Page 60 of What I Like About You

Chapter Twenty

Drea’s uncleswasted no time in setting the plan into motion. As soon as Dalton told them what he was thinking, they jumped into action, helping him work out the logistics. One call to Carlos was all it took, and the whole resort was off and running. With any luck, they’d manage to get everything done in time to give Zara the perfect night.

Standing out by the pool, watching Carlos and his team assemble the large tent that had been used for Vaughn and Simone’s wedding, Dalton couldn’t suppress the thrill that was running through him. He was so in love with Zara Wellington, and he didn’t care who knew it. In fact, it felt damn good to be able to be open about it. He was done hiding his feelings for her, and all he could do was hope that she was in as deep as he was.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to help?” he asked Carlos, who was standing next to him holding a long metal pole.

“Nope, we got a system.”

“Thank you for your help. I know you guys have more than enough going on.”

“Don’t think anything of it. I just hope for your sake that your girl is more receptive of this than Leona was of my gesture,” Carlos joked.

“You call clocking Cullen a gesture?”

Carlos just gave him a shrug and a look that said “maybe not,” causing Dalton to let out a laugh. “She’s happier with him than she ever was with me, and her being happy is what matters,” he bemoaned. “But enough about my crappy love life. You go do whatever it is you need to do to keep this whole train moving. We got this.”

“Thanks, man,” Dalton said, slapping Carlos on the back before turning to head back into the main building.

Quietly slinking into the Cherish Spa reception area, he held one finger up vertically to his lips in a “shhh” gesture as he passed Maeve behind the front desk. She let out a silent giggle as she held up seven fingers, indicating what room he needed to head to. He slipped behind the door labeled Under Pressure, holding on to it as it closed to not draw the attention of the pair of women who were currently sitting in the Relax! area. They seemed too wrapped up in their own hushed conversation to be fully aware of their surroundings, but Dalton didn’t want to take any chances.

Standing outside of treatment room seven, he found Henry and Clara, two of the massage therapists. He raised his eyebrows quickly a couple of times in greeting and slowly opened the door to the room. The room was dimly lit, with only a few candles scattered around to provide any kind of light. Two massage tables were placed side by side, taking up the majority of the space.

Movement caught his eye in the candlelight, and he watched Zara’s sexy silhouette as she pulled her sundress over her head. Her gorgeous curves looked even better as the flicker of the flames danced across her skin. His fingers ached to run along the edges of her tankini, playing with the flimsy straps holding it in place before smoothing his hands over every surface of her body. He imagined peppering kisses along her neck as he removed the swimsuit, just before cupping those luscious breasts in his hands. But that wasn’t why he was here. He was here to show her that he just wanted to spend time with her, doing what she loved.

The soft click of the door closing caused Zara to jump a little, her arms flying over her not-yet-exposed chest, as if she needed to cover up.

“Tripp, hi…”

“Hi, beautiful,” he said, stepping in closer to her. She dropped her hands, letting them fall naturally by her side as she relaxed a little in his presence. He kissed her, softly to begin with, but deepened it some as she passionately returned his gesture. There was a sincerity in her efforts that sent what little blood hadn’t rushed to his dick seeing her in the candlelight a moment ago straight to his groin now. He needed to calm the storm before he got on that table, or he was going to spend the next ninety minutes very uncomfortable.

“Whatcha doing?”

“I just thought I’d come hang out with you,” he said impishly. He could feel the smirk on his face and saw the suspicion growing in Zara’s eyes. The mischievous kid in him loved it.

“Don’t you have to work?”

“Turns out I have the day off…to do whatever I want…” He winked.

“We can’t do that in here—the massage therapist is right outside!” she whisper shouted at him. He could see the blush creeping up her skin, even in the dark. Fuck, she was adorable.

“I didn’t mean that,” he answered her, his voice still dropping with a slightly naughty tone. “I mean massages. You and I, together.”

“Oh,” she replied, turning to look at the two tables, both made up and waiting to be used.

“For someone who just scolded me, you almost sound disappointed.”

“No, not at all,” she said, turning back to him. “I love the idea.”

“Good, then let’s finish stripping you down and getting you ready,” he whispered, reaching out and running a finger underneath the strap that ran up her shoulder. He pulled it down slowly and then repeated the motion on the other side. Another light tug of both straps and the top bunched around her midsection, exposing the two stunning globes that he was pretty sure he would never tire of looking at. Looping his thumbs inside the gathered material, Dalton made quick work of tugging it down over her hips and legs, taking the tankini bottoms with it. He heard her breath hitch as he did so, and his dick pulsed at the thought that she was enjoying this.

Zara stepped out of her swimsuit, allowing Dalton to toss it on the little ottoman provided for personal effects. As he stood back up, he placed a few light, strategic kisses on her soft belly, and one on each nipple, which earned him a low but still audible gasp from Zara.

“I know you hate your body,” he whispered, leaning down so their foreheads were touching. “But I think it’s spectacular.” She shivered in response, and it was just the reaction he was hoping for. The sweet smile she gave him wasn’t half bad either.

“If we don’t get you on that table, I’m going to end up showing you just how spectacular, and I promised Drea I would behave myself.”

With a slight smirk crossing her lips, Zara walked over to the table farther from the door and slipped in between the sheets. After a moment of nestling herself in, she finally settled in a comfortable position. Dalton pulled the sheet up over her, but not without dropping a kiss on each shoulder blade first.