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“I see I’m just in time,” he announced, nodding at the man and discussing a few things before grabbing two complementary local beers and a bowl of fruit that was provided by the resort. “I’m telling you, this is how people should travel. Arrive at your location and someone points you in the direction of free food and booze. Babe, where’s your bag?” he blurted out suddenly looking around… and saw her smile.
“I packed light,” she said, pointing to the small rolling suitcase beside her – and his brain glitched as his eyelid started throbbing, words failing him at that moment as his wife laid a hand on his shoulder, tapping his lower lip with her finger and giving him this smile.
“You d-did?”
“I did.”
“Like, light-light?… Or light, light, light of the lightest-light?”
“Very light,” she smiled softly. “Shall we get on the bus?”
“My knees,” he croaked, “… are wobbly.”
“Too wobbly to follow me?” she pouted, teasing him and he shook his head to clear it, drawing in a deep breath. Man, if he was following her then that meant he was going to get a good look at that figure he’d dreamed of repeatedly the last several weeks.
“I would follow you anywhere…” he rasped as she took his hand that held the bowl of cellophane-covered fruit while his other hand was looped around the longneck bottles of beer. “I can’t think. Are these even ‘twisty’ or do I need an opener? Do you like grapes… can I feed you grapes? Oh gosh, will you lie in a beach chair in a bikini and lemme feed you grapes – now my brain is really churning.”
“C’mon Max…” she urged – and he followed.
It was true.
He would follow that woman into the fires of Hell for that smile alone.
Two hours later, Max was pretty sure that he was being tortured. They had gotten to the resort, waited in line to check in, and then rode on a golf cart toward their room, where a private butler was being provided to go over everything with them.
It was perfect.
The resort was breathtakingly beautiful, and he could see the crystalline blue ocean just off in the distance as they rode slowly toward a row of small, round individual suites with privacy fences surrounding them. Massive leaves were leaning over the sidewalk, giving it a tropical feel, and flowers of every color were lining the pathways. Elana was quiet, her large eyes taking in the scenery just like him as they shared a smile.
He couldn’t help himself, Max leaned to the side to kiss her before nuzzling her cheek playfully. Her soft little laugh as she pushed at his shoulder faintly gave him hope. If she didn’t want him there, she would have given him a shove and told him off. No, things were definitely changing between them.
“Love you,” he breathed in her ear, laying a hand on the back of her neck as she smiled at him shyly.
“I love you too.”
“And we’re here!” the driver announced loudly, interrupting the moment. “If you need a ride back to the main building, missy… you just dial zero and ask for a cart. I’ll be up with a ‘yippy-skippy’ for you both.”
Elana and Max shared a look.
Max mouthed, ‘Yippy-skippy?’ and turned to pat the man on the shoulder, slipping him a tip, and thanking him. “Dude, you are the best, and I really appreciate you. What’s your name so I can ask for you specifically?”
“Jimmy,” the man smiled broadly. “You just ask for Jimmy.”
“Will do!” Max agreed, climbing out of the cart and holding out his hand to his princess. Elana laid her fingers on his and carefully climbed out, smiling at him gratefully.
Jimmy flew out of the cart, walked them up to the door where a man stood in a suit – in the heat – and Max instantly felt for him. He knew what that was like to be in uniform in the heat, praying for a breeze.
“Welcome! Welcome!” the butler began and Max nodded, pointing at the doorway.
“My guy, let’s talk inside – it’s hot out here,” he invited, smiling while gesturing for the butler to walk inside the room first… and saw the dawning awareness on all of their faces – including Elana’s. She was flushed due to the humidity and warm temperatures. As a cool rush of air hit him, he knew this was the right thing to do. “There, now we can all breathe. I’m Max, and you are…”
“Lewis, sir.”
“This exquisite being is my lovely bride who obviously has no taste in men,” Max teased, kissing Elana’s cheek and heard her embarrassed laugh as she looked at him adoringly… and heard the butler chuckle.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Lewis,” Elana said kindly, extending her hand to shake his – and the two of them listened as Lewis explained his role. Max was really glad he’d booked the resort despite the cost. Anything they needed, Lewis would get it for them and leave it at the privacy gate for them. If they had arranged a spa treatment at the main building, he would make certain the room was freshened up while they were gone. If they would like to have dinner in the room, all they had to do was ask. He was basically their own private concierge during the entire stay.
“The kitchenette is fully stocked with alcohol you are welcome to partake of, and I will be by each day at noon with towels or anything else you might need.”
