Chapter 48
Chapter Forty-Eight
Sam
A fter many hugs and congratulations from the room, we all parade down to the pool patio outside Reef to join the party. Naomi holds tightly to my hand as we get stopped every two feet to greet an employee or longtime guest who came out to join the celebration.
When we finally make it inside the café, I pull her down the short hallway to a nook just outside the kitchen so we can have a quiet moment alone.
Naomi slips something into my pants pocket, and I slide my hand in after hers, smiling as I feel my golf cart keys.
“You know, when you weren’t there when I woke up this morning, I was worried you’d run off.”
She steps forward until her chest presses against mine, leaning us both into the wall behind me.“You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
As if I needed another reason to be happy and grateful for my life, I reach my arms around her and pull her even closer.
“I went and had coffee with Dom,” she says.
“I heard. How’d that go?”
Naomi takes a step back and leans against a rack of take-out packaging. “Really good, actually. He told me a lot of stuff about his childhood that I didn’t know. Stuff about my mom when she was alive. He apologized for being such a dick and promised to do better.”
“That’s great. I’m glad you two got to talk.”
Her face turns pensive. “I’m not sure how it never occurred to me that he would know stuff like that. That he would have stories about her. We never talked about her. Or anything, really. But maybe we can now.”
My heart swells at her hopeful words. I know how badly she wants this, and I also know how much it means to Dom to have her in his life. My friend has been through a lot, and he carries a lot of sadness and regret from his childhood. I hope this can be the first step in healing, for both of them.
“It’s a whole new chapter for the Fuentes family,” I say with a smile.
Her own smile turns sly. “And a new chapter for you and me. No more sneaking around.” She bites her lip as she watches for my reaction. “I mean, I get it if you aren’t ready to tell?—”
“Princess, let’s shout it from the rooftops. I’m going to change my nametag to Sam, GM, Naomi is mine.”
She laughs and I push off the wall, crossing the hallway to pull her back into my arms.
“Ready to head out to the party?” I ask.
“We wouldn’t want to keep your adoring fans waiting.”
My face breaks into a bashful grin and I shake my head, feeling my blush from earlier return.
Naomi spots it and lifts up on her toes to kiss each of my cheeks. I close my eyes and breathe in the essence of her. Breathe her presence into my soul.
She takes both of my hands in hers. “They can all have their turn telling you how wonderful you are, but they’re going to have to do it with me on your arm. Everyone’s going to have to get used to seeing me at the resort on the regular. As your permanent coffee date.”
“I like the sound of permanent.”
And when I kiss her, that’s exactly how it feels. Like my life has taken a permanent shape. Like it’s a real thing I can reach out and touch. I glide my hands down her back and around her hips, pulling her in close. The solidity of her body under my touch is the closest thing to a miracle I’ve ever experienced.
The miracle of us.