Page 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

Garret’s note implies we’re going out of town, but I have no idea where we’re going which means I have no idea what to pack. I grab my suitcase from the closet and start to put the basics in; underwear, socks, pajamas. Seeing everything laid out in my bag, it all looks wrong. This is Valentine’s Day. I can’t bring my boring pajamas and everyday underwear. I toss them back in my drawer and find the lingerie Garret gave me on New Year’s Eve. Then I pull out my sexiest panties and start picking out bras.

“You ready yet?” Garret is standing there, leaning against the door frame. I didn’t even hear him open the door. I probably forgot to close it after I saw the flowers.

“How long have you been standing there?” I ask, bras dangling from my hand.

“Not long.” He’s laughing. “You need some help with those?”

“No.” I look down at the five bras in my hand. “I mean, maybe. I couldn’t decide which one. Do you have a preference?”

“The black one with the lace.”

I yank him into my room and shut the door. “Would you please tell me where we’re going? Your clues have been completely useless.”

“That was the point. I didn’t want you guessing.” He glances at the roses. “Do you like the flowers?”

“I love the flowers. It’s the first time anyone’s ever given me flowers.”

He thinks for a moment, then says, “What the hell is wrong with me? Why have I never given you flowers before? I should’ve been sending you flowers every week.” He shakes his head. “I’m a terrible boyfriend.”

“You’re the best boyfriend ever. Flowers or no flowers.” I wrap my arms around him, breathing him in. He smells like he just showered and put on the great cologne I love. “We better get out of here before I attack you.”

“You can attack me. I’m not in any rush.” He gives me a slow, deep kiss he knows will lead somewhere.

“You said to be ready at 4 and it’s almost 4 now.” I kiss him back, not really caring about the time. He feels good. He smells good. We can be late to wherever it is we’re going.

He lets me go. “You’re right. We should get on the road.”

“Hey! I was enjoying that!”

He smiles. “There’s a lot more where that came from. Trust me. We have all weekend.”

“Are we going to a fancy hotel?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Now come on. Get packed.” He starts going through my drawers. “On second thought, let me pack for you.” He tosses a couple of the t-shirts Harper gave me into my suitcase along with the dark red cashmere sweater his parents (or really he) gave me for Christmas.

“Garret, I can pack my own suitcase.”

“You’re taking too long. Plus I’m banning the black and white thing this weekend. It’s an all-color weekend.”

“Last I checked black and white were both considered colors.”

“Yes, but I’d like to see you in something other than the same two colors.”

“Fine. Just don’t make me wear pink.”

He stops for a moment. “That’s a problem. I might’ve gotten you something pink.”

“What did you get me? Did you buy me clothes again? I asked you to tell me first, remember?”

His eyebrows raise. “Not for certain types of clothing.”

Lingerie. I guess that makes sense. It is Valentine’s Day after all.

“Okay. What else do I need?”

“A dress for dinner.” He takes two dresses from my closet; the black one he gave me at New Year’s and the red one that Katherine gave me to wear for Christmas. “Which one?”

“You just said I couldn’t wear black.”

He laughs. “That’s true. I did. Well, since you don’t have many dresses I’ll have to make an exception. Do you want to bring the black one?”

“I don’t know. The red one is more appropriate for Valentine’s Day, but it reminds me of Katherine.”

“Jade, I got you that dress. Katherine just said it was from her because I knew you’d get mad if I told you I bought it.”

“Oh. No wonder I like it. But I like the black one, too.”

“Just take both of them.”

He hands me the dresses and I place them in the suitcase along with my heels. Then I toss my makeup and hair stuff in a bag and tuck it on the side. “Anything else?”

“Swimsuit. You don’t have one, do you?”

“I do. I just got it. But it’s black, so you won’t let me wear it.”

“If it’s all you have, black is fine.”

I pull out the bottom drawer of my dresser and grab the black bikini Harper gave me last week. It’s another designer freebie her sister got and couldn’t wear. It’s incredibly sexy without being slutty. I tried it on and couldn’t believe how good it looked. I was waiting to surprise Garret with it and I guess now’s the time. I stuff it in the bag.

“Hey, was that a bikini? Let me see that.” He reaches in to get it but I yank his hand away and shut the suitcase.

“You have to wait. I don’t have money to get you a gift, so seeing me in a bikini will have to be it.”

“Works for me.” He picks the suitcase up. “My stuff’s already in the car so just go out to the parking lot.”

Before we leave I take a whiff of my flowers again. “The roses are going to die while we’re gone.”

“They’ll be fine. It’s only a couple days. And if they die, I’ll get you new ones. I made a mental note to buy you more flowers.” He sets my suitcase down and takes his phone out. “I’ll even write myself a reminder.”

I push him out the door. “You don’t need to do that. Let’s go.” I grab my winter coat, but I really don’t need it. It’s been unseasonably warm the past few weeks, even getting into the sixties yesterday. I miss the snow, but it’s nice to not freeze to death every time you walk outside.

After we’ve been driving for an hour I still can’t figure out where he’s taking me. “Are you ever going to tell me where we’re going?”

He picks my hand up off the seat and kisses it. “You don’t like surprises, do you, Jade?”

“I do, but I can’t wait any longer. How long before we get there? Are we staying in Connecticut?”

“Nope.”

“Just tell me.” I tilt my head. “Please.”

“We’re going to the ocean.”

“We are? Really?” I say it like a little kid who’s just been told she’s going to the greatest amusement park in the whole wide world.

I’m embarrassed, but my reaction has put a huge smile across Garret’s face and I love to see him smile, so I guess it’s okay I sounded really stupid just now.

“We’re staying at a hotel on Cape Cod that overlooks the ocean. I got us a suite on the top floor. I’ve never been to the place, but my dad has and he really liked it. And he’s picky about hotels. Oh, and there’s a spa there so schedule whatever you want.”

“That’s okay. I’d rather spend time with you. I’m not really into spas.”

“Have you ever been to one?”

“No, but I don’t need to go.”

“We’re at least getting a massage. We’ll get a couple’s massage. How’s that sound?”

“I’ve never had a massage, but I guess I could try it.”

* * *

We arrive at the hotel around 7. It has a traditional New England exterior with dark gray shingle siding and bright white trim. The entrance is lined with tall black lanterns.

Garret leaves the car with the valet and a man in a white uniform takes our luggage while another man ushers us inside.

“Welcome,” he says. “Check in is right over there. Enjoy your stay.”

As he says it I check out the lobby. It has dark wood floors and a massive stone fireplace in the center surrounded by leather chairs. The back wall is mostly windows and beyond that are more lanterns and then pure darkness.

The ocean. It’s right there.

I nudge Garret. “I have to go see it.”

“Let’s check in first.”

“You do it. I’ll be outside.” I head out the double doors and hear Garret following behind. We’re greeted by the sound of the waves crashing on the sandy shore.

Garret’s arms envelop me from behind and he rests his chin on the top of my head. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Jade.”

We stand there for several minutes listening to the roaring waves. I could listen to that sound for hours and not get tired of it. I finally get why people buy those machines that play wave sounds.

“Sir, are you checking in soon?” A man peeks his head out the door. “We usually don’t bring the luggage up until the guest has checked in.”

“Yes. We’re coming.”

We go back inside and Garret checks us in. The guy at the desk gives him the key, then looks at me. “Would you like a key as well, Mrs. Kensington?”

I turn my head to see if Katherine might’ve walked in behind me, but then realize he’s talking to me. Garret’s smiling, waiting to see if I’ll correct the guy.

“No, I don’t need a key,” I say.

He nods. “Enjoy your stay.”

Garret puts his arm around me and leads us away from the desk. “You didn’t want your own key, Mrs. Kensington?”

“Yeah, I should’ve corrected him but I was just trying—”

Garret leans down and kisses me right in the middle of the lobby, and not a quick kiss either.

I give him a strange look as he walks us over to the bellhop area.

“What?” He laughs. “I just wanted to kiss my wife.”

I shake my head. “I knew I should’ve corrected that guy.”

“Mr. and Mrs. Kensington?” the bellhop asks.

“Yes,” Garret says, smiling at me.

“Right this way.” The bellhop shows us to our room and gives us a brief tour of the suite before he leaves.

The suite is even bigger than the suite we had in New York. It has a kitchen with bright white cabinets and light-colored granite countertops. Three light fixtures that look like lanterns hang over the kitchen island which is lined with four tall barstools. The living area has a big couch covered in a light blue denimlike fabric and on each side of it are oversized blue and white striped chairs that look really comfy. There’s a fireplace across from the couch with a flat screen TV hanging above it.

“Garret, I really love this place. It’s great.” I don’t tell him, but I almost like this room better than the one in New York. It feels more homey than the Times Square hotel, which was nice, but ultra modern which made it feel a little cold and stark. Plus this room has a beach feel with all the light colors and I’m really into the beach thing right now.

“Come check this out.” Garret opens the drapes in the living room. It’s dark out, so he turns the outside lights on and I see that we have our own private balcony complete with reclining chairs and a small hot tub.

We go outside and I lie down on one of the chairs. “Can I sleep out here?”

He laughs. “No. I wouldn’t be able to sleep next to you.”

There’s a knock on the door to the room. Garret leaves to answer it, but I stay outside, breathing in the salty ocean air.

“Close your eyes.” Garret’s outside again, but he’s standing behind me so I can’t see him.

“I’m afraid to. What are you doing?”

“You don’t trust me? That hurts, Jade.” He’s kidding, but I play along.

“I’m sorry. I totally trust you. My eyes are closed.”

“Now open your mouth.”

“Why? What are you feeding me? Is it green? Because I don’t eat green foods.”

He’s laughing again. “It’s not green. God, I swear you’re the worst person to surprise. You need to relax and just go with it.”

I open my mouth and he puts a small square of something in it. Chocolate. The creamiest, richest chocolate I’ve ever tasted.

“Good, right?”

I open my eyes and see him sitting in the chair next to me, unwrapping his own piece of chocolate.

“Really good. Where did you get these?”

“They’re from Belgium, from a really small store in Brussels. My dad was there a few years ago for business and he brought a box of these back. I’d never had chocolate that tasted that good. I thought you might like it so I ordered some.”

“This is definitely the best chocolate I’ve ever had.”

“Try this.” He holds up a tray of chocolate-covered strawberries.

I take a bite of a ripe, sweet strawberry dipped in that same Belgian chocolate.

“Those are so good. I need to have another.”

He hands me a strawberry. “I just realized I’m being a total cliché. The guy who buys his girlfriend chocolate and flowers for Valentine’s Day and takes her to a fancy hotel. Is that lame?”

“It’s not lame. I love it. This is my first Valentine’s Day. I want all the clichés.”

“Well, next year I’ll do something completely different.”

“So no flowers and chocolate? Because I kind of like those things, especially the chocolate.”

“I agree. The chocolate must remain. But the rest will be different.”

“You know you didn’t have to do all this. The flowers in my room would have been enough.”

He slips his hand into mine and says simply, “I had to show you the ocean.”

We sit there quietly, the cool night air washing over us. It’s times like this that I have to remind myself that this isn’t a dream. That it’s really happening to me. I don’t know how or why, but for some reason I got lucky and finally got something good in my life.

“I love you, Garret.”

He gets off his chair and comes over to kiss me. “I love you, too.” He offers his hand to help me up. “Let’s go inside. It’s getting cold.”

The room is much warmer and I peel off my sweater and plop down on the comfy couch.

Garret hands me the room service menu. “I thought we’d order in tonight, unless you want to go out. But there aren’t many restaurants in this town.”

I glance over the menu quick, then set it aside. “I’ll just eat chocolate for dinner.”

He picks the menu back up, forcing me to take it. “You need real food. You can’t just eat chocolate.”

“Why? Do I need to fuel up for something?” I smile as I crawl across the couch and onto his lap.

“Maybe.” He grips my hips, pulling me closer as he kisses me. The room suddenly feels even warmer. I break from the kiss to take my t-shirt off.

Garret’s smiling. “You can distract me, Jade, but you’re still eating dinner.” He brings my mouth to his and whispers, “Just not right now.” He kisses me again and I part my lips to let his tongue past. It’s warm and tastes like chocolate and feels so good that I hear myself softly moan.

Garret slowly pulls back. “What was that for?”

I’m usually really quiet when we’re making out, so I was hoping he didn’t hear that, but of course he did.

“It’s nothing. Sorry about that.”

“Don’t be sorry.” He gives me just the slightest smile, his gorgeous blue eyes gazing back at me. “I liked it. I want to know how to make you do it again.”

His voice is so freaking sexy, especially when he’s talking just above a whisper, which he does whenever he’s this close to me.

“Tell me what you like, Jade.”

I feel my face heating up. “I just really liked the kiss. You taste like chocolate.”

“So the chocolate made you do that?” His smile widens.

I nod.

“Should I go get some more? Because I’d really like you to do that again.”

“No. Just kiss me.”

He does and his tongue still tastes like chocolate and has me moaning even more as it explores my mouth. I can tell the sounds I’m making are driving Garret crazy. Minutes later, he stands up, still kissing me, his hands under my thighs holding me up. I wrap my arms around his neck as he walks us to the bedroom.

He lays me down on the bed, then reaches behind his neck and yanks his shirt off. As I look at his arms, his chest, his abs, I still can’t believe I’m with a guy this hot. I strip the rest of my clothes off while he takes off his. Then I jump off the bed quick and shove the comforter to the floor because I just saw a news story that said those things are covered in germs.

When I get back in bed Garret’s giving me this odd look like he can’t figure out what I was doing but he doesn’t bother asking. He joins me in the bed and instead of kissing me or getting on top of me like he normally would, he lies beside me and slowly moves his hand along my skin. When his hand travels up the inside of my thigh I try not to moan again, but it slips out.

“You like that?” he whispers against my neck.

I nod, keeping my eyes closed.

“Let’s see what else you like.”

And so begins his quest of finding every place on my body that makes me moan in pleasure. All my secret spots. For a moment it concerns me because it’s yet another thing that will bring us closer, and that scares me. But I quickly forget about it because I’m loving this way too much. And I love Garret, and if anyone’s going to know this stuff about me, I want it to be him.

Everywhere he touches leaves behind a tingling heat that builds and teases and aches for more of him. When he finally moves on to the actual sex part, we’re both so turned on that it ends up being really quick, but beyond amazing. It’s like the sex just keeps getting better the more we do it. I guess that’s why we do it all the time.

We’re both sweaty so we shower off, then Garret suggests we try out the hot tub. “I know it’s cold out there, but what do you think?”

“I’m up for it. I’ll be right back.” I go in the bathroom and put on the black bikini. When I come out, Garret’s waiting in his swim trunks.

“Okay, I’m ready.”

His eyes drift up and down my body, lingering at my breasts, which look even bigger than normal because the bikini top pushes them up and creates a lot of cleavage.

“Holy, shit, Jade. That is hot. Where did you get that?”

“Harper’s sister.” I spin around to show him the back.

“Remind me to thank her.”

When I turn back around he’s standing right in front of me.

“Yeah, it’ll be great for this summer.”

“I don’t think I can let you wear that in public. You’ll have guys all over you. You’ll definitely have me all over you.” He leaves kisses along my shoulder and starts untying the strings of my top.

“Garret. The hot tub, remember?”

He pulls away and looks at me again. “Yeah. I don’t think we’ll be in there very long.”

And we’re not. The bikini leads us right back to the bed.

* * *

The next morning, we sleep in, eat a late breakfast, then have our couple’s massage. I don’t like to be touched by strangers, so at first I’m a little on edge, but as soon as the woman begins rubbing the tension out of my shoulders I totally relax. By the time she makes it to my back I’m almost asleep.

After the massages we have lunch, then walk on the beach. It’s crazy how warm it is for February—65 degrees, although it feels cooler than that with the ocean breeze.

Garret takes photos of me on the beach to send to Frank and Ryan. Then I collect shells and colored stones to take back to my dorm room.

“Ooh! Look at this one.” I reach down and pick up a silvery blue shell.

“Lilly does the same thing when we go to the beach,” Garret says.

I laugh. “Are you saying I’m like a little kid?”

“No.” He stops to kiss me. “I just like seeing you happy. You’re happy, right, Jade?”

I kiss him back. “I’m very happy.”

“Good.” He looks down at my shells. I’ve collected so many I had to curl up the bottom of my shirt to use as a make-shift bag. “I can hold those for you if you want to get some more.”

“That’s okay. I have plenty. Let’s go inside so I can clean them off.”

Back in the room, Garret watches TV while I rinse the dirt and sand off my shells in the bathroom sink.

“I guess my dad won’t be home for Valentine’s Day,” I hear Garret say from the living room.

“How do you know that?” I go in the living room and join him on the couch. “Did he call?”

“He’s on TV. I just saw him at a fundraiser in Florida for Kent Gleason.” He points to the screen. “Right there. You see him? He’s standing off to the side.”

“Your dad didn’t tell you he was going there?”

“He travels all the time. I never know where he is.” Garret leans back and puts his feet up on the leather ottoman in front of the couch. “I wonder if he’s meeting that woman. Maybe that’s why he wanted to get away this weekend.”

“Where does she live again?”

“She lives in DC, but she travels just as much as he does, so it wouldn’t surprise me if—” He stops and watches as the camera scans the crowd. “Yep. I just saw her. So I guess we know what he’ll be doing for Valentine’s Day.”

I back myself into the pillows at the end of the couch and rest my feet against Garret’s leg. “Does it bother you that he cheats on Katherine? I know you hate her, but still.”

“I don’t really care.” His eyes remain on the TV, which shows Kent Gleason shaking hands with people in the crowd. “It’s none of my business. Besides, Katherine’s probably cheating, too.”

His answer makes it sound like cheating isn’t that big a deal. I don’t think he meant it that way, but then again, I’m not really sure.

“Garret, would you ever cheat? Like if you got tired of your wife? Or if you didn’t like her anymore?”

He picks up my feet, placing them across his lap. “I’d never cheat on my wife. If I wasn’t happy in my marriage, I’d get a divorce, not have an affair. Why are you asking me this?”

“No reason. I was just making conversation.”

He reaches for the remote and shuts the TV off. “You’re such a horrible liar. Just admit it. You think I’ll be like my father someday.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to. I can tell you’re thinking it.” He holds his hand out. “Come over here.”

I grab his hand and scoot over on the couch. He lifts me up and sits me on his lap, facing him. “I’d never cheat on you, Jade. Not as your boyfriend. Not as your husband. I’m not my father and I’m not my grandfather.”

“But they probably didn’t think they’d cheat when they got married and look what happened.”

I glance down, but he tips my chin up with his hand and locks his eyes on mine. “I’m not like them. Cheating’s not an option. It’s not even on the table.”

“What about divorce? You just said you’d get a divorce if you weren’t happy in your marriage. But you’re not going to be happy all the time. Nobody is.”

“Divorce is the absolute last option. If things weren’t working between us, we’d fix them. We’d do whatever we have to do. I’m not taking the easy way out.”

“Well, you might—” He puts his finger to my lips.

“Listen, Jade. I love you more than anything in this world. And if I’m ever lucky enough to get you to be my wife, there’s no way in hell I’m letting you go.”

Did he just come up with that? Because what he just said was perfect. In fact, I’d like to frame what he said and hang it on my wall so I can read it over and over again.

It’s one of those times when I’m so blown away by his sweet words that I can’t seem to find any of my own. So I just wrap my arms around him and hug him. I love him so much right now that if he got down on one knee and proposed, I’d say yes. It would be completely crazy and I know it’s too soon, but I know for sure now that this is the man I want to be with forever.