by Hazel Kelly
I leaned back in my chair. “I’ve just been busy putting the final touches on the renovations so I don’t leave you with any loose ends. It’s nothing personal.”
“So you haven’t been staying busy just to keep your mind off me?”
That too. “Of course not.”
“I wish I’d never told you to leave, you know?” She held the back of her neck. “I wish I could take it back- all those things I said about not wanting you here.”
“Thanks, Jolie. That means a lot to me.”
Her shoulders drooped.
“And I agree it would be nice to spend some time together before I leave.”
She straightened up in her chair.
“What do you think?” I asked. “One more date? For old times’ sake?”
She nodded. “I’d like that.”
“Great. My friend already offered to let me take his boat out one last time, and there’s no one I’d rather enjoy a sunset with.”
“Sounds like a plan,” she said. “When did you have in mind?”
“How about Saturday?”
“Perfect.”
“I’ll pick you up,” I said.
“Can I bring something this time?”
“Just yourself,” I said. “I’ll take care of everything else.”
Chapter 41: Jolie
I couldn’t believe this was going to be our last date. The thought was so upsetting I almost chickened out entirely.
But of course I had to come. I knew in my bones I would never care for someone the way I cared for Adam, so I wasn’t about to skip the time with him.
His charm delighted me, his physicality turned me on, and seeing the respect he’d shown the hotel and the staff since the beginning of the summer had made me fall for him in more ways than I ever thought possible.
Obviously I wished I could make him change his mind about leaving, but he was even more hard headed than I was, and I had only myself to blame for driving him away, for hurting him in a way I couldn’t undo.
If only I hadn’t looked him in the eyes and told him I would never love him back.
I didn’t even know anymore why I did it. Perhaps I was scared. Perhaps I was out of my depth and afraid of what the future might’ve held if I’d put myself out there.
But looking back it was a risk I wished I’d taken. Because imagining my life without him these last few weeks made me realize that there are worse mistakes than taking a chance on love.
I was grateful for the gentle breeze that night, which encouraged my worries not to linger too long and made my white maxi dress flutter just the right amount.
I paired it with some silver bangles and some dangly seahorse earrings in the hope that Adam’s mind might stray to what was underneath my dress.
And just in case it did, I’d shaved all the way up my thighs and exfoliated every inch of myself… partly out of nervousness and partly in the hope that it would come to something.
After all, I was beginning to think I’d be lucky to get even one more night with him, one more chance to burn myself into his memory, and though I knew better than to hope for it, one more chance to win him back.
He was looking delectably tan in a crisp white button up, and he rolled up the sleeves as soon as it was time to set sail.
I stayed at the stern with him while we made our way out of the marina, watching the muscles in his back shift under his shirt as he steered us out towards the open water.
From time to time, I let my eyes drop to his butt and found myself wishing it were mine to bite and drum on and squeeze playfully.
“Care to pour some drinks?” he asked over his shoulder, his dark hair blowing in the breeze like he was filming a cologne commercial.
“It would be my pleasure,” I said, rolling the cooler towards me. “What would you like?”
“Just a beer,” he said. “But feel free to open the white for yourself.”
“I might start with a beer, too,” I said, pulling two bottles from the ice and wondering what it would be like for him to drag a piece of it over me, leaving a trail of cold liquid down to my-
I shook the thought from my mind, popped the caps off, and brought him a beer.
“Thanks,” he said, clinking the neck of his beer against mine. “What was it you said the first time we came out?”
I raised my eyebrows. “To old friends and new beginnings?”
He nodded and took a sip.
I looked ahead to the horizon where a medley of bright colors looked like they were warming the sky.
“You want to take the wheel for a second?” he asked.
“Seriously?”
“Of course.” He reached for my beer and set it in the closest holder. Then he stepped back to make room for me at the helm.
I gripped the large wooden wheel, which was polished to a high sheen and looked as delicate as the wheel of a racing bike. “Is this right?”
He stepped behind me and slid my hands up each side. “Let’s go with ten and two until you get comfortable.”
I nodded and tried to breathe normally but it was hard with his body up against mine. He was so close there was no doubt he could smell my hair- maybe even see the goosebumps that erupted on my arms when he put his hands on mine.
“You’re a natural,” he said, his voice steady and low.
“If anything, it’s a little easier than driving my car.”
He laughed.
“Seriously. There’s no traffic, I’m not trying to navigate through a dirty windshield, and I don’t have to worry about coming to any stoplights.”
“Actually that makes sense,” he said, stepping to the side and letting his hand graze my lower back for a few seconds less than I would’ve liked. “People are always saying the Nissan Micra is a natural stepping stone to a giant sailboat.”
I shot him a look.
He smiled, and my heart melted a little.
“Thanks for bringing me out again,” I said, training my eyes back on the horizon. “I could get used to this.”
“Which?” he asked. “The sailing or my company?”
“Both.”
He reached for his beer and took a swig.
“You know I’ve known you longer than I’ve known almost anyone else,” I said, wondering how I could make him see how important he was to me without begging him to stay. Not that I was above begging, but I didn’t want him to stay out of guilt.
“Besides everyone who works at the hotel you mean?”
“That’s different,” I said.
He raised his thick eyebrows.
“They’re family.”
“So I’ve come to learn,” he said. “It was a nightmare trying to figure out who was related to who in the beginning.”
“I think that’s a testament to my dad,” I said. “For building a place that could employ multiple generations.”
“Couldn’t agree more,” he said, lifting my beer towards me.
“You think I’m ready to steer with one hand?”
“I think you can handle it long enough to take a sip.”
I gulped two healthy swigs and handed the bottle back to him. “Thanks,” I said, licking my lips as I noticed his shirt was unbuttoned one more than I detected earlier.
He caught me looking but didn’t call me out. “It’s a great group anyway. I had a lot of fun getting to know everyone.”
“They certainly enjoyed getting to know you, too,” I said. “Though the frequency with which you call staff meetings has become a bit of an inside joke.”
His expression fell. “What?”
“Just saying,” I said. “I mean, haven’t you ever heard of a memo?”
“Are you kidding?” he asked. “Memos are so much worse. Then you have to go around asking people if they got their memos and then you’re just a parody of a boss. Not to mention the time suck.”
I pressed my lips together to suppress a smile.
“Plus, meetings are better because you can actually see people’s face
s when you give them news, which means you can tell if they have questions and make sure your announcements don’t become a messy game of telephone.”
“I suppose you have a point,” I said. “Maybe I’ll keep it up once you’re gone.”
“How would you do it?” he asked.
“Well, I used to have a point person in every department, and I’d just inform those people and let them spread the word.”
He narrowed his eyes at me.
“It was pretty efficient.”
“Maybe,” he said. “But that sounds dangerously close to playing favorites, which can be a tricky move when it comes to family.”
I cocked my head. “True.”
“Besides, I was the new guy, and I wanted people to know me.”
“I’m only teasing you,” I said. “Your meeting thing obviously worked. You settled in much faster than I anticipated.”
“It made me feel comfortable anyway.”
“And it was cool that you treated everyone as equals from day one.”
“Except for you,” he said.
I stole a glance at him.
“Giving you special treatment has been my favorite job of all.”
Chapter 42: Adam
“It’s funny how similar the view is when the inside has changed so much,” Jolie said as we watched the sun set behind the resort.
“Are you happy with the changes?” I asked.
“Are you kidding? The place went from three and a half to five stars. Even the staff has been transformed.”
I leaned back and put my arm on the edge of the boat behind her. “Everyone was so devoted to the success of the place. It was a pleasure to be part of it.”
She turned and looked at me. “We couldn’t have done it without you, you know?”
“You mean you couldn’t have done it without Carrie.”
“Her, too,” Jolie said. “But even bringing her in was your idea.”
“True,” I said. “I suppose I can take credit for that.”
“I can’t wait for the wedding, too. Everyone is so excited.”
“I’m sure it will be a big success.”
She elbowed me in the ribs. “That was your cue to tell me who it’s for.”
“Can’t. I’ve been sworn to secrecy.”
Her lower lip slid out in a pout. “What about my special treatment?”
“What about just taking things as they come?”
She groaned. “You sound like my dad.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
She sighed and scooted a little closer to me.
It felt great to have her so close, but it still didn’t feel close enough.
“Do you get sunsets like this in New York?” she asked.
I shook my head. “No. You don’t get sunsets like this anywhere.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I suppose you’ve seen a few?”
“I have, yeah.”
“Which ones have been the best?”
I kept my eyes on the deep pink swirls glowing over the hotel. “The ones I’ve seen with you.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
I turned my head towards her. “Why?”
“Because you’ve seen so many all over the world.”
“I suppose it depends on what you want from a sunset.”
“Surely everyone wants the same things from a sunset,” she said. “Bright swirls of color, a clear view of the sun, and for the whole sky to be lit up as far as the eye can see.”
“All those things are great,” I said, breathing in the fresh sea air. “But they pale in comparison to what I want from a sunset.”
“Which is what?” she asked, angling her body towards me.
“To see it reflected in the eyes of the woman I love.”
Her brown eyes bounced back and forth between mine.
“I still love you, Jolie.” I put a hand on her knee. “I know I haven’t said it in a while, but I’m still bat shit crazy in love with you.”
She lifted my hand off her knee and held it in her hands. “I love you, too, Adam.”
My eyes crinkled at the corners.
“I don’t know why it’s been so hard for me to say it,” she said. “Especially when you’ve been so honest with me from the beginning. But I’d rather tell you before you leave than have you go and not know how much-”
I leaned down and kissed her, and the eagerness with which she opened her mouth to me filled me fire. Then I lifted her legs across my lap so I could pull her closer as I stirred her sweet tongue in my mouth.
It was the kiss I’d wanted for as long as I could remember, the kiss that meant I’d finally won her heart.
“Thank you,” I said, dragging my fingers across her cheek. “You have no idea what it means to me to hear you say that.”
She glanced down, her eyelashes casting shadows on her cheeks as the starry night sky crept up from the East. When she looked up again, she laid a hand on my cheek.
I grabbed her wrist and brought her hand between us, kissing her fingertips as I kept my eyes on her, a hunger growing in my belly that I knew would have to be sated soon.
“I wish we could just stay here forever,” she whispered, curling her fingers around my hand.
“If I’d known you were going to feel that way, I would’ve brought more food.”
She laughed.
“Unfortunately, with the provisions we’ve got, we’ll be hungry by morning.”
“So no sleepovers on the boat tonight?” she asked, her big eyes full of hope.
“I’m afraid not, but we don’t have to head back just yet.”
“Good,” she said.
“Besides, I have a surprise for you.”
“A surprise?”
“Consider it a going away present.”
“Oh,” she said, her tone falling flat. “Okay.”
“Give me one second to get it ready,” I said, lifting her legs off me. “Then come below deck when I call you.”
“Sure.”
I made my way to the back of the boat and went down the staircase below deck. Once there, it took me a minute to situate her present in the lounge area, and although I spent the whole time wishing I’d thought to give her something less physically awkward, it was too late now.
Then I made some preparations in the bedroom in case everything went according to plan.
“Ready?” she called from the top of the stairs.
“One second!” I pulled the curtain across the bedroom area and took a deep breath. “Okay, ready.”
Jolie’s long dress fell from step to step as she descended the stairs, and as soon as she caught sight of the enormous gift, her eyes sprang into tiny crescents.
“What could that be?” she asked.
“Have a guess,” I said, turning my palms up.
“Well, it’s shaped a lot like a paddle board,” she said, her eyes scanning the wrapped package that stretched across the floor between us. “But you could be trying to throw me off.”
I rocked back on my heels, trying to control my anticipation.
“I didn’t even know they made bows that big,” she said, nodding at the oversized red bow.
I nodded. “You can get anything on Amazon these days.”
“Good to know.”
“Open it already!” I said, waving my hands at the package.
She tilted her head. “But then the moment will be over.”
I groaned. “Maybe the next moment will be even better. Did you ever think of that?”
She lifted her dress, dropped to her knees, and pulled one of the ribbons sticking out of the bow. It unraveled instantly, and she glanced up at me before turning her focus to the shiny wrapping paper. “Looks like a paddle board alright,” she said, tearing away.
Suddenly, the message written across the board in bold cursive became visible.
She only stared at the words “Will You Marry Me” for a moment before looking up.
“Would you mind stan
ding again for this next part?” I asked, extending a hand.
She let me help her to her feet, her eyes on mine as the flush disappeared from her cheeks.
That’s when I took a knee in the middle of the paddle board and pulled a small box out of my back pocket. “Jolie-”
Her mouth fell open.
“Ever since the day I met you, you’ve been teaching me, testing me, and turning me on.” I took a deep breath. “I feel like I’ve spent my whole life trying to get back to you.”
She put a hand over her chest.
“And I don’t want to enjoy another breakfast, another day at the beach, or another sunset without you.”
She batted her eyelashes and pressed her lips together.
“For years, I’ve been trying to figure out what I want, and it turns out it’s been you all along. You and you alone.” I clenched my jaw and willed my voice not to shake. “I love every beautiful inch of you, and I always will. Because you’re my soulmate. And I want to spend the rest of my life making sure that gorgeous smile never leaves your face.” I popped the ring box open. “Marry me so I never have to say goodbye to you again.”
Her eyes filled with tears and she sank to her knees. “Of course I’ll marry you,” she said, throwing her arms around me. “Despite how horribly cruel you were to let me think you were going to leave me again!”
“Never,” I said, pulling her tight, my whole body flooding with warmth.
She sat back on her heels and wiped her eyes as she shook her head at me. “I can’t believe how good you duped me.”
I pulled the ring from the box and took her hand. “But it’s all okay now, right? Since you’re the only person I want to dupe?”
She nodded.
So I slid the ring on her finger.
Chapter 43: Jolie
I held my hand out and looked at the diamond ring, but as stunning as it was, it wasn’t enough to distract me from Adam’s beaming face.
“You like it?” he asked.
I nodded.
“Amazon again. Go figure.”
I laughed and pushed his chest, which didn’t even budge.
“I’m joking,” he said.
“I know,” I said, glancing at the sparkling ring again.