“Welcome,” he says. “Check in is right over there. Enjoy your stay.”
As he says it I check out the lobby. It has dark wood floors and a massive stone fireplace in the center surrounded by leather chairs. The back wall is mostly windows and beyond that are more lanterns and then pure darkness.
The ocean. It’s right there.
I nudge Garret. “I have to go see it.”
“Let’s check in first.”
“You do it. I’ll be outside.” I head out the double doors and hear Garret following behind. We’re greeted by the sound of the waves crashing on the sandy shore.
Garret’s arms envelop me from behind and he rests his chin on the top of my head. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Jade.”
We stand there for several minutes listening to the roaring waves. I could listen to that sound for hours and not get tired of it. I finally get why people buy those machines that play wave sounds.
“Sir, are you checking in soon?” A man peeks his head out the door. “We usually don’t bring the luggage up until the guest has checked in.”
“Yes. We’re coming.”
We go back inside and Garret checks us in. The guy at the desk gives him the key, then looks at me. “Would you like a key as well, Mrs. Kensington?”
I turn my head to see if Katherine might’ve walked in behind me, but then realize he’s talking to me. Garret’s smiling, waiting to see if I’ll correct the guy.
“No, I don’t need a key,” I say.
He nods. “Enjoy your stay.”
Garret puts his arm around me and leads us away from the desk. “You didn’t want your own key, Mrs. Kensington?”
“Yeah, I should’ve corrected him but I was just trying—”
Garret leans down and kisses me right in the middle of the lobby, and not a quick kiss either.
I give him a strange look as he walks us over to the bellhop area.
“What?” He laughs. “I just wanted to kiss my wife.”
I shake my head. “I knew I should’ve corrected that guy.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Kensington?” the bellhop asks.
“Yes,” Garret says, smiling at me.
“Right this way.” The bellhop shows us to our room and gives us a brief tour of the suite before he leaves.
The suite is even bigger than the suite we had in New York. It has a kitchen with bright white cabinets and light-colored granite countertops. Three light fixtures that look like lanterns hang over the kitchen island which is lined with four tall barstools. The living area has a big couch covered in a light blue denimlike fabric and on each side of it are oversized blue and white striped chairs that look really comfy. There’s a fireplace across from the couch with a flat screen TV hanging above it.
“Garret, I really love this place. It’s great.” I don’t tell him, but I almost like this room better than the one in New York. It feels more homey than the Times Square hotel, which was nice, but ultra modern which made it feel a little cold and stark. Plus this room has a beach feel with all the light colors and I’m really into the beach thing right now.
“Come check this out.” Garret opens the drapes in the living room. It’s dark out, so he turns the outside lights on and I see that we have our own private balcony complete with reclining chairs and a small hot tub.
We go outside and I lie down on one of the chairs. “Can I sleep out here?”
He laughs. “No. I wouldn’t be able to sleep next to you.”
There’s a knock on the door to the room. Garret leaves to answer it, but I stay outside, breathing in the salty ocean air.
“Close your eyes.” Garret’s outside again, but he’s standing behind me so I can’t see him.
