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EXCERPT
“Don’t you read the news, Winter? Do you know what kind of
diseases are on cruise ships? They’re like floating viruses, breeding grounds
for any sickness you could imagine. My goodness, if they don’t kill you with
communicable diseases transmitted from person to person, the food will get you.
I shudder to think how many forms of hepatitis could be contracted on this
thing. Don’t even get me started on restaurants at each port. You never know…
Winter rolled her eyes behind Anna’s designer-suit-clad back and mimicked her
talking. Her friend hadn’t shut up about the cruise since she’d won it on the
game show. Looking at the giant ship at port, along the Texas coastline, she
didn’t see Anna’s floating virus. She saw a portal to fun. The blue ocean and
warm, salty air beckoned them out to sea. Though they would sail around the
Caribbean, the ship schedule didn’t show them docking at any island ports—or so
Anna said as Winter didn’t live her life by adhering to schedules. Instead they
would be trapped, adrift in paradise with nothing but the waves and, if her
tea-leaf reading held true, scores of single, hot men. Could anything be more
romantic?
Hearing Anna’s loud, grumpy sigh, Winter said, “Everything happens for a reason.
Why not have a little faith in the master plan? Maybe this cruise is your
destiny.”
“No,” Anna said, matter-of-factly. “My date with destiny was a brand-new black
SUV with brown leather interior and all the add-on features. Oh, and the
complimentary Jet Ski to pull behind it. Not some floating deathtrap and a week
of debauchery.”
“You’re planning on debau—on getting laid?” Winter arched a brow, hopeful her
friend was finally ready to take a walk on the wild side of life. “By something
that’s not mechanical or requires batteries? Maybe you’re right,” she reached
for Anna’s forehead, “maybe you already contracted something.”
* * * * *
Christian sighed, leaning forward as he peered into the suite’s oval bathroom
mirror. Combing his long brown hair back from his face, he pulled it into a neat
ponytail at the nape of his neck. Not a hair was out of place when he finished.
He had personal grooming down to a science.
He
wore nothing but a towel wrapped neatly around his firm waist. His bare feet
absently tapped on the floor as Andre started on his next ’80s tune. His twin
really wasn’t a bad singer, if he’d just stop butchering the lyrics.
Suddenly the shower turned off and Andre hopped out, glistening wet as he
strummed an air guitar and flicked his tongue in and out. Christian’s brow rose
as he tried not to watch Andre’s one-man show. Though the event was oddly like a
car crash—as much as one didn’t want to look at it, the compulsion to do so
trumped all restraints.
Andre didn’t even seem to notice he had an audience, that or he just didn’t
care. Still humming softly, he grabbed a towel off the wall and haphazardly
dried his hair then his body, not caring that he missed a few spots.
“Hey, let me get in here,” Andre said, dropping his damp towel on the floor and
reaching toward the neatly organized sink. He knocked down a bottle of cologne
while grabbing the mousse. Squirting some hair product on his hand, he continued
humming as he dropped the can in the sink. As Andre moussed his hair, combing
the messy length only with his fingers, Christian picked up the fallen bottles.
“Oh yeah, thanks, I need that.”
“You
have a bathroom in your own cabin.”
“Oh,
I know. But I sort of forgot to bring my toiletry bag. I don’t have anything but
my toothbrush next door. Well, that and my clothes of course.”
“I
gave you a list of what to pack.”
“Yeah, and when I was out the other night, I ran into this foxy gal and needed
something to give her my number with.” Andre smiled. “It worked great, thanks.”
Christian didn’t dignify the comment with a response. He sighed as Andre grabbed
his cologne and put it on, not bothering to recap it when he was done. Picking
up after Andre as his brother strode from the bathroom naked he mumbled, “Just
like home.”
Andre ignored his grumbling brother and headed to his cabin in order to dress.
Christian spent too much time being perfect. Andre was just the opposite. He
liked music, movies, making an artistic mess and a well-written novel,
especially the ones that had loads of steamy sex poured on each page. Who wanted
to have an intellectual conversation when you could lie on your back and just
let your mind drift aimlessly? Or watch the latest hottie ride you as her tits
bounced in your face.
Ah, this is the life…or at least it was, for soon I’ll be a married man.
© copyright 2007, Michelle M. Pillow and
Mandy M Roth
This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the
author’s imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living
persons or events is merely coincidence.
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REVIEWS
"5 HEARTS! Date With Destiny was a fun
and engaging story. ... I would love to visit this paranormal world; these
ladies have done it again. They have taken us from the ho-hum of our everyday
life and taken us on a journey to another time and place. I’m ready for the next
cruise." - FAR, July 2007
"4 HEARTS! Date with Destiny is a
light-hearted approach to campy game shows and the travails of immortals. All
its characters are a delight to behold, and the sensuality will heat up the
reader’s blood in the meantime. Michelle M. Pillow and Mandy M. Roth create a
fine collaborative team, and this reviewer considers that the series is well
worth reading, if Date with Destiny is an example." TRS, May 2007
"4 CUPS! Date With Destiny is a spirited
page-turner. The dialogue is superb. The characters are dynamite and the
storyline terrific." Coffee Time Romances, June 2007
"4 1/2 LIPS! I laughed so hard while
reading this book, I hurt myself." - Two Lips Reviews
"The lively duo of Roth and Pillow have given
us a humorous look at an arranged marriage. I swear when these two ladies get
together comedy is never far away!! They work so well in unison to deliver a
lighthearted read that is both well composed and sexually titillating. I love my
M & M's any way I can get them, whether it be plain, peanut or a well written
book. Bring on those M & M's." - My Book Cravings, 2007
"Talented
authors Michelle M. Pillow and Mandy M. Roth have once again seamlessly blended
their styles into a fun and sexy story....Stop by Ellora’s Cave and get your
copy of DATE WITH DESTINY today. Trust me, this is one cruise you won’t soon
forget!" RRT Erotic, 2007
"Date with Destiny is funny
with some very steamy love scenes. Michelle M. Pillow and Mandy M. Roth created
some interesting characters that I enjoyed and look forward to reading more
about them in the future." Joyfully Reviewed, August 2007
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