B00BR2BOUU EBOK (14 page)

I walked out of the shop pleased with my shopping efforts
when my phone rang. It was Rick. I froze.
Shit, what should I do? Answer or
decline?
I didn’t want to talk to him, but was I delaying the inevitable? I
hit decline.
Not tonight. If I speak to him now, my night will be ruined, I
know it will
. I quickly dialled Tash. I didn’t want it to ring again. Maybe
if he did call again, he would know I was already on the phone and would give
up. Tash answered.

“Lexi, you were supposed to call me back yesterday. What’s
happening? I rang your home,and Rick said you were away.”

“I am, Tash, I’m fine. Listen, Rick and I have separated.”
She gasped.

“You told him about your feelings for Bryce. Oh no.”

“No, not really. I don’t want to get into it with you over
the phone, but Rick cheated on me a few years back, and he only just told me. So,
I’ve left him and am currently in the Northern Territory with Bryce.”

“Fuck, Lexi. Shit!” She was silent. “I’m so sorry, I’m lost
for words. He cheated on you, really? Oh god.”

“Yes, so as you can imagine, I’m heartbroken and furious as
hell. I don’t want to deal with him at the moment. I need time, which is why
Bryce has flown us far away for a break. We will be back tomorrow, and I will
face Rick when I’m ready.”

“So what does that mean for you and Bryce? Have you...?”

“Tash, I love you, but it’s none of your bloody business.”

“Okay fair enough, Hun. You just take care, and I’ll see you
when you get back.”

“Thanks, Tashy, bye.” I hung up just as Bryce came up behind
me and placed his hand on the small of my back.

“Someone has been shopping.” I had a bag in my hand and a rather
large didgeridoo in the other.

“Yes, I didn’t think about having to carry it all around
with us, though.”

“Never mind, give it to me.” He carried my loot in one hand,
and held my hand in his other.

***

We arrived at the restaurant and were greeted by a young
waiter.

“May I help you, Sir?”

“Yes, I have a reservation on the private dune tonight.”

“Oh yes, Mr. Clark, come right this way.” The young man
became quite nervous all of a sudden and escorted us past the diners seated
inside.
Where are we going?
He led us outside and down a candlelit path
where I could see a private dining setting on top of a sand dune. The path
stopped and it was thick red sand from there on in.
Oh shit, there’s no way
I’m going to climb that dune in these heels.
I went to lean on a post and
remove them when Bryce cut in.

“No, you don’t, Hunny.” He took my hand.

“You are not carrying me, Bryce. I might not be timid, but I
am not flashing my arse to the patrons inside who are watching quite intently
through the window.” He looked in their direction and smirked, then positioned
himself as a shield and scooped me up.

“Bryce Edward Clark, I said no.”

“Shhh. Since when do I ever listen when it comes to carrying
you?”

“You don’t.”

“Exactly.”

He placed me down next to the table where there was an
orange rose in a vase in its centre surrounded by candles. The sun was setting,
and the rock was majestic in its sun-bathed glory.

“Quick, come here.” I grabbed him and pulled him close to
me, and with our backs to Ayers Rock, I took a selfie with my iPhone. Bryce kissed
my cheek as I pressed the button. A smile crept across my face together with a
tear in my eye. It was beautiful. The photo really captured the moment
perfectly. I blinked back the tear.
I love it, it is now my new screensaver.

We watched as the sun set into the horizon, Bryce had his
arms wrapped around me, and I couldn’t be happier. I knew that no matter what
happened with Rick, no matter how hurt I would feel when I faced him, I would
always have these arms to go back to and it made me feel safe, warm, and loved.
We sat back down and a local Aboriginal man played the didgeridoo as we ate our
four-course dinner. It was a magical evening and a fitting way to spend our
final night there.

“I have a present for you.” I leaned over and grabbed the
bag Bryce had carried for me.

“I have one for you, too.” He reached into his pocket and
pulled out a jewellery box. It was too big to be a ring box—thank god—but
whatever it was, I could imagine it would be immaculate. Suddenly I didn’t want
to give him my stupid present anymore. “Well, where is it? My present?”

I hesitated as I brought my hand out from within the
shopping bag. “It’s stupid. You are going to laugh at me.”

“I always laugh at you.”

“Very funny. No, you are going to think its daggy.”

“Alexis, my love, I will not. Anyway, I never get presents,
so give it to me.” I handed it to him and covered my eyes, peeping through my
semi-opened fingers. He unwrapped the tissue paper and held it in his hand,
rotating it as he made his inspection.
How embarrassing. He gets me
jewellery and I get him a stupid trinket.
He placed it down on the table,
got up, and walked over to me. He picked up my hand, kissed it, and pulled me
up into his arms kissing me passionately. “I love it, Alexis, and I love you.
Thank you. Thank you for sharing yourself with me.”

I kissed him back. “No. Thank you, for sharing yourself with
me.” I heard a very faint applause and peeked over his shoulder. There were
people inside watching us and cheering our romantic interlude. “We have an
audience, I think?” He turned and smirked at the on-lookers, then reached for
the jewellery box and held it in front of me. I opened it, and inside was a
stunning white gold snake necklace with a huge tear drop opal, surrounded by at
least 30 diamonds. I nearly lost my footing, and he had to steady my arm. “Oh
my goodness, that is the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen.” I went to touch
it and he snapped the lid down on my finger again. “Bryce Edward Clark!” I
laughed and hit him on the arm. “Stop doing that.”

He laughed too, but this time a lot harder. “I’m sorry, I
can’t help it.” He pulled the necklace out of the box, put it around my neck,
and clipped it shut. I looked down and could only just see the tip of it. It
felt stunning, and I could only imagine that it looked it as well.

“It’s beautiful thank you.” There was a faint applause coming
from the dining room again. He dipped me and kissed me, putting on a show for
our audience. They showed their appreciation by clapping louder. “You’re such a
show-off.”

“It’s what I do, Ms. Summers.”

“Yes, I know.”

We thanked our host for the evening; and Bryce piggy-backed
me down the sand dune. We walked hand-in-hand back to the chopper, talking
about places we had been and places we wanted to go. At the top of my list was
Paris and Rome. I’d always wanted to climb the Eiffel Tower, see the Colosseum,
walk under the Arc de Triomphe, and stroll the halls of the Louvre. Bryce had
already been to both cities to oversee the construction of Clark Incorporated
Hotels. He was very worldly and had visited many countries, mainly for
business. However, as strange as it may seem, I had been somewhere he hadn’t:
New Zealand. As we flew back to our lodge, I asked him why he wanted to go to
New Zealand.

“I like Lord of the Rings,” he said proudly.

I smiled. “So do I.” I remembered when Rick had taken me
there before we got married just so I could sleep in a Hobbit Hotel. I was so
excited stepping in to our room through a round door—I was happy back then.
Geez,
how things change.

I stepped down from the helicopter after we landed back at
Outback Hideaway. My feet were killing me—as gorgeous as these shoes were, I
was in a world of hurt.

“Bryce, can I ask you something?”

“Yes, Alexis, anything.”

“I can’t believe I’m about to say this.” He looked at me
curiously. “Can you carry me? My feet are so sore.”

His face lit up, and he gathered me into his arms. “I could
carry you forever, you do realise that don’t you?”

I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my head on his.
“I do.”

“Say that again.”

“What, ‘I do’?”

“Yes.”

“I do.”

“Hmmm, I like the sound of those two words.”
I did once,
too.

“Bryce, I need to give Dorothy the flowers I bought her.” He
smiled a cheeky smile and carried me towards reception. “You can put me down
now.”

“No.”

I tutted. Dorothy was sitting in reception and smiled
brightly as he carried me in.

“Mr. Clark, Alexis, to what do I owe the pleasure of this
visit?”

“Mr. Clark you are going to have to put me down so I can get
them.” He surrendered and lowered me to my feet. I reached into the bag hanging
off his arm, and pulled out the posy.

“Dorothy, these are for you. I just wanted to say thank you
for helping me organise the picnic and cleaning it up.” I handed her the bunch
of flowers.

“Oh, thank you. It was a pleasure. But I didn’t clean it up,
dear.”
Oh you didn’t? Then who did?
The ever-so-tardy light bulb went
off in my head. I spun round to catch Bryce smirking away.

“Well, thank you for all your help, I appreciate it.” She
nodded, and Bryce scooped me up again.

“Good evening, Dorothy, Alexis and I have some business to
attend to.”
Bryce Edward Clark, she doesn’t need to know that.
She
smiled and blushed as he carried me back out the door.

“You cleaned it up, didn’t you, that morning when I was
asleep?”

“Yes, Hunny. I did. It was the least I could do,” he
answered with a smile.

“Thank you, for what you do.” I kissed his cheek. “Bryce,
what am I going to do when we get back to Melbourne?”

He opened our door once again with his elbow and foot. He
really was getting quite good at it. “You are going to face the truth, Alexis.”
Gently, he placed me down on the bed and undid my shoes, then rubbed the sole
of my foot. At first, I wanted to flinch, but my feet were so sore, and his
rubbing actions were quite soothing.

“The truth hurts like hell, Bryce.”

“It always does, my love.” He removed his shoes and socks,
and crawled up next to me. We both lay propped up on our elbows looking at each
other. “It is how you overcome the truth, Hunny. That is what really matters.
Yes, it hurts like hell, but it’s how you look at the situation, and how you
deal with it; that’s what will heal the hurt in the end.” He touched my face. “You
are going to hear things that will wound you deeply, but remember not all
things are black and white.” I looked at him confused. It sounded like he was
trying to defend Rick.

“Are you defending him?”

“Who Rick? No not at all, I’m just trying to prepare you, in
the hope it softens the blow.”

“Oh, I don’t think you can soften the blow of your husband
cheating on you.” His eyes dropped and he left the room. “I’ll be fine, Mr.
Clark. I have you.” He came back moments later with a Scotch and a Gin and
Squash.

“Yes you do, and don’t ever forget it.” He held up his
glass. “Cheers to the best three days of my life.”

“Cheers, to the rest of our lives.” We clinked glasses and
both took a drink. Bryce didn’t stop, so I continued too. It soon became a race
to see who could finish first. Of course he won. I swallowed my last drop and
handed him the glass, then moved closer to him and softly pulled him into a
kiss. I didn’t want clothes tearing, wall bumping, or legs wrapped around his
waist. I just wanted to hold him, kiss him, and make love to him tenderly and
slowly. I think he understood my needs, because he caressed my face ever so
gently as we kissed.

I got up on my knees and unbuttoned his shirt, deliberately
taking my time. I slid it off his shoulders as I ran my hands along them, and guiding
it off completely. His biceps were invitingly luscious, so I pressed my lips to
them, and tasted his warm skin. I moved my mouth to his shoulder, then to his
neck, until I was at his mouth again. Our tongues gently stroked one another’s,
over and over, it was so nice. He reached to my side and unzipped my dress,
helping me out of it. I unbuckled his pants as he kissed my shoulder and neck.
He stood up to allow them to fall from him, then removed his underwear exposing
his glorious erection, an erection I would never get sick of. I smiled at him.
I wanted him to know I appreciated his body and what he did with it.

He moved toward me, then kissed me again. I unclipped my bra
for him as he slowly pulled down my G-string, kissing the insides of my legs as
he did. No words were spoken between us. There didn’t need to be—we were saying
all we needed with each touch and kiss we gave one another. We made love in
that night—real love—soft love—sensual love—pure and lasting love. It was our
last night at Outback Hideaway and we wanted to make the most of it.

CHAPTER
TEN

I felt slightly dejected
during our flight home. We’d had such a wonderful time at Uluru that it
saddened me to leave, I wished I could just collect the kids and go right back
to our perfectly little tee-pee for ever. If anything, though, I was a realist,
so I knew I had to return to my life in Melbourne and face it head on whether I
liked it or not. It didn’t change the fact I was dreading it though.

While in the air, I’d
received a call from my insurance company informing me that my car was now
fixed. The repair shop was not far from the airport, so Danny dropped me off so
I could pick up my car. Bryce had offered to stay with me, but I assured him
I’d be fine and that he should return to the penthouse. I told him I wouldn’t
be long and blew him a kiss as the limo pulled away. Seeing my car looking
healthy again filled me with happiness. Don’t get me wrong, I had more than
enjoyed driving the Porsche, it’s just that my Ford Territory was familiar, and
I’d missed it.