In the hotel corridor, I pulled her tight against me. "Anything."
She lowered her voice like telling a secret. "I've never actually stayed here. Not even one night."
"I know."
She pulled back to gaze up at me. "Really?"
I smiled. "You told me. Remember?"
Even ifshedidn't remember,Idid. It was just a couple of weeks ago. We'd been talking about the island when Maisie had mentioned that she had never experienced the Grand Hotel for herself.
Yeah, she'd toured the grounds a time or two, and had eaten dinner here exactly once. But anything beyond that was completely out of her reach.
That's how she'd put it. When telling me, there'd been something in her voice – wistful with a hint of longing – that had struck me hard, reminding me that I could give her everything she'd been missing.
As far as the island, Maisie was always the local, never the guest.
So yeah, when it came to showing Maisie life on the other side, I figured this was a pretty good place to start.
Now, in the long, carpeted hallway, Iknewit was the right choice when Maisie's voice began to bubble over. "Do you know they've got the longest front porch in the entire world? And realtea service every afternoon?" Her eyes brightened. "With tiny sandwiches and everything?"
But then she paused and looked down at herself, studying the same clothes she'd worn to work – khaki shorts and that familiar shirt. She looked up with a sheepish smile. "Maybe I should've dressed up."
I shook my head. "You're beautiful just the way you are."
With a playful eyeroll, she asked, "Even in my work clothes?"
Hell, yeah."In anything."
"Well, youdidoffer to let me change."
I had.But I had also told her it wasn't necessary. I'd meant it, too. Even in work clothes, Maisie outclassed everyone – especially girls like Sierra, who thought a designer label mattered more than a good heart.
Of course, Maisie could have labels-a-plenty if that's what she wanted. I'd stock her closet without blinking and enjoy doing it.
And if she wanted to keep it simple?That was fine by me, too – as long as it made her smile.
She was so beautiful inside and out, I would've promised her tea service every night – with or without finger food. With a smile, I said, "Sandwiches, huh?"
She laughed. "Yeah, sandwiches. Isn't that funny?"
"Funny how?"
"You know…it's the thing that brought us together."
Her words took me back to that fateful day when I'd approached her shop and offered to trade work for food. During the past few weeks, I'd eaten my share of good sandwiches. But it was Maisie herself that had kept me coming back.
Now, in the elegant hallway of the Grand Hotel, I drank in the sight of her – those bright eyes, that warm smile, the familiar flush of her cheeks.This was a moment I would always remember.
Forget sandwiches.
Forget the island.
Forget bikes.
The only thing I needed was her.
Quietly, I asked, "You wanna know whatreallybrought us together?"
