Chapter 19

They arrive at La Casa Cabanas, a gorgeous, small hotel on the edge of the turquoise sea where only high profile guests are allowed to stay. It has a strict, low-noise policy and people can hang out at the outdoor bar on hammocks sipping cocktails made from freshly picked fruit.

There is a staff person available at every turn, not only to open doors, but also to hand you drinks, hand towels, and offer mini back rubs. Jane has never been to a place like this before, and had no idea such a thing actually existed except for in the movies.

“Madam?” a gentleman wearing an all-white suit says, putting his hand out to her. “Can I help you up the steps?”

Jane looks around and realizes that he is speaking to her. She takes his hand graciously and thanks him. Brad follows behind and feels so happy he can do this for her. He knows now that nobody else has ever noticed her or cared about her like this before.

They make it to the front desk. Jane isn’t sure what to say, so she looks to Brad to take the lead.

Before he can say a word, the front desk clerk says, “Hello, Mr. Halliwell. How are you doing today? It’s been awhile since we’ve seen you! I see we have you booked in for two rooms. Is that right?” he asks, checking to make sure, since Brad doesn’t usually do that, even if he has a lady friend with him.

“Yes, that is correct. One for myself and one for my friend, Jane Bryden,” Brad says without blinking an eye.

“Well, Ms. Bryden, if you could sign right here, I’ll give you the keys to the Coco Cabaña room.”

Jane’s hands are a bit shaky. She doesn’t want anyone to find out about her past or that she doesn’t know who she is or where she has come from. She’s not sure how to refer to Brad. She surely can’t say she’s the woman he’s paying a million dollars to spend the week with and decides ‘friend’ will have to do for now.

The front desk staff seems to know how to avoid asking too many questions.

“Well then, James will help you with your luggage and show you to your rooms,” says the desk clerk, motioning to the bellhop.

Brad walks beside Jane and puts his arm around her waist, clearly showing the world that she is with him, more intimately than as a friend.

He leans over and whispers in her ear, “I don’t want anyone else to get any big ideas about snatching you away from me, I hope you don’t mind.”

His warm breath sends tingles down her neck, and she smiles to show she likes having someone want to claim her as his own, as if there were others who would even want her.

She leans back and whispers in his ear, “I don’t mind one bit.”

Brad embraces her, pulling her even closer to him.

“Here is your room, Madam, the Coco Cabana,” says the bellhop, unlocking the door and opening it for her, then bringing her luggage inside.

Jane looks over to Brad. He reassures her that his room is the one right next door, called The Banana Sundae.

“Cute names,” Jane remarks.

“So, I’ll meet you at six p.m. down at the restaurant. It will probably only be us there, so we should have lots of privacy. Your first instruction is in the room on the bed. Sound good?”

Jane nods, then turns into her room, closing the door behind her.

The room is absolutely stunning—with mirrors along one wall, an open, private view of the sea where no one can look in, automatic fans that turn on and off based on the temperature of the space. A cold bottle of champagne sits chilling in a bucket on a nearby table with a plate of fine cheeses, and on the bed, as Brad promised, is a box with a note on it.

She goes over to it, and opens the note. It says, ‘A delicate piece for a delicate woman. Wear this under your dress tonight. We’ll have a surprise dip later.’

She opens the box, and inside is a beautiful, white bikini that will barely cover her parts.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” she says out loud. “I’ve never worn a bikini in my life! I’m going to scare him away!”

She takes off her dress and starts putting on the bottom and then the top. The bottom has strings on the side and just covers her hair, barely. It might as well be a thong with the tiny amount of fabric on the back. The top covers her nipples and the bottom side of her breasts, but clearly shows her cleavage very openly. She could pop out at any minute.

How the heck does a gal swim in this?

She looks in the mirror and is shocked by what she sees.

“Wow! I didn’t even know I had a body that could fit into something like this,” she says as she examines her reflection in the mirror.

She turns around and actually likes what she sees. She always thought of herself as a boring beanpole who didn’t have much to her, but looking at herself now, she sees something different. She sees a woman who might have something a man would want.

“Well, Mr. Brad Halliwell, eat this,” she says to herself in the mirror, raising her eyebrow and pulling on the bikini bottoms to make them snap against her skin.

She puts on a cotton, turquoise dress Brad had waiting in the room on the bed. The dress is loose-fitting, and you can partially see the white bikini through it. Jane has never worn something so revealing before.

“A million dollars, eh?” she says to herself. “This guy must be some kind of pervert.”

She puts on the white sandal heels, checks her makeup and hair, and walks out the door toward the restaurant.

“Just for a week,” she says to herself, taking a deep breath in and out.