Unchartered Curves (Cruisin’ With Curves)

3. Anisa

Chapter three

Anisa

M aybe I’d lived in Hopeton too long, but I was attracted to both guys. I used to think they were cute when I was in their classes. I pictured myself going to kiss Duane, then Gill. I nearly laughed out loud. My hand bumped Duane’s on the railing, and I swear I felt a spark of electricity between us. All of us.

Clearly the beautiful night and the drinks were going to my head. Except I’d only had that glass of champagne. I thought maybe it was the company.

“What made you two take this trip?” Suddenly, I wanted to know.

I could feel them glance at each other over my head. I was a curvy 5’3”, so I’d gotten used to people looking over my head my entire life.

“We were getting burned out,” Duane said.

“Teaching? I could see that would get tiring,” I said, remembering the students pestering them about grades in the terms I’d had in their classes. They’d been patient, but I could see where that would get old.

“Well,” Duane started again, then cleared his throat.

“Teaching and writing our books.” Gill met my gaze.

I’d noticed he was more straightforward than Duane, who tended to ease into discussions. “Books? Do you guys have to publish for your work?”

“No. We write a very popular thriller series.”

I looked at Duane then, in surprise, as he ran a hand through his wavy hair. “That’s awesome. Why are you guys quiet about this?”

“Our departments at the university don’t think it’s serious work.” Duane shrugged.

“So they’re jealous?”

“Exactly.” Gill agreed, covering my hand with his. “See Duane, she gets it. I knew you would.”

“What’s your pen name?”

“Harrison Angel.”

“Wait! I’ve read those. I enjoyed them when schoolwork got to be too much. I love the librarian who helps the brothers with their cases – Cassandra? Can she really tell the future?”

Duane started discussing the plans they had for Cassandra while I marveled at the way his face lit up.

The breeze was getting cooler, but I was enthralled as they both discussed their books.

“Can we get a hot drink somewhere here?” I wanted to go in, but not for the evening to end.

“Yes, I saw a café near the bottom of the staircase on this end,” Duane took my hand, and we were off.

“So why are you still teaching?” I said when we sat with hot chocolate and coffee a few minutes later, crowded around a small café table. It was cozy and I had a feeling I would remember this night.

“Yes, Duane, why are we still teaching?”

“We’re at a decision point, where we may have to sell our rights.”

“He means a big streaming service wants to make a show.” Gill raised his coffee cup in a toast.

“Things would change. We’d have to be involved a lot more in promotion.”

I could tell this was a sticking point between them. “Well, I could see where that would be different. But it would bring lots of folks to the series.”

I was dying to ask them how they got started with this, and how they wrote, and a lot more.

“I wanted to sign right away, but Duane is right. We need to think about it. We can barely keep up with the business side as it is, and we have ideas for a spin off series, about Cassandra actually.”

I set my hot chocolate down so hard a little spilled. “Okay. That really needs to happen. Who handles your marketing?”

As they told me about it, I could see they really needed help. “Maybe I can help.”

Gill grinned. “Meeting you on this trip was providential.”

I was beginning to think it really was.

They walked me to my cabin as I was yawning. It was 2 am back home, but 1 am ship time. The halls were buzzing with folks wearing everything from cocktail dresses to swimsuits.

“What are your plans for tomorrow?” Gill asked. His hand was on my back, guiding me through the folks in the halls.

“Swimming and relaxing. Should we meet up?”

“Yes.” Duane said. “We’d like that.”

We discussed where and when, then we got out our phones to set up a group text.

“Here’s my room. Where are you guys?”

“We have a penthouse on the main deck,” Gill said. “You’ll have to see it.”

Suddenly the energy felt very different.

“I’d like that,” I said, and leaned in to give him a quick kiss on the lips. It only lasted for a couple of seconds, but I enjoyed the firm feel of his lips, tasting the coffee he’d enjoyed.

Then I turned to Duane and kissed him before I could think about what was happening. Duane’s lips were softer, but his face cupped my cheek for a second. I shivered in pleasure as he smiled and met my eyes while I pulled away.

Gill grinned. “See you tomorrow, Anisa. Looking forward to it.”

So was I.

***

I slept so well, that I wondered how much it would cost to live on a ship like this. Clearly, it was all going to my head. But was it real? Could I really date both, then keep doing that in real life, back in Hopeton? Images of what sex with both of them would look like ran through my head. Whew. I definitely needed a cold swim today.

After selecting a turquoise swimsuit and wrap, I met them at the poolside café for breakfast. I found them working on laptops at a table. Both were frowning at their screens.

“Good morning,” I said. “I hate to interrupt you when you’re working.”

“We’re stuck, and you have perfect timing,” Gill said, standing to give me a good morning kiss.

This was really happening, I thought, as I bent down to kiss Duane, too.

“Our agent wants an answer soon on the streaming, and he wants a proposal on the next series. Normally we publish all this ourselves, but he wants to see it, for international rights.” Duane said as he stood up to stretch.

I admired his shoulders as he stretched.

Both of them seemed fit. I wondered which gym they used in Hopeton.

“There’s so much involved,” I said a few minutes later as Duane and I filled our plates at the buffet.

“Yes, it feels like it gets more and more busy. Success brought even more work, somehow, not that I’m complaining. Gill and I are very comfortably off financially now.”

“Why do you keep teaching?” I asked as we all sat at the table with plates piled high. I seemed to take some of everything from fruit, to scrambled eggs, to pastries. But everyone around me was doing the same.

“We are thinking about leaving,” Gill said, taking a bite of French toast.

“Yes, but we both enjoy it. What if this success doesn’t last?” Duane said.

“It’s good you have each other to balance your ideas.”

“True,” Gill said. “But we’ve been wanting someone else for a while, too Anisa. We’d like to date you.”

It felt so formal, but it also felt right.

“I’d like to date you both also, though I’m going to require advance copies of all your books.” I knew it was serious, but I wanted to make them laugh, which they both did.