Love's Heat - An Italian Nights Novella by Ophelia Sikes

Author:Ophelia Sikes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romantic suspense, cruise

Chapter 6

The sun was brilliant overhead, the yachts glistened in white beneath us in the bay of Monte Carlo, but it was the sight before me that took my breath away. Nestled along the shoreline of this beautiful city was a Japanese garden, and Brandon and I stood at its gates. To the left was glistening white sand raked into gentle waves. To the right, beautiful flowers in pale pink and deep crimson stood in lines like obedient schoolchildren. Up ahead was a small koi pond, and, as I watched, six little ducklings raced along its surface, voicing “peep! peep!” calls before they vanished into the shadows again.

I turned to Brandon, my voice rich with emotion. “This is stunning!”

He caressed my face with one hand, his eyes warm. “I knew from our talks about Japanese culture that you’d love it here.” His look clouded for a moment. “Jessica had mapped out all the stores she wanted to go shopping at, for me to buy her gifts from. Hermes, Cartier, Coach, they’re all on a strip around the main casino.” The hint of a smile eased onto his face. “Somehow I knew that wouldn’t be your focus.”

A large bumble-bee drifted past us, settling down to nestle into one of the tangerine blossoms. I knelt down to take his photo. “I’m content with these souvenirs,” I murmured to him. As I climbed to my feet, my eyes danced. “I thought you were a Coast Guard diver? How could you afford shops like that, anyway? Or are you a secret billionaire, disguising yourself as a humble sailor in order to find true love?”

He laughed out loud at that, and I was caught up by the change in his features when he let himself be happy. He went from just being handsome to being the most amazing man I had ever seen. I suddenly was deluged with gratitude that he was here, with me, in such a beautiful place. I was the luckiest woman in the world.

His eyes caught mine, and he tilted his head to one side. “What is it?”

“I’m ... I’m just happy.”

His gaze thickened with passion, and when he spoke again his voice was hoarse. “So am I.”

He drew me in to a kiss. It was rich, warm, and we fit together like two pieces from a puzzle which had been stored in separate boxes for long decades. At last, at shimmering last, they had landed by happenstance in the same location, and all that came before suddenly seemed inconsequential. All that mattered was that he was here for me, and I for him.

A bustle of PEEP!ing broke us apart, and we laughed in merriment. The little ducklings were swirling at the base of the pond, rooting through the new grass there for who knew what. Brandon smiled at me, taking my hand. “Come, let’s explore this paradise.”

The gardens were serene, lunch on the pier overlooking the magnificent boats was breathtaking, and now we were at the small zoo to the western side of the tiny country.

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