Luckily, we make it back to shore with no further trouble. We head back to the hotel a little subdued after the evening’s events. Pete looks as if he’s been in a boxing ring and I can see the bruises forming on his face. Jo ignores him and looks angry and withdrawn and as soon as we get back to the hotel, she stomps off to her room. Pete and Barry also head off and Rachel sighs beside me.
“I think I’ll call it a night. All of this excitement is draining. I’ll see you at breakfast, guys.”
We nod and say our goodbyes as Marcus links arms with Elvis.
“Come on, I think they’re still serving at Los Romanticos. There’s a drag act on tonight that I’ve heard is panty melting amazing. Come on Elvis, let’s salvage the evening somehow.”
They head off squealing like a couple of girls as they race towards the bar on the strip. Jenny gazes at Flynn and then says softly.
“Sorry guys. Flynn and I are heading back too. See you in the morning.”
My mouth falls open as I watch his arm go around her shoulders and they head towards the hotel. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. Jenny, apparently, has no reservations about taking a strange man to her room. Lucky cow.
Luke looks at me thoughtfully.
“So, what shall we do now?”
As I look into his gorgeous eyes my heart does a little sexy dance for him. I can picture exactly what I want to be doing next and its right in front of me. The trouble is, I’m a good girl and have been for the last thirty years. I can’t appear to let that go, despite the fantasy staring at me with hunger in his eyes. I shake my head sadly.
“I don’t know, really. Maybe we should call it a night too.”
He looks at me with a touch of regret in his eyes and just smiles sweetly.
“Of course. You must be tired after such an exhausting day. Let me escort you to your room. Before you object, I promise it’s not out of my way. I mean, I can’t have you wandering the hotel corridors on your own without protection, what sort of officer would I be then?”
I laugh softly, feeling relieved that he isn’t annoyed with me. I bet he’s cursing his luck to be stuck with the frigid one and on his honeymoon at that.
He holds my hand as we walk back to the hotel. It feels nice and safe and I hate myself for not being some sort of wanton hussy that would be all over him in a heartbeat. We could have so much fun. However, I’m conscious that in a few days he will be gone from my life back to the submarine, leaving me to my spinsterhood once again.
I try to tell myself all the way back to my room that I should live a little. Let go of my morals and throw caution to the wind. This could be the memory that sustains me in my lonely future. I will look back on it fondly as being the best week of my life. I should be more like Jenny and embrace the moment and give in to my wanton desires. The trouble is, I can’t. It’s not me and I can’t change who I am. I want the fairy-tale not the x-rated kindle book version. The trouble is, at this moment in time I hate myself for it.
We reach our rooms and stare at each other, both unwilling to let go of the other’s hand. Luke stares into my eyes and then pulls me towards him, whispering, “Thank you for an amazing day and an eventful night. I’ve had a good time.”
I smile shakily.
“Yes, me too. It’s been good.”
He touches his lips to mine and I savour the feeling of them. I could kiss this man all night and for the rest of the week before coming up for air.
He pulls back and smiles gently.
“Listen, if you don’t have anything planned tomorrow, would you like to come on a trip with me?”
I look at him in surprise.
“What is it?”
He grins.
“Apparently, the honeymooners are due to visit a romantic Island for a picnic. They will be taken there by speedboat and left to spend the day in solitude. I wasn’t going to go but think it may be fun, but only if you’re with me.”
He looks unsure and I feel the light enter my heart again.
I say softly.
“I would love to come. What time do we leave?”
“10am. If you like you could join me for my romantic bedroom breakfast and then we could go after that.”
I smile at him happily.
“It’s a date. I’ll knock on your door at 9.”
Once again, we indulge in a little lip action before we reluctantly head to our respective rooms.
The morning comes and I wake up with a happy heart. I get to spend all day with Luke away from civilisation and nobody around to judge me. I wonder what we will talk about? I wonder if we will move this thing on we’ve started? I wonder if we will discover that we really hate each other. It’s possible after just one hour locked away on a deserted Island with only the coconuts and sea turtles for company. But most of all, I wonder how much longer I can keep from falling head over heels for the man who has bulldozed his way into my heart so quickly.
By now my room is back to well-ordered perfection. I couldn’t rest until every towel was folded and straightened on the rails. Each item of clothing was colour coordinated in the wardrobe and my shoes lined up in order of size and colour. My toiletries are once again facing the right way in order of use and the wet wipes have graced every surface, removing any bacteria or other people’s DNA. I take a deep breath and look around at my orderly life with satisfaction. Finally, my head is as tidy as my room and I can breathe again.
As soon as I knock on the door, it opens and my breath catches as I behold the object of my desires. He grins at me with that lethal smile and it’s the hardest thing to stop myself launching myself on him with a frustrated spinster style howl. Instead, I smile my nearly perfected mysterious woman smile and follow him inside.
Today we breakfast on the balcony and I sigh as I see the bay laid out before us like a sparkling blue lagoon. The sun is hot already and I feel the excitement growing at the promise of a day marooned with Luke on a deserted Island.
We feast on pastries and fruit with the odd yoghurt thrown in and then Luke looks at his watch.
He turns to me the excitement shining in his eyes.
“Come on. We’re due to leave in ten minutes. I wonder what it will be like?”
I smile happily.
“Probably amazing like everything else here.”
He nods. “Yes, this place is pretty amazing.”
I feel his eyes burning into mine as he says it, looking at me with a heated gaze. As I feel the hot flush exploding inside me, I wonder if the air-conditioning has broken.
Shaking myself out of yet another hot, crazy fantasy, I look around at the remnants of the breakfast.
“Do you think we should bundle the rest of this up and take it with us? I mean, you never know, we may not like the picnic.”
Luke grins and his eyes flash with amusement
“Yeah, sure. I’ll grab a bag. You never know, we might be glad of this if we are stranded.”
He winks and goes off to grab a bag while I wrap up the leftovers to take with us. Then I contemplate the mini bar.
“Should we raid the bar as well? It would be awful if we ran of something to drink.”
Luke laughs and opens the door with a flourish.
“Hm, let me see. Gin, vodka, wine - what’s your fancy?”
I laugh and peer in, selecting two bottles of chilled water instead. He raises his eyes and I pretend to look at him with a stern expression.
“You shouldn’t drink alcohol in the sun. It’s extremely dehydrating and could mess with your mind.”
He snorts.
“That would explain a lot.”
Nudging him, I take great delight watching him fall over and he looks at me with a challenge in his eyes.
“You’ll pay for that.”
As I dodge to safety on the opposite side of the huge water bed, I really hope that I do pay for it. In fact, I don’t mind paying for it for the rest of the holiday. I laugh and quip.
“You’ll have to catch me first.”
He lunges for me and I make a dash for the other side of the room. He’s not a trained military man for nothing though and soon takes me down. He sits astride me, pinning my arms above my head and grins.
“You’re now my prisoner and will be escorted to the Prison Island. There, you will have to exist on vodka and yoghurt for at least five hours, in extreme temperatures that will mess with your mind.”
I snort and then look at him with embarrassment. Whoever invented snorting when they invented humans was having a bad day at work. How is that considered a good thing in any situation?
I just giggle and then my heart flutters as Luke leans down and kisses me softly. Willing myself not to groan and add to my bodies betrayal after the snorting incident, I just allow myself to enjoy the only thing I really want this week - Luke’s lips on mine.