Killing the Carnations (A Heavenly Highland Inn Cozy Mystery) (11 page)
Read Killing the Carnations (A Heavenly Highland Inn Cozy Mystery) Online
Authors: Cindy Bell
“
Where are we going?” Vicky asked again as she hung on Mitchell's arm and tried to sway his gaze towards her.
“
It's a surprise, Vicky,” he said with a smile as he stole a glance in her direction. “It's driving you crazy isn't it?”
Vicky drew a deep breath and tried to pretend that it wasn't. But she knew that Mitchell could see right through her. She was silent for a moment or two as they waited for the flight attendant to announce boarding. But she could only stay quiet for so long.
“Is it somewhere out of the country?” she asked with widened eyes. “No, it can't be, I don't have a passport,” she murmured. Mitchell laughed quietly and tugged her closer to him so that he could wrap his arms around her waist and hold her tightly. He looked adoringly into her eyes.
“
We are going to The Keys,” he said wanting to be the one to tell her before they announced the destination on the plane.
“Oh, how exciting!” she exclaimed
just before his lips met hers in a heavenly caress. As they kissed the announcement for boarding bellowed above them. He grabbed her hand and led her through the corridor and onto the plane. The corridor reminded her of the passageway. Vicky was accustomed to travelling in coach, she had never even considered travelling any other way, but Mitchell led her right through the first section of the plane, to first class. Vicky glanced over at him as she looked at the huge seats with plenty of leg room.
“
Are you serious?” she asked with surprise.
“
I told you, you could sleep on the way,” he grinned as he stepped aside and let her take her seat first. Once she was settled he sat down beside her. Vicky was already enjoying the luxury of the comfortable leather seat.
“
This is amazing,” Vicky shook her head. “But you didn't have to do all of this, just for me,” she frowned as she looked over at him.
“
Correction,” Mitchell replied with absolute confidence. “I don't have to do just this,” he smiled at her and stole a light kiss from her lips. “Vicky, there's nothing in the world that I would love more than being able to give you a gift that expresses just how I feel about you. Unfortunately, there's not much that can express it, so hopefully this will do.”
Vicky settled back thoughtfully in her seat and studied Mitchell. She'd never met a man who
she was so comfortable with and who was intent on expressing his feelings. It amazed her that he could simply know that he adored her. He never seemed to question it. Vicky adored him in return, but there was always a nervous part of her, wondering if he would grow tired of her, or if she would step out of bounds a little too far with her amateur sleuthing. He never gave her a reason to doubt him, and she was starting to realize maybe she would never need to.
Mitchell rubbed her hand in a slow circular pattern as her eyes slipped shut. He eased her into an incredibly peaceful slumber. When Vicky opened her
eyes again, the plane was making its descent. She was a little disappointed that she had slept through the entire flight, but she felt so much better. As she looked out the window all she could see was clear aqua tinted water. Her eyes widened at the sight of it and she took a sharp breath at the beauty.
“
Almost there,” Mitchell said and gave her hand a light pat.
***
“Oh this is great,” Vicky said with a wide grin after they had battled their way off the plane and through the busy airport.
“I know it's not Paris, but...”
“
It's perfect,” Vicky hugged him tightly around the waist and had to stop herself from jumping up and down like a little girl. “Oh, we can go swimming!” she said gleefully. “We can lay on the beach! We can...”
“
Do anything you want,” he replied as he led her out of the airport to the car that was waiting for them. “But first, there's one thing I want to do,” he said quietly. It was nearing sunset when he parked at one of the many white, sandy beaches. He took her hand and they walked through the sand. Vicky eagerly abandoned her shoes and sunk her feet into the surprisingly soft sand.
“
This is amazing,” Vicky said as she looked out over the calm water that stretched as far as she could see.
“
This beauty,” Mitchell said quietly as he stretched his arm out across the view in front of them, where the sun had slowly begun to set, “is the closest thing that compares to the way I feel, when I'm with you,” he murmured and slid his arm around her waist. “I spent some time here as a kid, and from the first day I met you, you reminded me of these sunsets, of the endless calm water, of the beauty that can't be recreated, not with a paintbrush, not with a camera, not with anything but the real thing,” he tilted his head slightly to look down into her eyes.
“
Mitchell, how did I ever get so lucky to find someone as wonderful as you?” Vicky asked.
“
I waited a long time for you to find me,” he reminded her and the kiss they shared coincided with the exact moment of the sunset setting the horizon ablaze with its multitude of colors.
The End
More Cozy Mysteries by Cindy Bell
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