Page 18 of Once Upon a Holiday Vacation
Hours later, we floated in crystal-clear waters, colorful fish darting around us as smooth waves lapped over our heads. I marveled at the vibrant coral reefs below, a whole new world I'd only ever seen on nature shows.
Weston tapped my arm, pointing excitedly at a sea turtle gliding by. His eyes were wide with wonder behind his mask, and I felt a surge of affection. This was Weston in his element—adventurous, carefree, and utterly captivating.
We surfaced, treading water as we caught our breath. He pulled off his mask, grinning from ear to ear. “Did you see that turtle? And those angel fish? This is incredible!”
I nodded, heart full. “It's like being inside a kaleidoscope. I've never seen anything like it.”
His expression softened. “I'm glad we're experiencing this together. There's no one else I'd rather be here with.”
My breath caught. Did he mean that the way I hoped? I pushed the thought away, focusing on the moment. “Me too. This is... perfect.”
As we bobbed up and down, surrounded by beauty and possibility, I felt a sense of peace wash over me. Whatever happened next, I'd always have this memory—Weston and me, in our own little paradise.
After a while, we swam lazily towards the shore, emerging from the depths with sun-kissed skin and exuberant smiles. Weston shook his head like a dog, droplets flying from his shaggy hair.
“Race you to the swim-up bar?” he challenged, eyes twinkling.
I laughed. “You know I can't resist a challenge from you.”
We splashed through the shallows, breathless and giddy by the time we reached the bar. I hoisted myself onto a submerged stool, feeling the cool water lapping at my waist.
“One Bahama Mama, please,” I told the bartender, then turned to Weston. “Let me guess, you want something that'll put hair on your chest?”
He smirked. “You know me too well. I'll take a Dark ’n Stormy.”
As we sipped our drinks, his arm brushed against mine, sending a shiver through me despite the warmth. Was it intentional? I couldn't tell.
“So, my little bookworm,” he teased, “is this better than staying cooped up in the ship's library?”
I rolled my eyes but couldn't hide my smile. “I suppose it has its charms. The scenery's not bad.”
“Just 'not bad'?” Weston raised an eyebrow, his hand ghosting along my forearm. “I'm wounded, East.”
My heart raced at his touch. He’d been doing that a lot lately—touching me—and it never failed to give me a thrill. I struggledto form a witty response, distracted by the way the sunlight caught in his eyelashes.
“Well,” I managed, “I guess it's tolerable. With the right company.”
His smile softened, and for a moment, I thought I saw something more in his eyes. But then he was pulling me off the stool, drink still in hand. “Come on,” he said, “I signed us up for a couples' massage. They do it right on the beach.”
I followed, trying to ignore the butterflies in my stomach at the wordcouples. It's just part of the act, I reminded myself. But as Weston's fingers intertwined with mine, I couldn't help wondering if maybe, just maybe, there was more to it than that.
I let out a contented sigh. “God, I feel so relaxed. That was the best massage I’ve ever had.”
And it was. Weston had led me to a white canopy set up along a private stretch of beach where two masseurs had spent an hour working out all the tension in our muscles until we were both boneless.
“Me too. I could definitely make that a way of life.”
I laughed. “One of us will just have to win the lottery then.”
“Agreed. But until then, I have another surprise up my sleeve,” he said mysteriously.
“Oh really? I can’t wait to see.”
Thirty minutes later, we were sprawled out in a private cabana, watching the sun sparkle across the water as we ate a delicious lunch of various fruits and cheeses and tiny chicken salad sandwiches.
I bit into a slice of fresh pineapple. “Mmm. This is so good. And I’m not just talking about lunch. This entire day has been perfect. The whole trip, actually.”
“Eh, just trying to show my new hubby a good time,” Weston joked.
