Lily kissed him lightly again and took hishand to lead him to the elevator.Men said, “Well done” and “Goodjob” to him as they passed by.People gathered in little groupsaround the lobby discussing what they had just seen.This storywould circulate around the City tonight.
Once in her room, Sandy threw his hat on thefloor and grabbed her.This time his kissing became more insistent,urgent.His desire for her was forefront and he didn’t even try tohide how much he needed her.Lily returned kiss for kiss just asurgently.She didn’t realize how much he really meant to her untilhe was gone and so were the kisses, the embraces…the love.
Inching their way to her bed, they kissedwhile wildly throwing shirts, pants, underwear on the flooreverywhere…table, chair… lampshade… The room was littered withclothes by the time Lily and Sandy breathlessly fell on the bed ina heap, still locked together.
No words were needed.He had dreamed of thismoment for a week now.Here she was in his arms—and all was rightwith the world again.Sandy brushed his lips on her face andthroat, arms and chest again and again.Sandy wanted more and tookmore.Lily’s breath stopped as he explored her lines and angleswith the softest touch.He moaned when her gentle fingers circledhis chest, his belly.He reached over to find the condom in hisjeans as Lily applied her lips to the business at hand.She tookthe condom from him and gave him a sexy smile as she slipped it onhim so, so…slowly.
They made love like never before.The thrillof being together again, the sexy hotel room.He couldn’t getenough of her curvaceous body, her sensuous lips and silky hair.Not much sleep occurred that night – they made love, slept and wokeup to move purposefully toward one another again.And again…
* * *
The sun was shining in from the open patiodoor.Lily opened her eyes, smiled and stretched.She circled herarms around the neck of the cute cowboy tracing her lips with hisfinger.
“Wait a minute.I need a bathroom break.”
Sandy laughed.He had already been up and hadordered some breakfast.
“We have to eat to maintain our strength, youknow.”he called after her.“This is my only day in port, ma’am.Where can you take a lusty sailor, I mean, besides to your bed,which he appreciated very much, by the way.”
She peeked out the door at him with hertoothbrush in her mouth, “Oh, ha ha.You’re a regular riot thismorning.”She gave him a sexy smile and swayed her hips at him.“You were somewhat different last night and early this morning,however.Singing a different tune, you were.”
How he had missed this…laughing, talking,kidding, making love.There wasn’t anything else in the world thathe wanted or needed—but her.
There was a knock at the door.“Stay in therefor a few minutes, breakfast has arrived,” Sandy called to her.
A muted “okay” came out the doorway.He couldhear water running.
Sandy had breakfast laid out on the littletable out on the patio by a young waiter wearing a crisp, whitejacket.He tipped the man and stood back to look over thebalcony.
Wow!What an incredible view of thecity.Maybe he would come to love San Francisco as much as Lilydid.Sandy fussed with the place settings, making sure everythinglooked perfect.He took a small black box out of his pocket andplaced in on Lily’s plate.Admiring the scene, he said softly, “Canyou die from happiness?”then caught himself.That was another linefromPride and Prejudice.My God, he was becoming obsessedwith that book.
She came out of the bathroom with wet,shining hair, whistling and wearing his shirt.
“Miss Cable, don’t you have any of your ownclothes to wear?”
“Yours are much more fun, Mr.Johnson.Andwhere’s my breakfast?I’m famished.We need to call Sam and Jeanneand Jesse today and…” She stopped abruptly by the pretty table andpointed at her plate.“What’s that?”
“I wanted to make it official.”
He opened the box to show her a large,square-cut diamond ring.Sandy plucked it out and took her hand.When he placed the shiny ring on her finger, her breathing haltedmomentarily and her mouth opened in surprise.Tears pooled in hereyes.
“Sweetheart, that’s not the reaction I washoping for… Don’t you like it?”Her face glistened with tears.“Iwant the world to know we’re engaged.”
“Did you buy a book somewhere on romance?Youare probably the most romantic man in the universe.How did I everget so lucky?”Still holding his hand, she kissed it and slidhappily into his arms.
“Now that’s more of the reaction I was hopingfor.You like it?”
“It’s gorgeous!Page will be so jealous…”
“I thought we could pick out matching weddingbands together.Would you like that?Oh, no.Don’t start cryingagain.”He took a napkin from the table and handed it to her.“Iseem to be doing that to you a lot this trip.”
Lily blew her nose on the napkin, notladylike she knew, but it was an emergency.Could he really beany more wonderful?
“I’m ok-k-kay,” she stammered.“Really, justvery surprised and extremely happy.”
“Good, then let’s eat.Look at thisview!”
They took in much of San Francisco that day –Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39 and the Cannery.Walking through thepark on the water, they shopped at the local street vendors.AtGhirardelli, they had sumptuous chocolate ice cream.Lily sneakedglances all morning at her beautiful new ring sparkling in the sun.Riding on a cable car, the lady next to her complemented her on it.While eating her ice cream, Lily posed her hand on the table andtilted her head to take another look.
