I turn to him, gaping.
“This is our ride.” He grins.
“Seriously?” I laugh, raising an eyebrow. “We could have just taken the car.”
“Not where we’re going,” he says, taking my hand and pulling me forward.
I’ve never been in a helicopter, or even on a small plane, and I can’t believe Nic booked this for us.
We climb into the helicopter and get settled in our seats. My stomach is filled with nerves as Nic straps me into the five-point harness. I scream as we take off, but I’m more excited than I am nervous.
Once we’re in the air, the scenery is so beautiful that I forget all about my fears. After a few short minutes, we’re high enough that we can see the entire landscape laid out before us like an exquisite map.
“This is amazing,” I say to Nic through the headsets the pilot gave us.
“Look.” Nic points down at the water. There’s a group of dolphins leaping through the water below us.
I grab his hand as we watch the dolphins, and I can’t help but smile. It’s one of the most majestic things I’ve ever seen, and I’m so glad I’m experiencing this with Nic.
After we’ve been in the air for about fifteen minutes, the pilot points out a small island, telling us that it’s supposed to have the most beautiful beaches in the world. Then the helicopter starts to descend toward the island. I turn to Nic, wondering if this is supposed to happen, but he just winks at me.
I look around in awe as we touch down on the beach. Only once we’re on land again does my stomach finally settle. Nic unbuckles his own seat belt and then helps me with mine. When the door swings open, he steps out and takes my hand to help me climb out onto the warm sand.
“Welcome to your private island for the day,” the pilot says, and my jaw drops.
It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever been. It’s drenched in sunlight, and the palm trees sway in the slight breeze. The sand is soft under our feet, and the water is shockingly blue.
I turn to Nic, still not sure how he put all this together without me knowing.
“When did you plan this?” I ask after the pilot leaves, promising to pick us up at the end of the day.
“It’s just something I threw together.” He shrugs and I laugh, putting my arms around him.
“This is by far the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me.” Happy tears build in my eyes, but I blink them away and hug him again.
“It’s not over yet,” he says, grabbing my hand and pulling me along the beach.
“There’s more?”
My mouth drops open. I still can’t quite believe Nic rented us a private island. I take in the rocky cliffs surrounding the beach situated next to clusters of palm trees. There’s a gentle breeze, and the only sound is the ocean waves lapping at the sand.
I squint down the beach, trying to make out something in the distance. “Is that a bed?” I ask, incredulous.
“Let’s find out.”
Nic grabs my hand and we walk over to the canopy bed, which is draped in white curtains. A picnic basket of food and a bottle of champagne chilled on ice wait next to it.
“This is insane. I feel like I’m on The Bachelor.” I turn to Nic and break into a grin, and he laughs.
“I’m not sure if I should take that as a compliment or not.”
I nod. “Oh, it’s definitely a good thing.”
We pop open the champagne and lie back on the bed, watching the ocean. I snuggle into Nic’s arms, closing my eyes. It feels so nice to lie here peacefully with him, I never want to leave.
After we finish our glasses of champagne, I climb off the bed, ready to experience everything our private island has to offer.
“Let’s go in the water,” I say, tugging his arm.
I toss my sundress on the bed, and Nic removes his T-shirt. He follows me as I jog into the ocean, letting the waves crash over my legs. The water is surprisingly warm.
We play in the shallows for a few minutes and then move to deeper water, where I climb into Nic’s arms. He lifts me easily, and I lock my legs around his waist. He looks so happy, his posture relaxed, his eyes alight with mischief and his mouth forming a grin.
“I love you,” I whisper, pressing my lips to his.
While we kiss, he carries me back to shore, setting me on the sand before lying next to me. I climb on top of him, kissing him and running my hands through his wet hair. My tongue slides into his mouth, and he runs his hand along my hips, pulling me against him. My heart beats hard as he slides his hands up my back, and our kissing becomes more urgent.
I pull back for a second to take him in, smoothing his hair back. He looks so sexy, so tanned and with his hair messy from the ocean, that I’m tempted to pull off my bikini and fulfill my sex-on-the-beach fantasy right here.
“Exactly how private is this island?” I ask, sliding a hand underneath the waistband of his trunks.
Before he can answer, a large wave crashes on the shore, completely soaking us.
I scream and jump up to run farther up the beach. Nic follows, and we grab the towels that have been left for us, and wipe away the water and sand. Then we collapse on the bed together, still laughing. I wrap my arms around him, our legs intertwining.
If someone had told me a year ago that I’d be lying in a bed with Nic on our own private island, I’d have thought they were crazy. But if I’ve learned anything, it’s that some of the best things in life are the ones you never expected.
“It’s pretty private,” he says, answering my question from before, and places his hand against my waist. “But we’ve got all day.”
I smile at him.
“Do you want something to eat?” he asks.
I nod and sit up in the center of the massive bed while Nic fixes us two plates with fresh tropical fruit, cheese, crackers, nuts, and little cookies that are swirled with caramel.
I take a bite of cheese while Nic pops a whole cookie into his mouth. Everything is delicious, and we eat quietly for a few minutes.
“So, what’s going to happen to the guys?” I ask.
“Hmm?” He toys with the ties holding my bikini bottoms in place, and a warm tingle spreads pleasantly south.
“Case and the agency, I mean. Ever since you left. I don’t know; I guess I’m just curious.” I pop a grape into my mouth and chew, waiting for him to reply.
“You mean, who’s satisfying the women of Chicago since your sexy-as-fuck husband got out of the game?”
I toss a pillow at him.
Nic laughs and catches the pillow, stuffing it behind his head. “Well, Case and Ryder got busier when I left, picking up the slack, and the last time I talked to him, Case was trying to hire a new guy. He’s actually got a book deal from a major publisher to write a self-help book on having great sex, so he’s been putting more of his time into that lately.”
“A book deal? That’s interesting.” I take one more bite, savoring the sweetness of the cookie with the crisp, chilled champagne.
Nic nods. “Yeah. Couldn’t help but notice something seemed off with him at the wedding, though.”
“What do you mean?”
He shrugs. “Just a feeling I got. I had that same feeling the last time I talked to him too. Something’s been going on with him for a while now. You don’t know someone as well as I know Case and not notice when something’s up with the guy.”