Angel's Rest(67)

Gabe’s lips twitched. “Let me guess. You’d rather not go to Disney World on our honeymoon.”

“Give the guy a set of mouse ears.”

“Okay, then, you pick a place.”

Against her will, traditional honeymoon destinations spun through her mind: Mexico, the Caribbean, Paris, London, Rome. She gave her head a shake. “Gabe, I appreciate the thought, but we don’t need to go on a wedding trip.” Then, deciding the moment needed honesty, she added, “It would be awkward.”

“Beginning this marriage beneath the watchful eyes of Eternity Springs is what would be awkward. The more I think about it, the more I believe this is the right thing to do. C’mon, Nicole. Let’s pick a place neither one of us has ever visited. We’ll be tourists together.”

He was trying, trying hard, and Nic appreciated the effort. She decided she should do the same. Besides, the thought of discovering a new place along with Gabe had a definite appeal, as did the idea of a break from winter weather. Unfortunately, finding such a place new to them both proved harder than she’d expected. “This isn’t going to work,” she said after naming a dozen possibilities. “You’ve been everywhere.”

“Not everywhere. Let’s do this differently. What activities do we both like? Scuba?”

She shook her head.

He scowled. “Sailing?”

She thought of the delicate state of her stomach and knew she didn’t want to spend hours on a boat. “Sightseeing.”

“Sightseeing works. What else?”

Another s-word came to mind, but she knew better than to mention sex. She changed letters. “Tennis.”

He shrugged. “Tennis is fine, too. Golf?”

She wrinkled her nose. “I’ve played a few rounds, not often enough to be any good. My ex was a scratch golfer, but he didn’t play with me. We’d go to golf resorts and I’d do the spa while he golfed. I love pampering as much as the next woman, but … wait.” An idea occurred and she rolled it around in her head for a moment before voicing it. Would this be something she truly wanted to do? Thinking about it did give her a devilish bit of pleasure. “Do you play golf, Gabe?”

“I’m not a scratch player and I haven’t picked up a club in over a year, but I don’t embarrass myself.”

“Have you ever played Pebble Beach?”

“No. Have you?”

“Nope.” She gave her first spontaneous smile in days. “But playing it was Greg’s number one golf goal. The Monterey peninsula is supposed to be gorgeous. There’s the aquarium, Carmel … the weather might not be as warm as Florida, but it won’t be twelve degrees.” Glancing at the dashboard thermometer, she corrected, “Ten degrees.”

Gabe gave her a sidelong look. “I don’t believe I’ve ever seen that particular wicked glint of delight in your eyes before, Mrs. Callahan.”

“I admit I wouldn’t mind exorcising an old ghost.”

His mouth twisted, and she wished she’d chosen a different metaphor, but then he nodded once, forced a smile, and said, “Go pack your bag, Nic. California, here we come.”


They arrived in Monterey shortly before sunset. He’d booked them into an ocean-view suite at one of the famous Pebble Beach properties. She’d tried to act cool during the obsequious welcome by the staff upon their arrival, but she’d abandoned all pretense of sophistication when she walked into the spectacular sitting room. The furnishings, fabrics, and finishes were like nothing she’d ever seen.

At Gabe’s instruction, the bellman placed her bags in the bedroom, where a king-size bed was dressed in sumptuous linens. Gabe carried his own bag into an adjoining room. Nic stifled the urge to go bounce on the mattress. Next she peeked into the adjoining bathroom and spied a huge whirlpool tub. This place was a palace. For the first time she didn’t look forward to her “wedding night” with dread.

Actually, she was almost tired enough to start it right now.

Gabe came to stand in her doorway and must have read her mind—or the exhaustion on her face—because he said, “It’s been a long day. How about we order room service rather than try the restaurant tonight? We can watch the sunset from the balcony and turn in.”

“That sounds perfect.” She beamed a grateful smile his way.

He smiled softly in return. “I’ll call room service. How about we meet on the balcony in twenty?”