Page 14 of No Time Off

“Yes, but the natives call it?aha?aina.It literally means ‘a meal gathering.’But it’s a luau of sorts. I’ve booked us a tour and dinner, or luau, if you will, at a nearby Polynesian village for the evening.”

“That sounds incredibly interesting and fun.”

“Don’t forget romantic,” he added. “At least, that’s the plan.”

“I’m so glad you said that, as romance and intimacy is another important piece of the marriage code,” I said. “It’s number three, by the way.”

“Is it now?” he said, sounding amused. “So, we have trust as the number one piece of the code, followed by mutual decision making. Now we have an intimacy element. This code keeps getting better and better. You can rest assured I’m fully on board for this code. In fact, I’m willing to help make it even more robust, if you’d agree. Do I get to see the code when you’re finished programming it?”

“Absolutely. Your input will be vital, as the outcome is a shared achievement.”

“Excellent.” Grinning, he headed back into the room, pulling off his fake mustache with a grimace. “Oh, it feels good to have thatbrucooff my face.”

“What’s abruco?” I asked, pulling the pins out and removing my wig with a grateful sigh. I tossed it on the bed, unpinned my hair, and massaged my scalp.

“A caterpillar,” he said.

I laughed. “It did kind of look like an insect.”

He gave a mock sigh. “So, not sexy at all?” He removed his sports coat and shirt and hung them on the back of a chair.

“Ha. Only you could make a caterpillar mustache look sexy.” He chuckled as I walked over to my suitcase, flipped it on its side, and rolled the small combination lock to open it. “Do we have time to shower before the luau?”

A slow smile crossed his face. “We have plenty of time for that…and maybe a bit more.”

I glanced at him over my shoulder. “A bit more what? Don’t tell me you’re referring to gaming.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m not referring to gaming.”

I straightened, pretending to ignore the eyeroll. “So, what did you have in mind? Are you saying I’m going to get lei’ed?”

He winced. “Ouch. You did not just say that.”

“I did.” I laughed happily, kissing him on the chin. “I thought you’d be proud of me for recognizing a sexual innuendo at first blush. You didn’t like my pun?”

“I did not. But wearein Hawaii, so Iamhoping the lei’ed part is on the agenda.”

“Well, hope no more.” I pulled him toward the bed, and we fell on it together. “I think it’s a perfect activity for the first day of our honeymoon, and, well, with you, anytime, actually.”

He grinned, rolling us over until he was on top. “You were kidding about the gaming, right?”

“Of course I was kidding. Now that I fully understand my options, if you’re among the choices, nothing else is ever going to win. That includes gaming. You’ve ruined me for life, you know.” It was the absolute truth.

He tucked a stray hair behind my ear. “Good. Because until I met you, nothing would have kept me away from the keyboard for twenty-four hours, either. And now look at us.”

“Yes. Look at us.” I touched his unshaven cheek with my fingertips, marveling that this man was my husband. “Happily married…twice…and finally on our honeymoon. And the funny thing is, Slash, when I’m with you, I don’t even miss the gaming.”

A smile lit his face. “Me, neither. But it doesn’t mean we can’t do it from time to time or even often, on occasion.”

I paused for a moment, hoping he meant what I thought he meant. “I’m really glad you said that.”

He laughed. “I know you are,cara. That’s why I said it.” He nuzzled my neck with his lips. “Now, where were we?”

I tugged his mouth toward my lips. “About to officially start our epic and über-relaxing honeymoon.”

“It’s about time,” he said.

TEN

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