Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 49393 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49393 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 247(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“We know,” I said wryly. “That sounds incredible. Can you source the ingredients and tools and everything you’ll need?”
“Absolutely. I’ll see what they have on site and find a grocery that delivers there too. I can pack the specialty crap I need,” Jake said.
“Good. Will you pick the dessert too?”
“Yeah. I have a couple options in mind. I’m looking at the tasting menu at the flagship restaurant there. They’ve got good stuff. We should go there night one.”
“That’s a plan,” I said, “now for the flowers and candles and everything. I’ll take care of that part,” I said.
They nodded in agreement, and we all got on our phones to start locating and ordering stuff for the trip. I used a local florist near the resort. I found a small business a couple towns over that got high ratings for their handmade artisanal chocolates. I never had anything I would call artisanal before, but they looked good.
I ordered champagne from the hotel, then set off to get the items I wanted to choose in person. A photo wouldn’t tell me what I needed to know. I’d never been inside the upscale boutique, but it looked and felt about how I figured it would. Like I didn’t belong there at all.
I went to the counter where a woman was fussing with the tissue paper in a gift bag.
“Excuse me,” I said, my voice sounding strained, betraying my nerves. “I want to get my girlfriend something special for a weekend away. She’s about a size eight, 34-DD. She’s not real tall, and she likes things that are soft. No scratchy lace and buckles and crap.” She looked askance at me when I said ‘crap’, failing to appreciate the fact that I’d toned my language down for her store.
“If you’re interested in comfortable pajamas, there is a nice sleepwear range at Nordstrom,” she said icily.
She obviously didn’t think I had the money. “I saw a gown and robe thing in the window about a month ago that was what I’m looking for. It was kind of yellow.”
“Full length? That would be the Golden Empress set, long chemise and peignoir.”
“Yes. I want that.”
“You’re sure? The set is not on sale, and it came from France, exclusively for our boutique,” she said.
“You seem worried that I can’t afford it,” I said. “Don’t be. How much is it?”
“Seventeen hundred dollars,” she said matter-of-factly.
“Okay,” I said without blinking. “Do you take American Express black card? If you’re cash only, I’ll go to the ATM and be back in ten minutes.”
She cleared her throat and had the good sense to look a tad sheepish. “That won’t be necessary, sir.”
“I want it gift wrapped. Ribbon, all of it.”
“Would you like the matching slippers? Kitten heel mules in a coordinating gold and champagne jacquard.”
“Size seven,” I confirmed. She gave a satisfied nod and said she’d only be a moment. I allowed myself a smug grin.
It took her twenty minutes and two failed attempts to sell me perfume before I held the wrapped package, a large box covered in thick cream-colored paper patterned with a muted gold logo and tied with a satin bow in the same shade of gold.
18
Ty
I grumbled about having to get up early to leave on vacation. It was six-thirty in the morning when I shouldered my duffel bag and boarded the sleek silver jet. I settled onto an aisle seat, wide and cushioned, comfortable enough for a nap. Except there was no hope of a nap or me. Once I was awake, I was awake.
Drew opened his laptop and asked if we wanted to watch with him. We exchanged a glance and shook our heads. Nobody wanted to hurt his feelings, but nobody wanted to sit through another Marvel flick right now. In fact, as they wheeled the jetway stairs off and closed the hatch, I saw Jake settle in, lean his seat back and shut his eyes. Eli was flying the plane.
I pulled out my tablet and tapped the e-reader. I started to skim the first couple of chapters of the book I’d bought for research, but I found myself getting drawn in by the characters and their story. It wasn’t dumb and cheesy. It was a genuine, caring relationship that unfolded between the softspoken veterinarian who barely survived a hit and run accident and the three burly paramedics who saved her life. The premise was pretty laughable, but I was reading it for ideas, for inspiration.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that I was glued to my e-reader for about a hundred pages before I looked up. It was then that I realized I had a seatmate. Jasmine had settled in next to me, a fluffy blanket wrapped around her like she was freezing just at the thought of all that snow waiting at our destination.