... change your mind." Kenzie smiled and shook her head. She responded, "Sorry. I - I won't change my mind. Go and take care of it. I'll be here when you're done." A hiss left Andrew's lips. His eyes narrowed before he stated, "You are such a tease, Kenzie Wright. I swear." Still, he leaned forward and pecked on her cheek, and softly added, "I'll be
Day ten on the cruise. 'Andrew was busy,' Kenzie reminded herself as she walked on her own, into the outlets of the ship. She did not really know what she wanted to buy, but when Andrew told her he was going to have an emergency video conference call, she decided to do some shopping. For the past two hours, she had not bought anything, her mind just constantly drifting to Andrew, wondering what he was doing. She sighed, realizing; she had gotten used to being with Andrew these past few days, that she did not seem to know what to do without him. Out of nowhere, two ladies called from behind her. "Kenzie! Do you want to join us?" It was Jessica, and she was with Alice. Jessica hastened her pace to Kenzie's direction and suggested, "There is an adult shop on the ship and we are going to check it out!" "Trust me, hon. Husbands love toys," remarked Alice, winking at Kenzie. Instantly, Kenzie fro