Champagne Kisses
Page 17
Marissa hesitated. Why, she didn’t know. She’d wanted to see Papa Dee’s Suite but it had always been occupied on her earlier visits. This was no surprise, considering the popularity of the resort as a wedding destination. She’d read the brochure, which included the home’s humble beginnings, had tried to imagine Donovan’s ancestor, Nicodemus laying plank upon plank and brick upon brick by the sweat of his brow with Mamie, his wife, cooking hearty stews in a cast iron pot hanging over the fireplace. She’d imagined also being lifted over the door’s threshold on her wedding night, had thought that that was when she’d lay eyes on the interior beyond her. Somehow, it felt awkward to go in now.
“I thought this suite was for newlyweds,” she finally said.
“Mostly,” Donovan replied. “But I have to let you in on a tradition, newly started by Jackson and my sister. You see, the average guest takes advantage of this home’s wonderful amenities after they get married. But in the Drake family’s unique fashion, we’ve chosen to sample its luxuries before we walk down the aisle.”
“Who are you planning to walk down the aisle with?” Marissa said, her face close to Donovan’s, her demeanor uncharacteristically sassy. “Since I’m not wearing a ring?”
“You’ve been hanging too much around Diamond,” Donovan murmured, not unpleased. He unlocked the door. “It’s bringing out your feisty side. But make no mistake, I’m still running things.” With that he swooped her up, causing a whoosh of air to escape from her lips. She wrapped her hands tightly around Donovan’s neck as he walked them over the threshold into a quaint, square living room that had been obviously renovated yet clearly maintained its original design. Gleaming hardwood floors, a pressed brick fireplace and silk-covered walls with a floral design immediately transported the guest back in time. A Victorian-style couch with curved wooden legs and deep burgundy velvet sat beneath the paned front window, a quilted throw at the ready to block out the chill. Topping off this seamless step back in time was the roaring fireplace with small logs crackling as they burned and fell to the charred remains below.
“It’s officially over, but Happy Thanksgiving, Marissa.” Donovan smiled.
“But when…how?” She turned around, taking in the room, including a bottle of champagne cooling in a silver bucket. “That’s why you left,” she continued, thinking back to earlier in the evening when, as the family sipped mugs of hot chocolate in the great room, Donovan had excused himself. He’d been gone for about half an hour. Looks like somebody had been busy.
“This is the most amazing thing that anybody has ever done for me,” she said, tears in her eyes. “And I’m very thankful. I love you, Donovan.” Oops? Did the three little words just come out of my mouth? Maybe I said it in my mind and thought I said it out loud. But the big smile on Donovan’s face told another story.
“I’ll toast to that!” he said. He walked over to the table holding the champagne bucket. “You’re in for a treat,” he told her. “This is from the first batch of the new champagne that Dexter and Papa Dee produced. It’s an exclusive bottle, very expensive. It won’t even be sold in regular stores.”
“Oh! The Diamond!” Marissa laughed, feeling giddy that she would be one of the first to taste the bubbly that was her boyfriend’s sister’s namesake.
He uncorked the bottle and after pouring them each a flute he walked over and handed one to Marissa. “I had no idea that when this year started it would end this way, with a special woman by my side, and by me asking the most important question of my life.” He set down the glass.
As he began to kneel, Marissa began to tremble. No! Is he going to…yes! He is! She, too, set down her glass, continuing to look at Donovan with love in her eyes.
“Marissa Drake, I know we haven’t dated a long time. But Papa Dee says when it’s right, it don’t take long. And I believe this is right. Will you marry me?”
“Yes!” she said before the last word had barely left his mouth. “Yes, yes, yes!” He stood then, capturing Marissa’s mouth in a bruising kiss, lapping up her love, drinking her in as though he could never get enough. When the kiss ended, they once again picked up their glasses.
“To you,” Donovan said simply.
“To us,” Marissa replied.
They kissed and drank and kissed some more. Champagne kisses, in fact, that would eventually lead to a lifetime of bubbly love.
* * * * *
We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin ebook. Connect with us for info on our new releases, access to exclusive offers, free online reads and much more!
Subscribe to our newsletter: Harlequin.com/newsletters
Visit Harlequin.com
We like you—why not like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/HarlequinBooks
Follow us on Twitter: Twitter.com/HarlequinBooks
Read our blog for all the latest news on our authors and books: HarlequinBlog.com
ISBN: 9781459241725
Copyright © 2012 by Zuri Day
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Trade Marks Office and in other countries.
www.Harlequin.com