Ok so there's barely a mention of Jim in this part � he'll turn up (probably in spirit rather than person for the moment mind you ;oP)
She sat down heavily in the sun lounger, swinging her feet up onto the warm cushion as the hot sun swathed her body. Taking a sip from her tall iced drink, she dropped her sunglasses from her forehead to cover her eyes once more as she picked up her dog-eared paperback novel from the tiled floor. She placed the glass down on the floor beside her, flicking through the novel to find where she had read up to before her brief trip to the bar had interrupted the idyll.
She'd been away from the chaos of Sun Hill for several days now, glad to leave behind her troubles and woes in the UK. Not that they stayed out of her mind for long. That was the problem with being away on your own, sure, she was feeling more relaxed than she had done in days� weeks even but, and there was always a but, she was left alone with her thoughts and memories; hundreds of miles away and yet still there with her. The days were ok, the evenings too; there was a nice bunch of people on board the ship who she'd got quite friendly with but when she retreated back to her cabin at night � that was when she started to feel lonely again, when the thoughts of him returned to haunt her.
The book dropped from her hand onto the floor and she looked around at the other people on the ship � there was such a variety � young, old, tall short, fat, thin and a wide range of nationalities. A young couple passed by her lounger hand-in-hand. The girl really was stunning - tall and blonde with curves in all the right places accentuated by the barely there bikini. Her mere presence was enough to make June subconsciously rearrange her sarong to cover herself up more as she watched the way the blonde's boyfriend looked at her with utter adoration. He too was charming; tall and muscular with dark hair and tanned skin. It was things like this that reminded her what she hadn't got� or rather what she had had� and lost.
She dropped her head back onto the lounger, her eyes closing against the bright light of the sun, her head suddenly feeling heavy. She felt herself dozing and tried to fight it off but soon it became too much, the warmth of the sun on her body, the sounds of children and adults laughing and splashing in the pool. It was times like this she thought she could spend the rest of her life in a place like this � away from the demons and problems that haunted her back in Sun Hill. A place where no one knew who she was and what she was running away from � they knew only what she chose to tell them � as far as even the good friends she had made over the last few days knew, she was a police officer from London on holiday. No more, no less.
***
It was a while later when she woke up once more. She hadn't slept well the previous night, several cocktails in the bar had made sure of that and her thoughts had turned to Jim when she had finally fallen into bed. Wondering what he was doing, how he was feeling. She'd remembered the last conversation she'd had with him; how she'd nearly cried in CSU when she'd told him she needed to get away. She'd been sure that he'd still had feelings for her but the reaction she got convinced her otherwise. He seemed so together� so over it all. She'd been hoping that getting away from him and Sun Hill would help her to get over it too, or at least get her head around how to deal with what had gone on these last few weeks.
She opened her eyes slowly, squinting into the bright sunlight but aware of a shadow partly covering her body, something that hadn't been there when she'd drifted off. She blinked rapidly as her eyes slowly adjusted to the light and focused on a tall man standing in front of her, her face betraying her mild bemusement.
"Sorry," he said softly in a smooth American accent. "I didn't mean to frighten you� I was just trying to decide whether or not to wake you� I don't know how long you've been asleep but you're really starting to burn."
June looked at him, his words slowly registering in her brain and she looked down at her body which had started to turn a raw red colour. "Oh no," she groaned. "This is the last thing I need."
"I know what it's like to be sunburned, can ruin an entire holiday � been there got the T-shirt I'm afraid. Mind if I sit down?" He gestured to the empty sun lounger beside June.
"No please, feel free." She swung her legs to the side of the lounger and began to stand up before a wave of dizziness enveloped her and she stumbled.
"Careful," the tall man said, catching her in his arms and supporting her as he slowly helped her back to a seated position. "Sunstroke."
"Thanks." June dropped her head into her hands and groaned.
"I'll get you some water or something, you're going to be dehydrated." Her rescuer turned and headed towards the bar by the pool, leaving June perched gingerly on the edge of the sun lounger.
Within minutes he returned, proffering a tall glass of iced water in her direction. "Sip this, it'll make you feel better."
June looked up, squinting into the sun and taking the glass from him as he sat down on the lounger next to her. "Thanks�" she took a long sip of the water.
"I'm Tom by the way."
"June�" She looked up and for the first time took in his appearance. He was fairly tall and slim, dressed in a T-shirt and shorts showing off his suntan. He was probably in his mid-thirties with a mass of dark brown hair, held back off his forehead with what appeared to be designer sunglasses.
"Very British name." He smiled.
"That's me through and through." June returned his smile before draining her glass. "Thanks for this." She placed the glass down on the floor.
"You feeling any better now."
"A bit, but my head is still so heavy."
"We should get you into the shade." Tom commented. "There's nothing worse than sunstroke."
"I know, and you'd think I'd have learned by now."
"Hey, we all get caught out�"
"How many times though, as much as I love the sun it seems to hate me."
"We just have to be careful that's all."
June sighed. "I think I should head back to my cabin, have a cool shower. I'm going to be so sore later on."
"I can't pretend that's not going to happen unfortunately." He laughed. "Let me walk you back�"
"Really there's no need for that," June said standing up before another wave of dizziness hit her and she wobbled slightly in Tom's direction.
"I won't take no for an answer." He slid his hand gently round to her back and guided her away from the sun lounger. "Besides can't have you doing any more damage to yourself, I'd never forgive myself."
June smiled weakly allowing Tom to lead her into the shade and the steps down to the inside of the ship.
***
After negotiating the maze of corridors, June found herself back at her cabin.
"Look Tom, I can't thank you enough, most people would just have left me there to barbecue myself."
"Hey, I'm a gentleman, what more can I say."
"You certainly are." She smiled at him, noticing for the first time his piercing blue eyes.
"Maybe I'll see you in the restaurant later."
"I'd like that," she subconsciously ran her hand through her hair. "See how I feel later eh?"
"I'll keep an eye out for you� anyway go have a shower, lie down, you'll feel better � that way you can meet me later."
She turned and fumbled with the lock before opening the door and turning to face Tom. "See you later� probably." Their eyes met for a lingering brief moment as she turned to enter the room.
She shut the door behind her with a thud and flopped down onto the bed; she felt light-headed and could feel her blood pumping through her veins. She didn't know whether she could blame all this on the sunstroke but she was sure she'd just been flirting with another man. And what's more it felt good. She brushed this thought from her mind as quickly as it had entered.
She stood up again, slowly this time, having learned her lesson the last few times � and there being no one around to catch her should she fall. She untied the sarong from her waist and padded to the fridge opening a cold bottle of water and taking a long swig before returning it to its place and heading through to the bathroom.
The coolness from the air-conditioning inside the ship felt so good against her burning skin. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror; her whole upper body had a reddish tinge to it. "Great." She muttered under her breath. "I look like a bloody tomato." She sighed before wincing as the straps from her swimming costume made contact with her sore arms.
Stepping into the glass cubicle she turned the water to a steady cool stream and sighed as the water pounded onto her back. She stood there for a long time allowing the water to cool her body and take the pain out of her arms� and thinking. She loved Jim but there was something about Tom. She'd been instantly drawn to him and he was such a gentleman. Most people would have just left her to toast. But he was young� far too young. And besides, she shouldn't be thinking like this, not so soon after Jim.
She turned the water and wrapped a fluffy white towel around her body before padding through to the bedroom and proceeding to smother her entire body in rich moisturising lotion. She sat down on the bed and sighed. "How do I get myself into these positions?" she thought, lying down against the fluffy pillows and curling her knees up to her chest. "Why can't things be more simple." She closed her eyes, burying her head into the pillow and pulling the cool cotton sheet over her body as she drifted into a deep sleep.
***
She awoke several hours later, squinting to read the clock. 20:12. The evening meal in the restaurant was served from 8pm onwards. He'd probably be there now� waiting. She turned over and closed her eyes once more. So many conflicting thoughts were running through her head. Did she really want to do this? Was it fair to lead Tom on? But then again why shouldn't she have some fun � she was no longer in a relationship, there was nothing stopping her� besides he was just a friend, like all the other people she had met on the ship. With that thought she sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed, smiling as her feet sank into the plush warm carpet.
She walked over to the wardrobe flinging the doors open and pondering what to wear. It was always fairly formal down in the restaurant. It was nice to get dressed up once in a while � she flicked through the outfits in front of her, settling on a midnight blue long dress, she hadn't worn it in a while but people always commented on how it suited her. She dressed quickly, before crossing the room to the dressing table, relieved to notice that the redness of her skin had faded somewhat since the last time she had checked.
She ran the comb though her hair; suddenly appreciating her new shorter haircut and the way the sun had bleached parts of it, accentuating her usual highlights. She applied minimal make up � a dusting of pink eye shadow to highlight her eyes and a splash of pale lip-gloss. Reaching down for her perfume she sighed; the bottle had been a Christmas present from Jim but she loved the smell of it. A couple of squirts later and she felt ready to face the outside world again.
She crossed the room and retrieved her favourite strappy high-heeled sandals from the corner of the room where she'd thrown them when she came back from the restaurant last night. She grabbed her shawl from the hanger on the wardrobe and wrapped it round her shoulders � glad that it covered up the worst of the burn on her arms.
One last quick glance in the mirror and she was ready to go, a slight feeling of butterflies in her stomach. Picking up her clutch bag from the table by the door she took a deep breath, and left the room. She couldn't understand why she felt so nervous but she was determined to go and have a good evening.
***
As she approached the restaurant she could hear the general hubbub coming from the room. She walked up to the room slowly, pausing to look through the porthole in the door. She spotted Tom straight away, sat on a stool by the bar almost directly opposite the door. He was talking to a younger couple, his head thrown back with laughter. She watched him from afar for a few moments, noticing how he kept glancing towards the door and around the room every few seconds as if trying to locate someone - her probably. He looked so smart, dark trousers and a pale blue open necked shirt. She stepped aside to let a family enter the room, subconsciously adjusting her shawl and patting her hair to make sure it was just so. With a deep breath, she pushed open the door and entered the large room.
Tom spotted her immediately and stood up, appearing to make his excuses to the younger couple before heading over into her direction.
"June!" He smiled as he approached her placing his hands gently on her shoulders and planting a soft kiss on her cheek. She winced slightly as his hands made contact with the tender skin of her shoulders. "Ooh sorry, I forgot. How are you feeling anyway?"
"I'm not too bad� considering. Thanks for waking me. I'd be much worse otherwise."
"Now did you take my advice and have a lie down."
"I did." She nodded and looked up at him. "I had a long cool shower and slept for a while � feel so much better now."
"You look better."
"Less red?"
"Well I wasn�t going to mention that." He laughed. "You hungry?"
"You're a true gentleman." June looked up at Tom and smiled. "And yes, I'm starving."
"Shall we get a table then?"
"Lead the way."
Tom held his arm and June took it gratefully, allowing herself to be led across to the tabled section of the room where they were met by the maitre d'.
"Table for two?"
Tom nodded and the waiter gestured them towards a semi-secluded table by a large pillar. As the waiter pulled June's chair out for her Tom made his way around to his seat and watched as June sat down.
"Can I get you anything to drink?"
"June?"
"Glass of white wine please."
"Same for me." Tom smiled as the waiter placed menus in front of them. "In fact make it a bottle." He waited as the waiter left the table. "Saves us having to keep ordering."
"Anyone would think you were trying to get me drunk."
"Never June." Tom grinned, watching as the waiter filled their glasses and left the wine cooler beside the table. "To us." He raised his glass. "A new friendship and a great holiday."
"I'll drink to that." She looked at Tom as she sipped her wine. "So are you new on the ship � haven't seen you around before."
"Yeah I got on when the ship docked yesterday in Malaga. You've been here a while then?"
"Just a few days� been making the most of the break."
"It's beautiful on here � one of the nicer ships I've been on."
"You go on a lot of cruises then?"
"Well I travel a lot for work � just love being out in the open when I get the chance. You?"
"My first time." She placed her glass down on the table. "And hopefully not the last. So what do you do for a living then?"
Tom sipped his wine and placed his glass down. "Really boring to someone like you I guess, I'm in computers. I work for an international company who set up networks and computer systems for businesses. Spend quite a lot of my time in Spain."
"Sounds a good business to be in� Wish I got to travel more." She added wistfully.
"So what it is you do?"
"You'd never guess. I'm in the police force."
"Really?"
"Yeah, for over twenty years now. I'm a sergeant down in London."
"Ooh, I like a woman in uniform."
June giggled and picked up her glass. "I really don't see the attraction with the uniform it's awful. Besides I'm plain clothes now, run the Community Safety Unit at our station."
"Darn�" Tom winked at her. "The waiter's hovering, maybe we should check out the menu and get him off our back."
"Probably a good idea."
The conversation stilled for a few minutes whilst Tom and June flicked through the menu. Tom closed his first. "It all looks so good."
"Yeah I know, that's part of the problem. Still another day, another new dish."
"Sounds good. You ready to order?" June nodded her response as Tom caught the waiters' attention.
***
"This beef is so nice." Tom looked up at June. "You have to try some." He proffered his fork to her.
"If you insist." She smiled at him, leaning forward and taking the forkful of food. "Mmmm that's amazing."
"I know." Tom reached for the bottle of wine and refilled both of their glasses signalling to the waiter for another bottle. "So don't I get to try your chicken?"
"Ooh sorry." June blushed, cutting up her food and offering her fork up to Tom.
"Now that is good." He grinned taking a sip of his wine. "I must have that dish one day. Remind me won't you."
"Is that an invitation to dinner again?"
"Well you're not leaving tomorrow are you?"
"Nope, got another week of heaven."
"Well then, there's nothing stopping us enjoying each other's company is there?"
June looked thoughtful for a second. "No� I'd like that."
"That's sorted then."
"So whereabouts in London are you from. It's somewhere I only get to visit occasionally, the company I work for have most of their offices in Spain."
***
The conversation flowed easily throughout the meal, almost as easily as the wine that the waiter kept bringing to the table and June and Tom kept consuming.
"Fancy dessert?"
"I'm stuffed � couldn't eat another thing." She dabbed at her mouth with the napkin and slumped back into the chair, wineglass in hand.
"Not even one to share?"
June tipped her head to one side. "I could probably be tempted."
"Death by chocolate?"
June laughed. "You've found my weak spot. Go on then. But only a little."
Tom beckoned the waiter over to the table. "One death by chocolate, two spoons please. More wine June?"
"I'm fine for the moment thanks."
"That's everything then, thanks."
They made small talk until the waiter arrived brandishing a huge chunk of chocolate cake surrounded by mountains of cream and ice cream.
"Now that looks good." Tom laughed as the waiter placed the plate between them and handed them a spoon each."
"That looks� huge. I'll never manage half of that."
"You could try."
"I could." June nodded.
Tom picked up a huge forkful of cake as June watched him.
"Surely you're not going to eat all that in one go?" She laughed.
"Well� I'm not but you are." He swung the fork in June's direction.
"If you insist." She laughed, accepting the cake and suddenly feeling self-conscious as Tom intently watched her eat it. "Hey have some yourself." She scooped up a forkful of the cake but Tom put his hand out to stop her as she lifted it up towards him. "What?� what is it?"
"You've got chocolate on your face." June blushed as Tom leant forward and ever so gently wiped the smear from her cheek. "That's better." He said softly.
"Thanks� still your turn for cake though." She lifted her fork up to his mouth and watched as he gratefully took the mouthful.
"Mmm fantastic."
"You know if you're going to insist on feeding me dessert like this every night then I'm not going to be able to eat with you as I won't be able to fit into my clothes by the time I go home."
"Yeah right, I'll believe that when I see it � you're on holiday June, let your hair down a bit, chill out and relax."
June drained her wineglass. "That's exactly what I plan to do."
"Glad to hear it. More cake?"
***
"I really am totally stuffed now." June threw her napkin down onto the table and sat back in the chair. "Think I'm going to have to go to the gym in the morning, work off a few of those calories."
"Like you need to." Tom scoffed.
"You won't be saying that when I've eaten a week's worth of those cakes."
"We'll see. Fancy another drink."
"I'm fine for the moment � just how many bottles have we consumed."
"Erm, not sure. Enough I think."
"That's what my head's telling me."
"Mine too." Tom laughed.
"That's the problem with wine." June smiled. "Always goes straight to my head."
"So what do you fancy doing now?"
"Ooh� I dunno."
At that point the orchestra in the corner struck up their first tune of the night.
"Do you dance?" John asked, his eyes twinkling.
"I have been know to � been a while though. Why do you ask?"
"Well music, the two of us and a whole evening with nothing planned�"
"I'd like that."
Tom stood up and made his way over to June's side of the table, holding out his arm for her once more.
June stood up slowly. "Thank you kind sir." She smiled at him turning towards the dance floor, stumbling slightly as the alcohol started to pump through her veins. "Oops, white wine and high heels, bad combination."
"Excuses�" Tom slipped his arm around her waist and guided her towards the dance floor, June gratefully leaning against him for support.
As they reached the centre of the dance floor, Tom spun June round to face him, sliding one hand back to her waist and gripping her other with his free hand. They moved slowly to the music. "You're good at this." Tom smiled.
"A little out of practice I'm afraid."
"No one special in your life to dance with?" He asked gently.
"Nope, no one at all." She shook her head and looked at him. "That's why I'm here on my own. What about you?"
"I spend too much time travelling to get involved with people. Work seems to have a habit of taking over my life."
"I know what that one's like." June sighed. "As much as I love my job, there are times�"
"I know exactly what you mean."
"Sometimes you just need to get away from it all."
"Hence you being here?"
"Exactly� A chance to forget about things for a while."
"Which is exactly what you're doing� I hope?"
"I sure am." June smiled, before resting her head on his shoulder as the music changed to a slower tune.
They twirled together around the dance floor for several songs before June stopped suddenly and pulled away. "I'm really sorry but I need some fresh air, all this wine and dancing is making me feel a bit queasy." She turned suddenly, stumbling as she made her way across the dance floor.
"June?" Tom called out watching her as she left the restaurant.
***
"Just what are you doing June Ackland?" She muttered to herself as she leant over the rail on the deck. "You shouldn't be doing this." She sighed loudly.
"You're shivering June." A voice from the stairwell broke her thoughts. She looked up to seem Tom crossing the deck, holding out her shawl. "I know it's not much but it might help. How are you feeling?"
"Better now thank, I think it was just the heat in there." She nodded, shrugging the shawl around her shoulders. "Yep, I feel fine now, still a little light-headed but I blame you and the drink for that one."
Tom laughed. "If it makes you feel better."
"It does."
"Fancy a night-cap?"
"I think I've had enough for one night."
"Cup of tea then. Warm you up and sober you up too. I promise I won't try anything if that's what you're afraid of."
"I'm not afraid of you." She turned and looked him in the eye. "Tea would be nice. Thanks� and a chance to get these shoes off. My feet are throbbing."
"Come on then. I'm on the deck below yours I think." He slipped his arm around her shoulder and made his way towards the stairwell, June huddling against him, grateful of the warmth and company.
***
"After you." Tom pushed the door open and stepped back, allowing June to walk into the room.
"Wow!" She gasped. "Certainly puts my cabin to shame."
"It's one of the nicer ones I've stayed in � and I've been on a fair few cruises over the years."
"It's really nice. And huge compared to mine. But mine's just a basic cabin. We can't all be in computers." She grinned at him.
"So tea then?" He walked over to the kettle in the corner of the room. "How'd you take it?"
"Just milk thanks."
"Sweet enough as you are?"
June blushed. "I guess so."
"Please take a seat. Tom gestured to the bed. Take those heels off."
June sat down on the huge bed and kicked off her shoes. "Aaah that's so much better," she sighed, stretching her feet out in front of her before curling them up under her body. "I love those shoes but only for the first hour of wearing them."
"You women are all the same. Fashion over comfort." He caught her attention and winked at her.
"Well I don't think my flip flops would have gone with this dress do you."
"You'd look good in whatever you were wearing." A silence hung in the air. "Sorry�" he blushed. "Didn't mean to embarrass you or put you on the spot."
"You didn't� it's just been a while since anyone said something like that to me."
"That I can't believe." He walked over to her and handed her a mug of tea. "Here get that down you�" Crossing the room once more, he opened a cupboard and returned with a packet of digestive biscuits on a plate. "I love these things, can't drink tea without them," he declared before sitting down on the bed next to June. "Help yourself."
"Thanks." She took a long sip of her tea. "Mmm that's good. Nothing like a cup to tea to make everything better again."
"That's such a British thing to say." Tom laughed.
"So sue me." June laughed.
"Don't think I'd get away with that one. You being a police officer and all."
"True." She reached her hand out to grab a biscuit, unaware that Tom was doing exactly the same thing. Their hands brushed together for a split second, she looked up at him; their eyes meeting before June pulled her hand away quickly and looked intently at her mug.
"June?" She looked up once more; Tom was smiling at her. "What is it?"
"Nothing." She muttered quietly before standing up and placing her mug on the bedside cabinet. "I should go I think." She turned towards the door.
Tom stood up and moved to stand in front of June, putting his mug and the plate down on the table as he moved. "Please don't feel you have to go."
"I'm tired. I should get some sleep." She dropped her head once more.
"June�" Tom stepped forward slowly, his arm outstretched. He reached out to her, resting his hand gently under her chin and lifting her head up from her fixed gaze at the carpet. June glanced at him shyly as he slowly moved forward and kissed her softly. He pulled away almost instantaneously and looked down at her.
She looked up at him, coyly biting her bottom lip, her head tilted slightly to one side.
"I'm sorry June� I didn't mean to�"
"It's ok Tom, there's nothing to apologise for." Tension filled the air as she slowly lifted her hand up, running it down his cheek before hooking round the back of his neck and pulling him towards her.
She leant into him, her lips gently brushing against his, softly at first but then with more passion as her hand slid up to the back of his head, ruffling his hair as she wrapped her other arm around his waist pulling him closer to her.
Tom stepped towards her, his hands on her shoulders, pushing her shawl to the floor. They moved clumsily as one to towards the bed, their hands exploring each other as they kissed urgently.
June stepped backwards colliding with the bed and falling backwards onto it, pulling Tom down with her. He broke away from her kiss as he positioned himself beside her. "You're beautiful," he muttered into her ear as he stroked her face before kissing the tender skin on her neck.
She moaned quietly as one hand slid down to cup her breast, the other resting on her hip; her own hands making light work of his shirt buttons. His left hand traced a line from her hip down her leg before slowly finding the slit in her dress, where it once more snaked slowly upwards.
She was breathless now, gasping at his every movement. Withdrawing her hand from within his shirt she lifted his head up to meet hers once more, leaning in and kissing him once more as her blood pounded loudly in her head.
Suddenly she froze and pulled away from him.
"June? What is it?"
She sat up abruptly, breathing heavily. "I'm sorry� I can't do this�"
"June?"
"I've got to go." Untangling herself from his embrace she stood up quickly, her skin flushed. She snatched her handbag from the bedside cabinet, the tears in her eyes slowly starting to escape, before crossing the room quickly and flinging open the door.
Tom sat up slowly, unsure what quite was going on and watching as the door slammed shut loudly.
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