One Night with the Captain — Linda Steinberg

Emma McBride thought she was finally on the marriage track, but when her long-term boyfriend dumps her, she's devastated. Convinced by a gal pal to take a cruise to Mexico, Emma's hoping the sea, sand and solitude will mend her too-trusting heart. A shipboard affair is definitely not on her agenda. Especially not with a handsome Army captain who'll be redeploying after the cruise. But the nights are long, and the man is caring and easy to talk to, and Emma finds herself trusting him more than she'd planned to. Can she enjoy the passion of the moment without falling in love?

Army Captain Zach Lawrence used his much-needed shore leave to meet up with an online lady friend for a 5-day cruise. When she's a no-show, he feels like a fool, but he's not going to waste his R&R on might-have-beens. The refreshing candor of a quiet brunette catches his attention. And his heart. But she's looking for a permanent relationship, and even if he wanted to, Zach can't do permanent. Although he's beginning to care for Emma more than he'd ever planned to, when the cruise is over, he has to walk away. Or does he?