Page 42 of Pretty

“Sorrel Island is one of my favorite places in the world, Drew. How did you know?” I asked as we climbed out of the golf cart and walked hand in hand to the door. We left the caretaker and his assistant to handle our luggage.

“Dreeewww.” I poked my lips out in a pouty expression and threw my arms around his neck. I jumped into his arms and kissed him as he laughed. His big, strong self held me with one arm, and he held my carry-on and my purse in his other hand.

I broke the kiss and rested my forehead against his.

“I take it that you like my surprise.”

“I love your surprise, baby. This is so sweet.” I slowly slid down his body and detected his noticeable erection. I gripped it and bit my bottom lip as I smiled at him. “I love this surprise too.”

“I’ll give you a chance to show me just how much.”

I giggled. “I bet you will.”

I turned around and took in the vases of purple and pink peonies, my favorite flowers, all over the room. The floor had peony petals scattered all around, and candles were lit on tables throughout the space.

“You had a couple of rough patches, and I wanted to do something special for you. I know that I’ve been gone a lot with my job, and we don’t spend as much time together as we’d like, so I wanted to take time out to show you how special you are to me,” he explained.

“I know, and I appreciate you doing this for me. Look at you going old school on me.”

Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love” played on the system.

“This weekend is all about you, baby. Come on and relax. We’ve got dinner plans in a few hours,” he explained.

He took my hand and gave me a tour before he brought me back to the living area. He poured us glasses of champagne and fed me chocolate-covered strawberries and frozen grapes.

“Why are you so sweet to me?”

“Because you’re a sweet lady. I really enjoy the time we spend together, Pretty. Being with you has helped heal my broken heart. I never really told anyone how messed up I was over learning that boy wasn’t mine. Being with you puts things in perspective and helps me walk this difficult journey a little easier.”

“I’m glad. You’ve definitely been a balm for my broken heart,” I confessed.

He brushed his lips sweetly against mine and pulled me into his side. I found comfort in his embrace, and before I knew it, I found myself dozing, tired from the long trip.

“Everything was so delicious. Thank you,” I told the waiter as he cleared our plates.

Drew had taken me to dinner at a rooftop restaurant that served Cuban food and looked out over the ocean. A violinist and celloist played throughout our meal.

Drew stood and reached for my hand. “It’s time to go?” I asked.

“Not yet.”

I gave him my hand and allowed him to pull me to my feet, and I followed him to the edge of the roof. He wrapped me in his embrace, and I clasped my hands around his massive arms. We stood there for several seconds until the sun began its descent over the ocean.

“That is a lovely sunset, Drew. It’s so beautiful and serene up here. The view is stunning, and the ocean is majestic.”

“And yet, it pales in comparison to you.”

I giggled and turned around in his arms. He brushed his lips against mine, and then he pressed into them to deepen the kiss. I savored the seductiveness of our kiss, how slow and compelling it was, making me want so much more.

“Jolie Anouk, from the moment that I saw you spying on patrons to see what they had to say about your art, I was fascinated with you. From the moment that you smiled at me for the first time, I was mesmerized by you. When I tasted you and felt your body underneath mine, I was hypnotized by you. It was then that I knew I never wanted you to walk away.”

He released me and turned to walk back to the table. I stared after him in confusion as the musicians continued playing. When Drew turned back around, he held a box open in his hand. Inside the velvet box, a triple row diamond band of white gold lay nestled in a pillow of satin.

“You mean the world to me, and you have changed the way that I view relationships, life, and love. I wanted to bring you here this weekend, Pretty, to let you know that everything in me that kept me running, kept me afraid, and kept me doubting that love was elusive for me has been tossed into that ocean. You mean the world to me, and I don’t want to go another day without telling you that I love you, Jolie Anouk Mercier-Brightwell. I am hopelessly, deeply, and irrevocably in love with you, ma’am.”

My heart constricted in my chest, and I could not imagine a more perfect way to tell someone that you loved them. My heart was overwhelmed with gratitude and sheer joy.

“Drew, I felt like I lost the world and had no reason to fight to go on. You came in and changed all of that. You gave me a reason to live and brought purpose into my life. I love you for that and for so much more. Thank you, baby. Thank you for giving me the world and bringing me back to life.”