Page 3 of A Trial of the Heart

Chapter

Three

Rashad:

I stood off in the room’s corner, my eyes glued to where the dark-skinned beauty had ambled off to.

She had all of my attention. My brother was getting married in a few short months, so I and the rest of his groomsmen planned this trip a short time after he proposed.

We felt this was the right way to send him off.

Well, they did. I was such a homebody that I felt the local Friday’s the night before he wed would be enough.

Not wanting to seem like the oddball, I agreed to come.

Not to mention, it was for my brother. I was his best man, so it wasn’t something I would miss.

It was the first night of the cruise. Originally, I had stayed in my suite, but Kameron, my brother, wasn’t with that.

I’d popped out for a minute and was going back to my room, but I detoured to the bathroom first. Running into Shiloh’s fine ass had me forgetting I had to pee, while making me not want to leave.

From the look in her eyes, I knew I had gotten her attention just as she had mine.

As Shiloh talked to her friend, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her.

Her beautiful dark skin was blemish free.

Shiloh’s features were comprised of perfect brown, almond-shaped eyes that sat above her slender, dainty nose.

High cheek bones paired with her full, kissable lips made her look like a model.

She was beautiful, and her thick, perfectly stacked curves completed her look.

I chuckled as I watched the many times Shiloh looked over shoulder; it wasn’t a guarantee, but I was certain she was checking for me. Wanting to still be in her presence, I watched her walk to the bar to take a seat. I ambled her way.

“Seat taken?” I was already sliding on the barstool before she looked my way.

“Seems like it’s yours.” Shiloh’s voice was so sultry, almost like she was singing.

I waved the bartender our way; I noticed Shiloh didn’t have a drink in front of her, and that needed to change.

“How you doing? What can I get you tonight?” The bartender asked in a rushed tone.

“What are you drinking, beautiful?”

Though Shiloh’s full lips never curled into a smile, the twinkle in her eyes led me to believe she enjoyed me in her presence.

“White Russian, please.”

“White Russian and an Irish Car Bomb.” I said, my eyes never wavering from Shiloh’s.

Her eyes did a thing I couldn’t explain.

“On the cruise for a special occasion?” I had to make conversation so she wouldn’t lose interest or think I was a creep of some sort.

Shiloh’s face seemed to light up before my eyes. “My birthday.”

“Ahh shit. How old?”

The arch in Shiloh’s brow raised higher in disbelief. “Now, I know damn well your mother, auntie, sister, or hell, the candy lady down the street told you it is inappropriate to ask a lady her age.” The soft-spoken woman that had articulated her words seemed to leave in a matter of seconds.

I couldn’t prevent the laughter. Shiloh was right. I had been taught not to ask a lady her age, but hell, it was 2023. I didn’t think the rule still applied. I lifted my hands as if I were surrendering.

“My fault.”

Shiloh’s brow relaxed before a slight smile curled her lips. “I’m just kidding. You asking doesn’t bother me.” She paused briefly. “I’ll be thirty in two days.” She seemed so proud.

“Came alone?” I knew she wasn’t exactly alone since I’d seen her with the other female earlier, but I was mainly asking if she was attached.

“You sure asking a lot of questions. You want to kidnap me or something?” Her tone was aggressive.

Damn, I thought. I didn’t want to appear like a stalker or some weird dude, and it was obvious I was doing just that. “I’m just making conversation.”

Again, she smiled. This time, a cute giggle followed. “I’m just messing with you.”

I could already tell Shiloh was one to joke a lot.

“I’m with my best friend.” She looked over her shoulder at the female she was with earlier. She seemed to be in her own world as she danced with a cup raised.

I nodded. “Oh.”

“What about you?”

“I’m with my girl.”

The color in Shiloh’s face drained instantly, and her mouth fell agape.

“On that note…” Her words trailed as she prepared to stand.

It was my turn to chuckle while I grasped her wrist lightly. “I’m just fucking with you.” My chuckle slowed. “I’m on the cruise with my brother. He’s getting married in a few weeks.”

Shiloh relaxed a bit, but her expression was still tense. “And your girlfriend?”

The chuckling finally subsided, and a sinister grin took over my features. “What about you?” I asked casually.

She tried her best to hide her growing smile, but the blushing was intense, and the smile eventually won. “You’re corny.”

“Little bit.”

Her smile slowly faded. “Do you have a girlfriend? Wife? Anything that could be a problem?”

We were on a cruise, so what was waiting for me once we stepped off the ship didn’t matter. I was no longer attached by any means because had I been, I wouldn’t have approached her the second time. I had a situation I needed to handle, but it was done for in my book. “Nah.”

She didn’t speak. Instead, it looked like she was reading me for a lie.

“What about you?” I finally asked, breaking the silence.

A sorrowful expression took over her beautiful face before she shook her head. “Nah, I’m single.”

It was so much hurt laced in her tone, and the expression she sported couldn’t go unnoticed. I wanted to make it right, and I didn’t even know what was wrong.

“Wanna talk about it?” I knew it sounded stupid, but hell, in the moment I just wanted to make the pain she obviously felt disappear.

Shiloh lifted her drink, shrugging. “Let’s dance.”

She dismissed my question. Many questions flooded my mind, but it was evident Shiloh didn’t want to address them. She was a mystery, and I was intrigued, but now wasn’t the time or place for it.

“After you.” I gestured toward the dance floor that overflowed with partygoers.

With a smirk, Shiloh finished her drink before sliding from the barstool. “Hope you can keep up.” she tossed over her shoulder, sauntering away.

I chuckled, tossing back the remains of my drink following soon after. Dancing hadn’t been a favorite of mine, but Shiloh wanted to dance, and I wanted to be near her, so it was time to do a little two step.

Shiloh placed her hand in mine leading me to the dance floor.

It was packed, but it seemed like the crowd parted like the Red Sea upon seeing her.

Looking over her shoulder, Shiloh offered a sinister smile.

Turning, she backed her backside into me, gyrating her hips to the beat of the song.

I knew then that this was about to be a memorable night from that alone.

Reggae music blared through the speakers.

The vibrations felt throughout my body as Shiloh swayed her hips on me.

Since she suggested we dance, we had only left the dance floor to grab a drink and when Shiloh went to the bathroom.

The place was packed, yet the connection she and I had made it feel like it was just us two.

I was a grown ass man, but I couldn’t deny the fact that she already had my full attention.

“You want to g—” I started, but my words were interrupted.

“Shiloh, girl, I’m about to head to the room. I’m drunk as hell.” A woman I assumed to be Shiloh’s friend, came over slurring her words, barely holding her body up.

Me and Shiloh had been cuddled off in a section as we had been for the better part of the night when we weren’t dancing.

We drank, danced, talked, and really got to know each other.

It was like I’d known her for years. In such a short time, we learned so much about each other.

I wasn’t closed minded or anything, but when I learned she was a lawyer, her sexiness intensified.

In such a short time, we couldn’t keep our hands off of each other.

Alcohol may have played a huge part in that.

Shiloh looked my way with a defeated look.

“Thank you for tonight.” She sighed, scooting to the edge of her seat. “I’ve gotta get her back to the room.” Shiloh didn’t say she wanted to leave. Her body language gave off that energy.

“Stay. She’s ready to go, not you.”

The twinkle I’d saw in her eyes a few times tonight happened, and she smiled. “That sounds good and all, but it doesn’t work like that. We come together; we leave together.”

She stood, prompting me to do the same.

“Will I see you again?”

We were on a cruise in the middle of the ocean, but the ship was huge, so believable or not, the chances of us randomly running into each other were slim.

“Maybe.”

Her aura was magnetic. I wanted to know more about her. This couldn’t be the last time I was around her. “Fourteenth floor, room 14-O.”

With confusion, her head dropped slightly to the left. Her tresses fell with her, and her arched brow raised. She didn’t speak, but I knew from her expression she was asking me to explain.

“Get your friend to the room safely. Come swing by mine after.”

With pursed lips, Shiloh rolled her eyes. “Thank you for tonight’s company. Enjoy the cruise.” She dismissed me.

Though Shiloh had rolled her eyes before she spun on her heels with her friend tagging along, she offered a slight smile.

I knew inviting her to my room was risky, but after our brief encounter, it just felt so right.

Even if she wouldn’t come back to my room, I hoped our odds were greater than none to see each other.