A Home for my Heart (Matters of the Heart #3)

by Velvet Reed

  She catches her lower lip between her teeth, and a pink flush rises on her cheeks. “What’s stopping you?” she purrs seductively, igniting a fire in my blood.

  Reaching over, she slides the card into the slot, making the green light flash to signal it’s unlocked. Turning so I can reach the handle, I move it down so it opens the door a little.

  “Not a thing,” I tell her. Using my back to push the door open, I carry my beautiful wife across the threshold and towards not only a night of pure bliss, but a lifetime of happiness.

  The last week and a half have been absolute heaven. My skin has a lovely golden glow, I’m more relaxed than I’ve been in a really long time, and I’m having so much fun it actually borders on being ridiculous. Everyone else is feeling exactly the same way and April, to everyone’s surprise, even suggested we do a big group vacation as an annual thing. Olivia’s been over the moon with excitement about it and the rest of us are all in agreement.

  You would tend to think some issues may arise with so many of us being together, but it hasn’t been a problem at all. Apart from the fact that everyone gets along so well, there are so many things to do and explore here that we’re not breathing down each other’s necks all the time. The guys have all gone off and done activities together and us girls have hit the shops and the spa a few times. With the cabana reserved just for us, it means we can all come and go as we please and meet back there to have lunch and spend time together.

  The day after the wedding we didn’t see Gracie and Cole until dinner; suffice to say the newlyweds were blissfully happy when they finally made their way out of their suite and joined us all. No matter how amazing their wedding night and the following day were, they both beamed when they were reunited with Cooper, who almost dove out of Sam’s arms when he saw his mommy and daddy. I think they hugged and kissed him for a good five minutes before they paid any attention to the rest of us.

  Olivia and John had said they would look after Coop the day after the wedding, but since they had him through the night, Sam and I volunteered to watch him so they could spend some time together. It was one of the best days I’ve had here. We took Coop for a long walk in his stroller, played with him in the pool, and basically just spent the entire day doting on him. Since a good portion of the day was spent as just the three of us, I found myself daydreaming on more than one occasion about Sam and I with our own child. He’s so attentive and loving with Coop, I know he will make an amazing father to his own children. But, for me, thinking about babies means being married first and honestly, I don’t know when or even if Sam will ever be ready for that. I’m not letting myself dwell on thoughts like that, though. I’m here in paradise and I’m not wasting a minute.

  We’ve done so many things while we’ve been here. Shopping, swimming, and snorkeling. We’ve been on a sunset cruise and attended a Luau, where Nate and Gracie got called up on stage to dance with the performers. The guys hired some jet skis for a few hours one morning and we all had turns being passengers, and wow, with the wind whipping through my hair as Sam had us speeding across the water, it was so exhilarating.

  As I sit on our balcony taking in the view of the clear blue ocean, completely full from the huge buffet breakfast we just had with everyone and waiting for Sam to return to the room, I think back on the promise I made to myself on New Years that I’d take a tropical getaway this year. Even though this vacation has centered on Gracie and Cole’s wedding, it’s been exactly what I needed and I’m only just realizing now that I haven’t once thought about the shop and how my business is going. The revelation is startling, and while also a little disconcerting, it’s a testament to exactly how blissfully content and stress free Maui has made me.

  “Ash?” Sam’s voice breaks through my thoughts.

  “I’m out here,” I call back, and then he’s coming through the door and standing before me. Taking in his sandy blond tussled hair, his broad chest fitted with a plain white shirt, his short clad thighs and flip flops, anyone could clearly mistake this gorgeous man as a surfer instead of an amazing OBGYN doctor. Having watched his, Cole and Charlie’s attempt at surfing a few days ago, they’d be seriously mistaken. I don’t think I’ve laughed so hard in a really long time. But no matter if he’s a surfer or a doctor, he’s still the sexiest damn man I’ve ever laid eyes on.

  Walking over to me he places his hands on the arms of my chair and leans down, placing a hard, passionate kiss on my mouth. I’m just starting to surrender to it completely when he pulls away and I moan in annoyance. With eyes full of desire and a smirk curling the corners of his divine lips he stares at me for a minute. “If you keep looking at me like that I’m going to forget all about the surprise I have planned for you and keep you locked up in this room all day, Beautiful.”

  Mmmm, a whole day locked in our room. “I think I like the sound of that,” I reply on a breathy sigh.

  Sam chuckles and kisses me again, though chastely this time, and takes a few steps back. “As tempting as that idea is, Ash, I’ve been planning today for a few days, and I really want to share this with you.”

  So he has a surprise for me. Being the inquisitive person I am, I start bombarding him with questions. “Where are we going? Are the others coming, too? Do I need to get changed? Do I need to bring anything with me?”

  Shaking his head, he laughs and holds his hands up to stop me. “Okay, okay, slow down. First of all, it’s called a ‘surprise’ for a reason. Now in answer to your other questions… No, no one else is coming with us, today is just about you and me and doing something special and memorable together. You need your bikini, but you should also wear shoes and clothes appropriate for a short hike.”

  A hike? What the hell? I didn’t bring anything appropriate for hiking. What’s appropriate for hiking anyway? I’ve never hiked in my whole life!

  Sensing my unspoken distress, Sam grabs my hand and pulls me from my seat and into his chest. “Shorts, a shirt and covered in shoes are fine, Ash. Don’t stress, it’ll be a very short walk, and what you’ll find at the end of it will be more than worth it. Trust me.”

  My internal panic dissipates instantly because I do trust him. I trust Sam Evans with everything I am. I love him with every fiber of my being and would follow him to the ends of the earth. “Give me five minutes to change and I’ll be ready.”

  Releasing me from his hold after kissing the tip of my nose, we move back into our suite and get ready. As I’m putting on the only casual covered shoes I brought with me, I ask, “Are we going to be gone long? I mean, do we need to take some drinks and stuff with us?”

  “It’s already taken care of,” Sam replies, the mischievous look on his face giving away the fact that he really is going to keep his plans a secret. Since he doesn’t have a bag, beach towels or anything with him as he waits for me by the door, I guess I’m just going to have to suck it up and wait until he reveals what he has in store for me.

  “Okay, mister, I’m ready. Surprise away,” I tell him as I reach for his hand, and he takes mine in his strong grip, leading me towards a day of the unknown.

  We meet a guy named Alex at the main entrance of the resort, who after an introduction to me ushers us into an off road version of Cole’s old Jeep. I’m not expecting to be driving somewhere for my surprise and I’m certainly not expecting Alex to chauffeur us to our destination, either.

  During the drive Sam and Alex chat about different things and instead of joining in, I sit back and enjoy my new scenic view of the island. The trip takes about forty minutes and we’ve gone through built up areas of Maui bustling with locals and tourists to a rather remote and much more secluded place surrounded by lush trees.

  “Where are we?” I’m compelled to enquire when Alex brings the Jeep to a stop.

  “This land belongs to my family,” Alex provides, but says nothing more, causing me to turn to Sam quizzically.

  “Trust me,” he simply responds.

  Climbing out of the Jeep I turn on the spot and really ta
ke in the scenery. It’s so green and beautiful… so alive with activity as birds call to one another and the breeze whispers through the branches and leaves of the trees.

  “This place is almost as beautiful as you are,” Sam breathes into my neck before placing a soft kiss beneath my ear. Smiling to myself, I turn around and face him.

  “Why, thank you,” I reply and peck his lips. “So is this my surprise?”

  “Not quite.” He winks. “Alex is going to show us the way, so we should get going.” Taking my hand again he leads me over to Alex who has a backpack on his back and another at his feet that Sam bends down to pick up and slings over his shoulders.

  “It’s not far,” Alex announces. “Only about fifteen to twenty minutes.”

  He walks towards the trees and that’s when I notice the slightly worn path that he’s heading for. I know I’ve never been hiking before but anyone can see that the path isn’t a regular tourist trail; it’s not worn enough to be in regular use. Feeling uneasy I grab Sam’s arm before he can follow Alex.

  “Are you sure about this?” I ask. “We’re in the middle of nowhere Sam. Do you even know where he’s leading us?”

  Sam gives a low chuckle and I have the urge to punch him for not taking my concerns seriously. “It’s not funny.” I cross my arms indignantly and glare at him. “I’m not going in there.”

  Taking my chin in his hand, he positions my face to look at him. “Trust me, Ash,” he implores. “I told you, I’ve been organizing this for days. Alex’s brother works at the resort, which is how I found out about this place. He knows exactly where we are and so does Gracie and everyone else. If you want to know the truth, most of them are a little jealous about what we’re doing today and Cole’s kind of pissed he didn’t find out about it first.” He chuckles.

  “You’re sure?” I ask again.

  “I’m positive. You’re going to love this, Ash.”

  “Is everything okay?” Alex calls from the trail.

  I glance over to where he’s standing, then back at Sam. “Let’s go, then,” I say resolutely and receive a beaming smile from my man.

  I follow Alex with Sam behind me. I’m not sure if he’s just taking the opportunity to stare at my ass the whole hike, which I’ve caught him doing a few times, or he wants to make sure I’m handling the terrain okay. Maybe it’s both, but I must admit the few groans I’ve heard from behind me may have something to do with the extra swing I’ve put into my hips as we go along and the tiny cut off shorts I’m wearing.

  About fifteen minutes into our uphill hike, Alex starts talking. “Maui has some of the best waterfalls in the world, you know. The majority of them get inundated with tourists, because they’re fairly easy to access. In my opinion, having so many people know about them and visiting them takes away a certain amount of their beauty. My family has owned this land for a very long time and somehow we’ve always been able to keep this place fairly secret. I was actually surprised that my brother invited you here.” As he finishes speaking, he stops.

  Walking up to stand beside him, I’m left completely breathless by the sight before me. It’s a tropical oasis… There’s simply no other way to describe what I’m seeing. An almost clear lagoon, surrounded by what I’m sure is an abundance of blossoming native flowers and flourishing foliage. The piece de résistance, however, is a waterfall about thirty feet in height. Its water tumbling over the edge and crashing into the rocks, creating white wash as it churns the water below and feeds the lagoon, is exquisite in its tranquility.

  I feel Sam next to me and hear him say, “Wow!”, but I’m too enamored to acknowledge him. I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.

  “It’s too perfect to be real,” Sam says. The awe in his voice and words match what I’m feeling and thinking perfectly.

  “It’s a special place,” Alex adds, and we all stand there in silence, appreciating our view.

  “So, as I said before, you’re on private land and the family knows you’re here today so you won’t be interrupted,” Alex tells us. “The water’s completely safe to swim in and there’s really no wildlife or anything to worry about. You have everything you need, so I’ll be back to get you in about three hours, if that suits you both.”

  Realizing dumbly that this is my surprise I look at Sam and beam at him. “We have this place all to ourselves?”

  “For three hours by the sounds of it.” He smiles back at me and winks, and then turns to Alex. “Thanks again for bringing us out here and letting us experience this. It means a lot.”

  Alex simply nods. “No worries. Enjoy yourselves.” He places the backpack he was carrying on the sandy bank of the lagoon, waves, and heads off through the trees.

  As soon as he’s out of sight I throw myself into Sam’s arms and kiss the hell out of him. I can feel him laughing against my mouth so I move my lips from his and start placing kisses all over his face. “Best. Surprise. Ever,” I inject in between the kisses.

  “I’m glad you like it.” He chuckles and hugs me a little tighter.

  When I’ve finished my little show of appreciation Sam puts me back onto my feet and removes his backpack, before opening it and pulling things out. First he lays a large padded picnic rug down and then proceeds to set out bottles of water and containers of food. I move to get the bag Alex carried and find towels, more containers of food, a few bottles of beer and a portable speaker for his iPhone.

  “You really put a lot of preparation and thought into this, didn’t you?” I comment, stunned by the extent of planning.

  Standing from his crouched position, he saunters over to me and places his hands on either side of my face. “I wanted to make this a day we remember for the rest of our lives, Ashley.”

  For the rest of our lives. Struck by his words, my eyes prick with tears and I fail to find the ability to reply. As the seconds tick by, Sam’s face falls ever so slightly and his hands fall from my face. Say something, Ashley!

  The moment is lost when he moves away and says, “How about we go for a swim before lunch? I’m still a bit full from breakfast.”

  I mentally slap myself from my stupidity of not replying to him, but that’s what happens when I’m overcome with emotion.

  “Sure! That sounds like a great idea,” I say this time and we both proceed to take off our clothes and head for the water. I reach for Sam’s hand as we’re about to step in, trying to somehow eliminate the gray cloud that has descended over our bright day.

  It’s much deeper than I thought it would be; the ground drops out within yards of the shore. Sam swims out to the middle to test the depth and is unable to reach the bottom. Within minutes of immersing ourselves in the lagoon, we’re back to smiling and having fun. With the water cooling our heated skin, we swim about, splashing and fooling around like kids. Time seems to fly by and when we decide to get out for a drink and something to eat, we realize we’ve been in the water for nearly an hour.

  “This place really is incredible, Sam. Thank you for organizing this for us,” I tell him as we sit on the rug and enjoy the lunch he so thoughtfully brought along for us.

  “We’re just lucky it was Alex’s brother, James, working at the information desk when I was asking about a romantic secluded spot to take a sexy woman.” He smirks.

  “Very lucky,” I agree wholeheartedly.

  We continue eating, and just enjoying the sounds of nature around us, deciding to forgo using the wireless speaker and listen to some music. “Can you imagine having somewhere like this all to yourself? If this were mine, I think I’d be here every day. It’s just so peaceful and relaxing,” I murmur.

  “It’d be a great place to just get away from everything and think,” Sam adds.

  Looking over at him, I notice the thoughtful expression he has on his face. “And what exactly would you think about while you were here?” I enquire, wondering what’s going on inside that head of his.

  He doesn’t answer for a moment, just continues to gaze out at the water. “Lif
e,” he says finally. “The future.”

  Heavy stuff! “The future, huh?” I say and playfully nudge his shoulder with mine, trying to keep the next part of my probing question light. “Where exactly does Doctor Sam Evans see himself in five years’ time?” Jeez… Do I really want to know the answer to this?

  Chuckling, he shoots me a wry glance. “That’s a pretty loaded question, Ash.”

  “No, it’s not,” I say. “I mean, do you think you’ll continue working at the hospital? Do you want to travel?” These are pretty safe suggestions since he looks uncomfortable now.

  “I’m not sure,” he says, carelessly shrugging his shoulders. “What about you?” he defers.

  So he doesn’t want to go there. That’s fine, but now that he’s asked me I’m going to be brutally honest with what I want. Meeting his eyes head on I start, “In five years’ time I’ll be almost thirty-one years old. I’m not too fussed about traveling, but there are a few places I’d love to go, the first being New York, but I’d want to be there at Christmas and experience it that way.”

  “You’ve never been to New York?” Sam asks incredulously.

  “I’ve never been anywhere. Well, apart from Maui, that is,” I confess, a little embarrassed.

  “Wow. Okay. Wow,” he says, obviously shocked by my admission.

  “My dream would be that the shop is so successful I could possibly open a second location and have such amazing staff that I only had to go into work a few days a week because I would be happily married with at least one child.” Yep, brutally honest!

  Raising an eyebrow at me, Sam again looks a little shocked. “You really have things planned out, don’t you?” he asks.

  Suddenly, I feel stupid having blurted all that out. Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut. God, I hope that doesn’t scare him away. Wanting to change the topic I ask, “So, did you bring dessert?”

  Sam recognizes the question for what it is and reaches over for another container filled with fresh fruit and a smaller one with dipping chocolate. We feed each other the delectable treat, laughing and teasing each other as fruit juice runs down our chins.