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My mouth drops to her ear, whispering against the shell. “The sun will always set, Rey. But even when everything is dark, you can take heart in the fact that it will rise again tomorrow.”
She tugs my arms around her waist, cuddling back against my body, and I feel a wave of possessive contentment wash over me, knowing that I’m bringing the sunshine back into her life.
“Have a wonderful trip, Mr. and Mrs. DeMarco.”
Tanya’s well wishes make my feet falter as we begin to descend the airstairs, and I dimly note, somewhere in the recesses of my subconscious, that despite Rey’s joy at the moment, given her crush from last month, this trip might not have been the brightest idea.
* * *
REYNA
“This place is like something out of a movie!”
I race up the stairs with the enthusiasm of Fifi, laughing wildly when I fly across the wooden floor to the balcony beyond the living room.
The view outside of the private casa that Alex has rented for the next couple of days is awe-inducing.
A canopy of treetops stretches all the way to the turquoise ocean beyond. My eyes drink their fill as Alex’s footsteps sound behind me.
“This has to be the best thing I’ve ever seen.”
My face hurts from smiling so hard, living a dream I’ve had for as long as I can remember.
Touching down in Tamarindo was quite easily the biggest shock of my life.
The entire car trip from there to here had been spent alternating between pointing at the scenery as it flew by and thanking Alex profusely for his beyond-thoughtful gesture.
In my despair since Lita’s passing, one of the hardest parts was knowing that I’d never again experience the easy joy and soothing calm of her presence. Until I’d stepped from the jet and felt the breeze of her homeland wash over my skin, bringing her back to me in a way I’d never have thought possible.
Alex’s arms wrap around my waist, and his chin rests on my shoulder. He presses a kiss to my cheekbone, tightening his hold, and I inhale his inimitable scent, allowing my eyelids to fall closed in pure joy.
“Thank you, Alex.”
He snorts softly. “You don’t need to thank me. Your happiness is thanks enough, baby.”
Baby.
I try and fail to push down the familiar rush of butterflies in my stomach at his casual use of the intimate word.
There’s a knock on our door, and I spin in his hold, our facesalmosttouching.
“Who could that be?”
He rubs the tip of his nose off mine with a lopsided smile that sets my foolish heart fluttering before gathering me in against his side so we can both cross the wide-open living space to answer the door.
What greets us is nothing short of a whirlwind.
A man dressed in chef whites breezes past us with three helpers scurrying after him.
Five women, each pushing a rack of various items of clothing, file in one after the other, nodding at both of us as they stride down the hall toward one of the many guest bedrooms.
Two men follow them, stopping for a moment to address Alex.
“Where shall we set up, Mr. DeMarco?”
Alex sends me a wink. “The third bedroom on the right should be large enough, Federico.Gracias.”
Once everyone is inside the huge casa, Alex closes the door and turns to me with a devilment-filled smirk. “Surprise!”
