Sure, Lucy had seen Cal’s text message—all three lines of it.
Cal: Had to return to Melbourne for a last-minute meeting. Be back as soon as possible. Love you.
Still, she didn’t know what to think of it. When she’d first woken up alone, her heart had nearly broken all over again. She was certain that was it. Cal had gotten what he’d wanted, gotten to sleep with her, to collect the last notch in his bed-post from high school and then left. It had been what she’d been so afraid of, that he’d never really loved her at all and had always just been using her. She had felt like such an idiot. She’d wanted to scream, to cry, to smash everything in the room she could find. But instead, she’d done nothing.
She lay in the bed, his bed—just lay there. Everything had stopped, it felt like time had stopped, life had stopped. All she could do was breathe. Until eventually, a heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach had forced her to get up. It was dread, it was emptiness, it was a kind of absolution.
Cal had done it again. He’d betrayed her, ripped her heart right out of her chest and stomped on it while laughing, while telling her that he loved her, that they belonged together. It was the final treachery, the final injury. She’d given him everything, her mind, her heart, her body, her soul, and he’d made sure he’d taken all of them and left her with nothing.
She’d dressed herself, feeling nothing and then left his empty room for her own. That was when she’d seen the message. The tiny, three-lined text message that attempted to explain everything, but managed to explain nothing.
Had she been wrong? Did he actually care about her? Or was he just covering his ass? But then why wouldn’t he have just left? Why send a text message with an explanation if he’d already gotten what he’d wanted? He could have easily just returned to Melbourne without a word.
Lucy was completely and utterly confused. Nearly every fiber of her being was telling her to trust him, that what they had together was exceptionally special, not something anyone would just throw away. Her heart argued that she knew he loved her, that he’d done everything he could to convince her. She’d felt it, he’d felt it, because it had been so exquisitely true. But her mind disputed it. Why leave her at all? Why not wake her and take her with him? Why not tell her in person, not via message? What was he hiding—the fact that he didn’t want her, that he didn’t really love her?
Her chest ached again and she rubbed her palm against it, over the delicate material of her summery, floral dress. Lucy was sitting in the reception lounge waiting for her taxicab to arrive. After much deliberation with herself, after the shame, the anger, the emptiness had overwhelmed her and then subsided, she’d finally decided that it was time for the holiday to end. It was time for her to go home.
Lucy had booked a flight back to Melbourne without telling Paul and then packed her things. When she’d exited the elevator and walked into the lobby just after one in the afternoon, she had been pleasantly relieved to discover that Paul was on his lunch break. Georgina, a twenty-something, mild-mannered brunette had gladly called the taxi company for her and requested a ride to the airport.
Glancing at her wristwatch, Lucy noted that it had already been fifteen minutes. The taxicab had either forgotten about her or would show up any instant. She looked back outside at the bright sunlight on the cement of the driveway leading to the street beyond. As she watched, a black limousine turned into the Calypso’s grounds and parked beneath the shaded awning of the hotel’s grand porte-cochere. The elegant car’s back door opened and Cal stepped out, looking as handsome as ever in his black suit and white shirt.
Hurriedly, he ran up the couple of steps to the entrance and moved through the automatic glass door. As he walked further inside, his eyes met hers and his hard expression softened.
“Lucy.” He’d said her name with such delighted relief that it tugged at her heart.
Still shocked by his abrupt appearance, by the fact that he’d really kept his word and that he’d actually returned to her, Lucy felt suddenly tearful.
“You left me.” Her words came out with such agony that she just didn’t have the strength to control her tears.
With her lower lip trembling, she blinked and droplets of water cascaded down her rosy cheeks. Cal’s expression tightened with pain and he ran over to her. Reaching for her, he pulled her up from her seated position on the royal blue sofa and into his arms. He cradled her tightly against him until her arms wrapped around his back.
“I’m so sorry,” he murmured, soothingly. “I love you. I’m so sorry.”
Lucy gripped him tightly as her sobbing shook through her body, rocking her against him, while he continued to apologize and declare his love for her. After a couple of minutes, her emotions began to calm and her crying ceased, but still Cal held onto her.
“I’m sorry,” he told her again, his tone gentle and affectionate.
Lucy nodded and finally managed to form words. “I know.”
Hearing her answer, Cal pulled away from her just enough that he could see her face. He gazed down at her, remorse filling his blue-gray eyes.
“No, you don’t,” he said, his tone full of regret. “I’m sorry for everything, Luce. For leaving you here alone, for being such a jerk and for breaking your heart fourteen years ago.”
Lucy’s mouth opened at his acknowledgement and surprise widened her vibrant blue eyes. “What?” The sound that left her lips was just a whisper.
“I’m sorry, Lucy,” Cal repeated. “I know I hurt you. I’m such a jerk, but I finally figured out what I did to push you away all those years ago. I’ve always loved you, Luce. I should’ve never dated all your girlfriends. It was a stupid idea. I can see that now. I was so terrified at the time, of losing you, of having you reject me if you knew the truth. I couldn’t bear to lose our friendship and I’d thought that if I could hide it, hide my feelings in some way, then we could go on as normal and I would never ever lose you. I thought if you saw me with other girls, if you thought I was happy, content, you would never suspect that I loved you. I never wanted to ruin things, I never meant to break your heart, but in the end, I managed to do both.”
Cal rubbed her shoulders lovingly and then held her tight against him again. “I’m so sorry, Luce. I love you and I’ll never ever break your heart again.”
With her face pressed into the warm, spicy scent of his neck, Lucy took a long moment to get her thoughts in order—and breathe him in.
He’d called himself a jerk, said he’d been stupid, but so had she. She’d actually believed he’d left her, that he’d abandoned her after they’d slept together, because that was all he’d wanted from her. It was such a ridiculous thought now that it nearly made Lucy laugh.
If she’d been paying attention when he’d first stepped back into her life, she would have seen that the Cal she’d once known, once hated so very much that she’d loved him all the more, had actually matured. He was no longer the kind, considerate child who would do everything and anything to keep everyone else happy, no longer the young boy who wanted to please, who was terrified of real conflict and who always tried to keep the peace. No, this man before her had grown. He was no longer scared, he knew what he wanted, and he was willing to fight for it. He no longer sought attention or felt the need to be liked by everyone. He was comfortable with himself, with who he was, strengths, weaknesses and all. He was stable, honest, and ready to apologize and take responsibility for his mistakes. And above all, he was capable of loving as deeply and as wholly as everyone else—even her.
Smiling into the delicious skin of his neck, Lucy breathed him in once more and then kissed him there.
A sound vibrated through Cal’s throat, almost a purr and then he pulled away from her again, so that he could gaze down at her. “Do you forgive me?” He asked the question with such desperate need, such fragile confidence that Lucy’s heart ached for him.
Lifting her face until their lips met, Lucy placed a quick, gentle kiss on his mouth. She stared up into his eyes, losing herself in their beauty, in their depths, in his soul. “I love you,” she told him.
Bliss brightened the blue-grey orbs of his gaze and his breath caught in his throat. “You do?”
Lucy touched her nose to his affectionately and then slipped her arms around his neck. “I’ve always loved you,” she told him and then she giggled lightly. “I never admitted it to myself back then, and you never admitted it to me. I guess that makes us both jerks.”
Cal laughed. “Seems like we were made for each other then.”
Lucy licked her lips. “You know what that means,” she asked him, cautiously.
His brows furrowed.
Lucy grinned. “You’re stuck with me.” Then she shrugged nonchalantly. “Forever.”
With another burst of laughter, Cal covered Lucy’s lips with his own. His kiss engulfed her senses, overwhelmed her, completed her, until Lucy gave into the heavenly sensations and melted against him—their two bodies becoming one.
***
It was finally Friday the first of May. The Calypso had been officially saved from sale, with the necessary documents having all been approved and signed off on by both Cal and the rest of Hawthorne Incorporated’s board of directors. Insight Marketing had been retained for a number of new contracts with Cal’s company to repeat their successful methods in improving and promoting a few more unappreciated, less profitable hotels. Julia had also informed the Insight Marketing staff, and Cal for good measure, that Trent was leaving the team and had decided to join another advertising firm in Sydney.
Yet, the good news hadn’t stopped there. It had been three days since Lucy had declared her love for him and then finally agreed to the fact that they were now formally dating, and to celebrate, Cal had invited Steph and Mia to join them for a special Dreamworld weekend. Lucy had told him how eager her friends had been to visit the theme park and he’d seen it as an opportunity to make the surprise he’d had in store for her all the more special.
But, now Lucy was being secretive again. This time she’d actually blindfolded him. She wouldn’t tell him anything more than that he had to cover his eyes with the narrow piece of black material before she would take him downstairs. In the elevator on the way to the ground floor, he’d heard Mia and Lucy giggle between hushed whispers, but hadn’t been able to distinguish any clear words. As they’d stepped out into the lobby, Lucy’s soft, feminine hand was holding his again.
“This seems way more kinky than necessary.” Cal heard Steph chuckle to the right of him.
Lucy shushed her as she continued to lead Cal forward. “Be grateful I didn’t blindfold you too. After all, you haven’t seen it either.”
As Steph made a snorting noise, Mia sung, “But, I think I know what it is.”
“So, it’s an it,” Cal said ponderingly.
Lucy squeezed his hand affectionately in hers and he felt the warmth of her body move closer to him. “We’re nearly there,” she told him. “So, you’ll just have to wait and see.”
Cal smiled to himself. At least whatever it was, it was something worth getting excited over.
“Okay.” Cal heard Lucy say as she stopped him. “Here is good.”
There was a surprised gasp from Mia, but Steph quickly hushed her with a few whispered words.
As Lucy gently pushed at his muscular side, Cal followed the silent instruction and turned slightly to the left. After taking a deep breath and removing her hand from his, she undid the blindfold.
When the smooth fabric fell away from his eyes, Cal had to blink a few times to adjust his vision to the bright, fluorescent lights of the reception lounge. Then, he saw it.
“Whoa,” he breathed.
It was almost life-size, nearly six-foot and covered the majority of the once empty, white wall at the end of the reception lobby, the wall that greeted every guest as they entered. The high-contrast image of various shades of black and grey that filled the massive sheet of thick glass was very familiar, one of his father’s favorites, and was made all the more impressive with the glow of the white paint behind. Bolted solidly to the wall, the original photograph of Phillip Hawthorne and Cal as a young boy walking along Main Beach with fishing rods in hand, had been enlarged and delicately etched onto the huge piece of pristine glass. They were both looking at each other, smiling, laughing. It had been a wonderful day, Cal could still remember it well. He could even make out the tail of one of the fish they’d caught in the bucket in the sand in front of them. Toby had taken the photo. He’d stayed put to look after the gear, while Cal and his dad had gone to try another fishing spot a little farther down the beach. They had been good times and Cal had been especially lucky to have had a father like Phillip.
As he stared, dumbstruck by the awesome image in front of him, the magnificent gift, Lucy wrapped an arm around his waist and cuddled close to him.
“Do you like it?” Although there was still a great deal of excitement left in her tone, there was also a tiny lilt of uncertainty.
“A…are—” Cal choked on his words as his throat tightened.
He’d known he’d felt overwhelmed, known his heart had swelled at the sight of the fond memory, but he hadn’t realized that he’d become emotional. He blinked back the blurriness that suddenly filled his vision and quickly wiped at his eyes.
For God’s sake, he was a grown man. There was no need to cry over a photograph no matter how tender the meaning behind the gift was and no need to bring up old emotions at the remembrance of his father. He could appreciate the touching nature of Lucy’s present and the glorious memories it ignited without crying about it.
With a steadying breath, Cal tried again. “Are you serious, Lucy?” He turned toward her and took her into his arms. “It’s incredible! I can’t believe you did this for me.” He cleared his throat as emotion threatened to overpower him again. His hand shot back up to his eyes to wipe away anymore telltale dampness, before his gaze settled back on Lucy’s face.
“It wasn’t just me,” she replied as tears began to well in her eyes, even though her smile remained wide, elated and content. “Toby and Paul helped.”
“I love it,” Cal grinned, “and I love you.” His fingertip brushed away a droplet as it freed itself from her eyelashes and started a moist trail down her cheek. “Don’t cry, darling,” he told her sweetly, his loving smile mirroring hers.
She rolled her eyes at him attempting playfulness. “Easier said than done.”
He chuckled and then placed a soft kiss on her luscious lips.
“Get a room.” The teasing tone of Steph’s voice interrupted their serenity.
Lucy broke their kiss with a laugh. “We’re getting comments from the peanut gallery.”
Humorously, Cal sighed. “Who invited them anyway?” He glanced back to where Steph and Mia were standing, huddled close together, a little way behind them and then winked. “That’s right, I did.”
“At least you’ve learned for next time,” Lucy joked, bringing his attention back to her.
“Actually,” he said carefully as he began to back out of their embrace, “I invited them for a reason.”
Still smiling, Lucy’s gaze narrowed. “Oh?”
“You’re not the only one,” Cal purred, “who had them keep a secret.”
Suspiciously, Lucy looked between the three of them and then her stunning, tranquil blue stare settled back on Cal.
“Since I wasn’t about to leave your side a second time,” he told her wisely, “I had to ask them to make a detour on their way here from the airport, to pick up a special order I’d pre-arranged.” Glancing over at Steph, he held out a hand to her.
With an innocent look at Lucy, she shrugged, waited a minute and then, with a grin, she retrieved a little blue jewelry box from the back pocket of her jeans. She stepped forward to hand it to him and then—Cal dropped to one knee.
Lucy’s hands shot to her cheeks, to cover her mouth and her eyes grew large and round with shock. “No—what?” Her words were gasps.
“Lucy Spencer,” Cal said formally, as he opened the ring box and held it out to her, “will you marry me?”
Her jaw dropped. She covered her face with her hands and then looked at Steph and Mia before glancing back down at Cal. “Are you serious?” The question she posed was similar to his earlier remark.
Cal chuckled and then nodded. “I’ve never wanted something, never needed something, never loved someone as much as I love you, want you and need you in my life. Luce—my Lucy—I’ve always loved you and always will. Marry me and make my life complete.”
Lucy gasped again, then nodded excitedly as new tears filled her beautiful blue eyes. “Yes!”
Cal sprang up off the floor and lunged at her, wrapping his arms around her, enveloping her in the tightest of hugs as he kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her lips. With that one word, she had made all his dreams come true. His heart swelled so much that he felt as though pure joy might just burst from his chest. His veins burned with rapture, with adrenalin, with absolute pleasure.
“I love you,” she told him between kisses. “I love you.”
They broke apart just enough for Cal to remove the exquisite, white diamond ring from its box and slip it on Lucy’s finger. With Cal’s help, Lucy wiped away her hot tears and stared down at the precious gem set in gold. As her right hand covered her mouth once again in shock, she held her left hand up a little and glanced over at Mia.
Cal watched on as they seemed to share a look of hidden understanding and then Mia, with a mischievous grin, held out her own left hand. A similar ring with a rose-gold band and a different cut diamond was wrapped around her own fourth finger.
Lucy took a sharp breath of surprise and her eyes brightened with glee. “Oh my God,” she cried and then stepped forward to embrace her friends.
After hugging each of them tightly, Lucy turned back to Cal. “Did you know about this?” Her voice was still full of shock and excitement.
He nodded, joyfully. “When I’d called Steph, once they’d arrived at the airport, to ask if she would help me with my own proposal, I found out that she’d proposed on the plane ride here.”
“It was time,” Steph explained, when Lucy looked over at her. “I had always wanted it to be different, to be special.” Her smile beamed. “Mia just loves flying and has always wanted to go to Dreamworld, so I thought what could be better?”
Mia cuddled up to Steph and kissed her cheek before returning her attention to Cal and Lucy. “We were thinking New Zealand, maybe next spring and you’re both invited, of course.”
Chuckling, Steph grabbed Mia’s hand. “Come on, babe, let’s give these two a moment alone.” As Steph began leading her fiancé toward the elevators at the end of the lobby, Mia turned back to look at them.
“You’ve got ten minutes,” she teased them, “and then I want to be sitting in a taxicab and heading to Dreamworld.”
Steph sighed in playful exasperation and then pushed Mia into an open elevator after a young family hurried out.
Lucy and Cal laughed as the lift doors closed and then they turned their attention back to each other. Cal slipped his hands around her waist, toying with the band of her jean shorts just below her pink blouse, while Lucy’s arms wrapped around his neck.
“So, you love me, do you?” he asked her with his tone a little impish.
She shrugged and gave him innocent eyes, fluttering her long dark lashes at him. “Maybe?”
Smirking, Cal pulled her closer, his hard body in his khaki shorts and black t-shirt flush against hers. “So, you want to marry me?”
Lucy grinned, but her gaze remained sweet and virtuous. “Seems like it.”
Cal felt pure delight fill him, his chest swelled and his heart felt strong and powerful. Lucy was finally his as he had always been hers. Fate had pulled them together again and now he would never let her go.
“You see, Mr. Hawthorne,” Lucy told him, a seductive tone lowering her voice an octave, “it seems you’ve already forgotten.” She moved her mouth closer to his, so that her lips tickled him as she breathed. “But, as I told you the other day, you’re now stuck with me—forever.”
Cal chuckled, his lips brushing hers. “What a hardship,” he lied. “How will I ever bear it?” Then his mouth covered hers in a blissful kiss and they were lost to the intense sensations, to the lustful passions, to the ultimate true love that was and always would be their destiny to share.
The End