Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29845 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
“Aren’t all the lights pretty?” I ask Chris as he takes me by the arm.
“I don’t know. They seem a little busy to me.”
“Don’t tell me you’re one of those ‘white lights only on the Christmas tree’ people.”
“What Christmas tree?” He side-eyes me.
“What? No Christmas tree?”
“Baby, I live alone. Who am I putting up a tree for?”
“Well, we’re just going to have to change that this year,” I say but second-guess myself. Did I just invite myself to live in his house indefinitely?
“If you want a Christmas tree, then you’ll have the biggest tree in the forest.”
“I like that but let’s go with artificial. I hate to think some poor tree lost its life just so I can decorate it.”
“You’re very sweet, little girl.”
“Oh, look at that!” I shout, pointing ahead.
“What?”
“Roller coaster…”
“No.”
“Please.” I bat my eyes at him.
He shakes his head and grins. “Fine. Let’s get in line.”
Chris double-checks my straps before the ride begins and puts his arm around me, holding me tight as the car creeps to the top of the giant hill.
“Look how high we are.”
“Just hold on tight, baby girl. You’re so tiny you might fall out.”
He continues his hold on me as the car drops and descends the hill at full speed. I close my eyes and feel the wind whip against my face while he keeps me safe from harm.
We exit the ride and Chris says, “How about the haunted house?”
“I’ll keep my eyes closed the whole time.”
“Alright, then. That one…” He points and I laugh. It’s the tunnel of love.
Our swan-shaped gondola floats on a lighted stream of water through the plastic-fronted curtain and into the tunnel. We pass by lighted hearts and painted cherubs as the violin music plays. Chris pulls me close and kisses me passionately. “This is a pretty pathetic tunnel of love, but it’s bad luck not to kiss while you’re inside.”
“Is that true?”
“Probably not. I just wanted to kiss you.” He looks at me and we both laugh.
We spend the next hour or so playing games and Chris wins me an armful of stuffed toys. In the arcade, I win myself a glow stick necklace and pop it over my head. Chris buys me an ice cream cone and takes a bite before giving the rest to me.
“I have a secret, baby girl.”
“What’s that?”
“There’s a blanket and a full picnic basket in the back of the car.”
“You want to go to the beach now?”
“If you’re ready.”
I nod and we return to the car to retrieve the basket. When we reach the beach, I kick off my shoes and feel the warm sand between my toes. The misty breeze from the ocean feels nice on my face and chest, and I breathe it in.
We find a flat place to lay out the blanket, and Chris kneels, taking my hands. I sit down beside him and watch as he pulls a candle lantern from the basket and lights it. He brings out a bottle of wine and pours a glass for each of us.
With a smile, I lean against his chest and listen to the sound of the waves crashing against the rocky breakers. I can’t think of a more romantic way to spend the evening.
“I have fruit, cheese, and bread.”
“That sounds great. Thank you for this. I’ve had such a great time.”
“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.”
“Are you?”
“Every minute with you is a good one.”
As I lean against him, he lifts my glow necklace over my head and replaces it with something that shines against the light of the candle. I hold up the sparkling pendant and can’t believe my eyes. It’s a diamond heart on a gold chain.
“Chris, this is beautiful. You didn’t have to.”
“I know I didn’t have to. I wanted to.”
I spin around and straddle his legs so I can model it for him. He holds it in his hand.“Still not as beautiful as you, little girl.”
He grabs me by the shoulders and pushes me down on the blanket, smirking the whole time. The whole world disappears as Chris climbs on top of me and presses his lips to mine.
12
CHRIS
We return home from our date and finish the bottle of wine on the back patio, me holding her hand the entire time. I don’t think I can wait any longer. It’s time to take the final step and stake my claim on her.
“What do you say we go upstairs and wash off all this sand?”
“Okay.”
We ascend the stairs, and she stops in front of her bedroom door. I take her hand and lead her up the next flight to my room. I open the door, revealing my suite, which takes up the entire third floor. She surveys the room and exclaims, “Wow.”
“I had a few renovations done before moving in.”
“You could fit my entire apartment in here with room to spare.”