“It will be in your room, Miss Howard,” the attendant says. “Please, leave all of your troubles at the door. We will cater to your every need.”
“Oh,” I say when someone else appears beside me, handing me a tall fruity drink. Oh my god, it’sdelicious. Lime, mint, with a hint of coconut. It may just be the best thing I’ve ever tasted.
Another smiling lady arrives and drapes a flower lei around my neck. It’s made of real flowers and they smell incredible. The petals brush my skin, delicate and cool, releasing a scent so intoxicating I can’t stop smiling.
Another girl puts a bracelet on me with a beautiful shell. “The keycard for your room,” she says.
“Oh,” I say, wondering if I get to keep it. It looks like something that would be sold in a fancy jewelry store.
“My name is Jericho,” the man who initially greeted me says. “I am the manager of The Aurelia and my job, no, my duty, is to get you anything you desire.”
What I desire right now is a hot shower and to see the mysterious man who made all of this possible.
“If you’ll allow me,” Jericho says, turning and guiding me into the hotel with an open palm, “I’ll show you to yours and Mr. Drake’s room.”
I awkwardly rifle through my bag to give the driver a tip. He steps back, waving his hand politely when I offer him five bucks. “Mr. Drake has taken care of it already,” he says.
“Oh, okay,” I say, a little shaky and unsteady as I shove it back into my purse and walk up the marble stairs. I’m not used to this level of service. Or luxury. Everything is so beautiful.
When we arrive at the top of the stairs, the lobby opens before me like an extravagant dream—white columns, soaring ceilings, lush greenery spilling from every corner. Beyond is the sparkling turquoise ocean in full stunning view. It almost doesn’t look real.
And that beach. Holy cannoli. White sand likepowder. Putting your hand in it must feel like putting your hand in a bag of flour.
The most amazing part is that there are no crowds. No lines and lines of packed beach chairs. No wild unsupervised kids running around, kicking sand in your face. No one playing loud screeching music on their crappy speakers. No DJ shouting into a microphone.
It’s just beach… sand… a warm breeze… slow lapping of waves… and palm trees…
Total peace…
The beach chairs are spaced well apart, giving each party maximum privacy. This is gonna besonice.
I can already feel the difference in my body. My heartbeat has slowed. It’s steady and calm, my stress floating away with the gentle breeze.
“You’ll be staying in The Empire Suite,” Jericho explains as we walk past all of the smiling staff. “It’s our most luxurious room. You’ll be hard pressed to find a nicer suite in the entire world. I would bet my stellar reputation on it.”
He shows me around the resort on the way to my room. There are three restaurants, each one more stunning than the last.
“If you needanything,” Jericho insists as he hands me a business card. “Day or night, I’ll pick up.”
“Don’t you sleep?” I ask with a laugh.
He shakes his head, not sharing in my amusement. “Iwould miss my own wedding if one of our guests were lacking in anything.”
I don’t think he’ll ever have a wedding if his dedication to his guests comes before his future wife, but I don’t say any of that.
I’m dipping my head into the spa, marveling at how nice it is when Jericho says something that makes me explode into shivers.
“Oh, here is Mr. Drake now.”
I whip my head back out and gasp when I see him walking down the hallway, moving with the grace and lethality of a panther.
Wow. What a man.
This is it. This is where Adrian belongs. A billionaire in his natural habitat.
My eyes turn ravenous as I take in the stunning sight of him walking toward me. He’s wearing linen pants with a simple white t-shirt, flip flops, and blue sunglasses on his head.
Thisis paradise…
