Page 38 of It Had to be You

Getting up from the chair, he held out his hand. "I think I want to see what the water is like.

Care to join me?"

She was up and holding his hand a moment later. "Absolutely. Lead the way."

Together they ran toward the surf and when he stumbled, she was there to give him a hand. Until another wave tumbled them back into the water together.

There was laughter enough for both of them and when he had her in his arms, there was hope as well.

Later that night, after dinner and dancing, Tatum found out that there was one more surprise in store for her.

Myra came to their table and whispered into her ear. "Follow me."

Tatum had brushed a kiss on Alex’s cheek. "I’ll be right back, okay?"

He nodded and smiled at her, giving her a wave as she walked away.

It wasn’t until they got to the elevators that she’d questioned where they were going.

"You’ll see," was Myra’s cryptic response.

And see she did.

At the door, Myra had given her a key to the room and all Tatum could do was stare at it as if it was going to start talking. And tell her what she was missing.

Explain what she didn’t understand.

"Go ahead," Myra nudged her with her shoulder, "go in. There’s a note and a box on the bed. Go in and see. It’ll explain everything."

It’ll explain everything, she said.

What was going to explain how furiously her heart was beating in her chest?

The box was exactly where Myra said it was going to be, on the foot of the bed, tied with a red ribbon. It was almost a shame to untie the ribbon, but her curiosity got the better of her.

She picked up the note.

She read the note a second time and then set it aside. Reaching into the box she pulled out a set of pink pajamas with butterflies printed on it. Lifting the top to her cheek, she rubbed it against her cheek. Silk. Perfection.

How could she do anything other than what he asked? If she still believed in fairy tales, he would be her prince and fairy godmother.

Laughing to herself, she headed into the bathroom and had to stop short at the sight before her.

A whirlpool tub.

She’d only ever seen them in advertisements. And maybe on her Pinterest wall.

Okay, definitely on her Pinterest albums of "Someday" and "Wishful Thinking."

He wasn’t joking about the products from the spa either. There was a wicker basket brimming with them. It took her a good amount of time to sort through and pick what she wanted to use first. The Lokelani Spa had a whole line of products that were elegance personified. Lifting the shower scrub tube, she turned it over in her hands to read the ingredients and was beyond pleased to see that not a single one looked like it was composed of random Scrabble tiles. All natural. Popping open the top, she brought it to her nose to sample the scent.

They weren’t kidding when they called the spa ‘Heavenly Rose.’ The scent was light but fresh and floral and when she squeezed a little pearl of the product onto the tip of her finger and rubbed it into her skin it felt like silk.

Reaching into the shower she turned on the water and was thrilled when it heated almost

immediately. Setting the tube on the shelf inside the shower, she made quick work of her clothes because she wasn’t going to turn down what promised to be the best shower she’d ever had.

Alexander paced along the balcony windows, waiting for Tatum to appear. Looking down at his phone he made sure that the text he was waiting to send was ready to go.

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