Page 42 of It Had to be You

It gave her confidence in a way that she didn't have when she was just herself.

But with Alex?

He gave her hand a squeeze and turned to look at her. "You take my breath away, Tatum."

Just like that.

"You," she spoke softly, struggling to find the right words, "make me feel like I could fly."

The luxury car turned down a road and the wheels bounced a little on the uneven drive.

"Sorry, sir."

The driver looked back through the rear-view mirror.

"I'll try to keep things even."

Against his side, Tatum leaned in against his shoulder. "Don't worry," she leaned forward to speak to the driver, "I'm fine. The bump just gave me the excuse to lean against Alex."

As if to punctuate her words, another rut in the road lifted her up from the seat and she bumped up against Alex.

Grinning she looked at him. "Not so bad, hmm?"

He leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek and whispered into her ear. "Not bad at all."

The spa was incredible. From the moment they walked in, everyone was wonderful. Attentive. Warm. Everything she could hope for. Until this cruise, the best massage she'd ever had was a quick 15-minute chair massage at a mall. It was a really good memory but faded into the background as soon asshe melted into the massage bed at the beginning of the massage that Alexander had reserved for them.

Her cheeks heated with a blush when she found herself wondering what it would be like if this had been a couples massage with Alexander on a table next to her.

Parts of her body tingled and with her soft in-drawn breath she stilled and hoped that the masseuse didn't notice.

"Breathe." The woman gently worked at Tatum's shoulders. "Don't worry about a thing."

Tatum sighed and turned her head so that her cheek rested on the cool cotton pillowcase. "I'm not. I'm just... wondering."

Tatum heard the soft chuckle of themasseuse as the other woman worked down her spine.

"If you're wondering about your man. Don't."

A startled breath pulled into Tatum's lungs. "How?"

"I can tell that you're a couple." Her fingers found a knot of muscles at the base of Tatum's spine and shifted slightly to dig into the knot. "I didn't see you come in with him, but I was there when you separated to change for your massages. He didn't take his eyes off of you as you walked away." Themasseuse sighed and Tatum understood the sound. It was a longing sound. "If I had a man who watched me like that? I would be so happy."

Tatum resisted a moan as the knot in her back released. Her whole body relaxed, muscles releasing, her body sinking into the massage table. "I am... I really am."

When the massage ended and Tatum sat up on the table, the sheet wrapped around her body, she gestured to her purse on the counter. "Could you... please, may I have my bag."

The masseuse reached out her hands and clasped them around hers. "No need, Miss. Your man," the masseuse's smile was as bright as sunshine, "has taken care of a tip. And it was very... very generous."

Tatum's mouth opened gently.

"So generous," the masseuse nodded, "that I will never forget his generosity. I hope," she gave Tatum's hand a squeeze, "that you enjoyed the experience."

Tatum's whole heart swelled. "It was... amazing. Transcendent. I've never felt so good."

A secret smile touched the other woman's lips. "Then you should change into your bathing suit and join him in the spring."

Tatum hesitated a little. "I've heard the mud bath is incredible, but I'm not sure how he'll feel about me after seeing me covered in mud like a creature from the deep."

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