go?”
She called to him from the bathroom, where she fussed with her hair. “In a minute. I just have to put on my shoes.”
He glanced at the mismatched sandals she’d set on the floor at the end of their bed. Grinning, he leaned over, lifted the bedspread and searched for at least one sandal to match. He found one, drew it out and moved it next to its mate, shoving the extra shoe under the bed.
God, he loved her, loved the way she made him laugh, the way they got along so well… heck, he even loved the way she kicked his butt in tennis. She’d become his best friend, his soul mate, and he couldn’t wait to make it permanent.
“I’m so excited to be back on Emerald Princess again,” she said, her eyes aglow with happiness. “This was such a great idea, honey,” she said, slipping into her sandals. “I love you.”
He caught her around the waist and drew her in for a quick kiss. “I love you too. It’ll be nice to explore the eastern Caribbean this time.” Three new ports of call, three new exotic tropical paradises to explore. Jason patted his pocket, reassuring himself that the small velvet box was still there. “You look good enough to make me want to skip dinner and dive back into bed, sweetheart.”
She winked and cast him a sultry look on her way to the door. “Remember the man and his wife who caught us kissing on the promenade deck last year?”
“I remember everything about that week.” He followed.
“He was right about cruises keeping things spiced up in the bedroom, wasn’t he?”
“He certainly was.” If last night and this morning were any indication, he planned to take Marin on at least one cruise per year for the rest of their lives, just like the man had suggested. Jason closed the door behind them and reached for Marin’s hand. He couldn’t imagine his life without her. He didn’t want to imagine his life without her. They reached the elevators, and he pushed the button.
He got along well with her family, and his folks absolutely adored Marin. They were all waiting for his text. The doors swooshed open, and he placed his hand at the small of her back as they entered.
Marin looked up at him just then, her eyes full of love. His chest swelled, and his throat tightened. They had the elevator to themselves. “Aw, hell. I can’t wait.”
“For what?” Confusion clouded her lovely face.
Jason dropped to one knee, pulled out the tiny box from his pocket, and… the elevator doors opened again, two decks down.
A chorus of oohs and aahs filled the small space. Someone held the doors open. They had an audience. He didn’t care. “Marin,” he rasped out. “Will you make me the happiest man on the planet and marry me?” He opened the velvet box, held up his offering of forever and gazed up at her through a hazy sheen.
“Yes! Oh, Jason… Yes!”
Their audience clapped and whistled, letting go of the doors. They had the space to themselves again. Jason rose, slipped the ring onto her shaking finger and pulled her into his arms.
“Let’s plan on at least one cruise per year from now on,” she whispered through her tears.
“Agreed.” He kissed her. He knew they’d overcome whatever trials life threw their way, because he was hers, and she was his. That’s all he needed. Jason couldn’t wait to begin this new phase of their life together. “Since we began our story on a cruise, I’ve been thinking it might be nice to honeymoon on a cruise. What do you think?”
“I’ve heard the extended cruise to Alaska, with a stay in the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge ® , is really spectacular.” Marin studied the ring on her finger. “This is the most perfect engagement ring I have ever seen. You are amazing.”
“I’m glad you like it.” His chest swelled. She was the amazing one, creative, funny, generous and loving. “How about a July wedding followed by an Alaskan honeymoon?”
“Perfect.”
Hand in hand they strolled along the carpeted hall to Crown Grill
She called to him from the bathroom, where she fussed with her hair. “In a minute. I just have to put on my shoes.”
He glanced at the mismatched sandals she’d set on the floor at the end of their bed. Grinning, he leaned over, lifted the bedspread and searched for at least one sandal to match. He found one, drew it out and moved it next to its mate, shoving the extra shoe under the bed.
God, he loved her, loved the way she made him laugh, the way they got along so well… heck, he even loved the way she kicked his butt in tennis. She’d become his best friend, his soul mate, and he couldn’t wait to make it permanent.
“I’m so excited to be back on Emerald Princess again,” she said, her eyes aglow with happiness. “This was such a great idea, honey,” she said, slipping into her sandals. “I love you.”
He caught her around the waist and drew her in for a quick kiss. “I love you too. It’ll be nice to explore the eastern Caribbean this time.” Three new ports of call, three new exotic tropical paradises to explore. Jason patted his pocket, reassuring himself that the small velvet box was still there. “You look good enough to make me want to skip dinner and dive back into bed, sweetheart.”
She winked and cast him a sultry look on her way to the door. “Remember the man and his wife who caught us kissing on the promenade deck last year?”
“I remember everything about that week.” He followed.
“He was right about cruises keeping things spiced up in the bedroom, wasn’t he?”
“He certainly was.” If last night and this morning were any indication, he planned to take Marin on at least one cruise per year for the rest of their lives, just like the man had suggested. Jason closed the door behind them and reached for Marin’s hand. He couldn’t imagine his life without her. He didn’t want to imagine his life without her. They reached the elevators, and he pushed the button.
He got along well with her family, and his folks absolutely adored Marin. They were all waiting for his text. The doors swooshed open, and he placed his hand at the small of her back as they entered.
Marin looked up at him just then, her eyes full of love. His chest swelled, and his throat tightened. They had the elevator to themselves. “Aw, hell. I can’t wait.”
“For what?” Confusion clouded her lovely face.
Jason dropped to one knee, pulled out the tiny box from his pocket, and… the elevator doors opened again, two decks down.
A chorus of oohs and aahs filled the small space. Someone held the doors open. They had an audience. He didn’t care. “Marin,” he rasped out. “Will you make me the happiest man on the planet and marry me?” He opened the velvet box, held up his offering of forever and gazed up at her through a hazy sheen.
“Yes! Oh, Jason… Yes!”
Their audience clapped and whistled, letting go of the doors. They had the space to themselves again. Jason rose, slipped the ring onto her shaking finger and pulled her into his arms.
“Let’s plan on at least one cruise per year from now on,” she whispered through her tears.
“Agreed.” He kissed her. He knew they’d overcome whatever trials life threw their way, because he was hers, and she was his. That’s all he needed. Jason couldn’t wait to begin this new phase of their life together. “Since we began our story on a cruise, I’ve been thinking it might be nice to honeymoon on a cruise. What do you think?”
“I’ve heard the extended cruise to Alaska, with a stay in the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge ® , is really spectacular.” Marin studied the ring on her finger. “This is the most perfect engagement ring I have ever seen. You are amazing.”
“I’m glad you like it.” His chest swelled. She was the amazing one, creative, funny, generous and loving. “How about a July wedding followed by an Alaskan honeymoon?”
“Perfect.”
Hand in hand they strolled along the carpeted hall to Crown Grill
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