Page 31 of Clock Strikes Paradise (Island Escapes #4)
Clay
ONE YEAR LATER
The private beach was on a small, deserted key.
The scene was picture-perfect, with swaying palm trees overhead and powdery soft white sand.
As the sun began to cast a deep orange glow across the sky, I eased out a contented sigh, taking in the beauty and tranquility surrounding Elise and me.
We sat on a blanket as we watched the sunset unfold.
An employee from Calypso Key Resort had dropped us off earlier, giving us the opportunity to enjoy this serene, but very private, escape, and would return for us an hour from now.
Elise leaned into my side, her head resting on my shoulder. We sat in contented silence, savoring the last of the champagne in our glasses. So much had changed in the year since we first came to Calypso Key. Yet returning to where we started, it felt as though nothing had changed at all .
The remains of our dinner spread out before us on the blanket. I gazed down at Elise, my breath stuck in my lungs. Her hair fell around her shoulders in soft waves, her eyes reflecting the vibrant colors of the sunset.
She caught me staring and smiled. “What?”
“Just thinking about how lucky I am.” Anticipation coursed through me, making my heart race. “For you and what we have together.”
Her smile widened. “The feeling’s mutual.”
Three months ago, we moved into a brand-new three-bedroom condo.
My old place was stark and harsh, and her flat in Queens could barely fit two people.
And though I didn’t grow up rich, I fully enjoyed the privileges my money provided.
So we bought a new penthouse unit. This one also huge and overlooking Central Park, but we chose the finishes together and the space reflected the harmonious blending of our lives.
Gone were my cold, severe, modern designs, replaced by Elise’s straight lines softened with cozy touches that made our space feel like a true home.
I smiled, reaching over to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “I’m glad I was able to surprise you with this trip. You’ve been working too hard lately, and I’d like to remind you there’s more to life than work.”
Elise laughed softly, leaning into my touch.
“You’re right, but I still have to laugh at you saying those words.
Though I didn’t mind helping Nate and Camille with Skate to Success.
I love organizing and the absolute rocket launch of their foundation took everyone by surprise. It didn’t add much to my workload.”
My brother’s venture after hockey had proved a smashing success, fully launching him into a thriving new career.
Camille handled most of the day-to-day operations, leaving him free to spend his day on the ice, where he wanted to be.
I had been Nate’s best man and Elise Camille’s maid of honor at their wedding in Westport five months ago.
“And I’m eternally grateful that neither of us worked Christmas,” she said with a pointed look.
Laughing, I rubbed the back of my neck. “Yeah, I guess that was kind of a dick thing to do on my part, wasn’t it?” I leaned over and kissed her brow. “No more working Christmases. I promise.”
Elise raised her champagne flute to me. “Your timing was perfect for this little getaway. My engine will be fully recharged when we get back to New York, and I can focus on GreenDrive again.”
My chest filled at how Elise had worked her way into a prominent position at GreenDrive, purely on the merit of her own hard work and skill.
I’d taken a completely hands-off approach to my new company, installing an independent CEO and telling him to consider Elise like any other employee.
After making sure he knew she was the center of my life, of course.
A tiger can’t change his stripes, after all.
But I could have kept my mouth shut, and it wouldn’t have changed anything.
I studied the quarterly reports carefully.
Elise had prospered and worked her way up the ladder in less than a year.
For my part, I’d begun a new start-up over the past year, an app that helped people find lower-cost, clean energy alternatives.
It was already more successful than Podium had been in its early days.
I drew Elise closer, breathing in the faint scent of coconut from the sunscreen she’d applied earlier.
We’d spent two days scuba diving with April, exploring the crystalline waters that had brought us together.
Private dinners in our cottage and romantic candlelit meals at Orchid reminded us of our first trip.
We made love in our cottage as the waves lapped at the shore, a soothing rhythm that lulled us to sleep each night, wrapped in each other’s arms.
Tightening my arms around her, I rested my cheek against her hair. “I love you. More every day.”
“I love you too,” she replied. Her smile stretched the soft skin of her cheek. “Thank you for always knowing exactly what I need, even before I do.”
“That’s what I’m here for,” I said. “It’s not easy being a prince. You keep me on my toes.”
Elise squeezed my hand, her laugh filling the twilight. “You’ll always be my prince.”
As the sun kissed the horizon, a warm palette of oranges, pinks, and purples painted the sky. The sea’s gentle waves lapped upon the sand, each one leaving a glistening trail that reflected the colors above. A fluttery thrill built within me.
I touched her arm. “Let’s go for a sunset stroll along the beach.”
“I’d love to.”
We slipped off our shoes and stepped onto the soft, warm sand.
As we walked hand in hand, the water washed over our bare feet, the warmth surprising.
The ocean was warmer than the air by this time of the evening.
Fine grains of sand slipped between my toes, grounding me in the moment.
I cast my gaze over the scattering of shells on the shoreline, smiling to myself when I spotted a large conch shell half-buried in the sand.
“Look at that,” I said, nodding toward the intriguing find. Elise followed my gaze, her eyes lighting up as she saw the shell too.
“It’s so beautiful,” she exclaimed, dropping my hand to crouch down and pick it up. The shell was a stunning specimen, with a glowing pink interior that seemed to absorb the hues of the setting sun. She brushed her fingers over the smooth pink surface.
“Look at how perfect it is,” she murmured, tipping the shell slightly. Then she frowned as a clinking sound emanated from within. She gasped. “There’s not a crab in here, I hope!”
I grinned. “I think the opening is too small. What is it?”
She tilted the shell further, cupping her hand under the open end. A three-carat princess-cut diamond ring tumbled out, landing gracefully in her palm.
Elise stared down at the ring, her mouth agape. She lifted her eyes to meet mine.
I plucked the ring from her hand and lowered to one knee, feeling the sand settle beneath me as my heart threatened to pound out of my chest.
“We began here,” I said, looking up into her wide eyes.
“This is where you helped me discover that there’s so much more to life than just work.
Where I learned what it was to really live.
For the last year, you have been my rock, my inspiration, and the love of my life.
I can’t imagine a future without you by my side. ”
Her eyes filled with tears, but she didn’t interrupt. The only sound in the world was the waves lapping against the shore.
“Will you be my wife?”
A tear slid down her cheek, glistening in the fading light. She seemed at a loss for words, but her expression was eloquent enough. Finally, she nodded and shouted, “Yes, Clay. Yes, yes!”
I smiled, relief and a stunning lightness flooding through me. I slipped the ring onto her finger, where it glimmered in the setting sun. A perfect fit, of course. As I stood up, Elise threw her arms around my neck, pulling me close for a long kiss.
“Such a perfect proposal,” she murmured against my lips. Then she pulled back and gave me that smile I could never get tired of. “I love your surprises.”
“Good,” I replied, my heart too big for my chest. “Because I plan to keep surprising you for a very long time.”
As the sun dipped below the horizon, we stood there, arms wrapped around each other. Our trip to Calypso Key had forever changed our lives, and now we would begin a new chapter together.
For now, though, I simply wanted to savor this moment. The sky continued to darken, stars peeking out one by one, while the gentle ocean serenaded us. The sounds of the water and rustling palm leaves created a soothing symphony of nature.
“Here’s to fairy tales and happy endings,” I murmured as I pulled her close. After whisking another soft kiss over her lips, we stood together under the watchful, velvety canopy of stars.
Thank you for reading CLOCK STRIKES PARADISE! I’ve been wanting to write a traditional billionaire romance for a while, and setting it at Calypso Key was the umbrella on the tropical drink! And the Cinderella retelling added such a fun element to the story.
If you’re familiar with Calypso Key, I hope you enjoyed seeing old friends in the past two books. And if you’re new to this beautiful little island in the Florida Keys, then I invite to to pick up a copy of VISIONS OF YOU!