Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 59701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
I stand in the tub, let the water drip off me, and then step out and reach for my robe.
Maybe I wasn’t starved for attention. Perhaps it was Callum’s consideration that I needed. Because frankly, the idea of another man coming into my life doesn’t interest me in the least.
I walk into the private room assigned to me when I arrived—no shared locker room in this joint—to find my clothes are indeed waiting for me. Upon further inspection, it looks like they’ve been washed and pressed.
Even my underwear, which I wore on this trip because…you just never know.
I’ve never stayed somewhere fancy enough for them to wash my clothes for me. I wonder if this is the resort that was offered in the auction, or if Callum upgraded us.
I dress and walk along the windy path above the water to get to our suite, followed discreetly by security. Our room is a hut suspended over the ocean. We can see fish below us, and we have a rope hammock thing to sit on, also over the water.
I think I could live here.
Of course, then I’d take it all for granted, and it would become old hat. I wouldn’t appreciate it nearly as much as I do right now.
No, I’ll just have to work my ass off and save my money so I can visit often.
I key in the code to our suite and let myself in. The security guard assigned to me will stand guard outside.
I step out of my flip-flops and turn, then stop cold. Pink rose petals are sprinkled on the floor, leading through to our bedroom. I eagerly follow them and feel tears fill my eyes when I take in the scene before me.
Pink roses are everywhere. The bed is littered with petals, and more are on the floor here, leading out to the balcony.
Callum’s sitting in a lounge chair, clad only in swimming trunks. His torso is bare and tanned, his muscles toned under smooth skin. His arms are up under his head, and his feet are crossed on the lounge chair.
“Well, don’t you look relaxed?”
I don’t sit next to him. I climb onto his lap and rest my head on his shoulder. Touching him without hesitation, as if he’s mine, is something I’ve grown used to—and enjoy.
“Thanks for this week,” I murmur.
“I can say, without a doubt, it’s been the best week of my life.” He kisses my head and drags his fingertips up and down my arm. “We’ll have to do it often.”
“I was just thinking while I was at the spa that I could come here regularly. I’ll have to make a Fiji fund jar and squirrel away my tips.”
“Hmm,” is all he says in response. I can tell, just from that little reply, that it irritated him.
“I don’t expect you to take me on vacation all the time.” I kiss his jawline.
“I’ll take you on holiday, Aspen. I quite enjoy it.”
“I’m not with you because of the money, or the trips, or the roses. Although, the roses are nice.”
“If I thought that was the case, we wouldn’t be here. In fact, I think you’re with me despite all of that.”
“Maybe.”
He kisses my hair again and then shifts so he’s facing me. “I know that the press has always painted me as the playboy prince. As irresponsible, spontaneous, and carefree. I let them believe that about me because it was easier to just flash a smile than try to defend myself, especially when the rumors weren’t true. I knew the truth, and my family knew, and that’s all that mattered.”
I frown and lace my fingers with his, wondering where this is going.
“I’m a planner, Aspen. An overthinker. I usually make a schedule for things and stick to it. And I had a plan for this. But being here with you like this right now, open and raw, sharing our feelings, is the appropriate time to lay it all on the line.
“I knew the minute I saw you standing in my brother’s kitchen two years ago that you were going to change my life. I felt a connection to you that I simply couldn’t explain. And then I messed everything up, and it took me years to fix it.”
“Callum—”
“Let me finish, love. You are everything wonderful in my life, and I love you so completely, so madly that it’s an ache in my chest. Your passion for life, your work ethic, your humor, they all breathe life into me. Being with you has made me a better person, and I never want to lose you. So, I’m asking you here, in this beautiful place—
“Wait.” He scurries off the chair and kneels next to me, holding my hand.
Holy shit.
Prince Callum Wakefield is going to ask me to marry him.
“I’m asking you here, in this beautiful place, if you’ll do me the honor of becoming my wife. Spend your life with me, Aspen. I promise you I’ll remind you every single day how much I love you and how grateful I am to have you in my life.”