Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 22540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
I don’t know how long it took for our breathing to return to normal, or my legs to begin shaking from my bent stance. Hayes was gentle as he eased his softening flesh from my body, and he disappeared for a moment before returning with a wet cloth.
He wiped down my groin and thighs before doing the best he could with the blanket; I’d made quite the mess. Hayes pulled down the bedspread and guided me beneath it before lying down beside me.
I rested my head on his chest and listened to the gentle thump of his heart, hoping it held the same emotions as my own. No one had touched my life as quickly or intensely as Hayes. I couldn’t imagine my life without him. Maybe I hadn’t known him long, but I knew what I felt for him was real.
I gave myself over to the feel of his hands caressing up and down my back, and the rhythmic pulse in my ear and found peace like I’d never known.
Chapter Eight
I took one last peek at the photographs I’d bought of Hayes and myself. I couldn’t decide which one I liked best, since my boyfriend looked incredible in all of them, so I ended up purchasing one pose from each backdrop. I couldn’t wait to hang them up around my home and office so I could look at him every day.
I was even pleased with how I turned out in the pictures; the micromanaging from the photographers helped to find the best angle to make my grimace-grin look more genuine. Or perhaps it was just because I was standing next to Hayes, who gave me a reason to smile.
I placed the photos back into their envelope and nestled them safely amongst clothes in my suitcase. They’d be a great reminder of the trip that had unfortunately come to an end, although I knew I would never forget it.
The cruise ship was docked back at its Florida port and passengers were debarking into the terminal. Hayes and I had enjoyed a morning romp and were a little behind schedule; I was finishing packing up in my room while he was gathering his belongings in his room. Even though he stayed with me the entire trip, he never got around to bringing his stuff to my suite. Luckily, we were booked on the same late afternoon flight home, so we didn't have to rush.
I zipped up my luggage and made sure the door to the room was propped open so that Hayes could come inside whenever he was ready. Since he hadn't arrived yet, I decided to take a moment to check my phone and see what I'd missed at work.
I groaned at the long list of unopened emails that awaited me, but I didn't feel like dealing with them yet. There was, however, one thing I couldn't wait to do. I dialed Sarah's office number, and she answered on the second ring.
"Oh my gosh, you waited over an hour after you docked to call me?" she asked in a surprised tone. "Let me guess; you want the Manchester files."
"No thanks; my vacation isn't quite over yet."
"Who are you and what have you done with Jesse?"
I chuckled and explained, "It's me, just new and improved. Something incredible happened on this cruise and I had to call and tell you all about it."
"Did you…" Sarah lowered her voice to a whisper. "Did you get laid?"
I snorted again. "Well, yes, but it's more than that. I met the most amazing man." I held the phone away from my ear when she squealed.
"Are you serious? Oh, that's so exciting! I never thought I'd see the day." Rude. "Tell me all about him."
"His name is Hayes and he's gorgeous. He's athletic, is a business owner, and he has a heart of gold. He's younger than I am, but I swear we were made for each other."
"Aw, I'm so happy for you, and I'll gladly take a bonus as my matchmaking fee."
"You got it."
After a quick pause, she asked, "You're kidding, right?"
"Nope. I had decided already, but it's not because of my good fortune in the dating department. You work very hard and are a great assistant. I appreciate everything you do, both professionally and as my friend. I'll crunch the numbers when I get back to the office to get an exact figure."
"You…are…the best!" Sarah exclaimed, making me smile even though she couldn't see. "And if it'll get me more money, I'll happily get online and book you and your cutie on another trip right away; no need to rush back here," she teased.
"As much as I'd like to spend more time with Hayes, that’s not in the cards right now. You know I can’t make long commitments like that.” As much as my heart would love to run off and travel the world with my man, my brain knew that I had important work to do in the office. Though the break was nice, it was time to get back to the daily grind. But I’d make sure we had plenty of travel time in the future.