Resonating Souls (Bermuda Nights #1)(13)

We swam around for a full hour, exploring the nooks and crannies, always trailed by our silver porgie friends. At last I was starving and tired, and we made our way back up onto the beach.

I smiled at him. “That was fun,” I grinned. “I hope the weather is just as gorgeous tomorrow.”

“Looks like it should be,” he agreed, his eyes shining. “It’s the nice thing about the boat simply parking here for three days straight. You get to spend a lot of time doing the things you enjoy.”

His phone buzzed in his dry bag, and he glanced down at it, frowning. “I’m sorry, but I need to go do something.” He glanced toward the ship. “Can you make it back on your own?”

I laughed. “It’s a five minute walk, and I got here all right,” I pointed out. “Thank you for an amazing swim. And you’re playing tonight, at nine?”

He nodded, his eyes on mine, and for a moment he wavered, as if he might step forward. Then he deliberately took a step back, rolling his shoulders. “Right. Well, have a great afternoon, Amanda.” He turned and walked up across the sandy beach to the walkway.

I watched him go, a twist of emotions wrangling within me. I knew it had to be like this. He was on a short leash with the cruise line, and I imagined they had fairly serious rules about fraternizing with the guests. He was already skirting the edges of them by spending time with me. And yet, it was hard to watch him walk away, to not crave spending every moment of time with him that I could.





Chapter 7


I wore a turquoise dress tonight, one that hugged my slender curves and shimmered as I moved. I smiled as I stepped into the club, and my smile widened into a glowing grin as his eyes swept over from the stage to connect with mine. The look on his face was all I could have hoped for.

He watched me the entire length of my walk up to him, and then he jumped easily down from the stage to stand in front of me. He shook his head, his eyes tracing down me again.

His voice was hoarse. “You look … stunning. Like a siren come to life.”


I blushed. He was in a charcoal-grey t-shirt with jeans, and his guitar was out, waiting on its stand at the side of the stage.

There was blond movement from the right, and in a moment Thor approached with Kayla connected at his hip as if they were melding into a multi-armed golden-haired Hindu god. She was wearing bumblebee yellow, with a dress that left most of her chest and stomach exposed.

She flashed a bright smile at me. “There you are, Amanda! Are you coming out to the campfire later tonight? Should be a blast!”

I flushed, my cheeks flaring. Evan hadn’t mentioned a campfire, and there could be any number of reasons for that. I made a waving motion with my hand. “That’s all right, Kayla,” I mumbled, “I’m sure that –”

She grabbed my hand with both of hers. “But you have to come, ‘Mand! It’ll be perfect! Soft ocean breezes, the wood smoke, the guitar playing …”

I glanced over at Evan. His gaze was shadowed, troubled, and I wondered what was going through his mind.

Then he nodded, his face easing. “You should come,” he agreed. “You and Kayla should stick together, right?”

Kayla’s voice was bright with satisfaction. “Exactly,” she agreed. “It’ll be a double date!”

Tom climbed up on stage, his bald head glistening under the lights, and took his place behind the drum kit. He turned to the bar. “Hank! C’mon!”

The lanky bass player turned, grabbed his beer by the neck, and took his place.

Evan drew a finger along my cheek, then he was back on stage, hefting up his guitar. Sven strode to the center of the stage, grabbing up his microphone. He threw back his head.

“Are we ready to parrr-tyyyy?”

A roar of enthusiasm bellowed from the crowd, and a wide grin spread on his face. “It’s eighties night here in the Club Kasbah, so let’s get it started right!”

Evan stepped on a button before him, and when his fingers began moving the sound was sharp, like a synthesized piano. The rhythmic, staccato notes streamed out, and I smiled in recognition.

Sven leant forward, his eyes bright on Kayla’s. His voice punched into the lyrics of Too Much Time on My Hands.

Kayla screamed in delight, and we bounced along the floor next to each other, taking each other for a tango sweep, getting lost in the music. The band synched like clockwork. They flowed from song to song, sliding up a key, maintaining the beat, and our feet never stopped.

The band played straight through for four hours – without a break – and by the time they hit the last song my feet were aching. But I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I was glowing, beaming, riding a natural high I’d never known existed. Kayla swept Sven up into an enthusiastic embrace as he came off the stage, and I wished I could do the same when Evan came down with his guitar. I was drawn to him as if by a powerful magnet, and it took a force of will to keep the required distance.

Evan looked to Sven before turning to me. “We need to swing down by the room; I have to drop this guitar off and grab the acoustic. We’ll meet you by the gangplank?”

Kayla smiled. “Yeah, we should swing by our room, too. Put on some sandals.”

Evan looked between us. “All right, then. See you soon.” He nudged Sven, and in a moment they were heading out.