Chapter Fifteen
Piper
I’m practically jumping up and down in the seat next to Magnus as he makes his way to a private airport. I never get to vacation so this is a dream come true. My mind is buzzing with possibilities since I have no idea where we’re going, but I do know that we get two full nights and two full days of vacation in paradise. I don’t care where we’re heading, I’m just happy to get away with a man I love being with. It also helps that there will be no possibilities of distractions.
I’ve been avoiding thinking about the word love because I know what’s happening between us, and I know how I feel. If I just avoid thinking about those three scary words, then I don’t have to worry about it. Sometimes, ignorance truly is bliss.
We pull up to the airport and I grin as I see a sleek, small private jet waiting just like the helicopter had been waiting on our first official date. This man doesn’t know how to do regular dates. If this relationship doesn’t work out I’m never going to enjoy a date again after being with him. He makes everything so dang exciting.
“Are you ready for our next adventure?” Magnus asks with his now normal sparkle in his eyes that I love so much.
“With you, I’m ready for anything,” I tell him.
“Remember you said that for the next thing that comes up,” he warms. He then hops from the vehicle and quickly comes to my side. He takes my hand and squeezes as someone grabs our bags and loads them on the jet. We then walk up inside.
“Do you ever get used to living like this?” I ask as I look around the comfortable space in awe.
He looks around the jet. “Sadly, I’ve become used to it. Being with you, though, is reminding me to appreciate it all again. My mother tells me to remember my roots, but that’s hard to do when you’re surrounded by people whose only goal in life is to please you. I like stepping back from that world. I love the way I grew up. I knew I didn’t want to be poor, but I might not have needed to make as much money as I have,” he says.
“The point is that you earned it, though. Nothing has been handed to you, and that’s something to be proud of,” I tell him. “You’ve also proven you aren’t afraid to hang with the regular folks so I think that makes you extra special.”
He laughs at this. “Regular folks?” he questions.
“Yes, those of us who are quite happy to spend a Friday night in a library are regular folks. You fit in pretty dang well with us. This might not seem like a compliment, but I assure you it is. I’d never be with someone who looked down their nose at the people I love.” He smiles at me as he takes my hand again and kisses it.
“First of all, you are far from regular. Secondly, I seriously appreciate you.”
“I appreciate you as well.” He leads me to the seats, then moves to the small kitchen area and pours us coffee. We hold our cups as the jet closes, then soon ascends. It doesn’t take long before the coastline is stretching out below us, a shimmering ribbon of blue as the sun rises. The sky is a perfect canvas, dotted with occasional fluffy clouds. As much as I love looking at Magnus, I can’t help but stare out the window, mesmerized by the beauty below us.
“You’ve told me you’ve traveled quite a bit for work. I’d love to hear more about it,” I tell him.
He nods. “I do travel quite a bit. Business takes me all over the world. I’ve been to some incredible places.”
“Where are your favorites?”
“I enjoyed the bustling streets of Tokyo, the serene beaches of the Maldives, the historic ruins of Rome, and the vibrant culture of Rio de Janeiro,” he tells me, his eyes lighting up as he names just a few of the places I’d love to travel to someday. It’s second nature to him. “Each location I go to has something new and unique to offer. I work too much in each location, though. I’d love to go back with you and truly take in all of the beauty of each area.”
I let out a dreamy sigh, thinking of the places I want to go to most. “That sounds wonderful. I’ve always wanted to visit Paris. It’s so romantic there, the art, the history, the absolute romance of the city. Someday it will happen,” I tell him.
“We can make that happen. Paris is stunning. The fall is a great time to go with all of the stunning colors and the added bonus of less tourists. It’s colder, but not unbearable, and it’s much easier to get reservations at the most famous tourist locations.”
“I’m sure you never have a hard time getting reservations,” I point out.
“No, I don’t,” he admits.
“I’m not saying this so you’ll take me to these places. We’re simply learning more about each other,” I tell him with a laugh. “I know you can make anything happen. I think sometimes dreaming of something is even better than reality. Once you’ve done it then it’s no longer a dream.”
He laughs again. “Reality can be the dream, though. I think it matters who you’re with when you go places. That’s where magic happens. We look at the world around us much differently when we’re happy and when we’re with those who lift us up.”
“You’re sounding more and more like a dreamer every day,” I warn him.
“I started dreaming when I was a kid. I got too serious when I was in college. I’m liking that I’m more of a dreamer again these days.”
“That’s why I love to read so much. Each book is a new adventure. I get to live in the worlds the author’s create, and I love it. We get into routines in our lives, and we stop living. But when we submerge ourselves into fantasy worlds we begin to dream again. If you read like I do, which is fully submerged in the story, you become a part of that story. You’re a part of the family you’re reading about. You’re the superhero saving the day. You’re the villain with an evil streak. If you don’t become a part of the story, you aren’t reading the book correctly.”
“I love the sound of that, and love that you’re a dreamer.” He rises and refills our cups and grabs some scones which I immediately dive into. I’m not sure where he picks up his pastries, but they’re sinfully good. “Where else is on your bucket list?”
I give him a smile. “I’ll tell you, but only if you promise not to book a trip next week,” I warn him.
“I can’t make any promises, but I really want to know.”
I shake my head. “You’re terrible.” I think for a minute. “I think it all has to do with Europe. I want to go to Venice and take canal rides on a gondola. It’s one of my favorite things to see in movies. I’m also in love with the movie Mama Mia and want to go to Greece. I think that is my number one choice. I want to learn all about the history and see the islands. A shocking place I want to visit is New Zealand. The landscape there is simply breathtaking. I want to eat at vineyards, sip wine, take zipline rides, and see every possible thing I can.” I grow more animated as I imagine it all. “For now, I live it through the movies. I went to Disneyland once with Livie, and my favorite ride was Soarin. It was wonderful to feel like I was traveling over the lands. I loved it. I made Livie go on it four times with me.”
The way Magnus looks at me makes me blush. It’s always as if he’s in awe of me. I don’t know what to make of it. “Those are all wonderful choices. I can assure you that Venice and Greece are absolutely wonderful. I haven’t been to New Zealand so we might just have to explore there together.”
I don’t want to feel the flutter at the thought of traveling the world with Magnus, but it’s making my heart pound. It’s not just the places I want to visit, but imagining going to them with Magnus at my side that makes it that much more exciting. I’m realizing that maybe I haven’t taken the leap and traveled the world because I haven’t had the right person at my side to do it with yet.
The time passes quickly as we continue flying. Before I know it, we’re descending toward a small airport on top of a hill. “Is this Catalina Island?” I excitedly ask.
“You know your coastline,” he tells me. “Yes, it is.”
“I didn’t know there was an airport on the island. I thought the only way to get here was by ferry.”
“It’s a small private airport, and this is one of my absolute favorite places to come to. It’s quaint with great food and wonderful activities. When I want to clear my head and not go too far from home, this is always where I come.”
“This is so incredible, Magnus. Thank you for bringing me,” I tell him.
We’re soon on the ground, and then Magnus is leading me to a small jeep that’s standing by waiting. “I have a place here on the island and leave my jeep here.” We load inside, and soon we’re navigating the dirt roads with ease as I gaze out searching for animals on the thirty minute ride down to Avalon. There are only two towns on the island, the main city of Avalon, and a tiny little town, Two Harbors. I’ve looked at both online and have always wanted to come. Some amazing movies have been filmed on the island and it’s been a getaway for many for years. The charm of this place is undeniable, and I feel like I’ve just stepped into a postcard.
“We’ve arrived,” Magnus says as he pulls up to a cozy home up on the hill with views of the magnificent harbor below. We step out of the jeep and walk inside, the home radiating a warm, welcoming vibe. I love this place so much more than his mansion in the city. There’s nowhere to hide in this place with ocean breezes blowing through it and views from every area in the house.
“I don’t know if I’m going to leave here now that you’ve brought me,” I warn him with a laugh.
“This really is paradise. I’m glad you like it. Don’t get cozy, though, because I’m starving, and I want to show you around.”
“I’d be happy to sit here at this cottage in the sun all day, but I’d regret it because I want to explore all of the island as well,” I admit.
He leads me to a golf cart which is the preferred mode of transportation on the island. They don’t offer a lot of permits to drive in Avalon as they don’t want to take away the magic of the place with a ton of traffic. The majority of the island is uninhabited to keep it a sanctuary.
He takes me straight into town to the Bluewater Avalon, a charming restaurant right on the water. We get a table in the crowded space on the outside patio, the sound of waves lapping on the shore a perfect harmony to a wonderful day.
I order the Ponzu Scallops which come out quickly. With the first bite I know I’ve found heaven on a plate. “These are the best thing I’ve ever eaten,” I tell him, savoring each and every bite. I don’t need to eat anything other than these things.
“I knew you’d like them. I’m always bummed when I come to the island and they’re out of season,” he tells me.
We continue to eat as our conversation flows, and I find myself once again lost in the sound of his voice and all he has to say. I love how his eyes light up as he talks about his family, his childhood, and the dreams he had then and the ones he has now. I open up to him, sharing my own tales, and snippets of my life. The more we talk, the more it unlocks memories and all of the moments that have shaped me, the good and the bad.
We finish lunch, then walk down to the ice-cream shop and get scoops before we jump back into the golf cart and head off to explore. We see hidden coves and scenic viewpoints as people wave at us as we pass by. Some are walking, and some on carts of their own. There are people fishing, sunbathing, swimming, diving, and so much more. There doesn’t seem to be a single person in this magical place who isn’t happy to be here. I understand how they feel.
Our last stop is at the market where we pick up some groceries so we can have a night in. We drive back to the wonderful cottage and Magnus fires up the barbecue while I set the table and put a salad together. Soon, the smell of grilled vegetables and seafood is making my stomach rumble. I don’t see how when we’ve been eating all day, but maybe it’s all of the sunshine and fresh sea air making me endlessly hungry.
We dine beneath the stars on his gorgeous patio, the night sky a glittering canopy above us. We finish dinner, then lay beneath a blanket as we sip wine while enjoying the view and continuing to visit.
“What made you and Livie so close?” he asks.
“I think it was the first time I felt like I found my soul mate. We clicked immediately. She came into my life when I really needed someone, and I think it was the same for her with me. We’ve never had a fight. There aren’t too many people who can say that in any relationship, but we just get along. Even if we don’t agree on something, we find a way to meet in the middle which means we have no reason to argue. We’ve also had some wild adventures together,” I say with a laugh.
“What’s the wildest?”
“Well, there was this time we decided to take a road trip with no destination in mind. We ended up at a tiny beach town in Oregon and slept in the car. We didn’t care. We had a blast, spending the weekend making sandwiches and laughing the entire time. We considered moving to Oregon we liked it so much, but we just couldn’t leave home. That doesn’t mean we haven’t been back to visit though.”
“I love your zest for life. It seems you and Livie are really good for each other. When you have a friendship like that you take care of it,” he says.
“Exactly. I’d never do anything to risk my friendship with her.”
“Piper, I feel the same. When you find someone who’s good for your soul you don’t throw it away.” My cheeks heat with the intensity he’s looking at me with. I lose my breath and don’t have words to say. I decide to show him how I feel in another way. I set down my glass then climb onto his lap.
He reaches for me as I cup his cheeks. I lean down and kiss him, and soon we’re lost in each other as we always are the second we touch. Soon, our clothes fall away as I sink down onto him and we make love right beneath the twinkling night sky.
By the time we’re finished, it’s sealed, I’m never leaving this island. This truly is paradise, and now there’s no doubt I’m with the man I love. I’m going to hold him for as long as I possibly can.