Page 15 of Knot Your Sunshine
"The Oceana Deluxe Resort," Josh announces, pride evident in his voice. "The architect spent three years living on-site before designing it, studying how the light moves, where the winds come from, how the tides shift."
The helicopter settles onto a private helipad with barely a bump. The rotors slow, their whoosh-whoosh-whoosh gradually fading until I can hear waves against sand, birds calling from the trees.
Josh unbuckles and steps out first, then turns back, offering me his hand. "Careful, the step down is a bit high."
I take his hand, and the contact sends electricity shooting up my arm. His palm is warm, slightly rough, and fits against mine perfectly. Our eyes meet as I step down, and my heart does a little skip-thump-flutter that leaves me breathless.
"Thank you," I manage, but I don't let go immediately. Neither does he.
"Of course," he says softly, and is it my imagination or does he lean slightly closer?
The heavy thud of Cole's landing jolts us out of our trance, and we hastily release each other's hands, stepping back with slightly flushed faces.
But this shifts my attention to our surroundings and…wow.
I turn in a slow circle, taking it all in. The air smells floral, palm fronds rustle overhead in the trade winds, and waves whisper promises against the shore.
"No way," I breathe, and Josh smiles like I've just given him a gift.
* * *
Wicker chairs with plush white cushions cluster near the helipad, arranged to face the ocean. We settle in to take in the whole view, and Josh claims the chair beside mine, sitting close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from his skin.
"So, what do you think?"
"It's amazing." I shake my head, searching for better words. "I've never seen anything like this. Back home in Lakeview, we have mountains and pine trees. Beautiful, but..." I wave my hand at the paradise surrounding us, the impossible blue ocean, the swaying palms, the green exotic mountains. "This is something else entirely."
His whole body relaxes, a genuine smile spread across his face.
"I'm so glad you like it. Consider this place yours for your entire stay. If you need anything at all, I—" Pink blooms across his cheeks, creeping down his neck. "We're here for you."
The 'we' snags my attention. "'We', as in more assistants?"
The pink deepens to crimson, and he pushes his glasses up even though they haven't slipped. God, he's adorable.
"Well, something like that..." He clears his throat and stands abruptly. "But you must be tired from the flight. Should I escort you to the resort?"
Elena shifts in her chair, tucking her legs underneath her. "We should wait for Mom and the guys."
Cole nods, his posture finally relaxed instead of coiled-spring ready. "Yeah, they're only a few minutes behind us."
"Right, of course." Josh pulls a slim device from his pocket, checking something on the screen. "And I should head overto make sure your luggage arrives at the correct suites. The helicopter with your luggage landed and left a few minutes before we arrived." He gestures to a line of golf carts waiting on a palm-lined path. "You can take any of those to the resort once everyone's here. Just follow the main path, you can't miss it."
"Thank you, Josh," I say, watching him adjust his glasses one more time.
He catches my eye and winks, quick and playful. "Of course, Mia."
He heads down the path with Captain Torres, and I watch him go, admiring the way he walks, humble but sexy. When he disappears around a bend of the lush path, I feel his absence and I unconsciously pout.
Elena bumps Cole's shoulder. "Told you he wasn't a kidnapper."
Cole stretches his legs out, crossing his ankles. "I have to admit, he seems... okay."
"Okay?" I turn to him, eyebrow raised. "That's your assessment? Okay?"
"Okay, he seems quite fine. Happy?"
Quite happy actually, I think, pride bubbling up in my chest. My instincts rarely steer me wrong, and right now they're screaming that Josh is very, very fine indeed.
