Lauren sat there, confused but before she could ask any questions, Marc started the golf cart and drove.
He reached across and held her hand and that’s how they sat, for the next ten minutes, until they drove up to the main door of the castle. The whole trip, as the building loomed ahead, Lauren’s mouth dropped and she couldn’t believe what she saw.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Marc helped her out of the cart and they walked up the stone steps that led to the main door.
“Breathtaking,” she replied. She couldn’t get over the expansive size of the building.
The massive wood door to the castle opened up as they climbed to the top of the stairs and Marc led her inside. She smiled at a staff member who stood there as they passed by.
“Where are we going?”
“Just wait and see.”
Lauren barely had time to see all the wondrous sights around her, from the marbled floor to the vases that overflowed with fresh flowers. They stopped in front of a set of elevator doors and Marc pushed the button.
“I need you to close your eyes.”
“I’m sorry?”
The boyish grin on Marc’s face grew. “Will you close your eyes, please?”
Lauren slowly closed her eyes and heard the ding of doors as they opened. He led her inside and put his arms around her so that she could lean back against him.
“I hope you like my surprise,” he whispered in her ear.
“Can I open my eyes now?”
“No.” He chuckled.
They stood there and listened to the soft elevator music. Lauren couldn’t help but wonder where they were going.
At last the elevator doors opened and Marc led her out and then they walked, and walked. Marc was gentle as he instructed her to climb a few stairs, to watch out for a table or two but the whole time he wouldn’t let her open her eyes.
Finally they stopped. A soft breeze billowed around her and caressed her skin.
“Okay, you can open them now.”
When she did, she was breathless. They stood high up on a balcony and overlooked the island below. Soft white clouds floated in the distance over the ocean and the trees swayed in the wind.
And Marc stood at her side, taking it all in.
“The heights—are you okay?” She knew he was afraid of heights and couldn’t believe he stood there, at the edge of the balcony, with her.
He squeezed her hand and leaned forward, until his elbows rested on the railing. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
“It’s amazing. But...”
He turned and looked at her. “You had wanted to climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower so badly but didn’t because I was too afraid to. After you left, I made myself a promise to never to do that to you again...so I faced my fear. It took me awhile, but the next time you come to Paris, I’ll climb those stairs with you.”
Lauren blinked away tears she hadn’t realized gathered in her eyes.
“I...I...” She sighed, unable to form words to describe what she felt. Overwhelmed at the beauty before them, amazed at the strength of the man in front of her, honored that he would do something like that for her...and thrilled that he’d done all this for her.
“I wanted this weekend to be about you. A time where you felt spoiled and loved. A time when you could relax and let others take care of you rather than you taking care of others. I wanted...” Marc paused and looked out over the view. “I wanted to show you that you deserve all this and so much more.”
He wiped the tears that fell along her skin and then bent down to kiss her. It was soft, full of promise and love, and it was enough. Enough for her, for her heart.
“I have one more surprise, when you are ready to leave this gorgeous view.”
Lauren laughed. “I’m not sure I’ll ever want to leave this. It’s breathtaking.”
Marc rolled his eyes. “What if I said we could come back and have dinner here, on the balcony, and watch the sun set?”
“That would be perfect.” It sounded amazing and very romantic.
“Good.” He bent down and kissed her again. “We need to go back to our rooms. That box you were given last night—you’re going to need it for my next surprise.”
Chapter Nine
Forget the hammocks and the massages and all the amazing clothes in her closet.
Forget even the fact that this whole weekend was all because of Marc.
This moment was something she would never forget.
Her. Marc. Hands covered in chocolate.
Thank goodness she’d changed before coming. Marc wouldn’t let her open the box from last night until almost the last second.
Inside the box was a brown apron with an adorable chocolate saying embroidered on it.
All you need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.
She loved it.
He’d arranged a private chocolate making afternoon with the island’s own private chocolatier.
“I still can’t believe Paul gave his best-selling chocolates to this Master dude as exclusives when he’s got his own chocolatier on the island,” Marc grumbled as he poured his chocolate into small molds.
“I can’t believe I’ve got two of those boxes now in my room.”
Marc’s head lifted. “Pardon?”
“I’ve got two boxes of those chocolates in my room,” she repeated.
“Well, that little...” Marc’s lips thinned and he shook his head.
“Let me guess.” Lauren tapped her mold tray to get rid of any little bubbles. “You didn’t get any.”
She smiled and knew she’d need to thank Paul when she got back home.
“Will you share?” There was a hopeful note in Marc’s voice.
“Um, hello? You work for the guy. Can’t you get your own?”
“Trust me, I’ve tried. Paul hand makes each box himself before he seals them and gets me to print a shipping label. I don’t even get the throwaways.”
“Paul Ormand is a master all on his own,” their chocolatier said as he cleaned up the workspace. “I had the opportunity to watch him once...it’s why I am in this profession today.”
Marc took both his and her trays to the fridge section and set them inside. “Any way you can get your hands on one of his gold boxes?”
“Oh, leave him alone, Marc. I happen to have a box that’s meant for the both of us anyways.” She gave him a wink before she headed to the sink to wash her hands. As she watched the chocolate melt away under the hot water, she thought about the box she’d found on her bedside table earlier.
It was the message written on it, specifically, that made her smile.
Share.
After an afternoon of surprises and laughter while they created their own chocolates, Lauren had no problem sharing that box of chocolates with Marc.
Lauren wasn’t sure how much time she had left on the island, but she wasn’t sure she even wanted to leave. This was the perfect place for her and Marc to reconnect, to get to know each other all over again and to build something that could last.
Last a lifetime.
Wouldn’t that be nice? She knew it would take some work—okay, it would take a lot of work—but it would be worth it. She’d rather try to build something with him over spending another month, week, or even day without him in her life.
It was amazing really. They’d met six years ago and over a week, they knew they had something special. Something so special that it was like a seed, fermented in their heart, and waited for the right moment to sprout and bloom.
Arms wrapped around her waist and she smiled.
“So you’ll share, huh?” Marc placed a small kiss on her cheek.
“I might,” she gave a little shrug, “if you’re nice.”
“We made chocolate together, we’re about to have dinner watching the sunset, and we can sit in front of the fire tonight making s’mores with the chocolate bars we made today. Isn’t that nice enough?” Marc nuzzled the side of her neck and tickled
her.
“And to think I almost didn’t come.”
“What?”
“When the invitation arrived, I thought it was meant for Jessica. I told Joely that the invitation needed to be returned.”
“Your sister knew, though.”
“I still can’t believe you set this all up.”
“I had some help. We have some great friends who believe in the power of love.”
Lauren smiled. “I’m so happy they’re back together. Their’s is a love meant to last a lifetime.”
“They’re not the only one.” Marc turned her around and kissed her with a passion she knew she’d never forget.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read Return to Sender? I hope you enjoyed my sweet romance, and that you recognized characters from my Decadent Event series set in Banff, Alberta.
Over the past few years, I’ve received emails have meant the world to me in more ways than you can imagine. Thank you for sharing your stories with me on loved ones you have lost, I am honored and blessed with your trust. If you have left a review for one of my books - thank you.
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To find out more about my books, available titles, new releases and upcoming stories, visit my website - www.steenaholmes.com.
I look forward to getting to know you!
Steena Holmes
Other books by Steena Holmes
~
The Memory Child
Halfway to Nowhere
Stillwater Bay Series:
Before the Storm
Stillwater Rising
Finding Emma Series:
Finding Emma
Dear Jack - a Finding Emma novella
Emma’s Secret
Dottie's Memories - a Finding Emma novella
Decadent Events Series:
Sweet Memories
Sweet Dreams
Return to Sender
Single Romance Titles:
Chocolate Reality
Cowboy Surrender
Invitation to Eden
Be sure to check out the other Invitation to Eden books out this month!
Rough Draft by Mari Carr (Big Easy, Book 4)
Capture, bondage and fantasies fulfilled. It’s all fun and games until someone gets killed.
Bestselling crime novelist Jett Lewis is stumbling over a wicked case of writer’s block, his fast-flowing words having run dry. His publisher’s screaming “deadline”, the fans are ready to riot, and Jett just wants to disappear. His friend Carissa suggests he get away, clear his head…get laid. And she has just the ticket. Literally. Two passes to Eden, an exclusive island paradise. Recently sans girlfriend, Jett convinces Carissa to go with him, and the resort is more than either of them bargained for—especially when the simple beach trip turns to murder. Thrust into a plot sinister enough to rival Jett’s books, the couple embarks on a search for the killer. The most shocking revelation of all might be their mutual attraction…and how much Jett and Carissa love working undercover.
Blurring the Lines by Roni Loren
After the devastating loss of her fiancé, Gretchen Price has moved back home to New Orleans to find her way again. But it’s been a year, and all she’s done is bury herself in her work and shut the world out. Her only indulgence is her weekly pop-ins to The Daredevil Travel Agency where her fiancé’s younger brother, Burke, regales her with tales of his thrill-seeking adventures. She can’t seem to move forward, and he can’t sit still. Burke Brennan knows what Gretchen is going through. But he can’t stand to see the girl he’s wanted since high school becoming a shadow of herself with each week that passes. He wants to show her the beautiful, exciting side of life again. And he’s tired of doing it through stories. So when Burke gets an invite to a private luxury island, he knows what he has to do. This invitation’s for two, and he’s not going stag. But when they arrive at the mysterious Eden, and Burke sees all of its sexy offerings, it’s time to put up or shut up. Gretchen needs an escape, and he’s the man who can give it to her. He just hopes that when they get back to the mainland, the fantasy won’t fade. He’s not afraid to show her exactly how he feels, but how can he compete with a memory?
[Invitation to Eden 15.0] Return to Sender Page 8
