Finding Eden (A Sign of Love Novel)(99)

Even though it was dark, I could see the grounds were landscaped perfection, featuring shaped shrubbery and flowering bushes, and an abundance of huge, ancient trees.
We were silent as the hotel came into view, a massive, historical resort painted a soft yellow, with a circular building in the center featuring a colossal, glass dome. All the tourist sites we'd looked at said the building was fashioned after the most luxurious spas in Europe. I'd never been to Europe, but I could agree with the luxurious part.
I pulled into a parking lot just down the hill and parked in the corner, next to some large shrubs. We got out and I retrieved our bags from the trunk and took out a baseball cap and stuck it on my head. Eden got some kind of hair band out of her purse and put her long, blonde hair up in a tight bun at the back of her head. We walked hand in hand the short distance to the hotel.
"Oh," we both said when we'd stepped through the main doors. I looked over at Eden and we both laughed softly. From the inside, the dome was even more breathtaking. We walked through the large atrium with our heads swiveling in every direction. There were hotel room balconies surrounding the perimeter of the dome with wrought iron gates to make them look old fashioned. The huge open room had large sitting areas sprinkled everywhere, a bar, and a couple shops on opposite sides. I'd never seen anything like it. I felt like we were in another world altogether, or at least another country. This was exactly what we needed.
I sat on a small couch in the lobby area and pretended to look through a brochure as Eden went to the front desk to check in. A few minutes later, she was coming my way, grinning with a key card in her hand. We held hands as we went up the elevator to our room and I couldn't help the smile that took over my face and the emotion that welled up in my chest. I felt like we'd come full circle.
We followed the signs to our room and when I spotted a Coca-Cola machine down a hallway, I pulled Eden with me, dropping our bags, taking out a couple dollars and purchasing two cans. I handed one to her and then popped open the other one, and leaned against the wall as I downed the whole entire thing in long swallows, the sweet fizziness filling my mouth, the taste that I still associated with forbidden happiness. When I looked back up, Eden was watching me with a huge smile on her face. She laughed out loud and winked at me, leaning forward and kissing me quickly on the mouth.
"Good?" she asked.
I took a deep breath. "So good."
Five minutes later we were safely locked inside our hotel room.



CHAPTER FIFTEEN


Calder



"It says here there's a small museum in town that tells the history of the hotel," Eden said, taking a bite of buttered toast with jelly with one hand and holding the brochure with the other.
I leaned back in my chair, sipping my coffee and letting my eyes roam over her. "Whatever you want to do," I said, "I'm game." I cocked one brow. "We could just stay in bed for a couple days."
She grinned, but didn't look up at me. "Haven't you gotten enough of me yet?" she asked, still reading the brochure.
"Never."
She raised one brow and finally brought her eyes to mine. "We did that once before, remember? It was . . . sticky."
"It was wonderful."
Her eyes grew tender. "It was. And necessary. But this week I want to get out and walk around with you, feel the sunshine on my face."
I smiled. "Then get your perfect little butt in the shower."
She stood up and walked toward the bathroom, shooting me a look over her shoulder. "Aren't you going to join me?"
I didn't need to be asked twice. I was up and out of my chair before she could take another step. Her laughter rang out as I came up behind her and scooped her up so we could get in the shower as quickly as possible. We left the bathroom door open and didn't try to be quiet. Not sneaking around felt so damn good.