Page 38 of Passions & Peonies

“I never said Josh and I were poets.” I chortle.

“I didn’t realize that this part of the hotel property is higher. The ocean is endless, the perfect shade of turquoise with the crests of the waves mixed in. Those perky palm trees leading down to the ocean, the colorful boats sailing by, and the sprinkle of little clouds in that crystal blue sky—it’s like a picture-perfect postcard. It’s heaven.”

“Wow. Speaking of poets!”

She flicks her hair back. “Right?I’m not sure where that came from.”

“Hey, speaking of boats… I have a question to ask you.”

She bends over and picks up her tea. When she sits down next to me, I curl my arm around her. Her body snuggles up to mine where it belongs. As if this is our norm.

“So what did you want to ask me?” she says.

“Tomorrow’s your last day here. I haven’t had the chance to show you our boat. Can I take you out on it to watch the sunset tomorrow night? We could leave midafternoon so I can work in the morning. That’s if you’re feeling a hundred percent by then. I don’t want you to turn every shade of green.”

She twists toward me and I see the light in her eyes again. “Seriously?”

“Of course. I want our last night together to be special. It’s been hard for us to be alone for any length of time.”

“I’d love to!”

“But only if you’re healthy and you wear that red bathing suit. You’re not allowed on the boat without it.”

She cocks an eyebrow. “You liked that suit that much? Your wish is my command.” Her voice is deep and sultry. “I promise to be better tomorrow. And I told you, I don’t get seasick.” Her face drops. “Oh wait, I have to talk to Sky first.”

“Oh, she approves,” Sky says as she steps out on the patio. “Of course you’re going to ditch me on the last night of our vacation for this hottie next to you. I’d be pissed otherwise. I’ll be fine on my own.”

Lacey stands up and hugs Sky. “You’re the best! I owe you big time.”

“Ha! You can repay me when I crash at your place during the next months. You probably won’t think I’m the best then.” They laugh.

“I’ve come to check on you, Lace, and to see if you want to come back to the hotel with me. We have to take advantage of our last days here.” She points at the stuff on the table. “Even if we only drink tea and eat pretzels. I’ll pretend I’m drinking tea anyway. But, no more Bushwackers for me for a while.”

“Sit for a few minutes. Let me finish my tea, and then we can go.” Lacey pats my knee. “This hottie needs to get back to work. Josh is going to hate me if he doesn’t already. I’m distracting Will.”

I squeeze her hand. “In a good way, so don’t worry about him. If anything, Josh is encouraging us just as much as Sky is.”

“We’re the evil conspirators.” Sky taps her fingertips together.

“I wouldn’t say evil, but you and Josh always have something up your sleeve; with all your giggling and whispering all the time. You are definitely trouble,” Lacey points out.

“We’re just curious how all of this’ll pan out.”

Me too.

Chapter 18

Lacey

“I threw some condoms in your bag just in case,” Sky shouts as we leave the slip. “You’ll thank me later.”

Josh cracks up next to her. They wave, then Sky cups her hands to her mouth and calls, “Oh, and don’t forget to set your alarm so you can get to the lobby on time tomorrow morning.”

I’m going to kill her.I give her a dirty look and then smile at the people who are laughing on the boat adjacent to Will’s. My suitcase is packed and ready, just in case the night does go in that direction. Something I’ve been fantasizing about since I met Will.

“Ready, lady in red?”

“More than ever. Let’s get out of here. I’ve been counting down the minutes since you asked me yesterday.”

---