Chapter 54
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
It was close to midnight by the time the bride and groom finally left the reception. In the end they were kidnapped by a combined group of the English and German Royal cousins who carried Chloe and Jordan down to the dock. The huge ocean-going yacht which was to be their means of escape was berthed and waiting for them.
Rachel and Matthew along with most of the other guests happily ambled down to the shore to wave the newlyweds a fond farewell. The night air filled with cries of, “Bye!”, “Have a wonderful time!”, and “Congratulations!”
The second the gangway was lifted clear, and the boat slipped from shore, Matthew dropped his head back and let out a sigh. “Now we can go and party.”
He grabbed her by the hand, but instead of heading back to the reception, he towed her toward the beach.
“I was going to get another drink,” Rachel protested.
“There’s a fully stocked bar and a DJ who really slaps set up further toward the main dock. Mom didn’t want the music pumping all through the house and messing with the family members who just want to talk to one another. This way we get a party for the younger set—her words—and a respectable reception for the olds—my words.”
Rounding a corner of the estate, they headed across a short patch of green lawn. Up ahead of them, thousands of fairy lights hung from the trees. A dancefloor had been erected at the edge of the lawn. Once again Rachel had to remind herself that this was one of the richest families in the world. No expense had been spared for the wedding and the reception.
As they waited for their drinks at the bar, a staff member approached. He was carrying a large wicker basket. “Mister Matthew Royal and Ms. Rachel Little?”
“Yes, that’s us.”
The man reached into the basket and produced an envelope which he handed to Matthew, who quickly opened it. “Civilization!” cried Matthew, passing Rachel her mobile phone.
It had only been a day and a half since she’d handed it over for safe keeping, but it felt like an eternity. Rachel paused for a moment. It would be all too easy to turn it back on and check her messages and emails. To log into her life.
But not right now.
“You know what? I’m going to wait until we get back to our room to turn this thing on. I spend far too much of my life being chained to its demands. And if an emergency has happened, there is little, if anything, I can do all from all the way down here in the Caribbean.”
Matthew turned his cell on. “Okay, no checking messages. And our NDAs have us not using any social media until after we’ve left the island. But I still want to take some photos of you. Tonight. Here. With my family.” He bent and kissed her softly on the lips. “And maybe some more interesting ones when it’s just the two of us.”
“Okay, you can airdrop the family ones to me later on. But I reserve the right to veto which of the other photos you get to keep. How does that sound?”
“Perfect. Just like you.”
She fitted so easily into his life. And every time he looked at Rachel, all Matthew could think was how much he wanted her to remain there. To be a permanent part of his everything.
The DJ was spinning out some serious dance beats. Matthew grinned as each guest arrived and one by one, they squealed with delight as they clocked who was in charge of tonight’s music. His mother had left him the job of picking the music, and he’d put his parents’ limitless check book to good use.
“Is that who I think it is? I didn’t realize someone that famous would do private events,” said Rachel.
“He doesn’t, but one of the German cousins knows his wife and they convinced him to come.”
The music was pumping loud, and the dancefloor was fast becoming a crush of swaying bodies. He wanted to bump and grind with Rachel, but he also wanted them to talk.
“Did you want to dance, or maybe go somewhere else?”
They’d had few rare moments alone over the past couple of days, but the time until they left the island and went back to the lodge in Aspen was counting down all too quickly.
“What did you have in mind?”
He sensed the promise of sweaty sex on the beach in her words. Any other time, he would have taken Rachel up on that offer. But if they were ever going to move forward as a couple and possibly consider some sort of future together, they had to come to an agreement on what was to be done with the Green Tree Resort.
We need to talk before we get back on the jet to Colorado.
“I just thought that maybe we could go for a walk on the beach and talk. I’ve got a couple more ideas about what we could do to improve the preliminary concept we’ve already submitted for the lodge. As always, I’m interested in your thoughts.”
When Rachel’s eyes lit up at his words, Matthew’s hopes rose. This time the day after tomorrow, they would be back in the chilly climes of Aspen with all the pressures that living in the run-down resort brought with it. The warmth of the Caribbean might just be the thing they needed to help them find a solid way forward.
Rachel glanced briefly at the dancefloor then screwed up her nose. “I’m not much of a dancer anyway. Not unless you can waltz. My mom was all for Kellie and I learning how to prepare for dancing at formal presentation balls, and Atlanta gala events.”
He’d grown up among New York’s elite society, so Matthew knew how to waltz. One day he would find the perfect time and place to show Rachel just how well he could move on the dancefloor. Tonight however was for finding somewhere private to talk.
And whatever came after that.