She paints and gardens, reads with Neil, and cooks. These are the things she says she loves doing. It starts to make me think about the things I love to do besides work. As much as I complain about my work keeping me busy, I love it and have sacrificed a lot of other things in my life for it. But the two things I can think to tell her is that I love the beach—in all forms, from walking it to sitting there watching the sunset. The other is traveling. It’s hard to get away these days for fun, but I love it when I do.
“You should visit Johnny in France,” Rochelle says while cutting Neil’s carrots for him.
“I remember loving France. I haven’t been since my parents took me in junior high.”
“You should definitely go then. You can surprise him.”
“When do they go to Paris?”
“Two days, I think.” She scrolls on the screen of her phone, and nods. “Yep, two days.” Resting her chin on her hand, she says, “Some days I miss being on the road with them. I hated it when I was gone for months at a time, and then I had Neil, but it was an adventure I’ll never forget.”
I’ve been missing Dalton so much and I have a week until the convention… “You really think I should go?”
“I do. Go find your adventure, Holli.”
Looking across the table at this woman I’ve come to admire, I feel butterflies of anticipation building inside. I decide to take her advice. “I’m gonna surprise him. Send me the hotel details, okay?”
Her eyes are bright and I can tell she’s excited for me. She says, “This is gonna be so awesome and romantic. When you get back I want to hear all about it.”
“Definitely.” So I blame her—fair and square—for ending up in Paris.
My hands are sweating I’m so nervous. I release the handle of my suitcase and drag my palms down my thighs. Rochelle hooked me up with the suite number and contacted security so I’d get by. I’m new to all this secrecy stuff that goes into dealing with famous people. He’s checked into the hotel under the name Jared Harper. I’m sure there’s a story behind that, but for now, I knock on the door and duck to the side.
“Who is it?” That sounds like Cory.
According to Rochelle, he can’t keep secrets and will blow it, so I reply, “Room service.”
Muffled voices are heard through the thick wood of the old door then it swings open. Dalton is talking before he looks up. “I didn’t order any roo—”
Our eyes meet and a big smile spreads across his face when I say, “I had an unexpected wanderlust.”
He looks me over from head to toe, then leans against the threshold. “You have the heart of a poet, Ms. Hughes.”
“I stole the line—”
“I know a few other things you stole,” he says. Reaching forward, he pulls me to him by a belt loop.
“Okay, I confess,” I say. “I borrowed the line, but I’m keeping everything else.” I’m actually curious to what ‘other things’ I’ve stolen might include exactly.
“Keep’em. They’re yours anyway.” He kisses me, turning us around so I’m inside the suite. With his hands holding my face, he looks at me. “Hi,” he whispers.
“So yeah. I’m gonna clear out of here and give you guys some privacy,” Cory says, making his way to the door. Cory pulls my suitcase inside the room and then turns back to us. “Guess you’re not going anywhere, Johnny.”
Dalton looks at me smiling. “Guess not. You’re on your own, buddy.”
“Next time you see me, you’ll be an uncle for the second time.”
“And you’ll be engaged,” Dalton adds.
“What?” I ask, surprised by the news. “Rochelle’s having the baby and you’re asking her to marry you?”
Dalton laughs. “She went into labor this afternoon when we were in an interview. You should have seen Cory’s face when she called. They caught it on camera.”
The happiness I feel for this amazing couple is way beyond ecstatic. “Congratulations on the baby and the engagement.”
Cory smiles. “Thanks. Two kids, a house with a picket fence, and I’m finally thinking this music thing might just work out. So yeah, I’m gonna ask her.” Cory pulls a ring box from his pocket and opens it. “Do you think she’ll like it?”
We both lean forward and look, but I gasp, my hand to my chest and a huge smile on my face. When I look up at him, I say, “It’s perfect. Rochelle’s gonna love it.”
The ring appears to be vintage by the intricate detailing. Black diamonds cover the band.