Garrett’s pupils grew with heat. He started to reach for her exposed breasts, his lips parting to speak, when a blaring announcement interrupted the moment.
“Attention passengers! Martin here!” Their jubilant cruise director came through the room’s speakers. “We have arrived at Amber Cove, the Caribbean’s newest port of call. Whether it be shopping, swimming, enjoying authentic Dominican cuisine, or more, the village offers plenty to do for all. If you have purchased one of the port’s excursion packages, we suggest you depart the ship within the hour, so you don’t miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Groaning dramatically, Garrett dropped his hand and planted a chaste kiss on her forehead. “Guess that’s us.” He rose to his feet. “If you’re sure you want to, that is. If not, we can skip it and find something else to do.”
As much as Avery loved the fact that he was willing to change his plans for her, she also didn’t want him making everything all about her.
“Oh, no. We’re going on that adventure.” She threw the sheet off and started getting dressed. With the clothes from last night back in place, Avery rose to her tiptoes and kissed him on the lips. “Give me twenty minutes to take a quick shower and change, and then I’ll be ready to go.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Garrett drawled. “I’ll meet you at your room.”
Waiving over her shoulder, she opened the door and hollered, “See you in a few!”
Forty-five minutes later, excitement swirled in her belly as she and Garrett boarded the bus that would take them to their excursion sight.
At first, their view looked much like the previous islands they’d visited. Palm trees blowing with the morning breeze. People bustling around. Small shops that weren’t commercial, but rather authentic.
But as the bus made its way past the main tourist area and deeper into the tropical jungle of the Dominican Puerto Plata—the province where Amber Cove was located—Avery was struck with a sudden sense of sadness.
Watching the scenery pass them by, there was a noticeable change in the community vibe.
Trash littered the sides of the road. Cattle with visible ribs grazed on the sparse vegetation in the unimpressive fields. And houses that were little more than shacks stood side by side in yards made of little more than dirt.
Seeing this way of life made Avery realize just how much she took for granted in her own.
A handful of miles later, the bus turned onto a gravel road that dropped down in a steep decline. After breaking through a clearing of trees, they finally arrived at their destination.
“You ready?” Garrett gave her hand a light squeeze.
Avery turned to him and smiled. “Ready.”
The hiking came first. Forty minutes—alluphill—turned into an hour and fifteen with two short breaks in between. Dressed in a one-piece swimsuit and water shoes, she—like everyone else in the group—carried a lifejacket and helmet for the water portion of the trip.
Thanks to the treadmill in her apartment, Avery kept herself in relatively decent shape. But the steep incline and uneven dirt path—not to mention the thick, humid air—made the long walk a bit challenging.
For her, anyway. Garrett, on the other hand, barely broke a freaking sweat.
With his breaths even and relaxed, the frustratingly sexy man looked as though he was out for a Sunday stroll rather than a grueling trek through a tropical jungle.
Showoff.
What felt like an eternity later, they finally made it to the river’s entry spot. Avery blew out a breath, more than a little relieved…until she saw the bridge.
Made of wood that looked like it had seen better days, the bridge spanned fifteen feet across and twenty feet high. At least.
The portion of the small river running below it ran at a slow, calming pace. Avery had never been afraid of the water, but the ladder their guide was telling the group to climb down was utterly terrifying.
“Is there another way in?” She immediately began scanning the area for someplace closer to the water’s edge. A nice sandy bank where she could just ease herself in.
Picking up on her fear, Garrett cursed beneath his breath and blocked her view of the bridge. With his hands resting gently on her shoulders, he tipped her chin upward, so she’d look only at him.
“You’re going to be fine. I’ll be with you the whole time.”
But Avery was already shaking her head. “Garrett, I can’t—”
“Yes, you can.” His tone was confident and unwavering.
“No, Ireallydon’t think I can.”