A/N's: Ah...the Bahamas....the land of enchantment. *wistful sigh*

Chapter 12

On January twentieth, Dwayne Dee were in high spirits upon landing at Miami International. From there, motor coaches took the group to the pier where a sleek cruise ship stood gleaming white in the warm Florida sun.

Dee, her face awash with pleasure, clung to Dwayne's hand and hurried up onto the sun deck, saying happily, "Help me find my stateroom?"

Dwayne chuckled. "Gladly. It's next door to mine." He led her down two levels to the promenade deck, where the prized outside staterooms were located. Dee's eyes swept over the red and white interior with its window offering a view of the sea. Then she poked her head into the bathroom.

"Dwayne! There's even a tub." Before he could answer, she was pulling the card from a bon-voyage basket of fruit. "How sweet," she said. "It's from the entire staff of X104." She lowered the card and saw them. A dozen Happiness roses in a crystal vase on the night table. Dee looked nervously at Dwayne, afraid to assume anything. The mysterious depths of his eyes gave nothing away.

Dee read the card as she inhaled the roses' fragrance. When she turned Dwayne was smiling at her. "Thank you," she said softly, and put a hand to his strong jaw. She stood on tiptoe and gave his smooth cheek a kiss. He seemed neither pleased nor perplexed.

"Meet you topside in fifteen minutes," he said.

Dee stripped off her sweater the minute he closed the door. She liked the look that came into his eyes when she joined him at the ship's railing-and even better the feel of his arm coming around her waist to draw her closer. They stood high above the pier, waving to the crowd below, and Dee threw back her head and laughed as the ship maneuvered out of the bay toward the open Atlantic.

"You should try to cheer up, Dee," Dwayne kidded, and laughed with her. Dee was sure it was going to be a glorious trip.

******

Moonlight shimmered on the ocean as Dwayne and Dee languidly strolled the promenade deck, smiling and nodding to members of their group reclining in deck chairs or taking the sea breeze after dinner.

In the distance, a million twinkling lights were growing closer. Soon the port of Nassau came up to meet them.

Everyone went ashore, and Dee, riding across the island, peered out at the lush green-black foliage. Over the bridge, the rattling taxi sped to Paradise Island, where the group's hotel rooms awaited them.

Dwayne bade her good-night and Dee, briefly studying the lovely room of green and white, crossed to the white-slatted double doors and flung them open. Bright moonlight streamed into the room with the sound of the breakers crashing against the beach.

Dee's last thought before she slept was, "It is Tuesday night. We leave the island on Monday morning. I have five days and nights to make Dwayne see that we are made for each other." She was smiling as she fell asleep.

It was a wonderful but busy time for Dee and the Denver crowd. Her role as hostess meant escorting some of the travelers across the island bridge for shopping and browsing. The fashionable shops of Bay Street were a delight, and only a couple of blocks away, the world's largest straw market was a favorite of the Denverites.

But the days and nights flew past much too fast. Dee was having a glorious time, and Dwayne, she had to admit, spent as much time as he could with her. It was hardly his fault that every day's agenda was crammed with obligations for both of them.

Except Sunday, which was to be an entirely free night.

Saturday night rolled around and Dee, her slim body browned by the hot Bahamian sun, dressed for the dinner dance she and Dwayne were to host. From the closet she took a new, slinky white crepe dress, slipped it over her head and hooked the halter-type top in back of her neck. The dress, completely backless, zipped from mid-hip to waist. Her hips gently flared and the long dress fell to floor in soft swaying folds. Braless breasts pushed provocatively against the lush fabric covering them. Dee opened a vial of expensive perfume she'd purchased at one of the duty-free shops, tipped it up to a forefinger and dabbed between her breasts. A dab inside each elbow, and then she grabbed a brush and gave her hair one last vigorous stroking. "Dwayne," she said into the mirror, "it's now or never!"

A string orchestra was tuning up in the still-empty ballroom.

"Am I late?" came the velvet voice from behind her.

Dee turned. Dwayne, elegant in a tuxedo as black as his hair, was smiling at her. Lean fingers worried his silvery-blue tie. The stiff French cuffs of his white shirt were set off with gold links.

"No, I'm early." Dee brushed his hand aside, reaching up to straighten the tie.

"Thanks," Dwayne said, glancing at his gold watch. "You're right, it's just now 8:30 p.m."

Dwayne and Dee dined at the head table with eight travelers who considered themselves extremely lucky to be their companions. Before the last of the diners had finished dessert, couples drifted to the dance floor. Dee, eagerly anticipating Dwayne's arms, shot daggers at the brazen redhead who came to tap him on the shoulder and said, "Dwayne, I'm just dying to dance with you. My girlfriend-" she nodded at a smiling brunette two tables away "-bet me I didn't have the nerve to ask you." She smiled prettily.

Relieved when the song ended, Dee bit the inside of her lip in frustration when she saw the pair walking over to the brunette. Dwayne was speaking, and the women got up, tugged on his arm and dragged him onto the floor.

So went the evening. It wasn't Dwayne's fault. Dee knew that. She was also pursued and spun around the polished floor by more than one boisterous male intent on having a grand time. Dwayne gave Dee a knowing looks when their eyes met.

It was nearing midnight before, Dee feet beginning to swell in her high-heeled sandals, smiled gratefully and stepped into the commanding arms of Dwayne Johnson.

"Tell you what," he whispered. "When this song ends, make your way toward the door. I'll follow in exactly five minutes. They'll never know we're gone."

"I'll be in the casino by the first row of slot machines," she murmured, and felt all the listlessness leave her body.

Neither spoke for the remainder of the dance. The orchestra was playing an old romantic ballad and a smooth-voiced Bahamian was singing. The roomful of people faded away and there were only the two of them, moving as one, swaying around the floor. Dwayne held her very close. She was tingling from her nearness, the tips of his fingers like fire upon her cool skin.

Dee would have sworn that his smooth, warm lips were scattering tiny little kisses on the wispy hair beside her temples. A slow, spreading coil of desire began to build in her lower stomach, and Dee closed her eyes, wondering if it were possible to die from wanting someone too much.

In a daze, she sidled out of the ballroom, down the carpeted corridor and into the lively casino. Soon, Dwayne guided her to a pair of French doors at the side. Down the marbled steps and into a tropical garden they strolled, the full moon lighting the lush grounds.

Finally he spoke. "Let's walk on the beach."

"I'd love to," Dee said, "but I'll get sand in my shoes."

"Take 'em off."

"It's not just the shoes, Dwayne. What about my stockings?"

"So take them off, too."

"Turn around," she said, handing him her shoes. Dee, nervously casting worried eyes all around her, slid the silky panty hose down over her hips and legs. Now she wore nothing but the white crepe dress, and the ocean breeze molded it to her slender body.

Dwayne took the hose and stuffed them in his suit pocket.

They walked for a long way down the deserted beach, talking a little, drinking in the beauty around them, enjoying each other's company and the unspoken closeness between them. Dee felt her heart lurch with happiness when Dwayne finally said, "It's time to go in."

"Yes," she said breathlessly, the soft, filmy dress caressing her naked body, arousing her, teasing at flesh that craved the tall, dark man beside her.

They were at the door of her hotel room. Dee fumbled with the key, then turned and looked expectantly up at Dwayne, dropping it back into her evening bag. He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the warm palm.

"Dee." His voice was husky.

"Yes?" Hers was breathless.

"Good night," he said. And handing her the silver shoes, he turned and walked away.