I drop my head to my hands and laugh softly. “A private island?” I peek up at Sam between my hands.
“Come on, Lamb. Come away with me.” He reaches for my face and says softly, “Let’s go to paradise and leave everything else behind for a while. Catch up on the last ten years.” He gives me a grin, and irresistible dimples.
I bite my lip and laugh again. “Three weeks?”
“Just you and me.”
I smile wide and for the first time in my life, throw caution to the wind. “Okay…let’s go.”
Chapter 2
Lucy
I squeeze Sam’s hand and close my eyes as our small seaplane skips and skids across the surface of the turquoise ocean, spraying the windows with saltwater. I feel Sam’s warm breath against my cheek as his smooth, deep voice settles softly on my ears. “Open your eyes, Lamb.”
I cautiously peek up at him with one eye, keeping the other closed. “When you said private island, I assumed it had a runway.”
He chuckles quietly under his breath. “It’s not that big.”
“There’s only one island in Exuma with a landing strip,” our pilot says in a thick Bahamian accent, “and that island doesn’t look like this.”
Intrigued, I open both eyes and take in the view through the small window, unsure what is more breathtaking—the white sand beach and lush green that surrounds it or the contemporary mansion just beyond its shallow dunes.
“Wow,” I say softly.
As we flew south over the Exuma Cays, the islands looked like tiny emeralds scattered across a canvas of blue, strung together by shifting sandbars and crystal clear water. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen, but I couldn’t have imagined this.
I look at Sam. “This is incredible.”
He smiles and it crinkles his bruised eye. “It’s been a rough few weeks. I think we deserve it.”
I smile softly, recalling the tense weeks leading up to my impromptu trip to Quebec. And the following three days I spent in the hospital with Sam, while they monitored his concussion. I’m grateful that his injuries weren’t worse, but I haven’t been able to shake the unsettling feeling that it won’t be the last time he gets hurt. I reach for his cheek and say, “I think maybe we both need a break.”
The pilot gets out to unload our bags from the back of the plane, but Sam keeps his eyes on me. “It wasn’t all bad, was it?”
“No.” I smile and pull his face to mine. “In fact, I’d say there were some pretty incredible moments.”
“Yeah?” He gives me a sexy grin. “Like what?”
“Well, there was the match in New York, when I saw you standing in the ring for the first time. I was so proud of you that night,” I say softly, and he drops his forehead to mine. “And when you walked into my studio and turned my whole world upside down. I’ll never forget that day.”
“Neither will I,” he says, making me smile again.
“And when you kissed me and you reminded me of everything we were and everything we could be again.”
He reaches for my face and says quietly, “When we made love.” His eyes burn into me with desire and anticipation.
“Yes,” I whisper, because it’s all I can manage through the fire he ignites that burns slowly across my skin. I press my eager lips to his and kiss him firmly.
The pilot clears his throat and I glance up at him from our kiss. He’s standing on the dock smiling at us, waiting for us to exit the plane.
I give him an apologetic smile and reach for his extended hand, and he pulls me out of the plane into the thick island air that wraps around me. After nearly freezing to death in Quebec, this might take some time to get used to, but three weeks should be enough time to acclimate.
Three weeks in paradise with Sam.
The thought puts a smile on my face that I’m pretty sure will stay put until we’re back in Atlanta. I try not to think about the clouded reality that awaits our return. Especially when I’m standing in front of the most magnificent house I’ve ever seen, on the most incredible beach, under a piercing blue sky that’s filled with sunshine. The only thing I want to worry about right now is Sam.
As much as I’d like to use this impromptu vacation to make up for lost time, Sam’s going to have to take it easy and get as much rest as possible. I take a contented breath of the warm island air and think, That sounds perfect.
Our pilot escorts us up the travertine steps to the white stucco house and I see an infinity pool that overlooks the ocean. It’s surrounded by large canopy beds and oversized planters that are spilling over with tropical plants. He sets our bags down and tips his straw fedora. “Mr. Cole, Miss Bennett. I hope you enjoy paradise. I’ll see you in three weeks.”
“Thank you,” I say, gazing into the house through the giant glass doors. I see Sam tip him and shake his hand in the reflection, then he makes his way back down the steps.
“Ready?” Sam asks, pulling a key from his pocket.
I nod eagerly and watch him open the front door.
“After you,” he says, pushing it open, and I’m greeted by a rush of cool air that escapes the house.
Air conditioning. Thank goodness.
I walk inside before him and take in the beautiful coastal space. “Wow,” I whisper, walking through the foyer and into the living room, which, much like the living room in Sam’s apartment, is surrounded by glass. Except that this view is a little different. Instead of the tall mirrored buildings that surround Sam’s widows, all I see is blue, in every direction. I spin around in Sam’s arms, which are suddenly wrapped around me. “Sam, this is beautiful. I couldn’t have dreamt up a place like this.”
He gazes into my eyes and says, “This is just the beginning, Lamb.”
I smile over the nagging thought of how much it costs to rent a home like this for three weeks, on a private island no less. Or how much everything in Sam’s life must cost.
It’s a strange concept, Sam having so much money, one I haven’t quite wrapped my head around yet.
“You know, you don’t have to take me to places like this to make me happy, Sam.”
His eyes narrow slightly.
“Don’t get me wrong, I may never want to leave.” I rest my chin on his chest. “I just mean, I’m yours, free of charge.”
“I want to take you to places like this. It makes me happy.” He rubs my bare arms and says thoughtfully, “I want to take you everywhere. I want to show you everything I’ve seen. And everything I haven’t. I want to see the whole world with you, Lamb.”
My heart stands at attention with a suitcase in each hand. “I hear it’s pretty big. It might take a while.”
“Hopefully the rest of our lives.”
I press my smiling lips together and nod. “I like the sound of that.”
He glances over my shoulder with a glint of excitement in his eyes. “For now, I’d like to show you the kitchen.”
“The kitchen?”
He lowers his hands to my waist and picks me up, and my sandals fall to the floor.
“Sam, put me down!” I scold as he carries me to the kitchen. “You’re not supposed to be lifting anything heavy!”