“Good.” He smiles at me.
I find it doesn’t take me long to pack either. A whole week in Tahiti entails a few bikinis, sarongs, pull-overs and flip-flops. I also add one nice tank dress in case we have dinner and a pair of heels and some shorts and tank tops.
I’ll throw my toiletries together in the morning before our nine a.m. flight.
I sit at the kitchen table and begin calling next week’s clients to reschedule when I hear Luke come in through the front door.
“Baby?”
“In the kitchen!”
“Hey,” he leans down and kisses me sweetly, and I sigh.
“Hi. Gonna make some calls. Make yourself at home.”
“Okay.” He saunters into the kitchen and grabs a bottle of water out of the fridge.
A half an hour later all my calls are made, appointments rescheduled, and I’m officially on vacation.
Imagine that!
I have a huge, cat-ate-the-canary grin on my face as I crawl into Luke’s lap where he sits on my couch. He’s been reading a script.
“Well hello, happy girl.” He nuzzles my neck.
“Hi,
obsessively
generous
boyfriend.” He laughs and wraps his arms gently around me.
“I am looking forward to laying on a sandy beach with you, baby.”
“Hmm… me too. And snorkeling!”
“You snorkel?” He continues to nuzzle my neck and nips at my ear and I squirm.
“Yeah, I have. It’s been a while.”
“You smell so good. What else do you want to do?”
“Well, for one whole day…” I run my fingers through his hair and lean back so I can look at the pretty.
“Yes?”
“I want to stay naked and in bed with you.”
“That’s going to be my favorite day on this whole vacation.” He runs his hand gently up and down my back and I grin.
“Me too. Are we staying in one of those huts that sits over the water?”
“Yes.”
“Cool. We can skinny dip.”
He laughs delightedly. “Aren’t you just the exhibitionist?”
“No, we’ll do it at night.” I lay my head on his shoulder and sigh deeply, suddenly tired, but completely relaxed.
“Can I bring my camera?”
“I assumed you would.”
“I
won’t
if
it
makes
you
uncomfortable.” I made sure to be careful not to capture his photo tonight after dinner while I was taking photos of little Sophie and the rest of our families.
“I trust you completely. You can take my picture.”
I sit upright in his lap, my jaw dropped and eyes wide. “I can?”
“Well, we’re going to want pictures from our vacation, aren’t we? Natalie, after everything that we’ve done, how can I not trust you to take my picture?
We should have memories together.”
I feel my smile grow and I’m just so…
happy. “I’m dying to take your picture, and before you freak out on me…”
“I’m not going to freak out of you,” he says with a laugh.
“I want to take your photo because it’s what I do, and you are so beautiful, Luke. There have been so many moments that I wish I could capture. I would never share any of our images with anyone
unless
I
had
your
permission, but I want photos of you. I want photos of us together.”
“I want photos of us too.”
I hug him tightly and then lay my head on his shoulder again.
“Are you sleepy?” he murmurs as he rhythmically runs his fingers through my hair.
“A little.” I gaze up into his beautiful blue eyes. “Thank you.”
“Baby, I told you, I enjoy spoiling you.”
“No, not that.” I shake my head and look down. “Although yes, thank you for that too. I just…”
“What?” He tilts my chin back up so he can see me.
“I love you.”
His eyes flare and he inhales deeply.
“I love you, baby.”
“Let’s go to bed.”
“My pleasure.” He lifts me effortlessly in his arms and carries me upstairs.
***
“It’s going to be a long flight.” My voice is strong, but my stomach is in knots. Luke has hired a driver to take us to the airport, and we are in the backseat. I’m clutching onto his strong hand and worrying my lip with my teeth.
“We’ll be fine.” He pulls me over into his lap and nuzzles my neck. I recognize the distraction tactic, but it doesn’t help.
“Do we have a layover in L.A.?” I ask.
“No.”
“Oh.” I frown and catch my breath when his lips graze over the sensitive spot below my ear. “I didn’t know there were direct flights from Seattle to Tahiti.”
“I don’t know if there are. A friend of mine is loaning us his jet.”
“Oh.” Holy shit.
“Nat, have you flown since your parents passed?” He tilts my chin and looks into my eyes and he looks nervous and worried about me. I cup his cheek in my hand.
“No.”
“Baby, are you okay with this?” He kisses my palm.
“I’ll be fine. It’s like ripping off a Band-Aid; I just have to do it.”
“If it makes you feel better, I plan to keep you fully occupied for most of the flight. You won’t have time to be scared.” He grins mischievously at me and I giggle.
“Promises, promises…”
Before long we arrive at SeaTac. The driver pulls onto the tarmac next to a large private jet. This is much bigger than anything my dad ever flew.
The driver opens our door and then begins transferring our luggage on board the beautiful aircraft. Luke speaks with the pilot and co-pilot and the pretty flight attendant, but my ears are buzzing with too much nervousness to hear, or care, what they’re saying.
The inside of the cabin is beautiful. It must seat twelve. The seats are large and plush black leather. Luke leads me to two that are side-by-side and we sit.
“How are you?”
“How do I look?” I whisper.
“Pale and glassy eyed.”
“So, terrified then.”
“Yes.”
“That’s accurate.”
Luke buckles my seatbelt for me –Jeez! – and wraps an arm around me.
“I’ve got you, baby.”