Page 9 of Romancing Rayne

I was happy to see everything seemed to be the same, modern with a mix of old world opulence. It was classy, yet still inviting and exactly what I’d been hoping for. A perfect recreation of our first trip but with the fairytale ending Rayne deserved.

“The lobby is just like I remember it, but this time it feels different.” Rayne laughed.

“How so?”

“Well, the first time you checked us into this hotel, I felt like I had “one-night stand” tattooed on my forehead. This time, I feel like Mrs. Rayne Bryson, the proud wife of Ghost Bryson.”

“Come on, crazy woman, we have lots to do. Are you hungry?”

“Starving. I think by the time this baby comes, I’m going to be as big as a house.”

“A beautiful house.”

“Ghost!” she admonished.

“What? I’m just agreeing with you.” Before I could insert my foot any further into my mouth, the woman checking us in interrupted, needing my attention.

With room keys in hand, we headed for the elevators.

“I hope we have a good view,” Rayne said as she peered through the glass enclosure overlooking the main lobby of the hotel.

I didn’t answer, not wanting to spoil her surprise. When the elevator stopped on our floor, she was too busy digging through her handbag to notice her surroundings. I led her to the room, unlocked the door, and pushed it open, allowing her to enter before me.

“I can’t believe I can’t find my Chapstick,” she complained, still looking through her purse. “I hate how dry my lips get when I . . . holy shit . . . Ghost!” Her gaze had finally lifted, and she was looking around the room. Lip balm forgotten, she tossed her bag on the bed and went straight for the window.

“I can’t believe you did this.” She turned to face me, tears streaming down her pretty cheeks. “Our room. You brought us back to our room.” She continued to cry, and I prayed they were happy tears.

Leaving the luggage by the door, I moved to where Rayne was standing and pulled her into my arms.

“Princess?”

“I knew it.”

“Knew what?”

“Remember when we were at Westminster Abbey?” Rayne turned in my arms to face the window.

“Of course.”

“You told me you weren’t romantic, and I remember explaining to you all the ways you were. From how you’d paid for everything we’d done, to always holding the door open, allowing me to enter first. You were protective and never allowed anyone to bump into me or get too close. You let me see everything I wanted to see without complaint. I knew you didn’t believe me and only agreed to make me be quiet. But, Ghost, you are the most romantic man I’ve ever known. You show me a hundred times a day how much you love me, you still protect me, you always make sure I have the best seat when we’re out. You always clean the house before I get back from a trip so I don’t have to do a single thing but relax. You take care of me, and us, and our home. So, I’ve always known you were a closet romantic, but I also knew you wanted to believe in the fairytale.”

“Princess,” I started.

“Don’t argue. I knew it then and know it more than ever now.”

She was mostly right, but she was also wrong.

“You still don’t get it. It’s you, Princess, only you. I want you to have everything you ever dreamed of having. The romance, the flowers, the happily ever after fairytale. I’ll move heaven and earth to make sure you have everything you need and to make sure you’re safe and protected.”

“I know you will.” Rayne turned to face me, rolling up on her tiptoes she kissed the corner of my mouth. “You’ve proven it daily. Now come on and feed me and the baby.”

The baby.

Before she could step away, I brought her wrist to my lips and kissed the tiny scars left from her time in Egypt. Scars that reminded me fate had brought us together not once, but twice.

6

Rayne