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Nara dragged her suitcase through the lobby of the resort, her head foggy from sleep. She had no idea what time it was locally. One in the morning? Something like that. After getting up early to fly to LA, a flash wedding, and then another horribly long flight, she was ready to crash. Luckily, she’d been able to nap on the plane.
Even though it was mid-January, the place was still decked out for the holidays, with a massive tree in the lobby. A trickling sound came from a fountain that bubbled water up from the center. Expensive tile lined the floor, and gold accents showed how posh the place was.
Derek came running in with his luggage. “Here, I can get that for you.”
She handed over her suitcase. It didn’t bother her to roll it across the floor, but he seemed like he really wanted it. “Okay.”
A woman came out from a room behind the desk, her bright, red hair pulled back into a bun. She wore a uniform with a badge that said Kay. “Welcome to the Diamond Oasis,” she said with a smile. “The locals here call it The Billionaire Club, a name I’m rather fond of.” She glanced at her computer screen. “You must be Mr. and Mrs. Marshall.”
Nara was too tired to be shocked by the statement. Yes, she was now Mrs. Emperor Marshall, as the large fake rock on her finger could attest. He stood beside her, his back straight, every hair of his head in place. Wait, how did he accomplish that? Hadn’t he slept on the plane as well?
Derek nodded. “Yes.”
A bell boy approached them and began putting their luggage on a cart. The woman clicked on the computer keys.
“If you need anything, just call the front desk.” She produced two room cards and handed them to Derek.
“Thanks,” he said, giving one key to Nara and pocketing the other.
“You’re in room 104, the honeymoon suite. It’s just down the hallway and around the corner.” She pointed, but Nara was still stuck on that last thing she said. Something about a honeymoon suite.
Her suspicions were confirmed when they opened the door to their suite and found a large bed with two towels folded into swans, their beaks touching, forming a heart. A jacuzzi tub sat nestled into the corner. Candles were lit around the tub, and at any other time it would have been delightful, but right now Nara just wanted to die a thousand deaths.
Things got even better when she walked in and noticed the bathroom door was made out of a very fancy looking glass. She choked on her spit and coughed while the bellboy unloaded their cart. She leaned against the desk that sat near the windows. Derek tipped the kid and sent him on his way.
When they were alone, Nara pointed. “When you said suite, I figured you meant a two-bedroom suite. I did not think you meant that we’d be sharing not only a bed, but a ‘get to know you better’ bathroom as well.”
A crimson red swept over Derek’s face as he looked at the bathroom door. “Uh…”
“Why don’t you run down to the front desk and see if they have something we can use to cover up that door? I’d rather pee in private, thank you.”
He gave her a quick nod and left the room. Nara sighed and sat down on the bed. It felt amazing. So amazing that she laid all the way back and closed her eyes. Comfy. Like sleeping on a cloud. And the room temperature was just right. She could easily doze off. Her thoughts turned muddy as she snuggled into the soft bed.
The next thing she was aware of were strong arms around her, lifting her. She wanted to protest to Derek, but he put her back down quickly enough and she didn’t have the energy to try to fight him. He removed her flip-flops. And then soft covers were pulled up around her and she sighed. It felt like heaven.
* * *
Sunlight. That’s the first thing Nara became aware of. Sunlight streaming through a crack in the curtains. She blinked and realized where she was. In the honeymoon suite. She sat up, her heart racing. Was Derek in bed with her? She checked the bed but didn’t see him. Relieved, she fell back against the pillows. If he had tried anything last night…but he hadn’t. In fact, he had put her to bed and tucked her in.
Wait, if he wasn’t there, where had he gone? Did he get another room? She went to climb out of bed and almost stepped on a giant mound. Derek had slept on the floor. Soft snores came from him and she took a second to watch his chest rise and fall.
He looked so relaxed. Peaceful. He wore a pair of blue striped pajamas. She liked the way his strong brow defined his face. He was a handsome man. She couldn’t deny it. And it did melt her heart a bit that he’d slept on the floor. But she couldn’t spend too long looking at him. Right now she needed the bathroom. It was all that Diet Coke she consumed yesterday.
She carefully stepped around Derek so as not to wake him. After she crossed the room she couldn’t help but smile. Derek had used duct tape to put up a towel on the inside of the bathroom door. She had privacy.
Luckily, the bathroom not only had a toilet and massive sink, but a shower as well. That’s exactly what she needed. A hot shower and then breakfast, because her stomach was grumbling to her. She hadn’t eaten much yesterday, just some snacks on the plane. She was ready for a hot breakfast. Maybe they would even have pancakes with strawberry syrup. Her favorite.
She grabbed her toiletry bag from out of her suitcase. As she lifted it, her diary, which must have been on top of it, flew out and landed on the floor. She picked it up and caressed the leather cover. Her grandmother had given it to her when she was a child. “Too write your feelings in, Nara,” she’d told her. And that’s what Nara had done.
She’d filled it with all the hurt and anguish she had growing up. In her head, she called it her book of pain. She still carried it with her. For some reason, it gave her comfort when she was feeling down. Her latest entries were about Cameron. Soon she would write about what her father was forcing her to do.
Shoving it back in her suitcase, she pulled out some clothes before heading to the bathroom. The hot shower felt amazing. It pelted her back and shoulders, soothing her muscles. She probably stayed in there a bit too long, but she deserved it, after the day she had yesterday. She stepped from the shower, dried off, and then wrapped a towel around her, tucking it in so it would stay on while she did her hair and makeup. The steam was so thick she had to wipe the mirror twice.
She hoped the hairdryer wouldn’t wake Derek. He had seemed pretty out of it. By the time she was done and dressed, it was less steamy in the bathroom. She’d decided on dressing in her flowy Bermuda shorts and a white scoop-necked T. She looked like a tourist, but that was okay. She slowly opened the door to see if Derek was still asleep.
The floor was empty. The bed was made. The curtains were parted and a beautiful view of the beach stretched outside their patio door. Derek was dressed and sitting at the desk on a laptop. She entered the bedroom and gaped at him. “You’re wearing that?”
He had on a button up white shirt and a pair of suit pants. And, she couldn’t believe, a tie. What in the world was he thinking? They were on the beach, for heaven’s sake.
