How did I get so lucky? she thought, as the video of the past year played out in her mind, she smiled, remembering her panic when she believed the vaquita would become extinct. Now, thanks to Costa Azul International, the vaquita had their home and were increasing in number for the first time since they’d been discovered. The vaquita had their home, and she had found hers.
Her eyes fluttered, bringing her to the present, a smile dancing on her lips as she surveyed the beautiful, brick house on the bluff. Alejandro had started back toward the jeep. She had gotten to know him more deeply this past year, and he was no longer able to hide his emotions from her as he once had. As he hurried down the road to her, his excitement and anticipation clearly matched her own.
“Everything is ready for you. I hope you like it, mi amor,” he said, as he opened her door and held out his hand. His smile was infectious, and Cassie threw her arms around him, laughing.
“Alejandro, I can’t believe you’ve had this whole house built for us and haven’t even let me see it once. How do you know I’ll like it,” she said, drawing back from him.
He took her hand slowly, his lips resting on her palm. “I know your heart, Cassie Lewis, and I know what will make you happy. Come, see our new home,” he said, pulling her with him up the road.
They walked up the hill toward the house, comfortable in each other’s silence. She was honored he had done this for her, and he had put his heart and soul into it. Planning and building with his Uncle Pablo had been a joy for both of them as they forged their relationship, built on respect and love they hadn’t had the opportunity to know before.
Cassie had spent the past year designing the breeding sanctuary, shepherding teams of scientists in and out of the area as they implemented their plan. Progress had been swift, and she anticipated the first residents in the sanctuary within a few months.
At the same time, Alejandro had given her a home, relishing the secret planning and scheming with his uncle, keeping all details from Cassie. The construction had been a joint effort, Alejandro planning and designing their home as he worked on the construction of the resort, and Pablo building the house lovingly, with his own hands, as he had built his churches in the past. It was a true gift of love.
They drew near the entry of the house, passing through a small patio with a fountain made of colorful Mexican tile, water flowing into a basin on the ground. Brightly colored bougainvillea flowers waved in the breeze as they walked under the shaded roof of the entry.
Alejandro gestured for her to lead the way toward the front door, his eyes gleaming. Her chin dropped as she looked up at the tall double-entry doors, her hand to her mouth. “Alejandro, they’re beautiful,” she gasped, running her fingers over the two dolphins etched deep into the dark mahogany.
“I had them made especially for you,” he said as he pushed the door open in front of her. As she passed into the beautiful entry, stunned with its beauty, she was drawn to the four massive windows. The magnetic pull of the view drew her closer, as her gaze was drawn to the beach below.
“Do you like it?” Alejandro said, anxiously searching her face. “I hope I haven’t made a mistake.”
Cassie fell silent, her eyes taking in the view, and the magnitude of the gift. “I can’t believe you did this for me, Alejandro,” he said, her voice quiet. “This is the best gift I’ve ever received.”
His face lit up as he threw open the French doors leading to the patio beyond the beautiful windows. “Come, there’s more,” he said, reaching for her hand.
They reached the edge of the bluff, and she breathed deeply, taking in the vista. Before her, down the cliff and across the sand, was the breeding sanctuary she had created. As the warm breeze rose from the sea, she rested her head on his shoulder.
“Ah, amor,” Pablo said, stepping onto the patio, his hat in his hands. He grasped Cassie in a tight hug as she crossed the patio. “Is it to your liking, little one?”
“Pablo, you did this for me?” she said, hugging him tightly. “You built a beautiful home for us.”
As he lowered his eyes, he said, “I built it for the two of you, yes. But I also built it for Maria and Esteban in their memory.” He placed his hat on his head and turned toward the sea. “They would be very proud of what we have done here,” he said, turning toward the road. “I know you will be happy here, and we have work to do. Alejandro, show her the last surprise.” Nodding to them both, he disappeared toward the mountains.
Cassie turned to Alejandro, her eyes searching his face. “More surprises?”
“There’s something special that Pablo wanted you to see,” Alejandro said, pulling her toward a wrought-iron metal staircase leading to an upstairs balcony. Close behind him, she climbed the steps.
On the grand terrace overlooking the sea, Alejandro stood near a large column of brick, shimmering yellow and orange in the disappearing sunlight. She moved closer, her eyes wide. “He did all these whale-tails himself?” she said, her hand reaching to touch the brick before her. Her eyes traveled up to the top, and she felt his hand tighten as she surveyed the intricate design in the wall, facing the sea.
“Yes, each one. He did this for you,” he said as he admired the expert artistry. As she gazed at the pattern of the moonrise that Pablo had designed with the brick, its rays shooting to all co rners of the patio, she turned to Alejandro, her eyes wet. She thought of how close she had come to believing he would give it all up for his family. She knew now that he was her rock, her rescuer, and she could rest her heart in his hands and not take on the world alone.
“Yes, we will be happy here.”
Thanks for reading!
If you enjoyed this book, you should check out the other books in the Playa Luna series. In Salvation, we meet Cassie and Taylor’s moms, Megan and Felicia, two years earlier in Playa Luna, finding love and fighting to stop smugglers from decimating the totuava. Mystery and margaritas on the beach!
Salvation - Playa Luna Beach Romance - Book 2
Please help spread the word about Playa Luna and its crazy characters getting in trouble and falling in love: message your Facebook friends and tell anyone else who might also enjoy them.
Most importantly of all, if you could, I would love a personal review on Amazon or Goodreads by you. It really helps.
I’m so excited to hear what you think about the book, so please reach out to me on Twitter or Facebook. You’ll find great photos of the beaches, turtles, dolphins and margaritas that make these stories so fun to write.
I hope you enjoyed reading the book as much as I enjoyed writing it! To hear about the next book in the series, be sure to sign up for my email list on my Facebook page!
Thanks for reading and sharing. It means the world to me!
Sarah
Author’s Note:
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2013 Sarah Collins
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
ISBN-13: 978-1492806868
ISBN-10: 1492806862
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter TwoCassie
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
>
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Copyright © Sarah Collins, 2013
The Sanctuary (Playa Luna Beach Romance) Page 7