Page 26 of St. Lucia Escapades
“Aye, she’ll keep quiet. She also seemed to know a few things about you that I didn’t.” Moira replied.
“Oh? Like what?” Cord questioned, shifting a little from foot to foot.
“That you’re an eligible bachelor and a multi-millionaire.” Moira grinned, poking him in his chest. “You seem embarrassed boyo.”
“Look, the money and notoriety are a huge pain for me, but it’s helped my business, so I take it with a grain of salt. As for the money, I don’t flash it around. I have the same truck I had back in college. The only splurge I’ve ever had was buying my brownstone. After I made my first million, I bought my home lock stock and barrel. After that I’ve kept my money in the bank. Made a few investments sure, but overall, I’m not some big spender, jetting off to casinos and stuff.” He explained.
She reached up and cupped his face, “Cord, I didna need a breakdown of your portfolio. I got the feeling when we first met that you were very down to earth and over these last weeks you have shown me that. Like you I have money, course you knew that. I’m not a millionaire yet, but I’m well off. Money is not everything and I like that you are just you.”
“Right back at you baby.” Cord said.
“Now, let’s eat.” She smiled.
Moira and Cord were seated at a table on the restaurant patio that overlooked the local marina. The setting sun glittering off the water as boats moved in and out of the marina. After they placed their drink orders, Moira studied the menu. The place was a quaint French fusion restaurant. She quickly decided on what she wanted, closed her menu, sat it aside and studied Cord as he read his. The fading light cast delicious shadows across his features. Cupping her chin, she let her mind drift. If they managed to make this work between them, where would they be say five years from now?
She could easily see them living together. Having fun together. Her still writing, Cord running his bars. Sometimes she would see them living in Manhattan, others them in DC. She looked out over the water and sighed happily. If someone had told her that she would be this happy and content a year ago, she would have told them that was bollocks and to go hang themselves. A year ago, she had been pretty sure she would never find the type of happiness that her parents had, that she wrote about. Now, here on this beautiful tropical island she had hope that maybe, just maybe she had found that happiness.
Cord
Cord glanced over the top of his menu and watched Moira in the fading sunlight. The rays reflecting off her hair, making her look even more beautiful. She seemed to be deep in thought, at the moment and didn’t notice when he closed his menu and sat it atop hers. Before he could speak, the waiter returned. He and Moira quickly gave their orders and they were once more alone. Cord reached out and took her hand.
“You seemed deep in thought there.”
“Aye, I was.”
“Care to share?”
“Well, I was thinking about us. You know, wondering where we would be in the future. I know we have some things to still work out…”
“Moira, if you’re worried about the fact that we live in different cities, we can and will figure that part out. Besides, DC and New York aren’t that far away so we can come up with a solution you know.” Cord said, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb.
“I know. I’ve only had one long distance relationship. My boyfriend in high school. I went to NYU he went to UCLA. Needless to say, things didn’t end well. I think you and I have a much, much better chance.” Moira explained, smiling.
Cord lifted her hand and kissed it. “So, you told Roxi about us and I told Collen. What about our parents?”
“I am very close with my parents Cord…”
“Baby, so am I. All I’m wondering is, will you be telling them when you get home or before? I want to tell my folks too, but I kind of want to tell them around the time you tell yours.”
“When I get back, I think. I told Roxi I wanted to tell them today, but then I told her I’d rather wait till I got back. Face-to-face you know. I know my Da said that my brother Sean and his family were coming to dinner the Sunday after I get back. So, maybe then?” she questioned.
“Alright then. After you tell your family, you can either call or text me. I can then tell my parents. See, we can figure this out baby.” He responded.
“Do your parents still live in North Carolina?”
“Yep in the same house me and Collen grew up in. I keep trying to talk them into getting a place closer to me and Collen, but they won’t. Me and Collen have talked about building them a little cabin on some land me and Collen own in the country about two hours from Manhattan. That way, they have a place of their own near us.”
“I think that’s so sweet.” Moira smiled.
Cord returned her smile. He glanced over as their food was being delivered. As he and Moira began eating, Cord’s mind started wandering as hers had earlier. He could so vividly picture them and their families getting together for holidays and vacations. He and Moira in DC and Manhattan, living together, traveling together. His heart tripped at the thought of waking up every morning and going to bed every night with this amazing woman in his arms and in his bed. He vowed then and there he would fight to make that a reality.
Chapter 11
Cord
Three more days. That was how much longer he and Moira had together in paradise before they both returned to their lives and the real world. He looked up as Moira walked out of the bedroom. He felt himself smile as he drank her in. She was dressed in a blue button up short sleeve shirt over a lighter blue tank top. Short denim shorts hugged her hips and ass and the look was topped off with a pair of hiking boots. That fiery hair he loved was pulled up in a high pony tail. She looked delicious and he just wanted to take her back into her bedroom and throw her onto the bed.
“You look good.” He commented.
