We both laughed. “Well, as a daddy’s girl myself, I think it’s beautiful how much you love her. My parents had me in college, too. They were a couple. They met in the engineeringprogram at Londynville University. My mother passed away when I was really young. She died from an aneurysm before they even graduated college. My grandparents—her parents—offered to take me. Actually, theydecidedto take me in, but my father stepped up and told them I was staying with him. They fought him on it. They felt like he needed to concentrate on school and let them handle me. He wasn’t with that, so he took me and raised me.”
“By himself?”
I nodded.
“That’s what’s up.”
“I’m sure your daughter feels the same dedication from you that I have always felt from my daddy.”
“That’s my goal. That’s the main reason that my godmother felt like she had to bribe me to come here. She knows my summer break is for my baby girl.” He shook his head. “But Mikayla was at a cheerleading clinic in Charlotte until Wednesday. She encouraged me to come here.”
“I need for you to thank both your godmother and Mikayla for me. I don’t know what this trip would’ve been like for me if you weren’t here. I’m glad I didn’t have to find out.”
“Facts.” He walked over to my side of the table and planted a sweet kiss on my lips.
8
SPENCER
Day Six
After a morning spent in the final round of presentations (and basically watching the team ownership beg) geared to convincing any donor who wasn’t yet convinced to donate to the children’s hospital project, and an afternoon spent facilitating a beach volleyball tournament for the guests, I was happy to see the day of team commitments come to an end. I was tired from running in sand and cooking in the rays of the Caribbean sun. But I had to admit that I was looking forward to spending the evening with my girl.
I’d been going mostly casual in my dress since arriving at the resort, but this night, I stepped it up—linen slacks, a matching button-up, and light-colored loafers. I’d sent Soleil a text telling her to wear that same sundress she’d worn on the first day of the trip, the day I’d first laid eyes on her. After she got the text, she called me to pump me for information, but I didn’t give her any. I simply reiterated that I wanted her to wear that dress . . . or something very similar, and meet me in the lobby at 7:00 p.m. sharp.
I was already standing in the lobby when Soleil stepped off the elevator. She looked gorgeous in the dress I’d first seen her in. It was a short, soft, sage-green number that hit her right above the knee and gave peeks at those thick, chocolate thighs. Soleil was thick, but she had a trim waist, and the dress accentuated that. The top of the dress emphasized her breasts, and Soleil had pretty-ass breasts. I loved the dress on her.
“What’s up?” I held out my hand, and she took it. I bent and gave her a soft kiss on her mouth.
“Hey.”
“You ready?”
“Ready.”
She turned toward the doors that led to the front of the resort. I gently held her back. “This way, baby.”
“Oh,” she said, as I guided us to the doors that led to the beach. “Are the food trucks back?”
I laughed aloud. “Nah, little hungry girl, the food trucks aren’t back.” We walked down the beach in the opposite direction from where the bonfire had taken place until it came into view. I knew the second she spotted it because her breath gave a little hitch. Not a loud, noticeable gasp or anything like that—just a small, quiet hitch.
“What is that? Is it for us?” She slowed to the point where I felt like I was dragging her.
I slowed, too. “It’s for us,” I confirmed.
I took it in for the first time with the sinking sun as the backdrop. Of course, once everything was set up, the concierge brought me out to see the final product. But that late afternoon view with the sun still working at full capacity was one thing.Now, the mood was different. Now it was romantic. The gauzy, white tablecloth that blew in the ocean breeze. The big burst of pink in the middle of the table coming from the Bougainvillea flowers. Taper candles stood proudly with their flames dancing and flickering. There were wine glasses, and the entire setup was bordered by tiki torches.
There was a butler standing beside the table. His white uniform was pristine down to the Arctic-white tea towel hanging from his forearm.
“Good evening, Miss.” He bowed his head to Soleil as he pulled out her chair. “Good evening, sir.”
“Good evening,” I said.
“Hello.” She slid into her seat. When she was settled, her glossy eyes caught mine. “Nobody has ever created a moment like this for me before. I’ll remember this forever.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it. It’s more than I ever would’ve imagined.”
